Knowing what kind of performance to anticipate from each model year is crucial if you’re thinking about purchasing a Toyota Highlander. Although Toyota is a reliable brand and the Highlander is a well-liked and sturdy SUV, not every year for the Highlander was successful. If you want to be sure you get a dependable car that will endure through years of regular use, you must be aware of the Toyota Highlander years to stay away from.
Some buyers love experimental cars, but nobody wants to purchase one they believe won’t be a dependable daily driver.
We’ll also touch on the Highlander model years that have received the best ratings and reviews, as well as any other factors you might want to take into account before purchasing a Toyota Highlander.
Here are a few of the Toyota Highlander’s most frequent issues to stay away from.
- Engine bolts are ripping out.
- Engine malfunction
- Using Engine Oil More Rapidly than Normal.
- Issues with the AC condenser and fuel tank.
- faulty oxygen sensor and head gasket.
- Get a Handpicked List of the Top Used Cars in Your Area.
In This Article...
How far can a Toyota Highlander travel?
One of the most durable midsize SUVs on the market, the Toyota Highlander can keep going for up to 300,000 miles after you drive it off the lot.
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.
Toyota Highlander versus Honda Pilot: which is more dependable?
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.
Which SUV has the highest rating for dependability?
A dependable SUV, or sport utility vehicle, should be at the top of your list if you have any plans to grow your family or are simply searching for a car that can accommodate more luggage and cargo. The best part is that you don’t need a minivan for the extra seats because it has all the bells and whistles of a modern automobile and might provide you some fun off-roading. This means that you can have a little bit of automotive style while being a soccer parent.
A new type of vehicle called an SUV came onto the market to give its occupants more enclosed room and the adaptability of a pickup truck. SUVs have grown in popularity over the years and are currently among the most common types of vehicles.
You can feel a bit confused while deciding which SUV is best for you because of its rising popularity and the wide range of vehicle features and brands available.
Here is a list of the most dependable SUVs for 2021 to help you focus your search.
Toyota Sequoia
Although the Toyota Land Cruiser has been discontinued in the US, Toyota has not abandoned us without a sizable, dependable SUV. The Toyota Sequoia is known for exceeding 1,000,000 miles and has several mechanical components in common with the full-size Tundra truck. Despite the Sequoia’s inability to match the Land Cruiser’s off-road prowess, the TRD Pro model is no pushover when the pavement ends. The Toyota 4Runner, the Sequoia’s brother in the brand’s SUV series, is a good option for those seeking additional off-road capability.
There is ample space for up to eight persons inside the Sequoia, including a third-row that is surprisingly comfy. Although less opulent than competitors in the same category, interior materials are nevertheless strong and of great quality. For the 2021 model year, the infotainment system has a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android auto.
A 5.7-liter V8 engine with 381 horsepower powers this dependable SUV. Rear-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission are standard, with four-wheel drive being an option. The Sequoia has terrible fuel efficiency, getting only a maximum of 17 MPG on the interstate and 13 in the city. Automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control are all standard safety features.
When did Toyota Highlander troubles start?
Toyota issued a recall for some Highlander Hybrid models from 2008 to 2010 due to an electrical issue that might cause the hybrid inverter assembly to fail while the vehicle is in motion.
Do Toyota Highlanders cost a lot to repair?
During its first ten years of use, a Toyota Highlander will need roughly $5,771 in maintenance and repairs.
This is $3,362 less than the industry average for popular SUV models. Additionally, there is a 16.08% likelihood that a Highlander will need a significant repair at that time. Compared to competing automobiles in this sector, this is 5.42% better. The following graph shows how these expenses and the likelihood of repairs will rise over time.
How fuel-efficient is the Toyota Highlander?
On a full tank of gas, the Highlander has a driving range of more than 510 miles. The projected EPA mileage for each front-wheel drive model is 29 highway and 21 city. If all-wheel drive is used, the vehicle gets 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the interstate, and 23 mpg overall.
Do Toyota Highlanders have issues with their transmissions?
In order to enable you to drive at the correct speed, the gearbox transfers power from the motor to your wheels.
Given that the transmission must convert the exact quantity of power for the required speed,
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. The third row offers 36.1 inches of headroom regardless of layout. 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.
How dependable is a Toyota Highlander from 2022?
The projected reliability rating for the 2022 Toyota Highlander is 82 out of 100. A predicted reliability score from J.D. Power of 91 to 100 is regarded as the best, 81 to 90 as great, 70 to 80 as medium, and 0-69 as fair and below average.
The Toyota Highlander grew in size in what year?
The fifth model in Toyota’s lineup of SUVs, the Highlander, made its introduction in 2001. The Highlander was a pioneering crossover caran SUV built on a car platform as opposed to a truck platform. Although the design offers comfortable handling and a smooth ride, it lacks true off-road performance. In the early Highlanders, there were two rows that could accommodate five people, but by 2004, there was a third row that could seat seven people. Due to a bigger third row, the third-generation Highlander’s maximum seating capacity was extended to eight for 2014. As a 2020 model, the current Highlander’s fourth generation made its debut.
What used SUVs should I stay away from?
7 Used SUVs to Avoid, Per Consumer Reports
- It’s one of the least dependable SUVs, the 2020 Acura MDX.
- The Audi Q5 variants from 2012 and 2013 are both unreliable.
- The Buick Encores from 2015 to 2017 have engine issues.
- Some of the least dependable SUVs are the Chevy Suburbans from 20112012 and 20152016.
What SUV is recommended by mechanics?
You’ll commonly see mechanics talk favorably of Toyota and Honda brands, including Lexus and Acura (their respective luxury offers) (their respective luxury offerings). When you ask mechanics for their comments on a car, they typically concentrate on the mileage, durability, and critical repair requirements. They typically have favorable evaluations of cars that, when kept up properly, can reliably travel more than 200,000 miles.
The Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic are two standouts. Both aren’t necessarily regarded as the most opulent automobiles ever created. That doesn’t imply that any model lacks contemporary conveniences or features. Both come in a range of trims with different levels of amenities and extras. They often provide hundreds of thousands of kilometers of dependable performance without catastrophic failures, regardless of their trim.
You’ll regularly hear names like the reasonably priced Subaru Forester, Nissans, Toyota Highlander, and the Kia Sorento when it comes to SUV and crossover suggestions. Lexus was recently ranked first in the 2022 Consumer Reports Auto Reliability ranking owing to the GX SUV. The adaptable Mazda CX-9 was included in their top 10 list for 2022 cars in terms of reliability.
Ford and Chevy trucks continue to be praised by many mechanics for their durability, especially under challenging operating conditions. A work truck is probably in good shape if, despite persistent stress, it doesn’t require frequent repairs and maintenance. Additionally, they usually endorse vehicles made in Japan, such as Toyota and Nissan models.
Which SUV has the fewest issues?
Reviews, images, and more for the 15 most dependable SUVs
- Toyota RX 350.
- Trax by Chevrolet.
- Nissan Venza.
- Mazda RAV4.
- Toyota CX-5.
- Hello Soul.
- GLA 250 Mercedes-Benz.
- Nissan QX50.