Yes! When it comes to off-roading, the 2022 Toyota Highlander isn’t the best of the best, but its available torque-control all-wheel drive system makes it a serious contender in the all-terrain arena.
The 2022 Highlander, with a starting price of slightly over $37,000, is most recognized for its adaptability.
The Highlander’s roomy interior will make the travel relaxing and stress-free if you need to transport two or three youngsters to soccer practice. On the other hand, you shouldn’t have any trouble navigating dirt and gravel roads if you and your friends are loading up the Highlander for a weekend camping trip.
What else qualifies the Toyota Highlander as a good choice for some adventurous outings? Let’s look at it!
In This Article...
Ground clearance
A key indicator of off-roading prowess is ground clearance, which is effectively the space between your vehicle’s lowest point and the ground. The Toyota Highlander can navigate some bumps and rocks thanks to its 8.0-inch clearance, but it won’t be able to climb any significant difficulties.
An off-road vehicle should have between 8.8 and 10.8 inches of clearance. The Jeep Wrangler is 9.7 inches above the ground as a point of comparison.
Torque
The secret to a vehicle’s off-road success is low-end torque. In a nutshell, this means that you need a lot of torque at a low rpm so that you can give the tires more power when you’re moving slowly.
There are both good and bad news for Highlander owners. Positively, the 2022 Highlanders 3.5-Liter V6 produces 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque, which is a lot of power! Sadly, 4700 rpm is where the maximum torque was measured. The Highlander will provide you with a good amount of power, but you won’t be able to access it all at a low speed.
Tires
The 2022 Toyota Highlander’s 18 X 8 tires, which are good for highway driving but won’t help you much off-road, are nothing spectacular in terms of tires.
Try out a set of all-terrain tires if you want to improve your off-roading skills. They can use all of the power coming from the Highlanders V6 since they have higher traction. They may cost you a little more money and wear out a little faster, but the thrilling off-road adventure is definitely worth it.
Do Toyota Highlanders perform well off-road?
The Toyota Highlander has no trouble off-roading because to its eight inches of ground clearance and optional dynamic torque-control all-wheel-drive system. Higher ground clearance helps to reduce scratching underneath the car and makes for a smoother ride on rocky and uneven routes.
Highlander has 4×4 or AWD.
A: Does the Highlander have 4×4 or AWD? A: Front-wheel drive is standard on the 2021 Highlander. However, every trim had an optional all-wheel-drive technology that provides more traction and control in slick driving situations when it was being marketed as new. This variant does not have four-wheel drive.
What issues do Toyota Highlanders have?
Similar problems with the motorized tailgate and air conditioning system plagued the Toyota Highlander’s previous version from 2008 to 2013. A few owners have also complained of oil leaks from the engine and clunking sounds they hear when rotating the steering wheel.
The Toyota Highlander has four wheels.
Your 2013 Toyota Highlander’s purchaser is almost entirely correct; a Highlander has all-wheel drive, not four-wheel drive (four-wheel drive). But AWD offers a level of agility and steering that is amazing. When you get into a Toyota Highlander, the AWD automatically engages, so there’s no need to do anything to activate it.
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t have 4WD. Many wonderful advantages of AWD include:
- improved traction in ice, snow, and sleet
- greater grip in twists or around corners
- Unlike with 4WD, there is no need to determine whether to turn on the system or not.
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Cabin Space
Highlander: At 194.9 inches, the new 2020 Highlander is 4.7 inches longer than its more capable off-road sibling, the 4Runner. Even though their widths are nearly identical, the new Highlander sits three inches lower than the 4Runner. The Highlander is, it may be said, even more like a car than before. The Highlander makes better use of its interior space because it is built on the new TNGA unibody chassis.
The headroom is 39.9 inches without the panoramic moonroof and 39.4 inches with the optional glass roof. Without the sunroof, there is 37.1 inches of headroom in the second row and 38.4 inches with it. In any configuration, the third row offers 36.1 inches of headroom. In terms of legroom, the first two seats have enough of it. Even the tallest passengers can easily fit in the first two rows thanks to its 40.4 and 41.0 inch widths. However, the third row is a little congested at 27.7 inches.
4Runner: Despite standing a solid 71.5 inches tall and measuring 190 inches in length, the 4Runner lacks a tiny bit of headroom and shoulder room compared to its car-based predecessor. The truck-like structure, which utilizes robust but space-consuming suspension components, is partly to blame for this.
Comparing the 4Runner to its slightly bigger unibody sister, both vehicles offer comparable amounts of headroom. To be exact, 39.3 inches in the front and 38.6 inches in the back. Although it does manage to reclaim some space in the third row, which offers two inches more legroom than the Highlander, the legroom in the middle seat is noticeably shorter at 32.9 inches due to the body on frame structure.
Conclusion: The Toyota Highlander is larger than the 4Runner and has significantly more space inside for passengers. The way they are built is primarily to blame for this. The 4Runner is a body on frame, in contrast to the Highlander’s unibody design. As a result, the 4Runner sits on top of its frame as opposed to the Highlander, which means the cabin’s available area is immediately reduced.
What can you use a Highlander for?
