As three-row family vehicles go, Toyota's Highlander is among the most practical and easiest to drive. It's easy to see out of and comfortable for both city driving and long highway trips. High fuel economy for a conventionally powered SUV is another draw. And if you want a more efficient or bigger Highlander, there's always the gas/electric Hybrid or the supersized Grand Highlander to consider.
Credit for Highlander's above-average fuel economy goes to its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is an unconventional choice in this class. Most midsize three-row SUVs use bigger V6 engines, many of which are more powerful. The Highlander's four-cylinder is noisier and a bit rougher in operation than the many competitors' V6s, but overall we still like its powertrain. The Highlander's eight-speed automatic responds quickly and is a good pairing with the turbo-four's power delivery. The Highlander is available in front- or all-wheel drive.
We also like the Highlander's generous allocation of features across its many trims. Premium features like a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a power liftgate are available in the midlevel trims. And wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is standard across all trims.
On the downside, the Highlander's third-row seats are pretty cramped, and there's not much space behind that row for storage. Other rivals such as the Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride and Volkswagen Atlas provide more room. But overall, we think the 2023 Highlander is a likable enough SUV to warrant consideration.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our VerdictThe Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
The Toyota Highlander gets high marks for its fuel-efficient engine, plush ride quality, confident handling and many standard driver assist features. It has a much less accommodating third row than other top competitors, however, so take note if that's a main focus.
Rated for you by America's best test team.How does the Highlander drive? The Highlander's four-cylinder makes plenty of torque at low rpm, and that helps make the Highlander pleasant to drive around town. At the Edmunds test track, our all-wheel-drive Highlander test vehicle accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, which is a bit quicker than most V6-equipped three-row midsize SUVs.
The Highlander's ability to stop quickly and confidently as well as negotiate a twisty road is solid. Body roll is controlled as you go around turns, and the available torque-vectoring AWD system also helps by applying engine power to individual rear wheels to subtly enhance the SUV's handling balance. (It also has the usual benefit of extra traction in slick conditions.) All of this advanced technology helps the Highlander feel more nimble than the average midsize SUV. Overall, the Highlander makes daily driving a low-effort activity, which is most important.
How comfortable is the Highlander? The Highlander's ride quality is pleasantly plush. Large and small road imperfections are smoothed over thanks to the compliant suspension, yet it avoids feeling floaty or vague at higher speeds. The front seats are comfortable even on long drives, and the available second-row captain's chairs (which our test Highlander had) provide nearly the same level of comfort. Alas, the third-row seats are one of the Highlander's greatest liabilities. Thin padding, a narrow space and a cushion mounted low to the floor make the third row ill-suited for adults.
The climate controls are easy to use, and the standard tri-zone system provides ample heating and cooling capacity, which helps make up for the mildly effective seat heat and ventilation. The only area we think the four-cylinder falls short of the V6 is sound. You don't really hear much of it when cruising along, but a request for substantial acceleration reveals the four-cylinder's less refined soundtrack. Otherwise, our complaints are few. There are no vibrations, squeaks or wind noise to speak of, even at higher highway speeds. Road noise is minimal.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating belowHow’s the interior? The first and second seating rows provide ample space, but the third row is one of the most confining in the midsize three-row SUV class. If you're planning on regularly using the full passenger capacity, you will be better served by the Kia Telluride or Volkswagen Atlas. Once you're seated, it's easy to find your preferred driving position, but taller drivers might wish for a bit more extension range from the telescoping steering wheel. It can be a bit of a reach.
We give the Highlander high marks for outward visibility. The front roof pillars are thin, helping you see around turns. Some of the Highlander's available technology features help too, such as the camera-based rearview mirror that allows you to see out of the back even if you've fully loaded up the cargo area. The available surround-view camera system is sharp and can be rotated to look around the vehicle. On the downside, some of the menus for the infotainment system and instrument cluster can be somewhat confusing.
How’s the tech? Toyota used to trail other manufacturers when it comes to tech but the current Highlander has made big strides in the right direction. The optional 12.3-inch touchscreen is huge (an 8-inch screen is standard) and it responds quickly to inputs, but occasionally the reflections on the surface make using it more difficult than it should be. The latest Toyota software looks more modern too. Our Highlander test vehicle had five USB charge ports for the first and second rows but none for the third row.
All Highlanders come standard with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver aids, which is something not all competitors offer. Among other things, we like the adaptive cruise control, but we found the lane departure warning slightly too sensitive in the standard mode and not sensitive enough in the low mode.
How’s the storage? Cargo space is a bit of a mixed bag with the Highlander. Behind the third row, there's only 16 cubic feet of space, which is small for the class. Behind the second row, it expands to a better-than-average 48.4 cubic feet. The liftover height is about average for a midsize SUV and both back rows can be folded for a flat load surface. As for cabin storage, there are good-size pockets and cupholders as well as two shelves built into the dash. (One has a clever phone cable keeper too.)
Got kids? A large rear-facing car seat will easily be accommodated in the second row thanks to the generous amount of fore/aft movement of the available captain's chairs. The car seat anchors are also easy to locate and access for all types of child safety seats, though there are no anchors in the third row.
How’s the fuel economy? The four-cylinder Highlander is pretty fuel-efficient. We tested an all-wheel-drive model, which the EPA estimates will get 24 mpg in combined city/highway driving. (Front-wheel-drive models are slightly better at 25 mpg combined.) A few mpg may not seem like a huge advantage over the competition, but it's significant for this class of vehicle. On our real-world evaluation route, we achieved 26.6 mpg, which is pretty stellar and indicates to us the EPA's estimates should be achievable. Of note, the Highlander Hybrid is estimated to return 36 mpg combined.
Is the Highlander a good value? Though the Highlander isn't the most premium-feeling SUV in the class, the interior is solidly put together with soft, padded surfaces where they matter most. There's good value here, too, whether you're cross-shopping against a Kia Telluride (especially given the typical markups for those) or the popular Honda Pilot, which isn't quite as strong a value these days.
Toyota's warranty coverage is pretty common for the class with three years/36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and five years/60,000 miles for the powertrain. The first two years of scheduled maintenance are also free.
The styling up front gives the Highlander a sporty appearance, which looks cool but also maybe oversells athleticism. Still, the Highlander has better than average composure on a twisty road for a midsize three-row SUV, which may be all the fun someone shopping this category needs.
We think the best value of the Highlander lineup comes from the midrange XLE trim. It's reasonably priced and has most of the features you'll want from a family hauler.
The 2024 Toyota Highlander is a midsize three-row SUV with seating for up to eight passengers, and it's offered in five trim levels: LE, XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum. All are powered by a 265-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on all trims as an option. There's also a Highlander Hybrid and Grand Highlander that are both reviewed separately on Edmunds. Keep reading for our breakdown of the significant features that come on each Highlander trim level.