Toyota Highlander - Review, Specs, Pricing, Features, Videos and More

The Toyota Highlander is one of the staples in the three row family SUV class. It has been a huger seller for Toyota and recently the model underwent a significant update. Gone is the V6 engine in favor of a torquey turbocharged four-cylinder unit. How torquey? It makes an impressive 310 lb-ft. of torque.

Always a bit smaller than the rest of the segment, think of the Highlander as a great two row SUV that has a third row for occasional use. It is also one of the few vehicles in its class to offer a proper hybrid drivetrain option.

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The Toyota Highlander is a three-row, mid-size SUV with a reputation built on passenger-car-like handling and SUV versatility. It is available with either a gasoline or a hybrid powertrain, both of which offer distinct advantages for different types of drivers.

The standard gasoline engine is a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 265 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. Paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, this powertrain has a manufacturer-estimated fuel economy of 24 MPG combined and a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, the Highlander Hybrid combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motor-generators for a total system output of 243 horsepower. This configuration achieves a manufacturer-estimated 35 MPG combined and can tow up to 3,500 pounds. The hybrid system’s battery is located under the second-row seats, ensuring no compromise on passenger or cargo space.

Inside, the Highlander offers seating for up to eight people, with an optional seven-seat configuration featuring second-row captain’s chairs. Depending on the trim level, interior surfaces are finished in either Sof-Tex or leather. The cabin is equipped with features such as three-zone climate control, a standard 8.0-inch or available 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, and up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded. All models come standard with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite of safety features.

What's New for 2026

For the 2026 model year, Toyota has made All-Wheel Drive (AWD) a standard feature across the entire Highlander lineup, for both gasoline and hybrid models. This change provides enhanced traction and stability for all customers, regardless of their chosen powertrain or trim level. The grade structure has also been simplified, with four available gas trims (XLE, XSE, Limited, Platinum) and three hybrid trims (XLE, Limited, Platinum). The 2026 Highlander is expected to arrive in dealerships starting in November 2025.

We sent out the call. A request to every manufacturer, looking for new, significantly updated, or strong contenders in the mainstream three-row SUV segment. We need the best of best for a special AutoGuide Three-Row SUV Shootout Comparison brought to you by Weathertech. Our goal: to find the best 3 row SUV.

Quickly, manufacturers responded and entries poured in. Representing Korea are two strong options in the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. From Japan, we have the usual players, the Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, and Toyota Highlander.

Also, there’s Mazda. The brand was eager to get the tried-and-true CX-9 in our shootout, but what they offered next was huge; both literally and figuratively. Mazda was granting us early access to the brand’s yet unreleased, all-new, CX-90 three-row SUV for this shootout. For those unfamiliar with the CX-90, it’s built on a completely new rear-wheel drive bias platform, featuring an equally new turbocharged inline-six.

Read the full comparison here

A light refresh focuses on improvements under the hood and atop the dashboard.

You’ll be hard-pressed to tell the 2023 Toyota Highlander apart from last year’s model. Pretty Cypress green paint aside—new to this model, but available elsewhere in the Toyota range—it doesn’t look much different.

It also doesn’t need to. The Highlander is one of the best-selling mid-sized SUVs in America: in 2021 the Jeep Grand Cherokee, with the benefit of two- and three-row models, just outsold it 264,444 to 264,128. The Highlander was the ninth-best-selling vehicle in the country, overall. A similar story unfolded in Canada, where the Highlander topped the three-row charts.

Nonetheless, the Japanese brand understands it can’t just rest on its laurels. The 2023 Toyota Highlander line up arrives on the scene with a new engine and a better user experience. Is it enough to keep it ahead of the pack? We went to Nashville to find out.

Click Here to Read the Review

The Toyota Highlander is a wildly popular mid-size SUV that saw a significant update for the 2023 model year.

Gone is the V6 engine, replaced by a new turbocharged four-cylinder. Other updates have taken place inside and out of the family hauler, but one thing remains mostly the same – the trim lineup. Available in a host of configurations, buyers are left with the same conundrum that has faced them for years. Which model should they get?

To help them make that decision, we are analyzing two of the most popular trim levels available. Neither the base model nor the fully loaded version, these are the sweet spot within the vehicle’s lineup. It’s a head-to-head of the Toyota Highlander XLE vs Limited. We hope this helps with future purchasing decisions.

Click Here to Read the Review