The fifth model in Toyota’s lineup of SUVs, the Highlander, made its introduction in 2001. The Highlander was a pioneering crossover car—an 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.
In This Article...
What Toyota Highlander is the oldest?
As one of the first car-based, mid-size vehicles of its sort, the Toyota Highlander invented the crossover SUV segment when it was initially manufactured in 2000.
The Toyota Highlander was initially designed on the same basis as the Toyota Camry with the goal of fusing the spacious cargo area of a station wagon with the usefulness of a minivan or full-size SUV.
Present Toyota Highlander (XU70 4th Generation)
The 2019 New York Auto Show saw the world premiere of the fourth-generation Highlander, which is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA-K) unibody platform. With a combined fuel economy of 34 MPG, the hybrid model leads the pack for its size. It is available in five trim levels: Platinum Edition, Limited, LE, XLE, and L.
The gas-powered Highlander has a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque with an 8-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission. This version can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 115 mph.
The hybrid model has a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 243 horsepower overall. It also has two electric motors arranged coaxially rather than in line and is available in 2WD or AWD.
The 2020 Highlander came standard with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, Waze, and Amazon Alexa Compatibility as well as the optional Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which offers better active safety measures. With a 12.3 inch size, it also has one of the largest multimedia screens in its class.
The XSE trim was unveiled by Toyota for the 2021 model year. Additionally, they made the Toyota Safety Sense suite and LED projector headlights standard features for all trim levels.
The Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition debuted with the 2022 model year. The XLE is expanded upon in this edition, but bronze wheels, badging, and front-seat trim are included.
How many generations are there among Highlanders?
List of Toyota Highlander iterations:
- Now in 2020, 4th Gen (XU70)
- 3rd Gen (XU50) Facelift, 2016–2019.
- 2014 – 2015 3rd Gen (XU50)
- 2nd Gen (XU40) Facelift, 2011–2013.
- 2008 – 2010 2nd Gen (XU40)
- 2001 – 2007 1st Gen (XU20)
What Highlander season is the best?
The 2008–2013 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 stopped producing the Highlander when?
One of the few automakers still using V6 engines is Toyota. Consider the Toyota Camry—one it’s of the only vehicles in the midsize class that still has a 3.5-liter V6 engine on offer.
Which is more dependable, a pilot or a Highlander?
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 are the concerns with Toyota Highlanders?
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.
Do Highlanders continue to be valuable?
The Highlander received higher ratings than other well-liked cars like the Honda Pilot and Subaru Ascent. KBB data indicates that the Highlander keeps 60.2% of its value 36 months after purchase. It still retains 46.3% of its value after 60 months.
Is the Highlander constructed from a Camry chassis?
Instead of a truck frame, the Highlander is constructed on a Camry-derived platform. The Highlander’s lower ride height and more car-like appearance are made possible by its unibody design. Either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive are options. Actually, the Lexus RX300 provides the majority of the genetic makeup for the Highlander.
Is the Highlander being phased out by Toyota?
The choice to reduce the motor size in the upcoming 2023 Toyota Highlander SUV by Toyota will have a significant impact. For the past six years, it has been the best-selling midsize SUV. Toyota will replace the Highlander’s V6 engine in 2023 with a new, four-cylinder turbocharged engine for the first time. The engine change is one of many that Toyota will be implementing in 2023 SUVs. For instance, the new 2023 Toyota Sequoia and 2023 Tundra receive new i-FORCE MAX hybrid engines in place of V8s.
A Toyota Highlander should last for how many miles?
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.
What is the Highlander’s Lexus equivalent?
The Lexus RX 350L and Toyota Highlander are two of the most well-liked SUVs on the market. The Lexus RX 350 has far more expensive materials and a sportier ride, but the Highlander is one of the best options for a three-row SUV. These cars are somewhat different from one another.
Can the Toyota Highlander handle snow?
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.
Are Highlanders reliable vehicles?
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.
Highlander has 4WD 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.
Why is the V6 being phased out by Toyota?
The new engine, according to Toyota, is more environmentally friendly than the previous V6 engine. As well as improving CO2 emissions, it promises a 50% reduction in NOx and NMOG. But why not the Hybrid if those qualities are crucial to a buyer? For a complete update on the 2023 Highander, keep an eye on Torque News.
The Toyota Highlander is manufactured where?
However, the Corolla was produced there instead, and starting with the 2010 model year for the majority of North America, Tundra manufacture was moved to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana in Princeton, Indiana.
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.
Which Highlander model year offers the largest cargo space?
The Highlander’s cargo area is divided up by model year as follows: Maximum capacity for the first generation (2001–2007) is 81.4 cubic feet. Maximum capacity for the second generation (2008–2013) is 95.4 cubic feet. Third generation (2014–2019): 83.2 cubic feet maximum capacity.