The Highlander is an excellent SUV, yes. It has plenty of basic safety technology, comfortable seats for adults in the first two rows, and decent cabin materials. The Highlander’s powerful, fuel-efficient V6 engine, balanced handling, and comfortable ride also make for a great driving experience.
Are Highlanders adept in the winter?
Can a Toyota Highlander Handle Snow Well? The Toyota Highlander performs exceptionally well in snow because to its raised and commanding ride height. This elevates it above many other cars in terms of drivability in snow, along with its assortment of safety measures from the Toyota Star Safety system.
How can I activate 4WD on my Highlander?
To use four-wheel drive in your Toyota Highlander, follow these instructions: First, start your car. Step 2: On the gear shift, press the 4WD button. Step 3: Change your car’s drivetrain to four-wheel drive.
Does the Toyota Highlander AWD make sense?
The Highlander’s AWD improves its traction on slick roads, but it isn’t much of an off-roader. The steering and suspension offer a smooth, pleasant ride both in town and on the highway. The Highlander doesn’t have the athletic appeal or feel like a smaller vehicle like some SUVs in its class do.
Which Highlander model is the best?
The 20082013 edition is most likely the best option. You get more interior room, more features, a more potent engine lineup, better safety ratings, and better crash test results with this generation.
which is more trustworthy Toyota Highlander or a Honda Pilot?
The information above makes it evident that the Toyota Highlander outperforms the Honda Pilot in every category, including safety features and fuel efficiency. The Highlander is a much better choice if you’re searching for a three-row SUV that is incredibly dependable in this situation.
What is the lifespan of a Highlander?
How many miles can a Toyota Highlander travel on average? When you inquire with a Toyota dealer, they will give you the high-end estimate, which is approximately 300,000 miles.
This figure is approximately 50100,000 miles higher than you would generally anticipate in this price range and size class.
Although 300,000 miles is certainly not unheard of, if you take care of your Highlander, you shouldn’t be surprised to see it go far beyond that number.
However, this is the best-case situation and presupposes that you are most likely the first owner and haven’t been putting off any oil or fluid changes.
A typical used Highlander will likely travel at least 250,000 miles with its original engine and transmission if you’re the third or fourth owner. From then, everything will depend on you.
According to Kelley Blue Book, the typical American logs 14,000 miles a year on their vehicles. Therefore, if you can keep it clear of rust and prevent collisions, your Highlander might live over 20 years, assuming ordinary mileage.
The majority of Highlanders are built on the same Toyota K platform as the Avalon, which has been known to travel more than 500,000 kilometers.
All things considered, driving a Highlander into Guinness World Record zone is possible if you really know how to maintain an SUV.
The Toyota Highlander is it always AWD?
The three-row SUV Toyota Highlander is offered in six model levels: L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. A 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automated transmission system powers each model level. All-wheel drive is an option on each of these trims, even though front-wheel drive is the default configuration for all six of these trims.
By being able to drive all four wheels instead of just two, all-wheel drive systems set themselves apart from front-wheel drive systems. Many drivers choose all-wheel drive because it offers more traction and control, especially in bad weather and on slick roads.
Notable Features & Amenities Available for the 2021 Toyota Highlander
- Dynamic Control
- Child safety locks for the back door
- System for Remote Anti-Theft Alarm
- monitoring tire pressure
- Daylight Running Lamps
- Engine Lockup Device
- Front Seatback Storage
- Pockets on the front and back doors
- Overhead Console for Storage
- Cupholders in the front, middle, and back rows
- Double-sided vanity mirrors with lights
- Air Filtration Inside
Is AWD equivalent to 4WD?
AWD is normally constantly on, whereas 4WD has a toggle switch that allows you to switch between having it on and off. AWD is more common on cars and SUVs, although 4WD is a feature you’ll typically find on trucks.
What distinguishes 4WD and AWD from each other?
In contrast to AWD, 4WD locks the front and rear driveshafts together while still sending power to both the front and rear axles. This indicates that the power applied to the two axles is equal. As a result, the car has more traction when driving off-road in muddy, snowy, or sandy conditions.
Outback or Highlanderwhich is superior?
The Subaru boasts a 2.5L DOHC engine that provides significantly higher fuel efficiency, in contrast to the Highlander’s bigger V6 engine. Compared to the Highlander, which gets just 21 city/29 highway mpg, the Outback gets 26 city/33 highway mpg.
Highlander or 4Runner: which is safer?
The newest Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ package of active safety features is installed in the Highlander. Road sign recognition, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and full-speed adaptive cruise control are all included as standard features. The 4Runner comes with a more minimal package that includes lane departure warning, emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, and limited speed range adaptive cruise control, but no junction support.
Additionally, Highlanders fare better in IIHS safety tests. With flawless crashworthiness and front crash prevention scores as well as Good or Acceptable headlights, the Highlander is a 2021 IIHS Top Safety Pick+. In the driver-side small overlap front test, the 4Runner receives a Marginal grade. Similar to the 4Runner, which receives a four-star overall rating and a three-star rollover rating with a 24.6 percent rollover risk, the Highlander receives a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA with a four-star rollover rating.