If you’re looking for a mid-size SUV for family duties, then you’ve likely already realized there’s a wealth of choice out there. The Toyota Highlander isn’t the flashiest or the most tech-forward on the market, but there’s a reason you see so many on the road. The hybrid version comes with excellent fuel economy figures of as much as 36 mpg combined, adding to the Highlander’s practicality, comfort, affordability, and Toyota’s reputation for reliability.
All the Toyota Highlander Hybrid models use a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine combined with electric power to make 243 horsepower, and both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive are available. Gas models may be more powerful, but they don’t get the savings at the pumps. Both versions benefit from updates for 2023, however, with the upper trims getting dual 12.3-inch screens as standard, while the larger touchscreen becomes optionally available to the Hybrid XLE. We spent some time with the Highlander Hybrid to see why buyers would choose it over rivals like the Kia Sorento Hybrid.
Styling: Background Music
Nobody looks at a Toyota Highlander and thinks, “Wow!” It’s just not an arresting design. What it does do well is fade into the background, even in the Platinum trim we were sent with its 20-inch wheels and LED headlights. And that’s not a bad thing as not everyone wants to be noticed. Besides, it’s not exactly offensively styled either, has some nice touches if you take a second look, and won’t look well out of date in five year’s time.
There are some reasons we wouldn’t go for the Platinum trim, including that 20-inch wheels are of no real use to the Highlander beyond making tires much more expensive when they need replacing. But the top trim does get adaptive front lighting and a panoramic glass roof.
Interior: Typical Toyota
Inside, the Highlander is standard Toyota fare. This means it’s comfortable, the materials are good, and the build quality is solid. Going up the trims gets you more premium materials and seat adjustability, as well as changes in seating capacity. In standard form, the three rows will seat a maximum of eight people, while swapping the center bench seat for more comfortable captain’s chairs brings it down to seven. However it’s set up, though, the interior is spacious and full of useful storage options.
The middle row, with its 38.7 inches of legroom, is where everyone will want to be as it is more than a little cramped in the back for anyone but kids. Cargo space is a merely useful 16.0 cubic feet of space until you fold down the third row of seats to open it up to 48.4 cubes; a generous 84.3 cubic feet of trunk space is available with both rows folded. For us, that means the third row is something to be used when needed and not to be relied upon – we’d likely keep it stashed away most of the time.
Platinum models feature heated second-row seats in addition to the heated and ventilated front seats that are standard from the Limited. A 10-inch head-up display is included on the top trim.
Powertrain: Perfectly Adequate
Under the Highlander Hybrid’s hood sits an efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine backed up by Toyota’s proven hybrid system. It’s lauded for kicking on and off when needed as stealthily as a cat that knows there’s a Thanksgiving turkey on the counter. Between that and the CVT gearbox, the Highlander is smooth to drive. Front-wheel drive is the base configuration, but all-wheel drive – as on our tester – costs almost $2k more. All hybrid models use regenerative braking to recharge the battery, which is located under the middle row so as not to eat into cargo space.
Someone, somewhere in Toyota’s product planning division, is incredibly good at their job, as the Highlander Hybrid’s 243 hp is not too much, not too little to hustle through traffic while still maintaining that good fuel economy target. During our week, we averaged around 36 mpg without adjusting driving style, which speaks volumes for how good Toyota is at designing hybrid systems.
Infotainment: Up To Date
Limited and Platinum-grade models come with a large 12.3-inch infotainment display, while the XLE trims can opt up to that from the standard 8-inch screen. Toyota’s available Connected Service Drive Connect voice assistant tech has made its way into the Highlander, and the navigation is solid as a result. However, most will take advantage of the standard wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto and be happy.
Standard on the Limited and Platinum trims is a 1,200-watt, 11-speaker JBL Premium Audio system boasting that it can “breathe life into compressed digital music formats, enhancing the audio experience” using Clari-Fi technology. Unfortunately, even hi-res FLAC filed music sounds less than stellar through the system. While it’s an upgrade on the standard system, we find it hard to call it premium sound, and that goes for any JBL system in any Toyota we’ve tested.
Driving Impressions: Genuinely Pleasant
A mid-size family crossover must be easy to drive, and the Highlander delivers in this regard. You don’t need to finesse the throttle peddle to drive it smoothly, and the steering is light and easy. We also appreciate that the suspension deals with rough roads without upsetting passengers, visibility around the vehicle is great, and the backup camera with dynamic gridlines makes getting in and out of tight spots easy – and it doesn’t beep at you until it’s necessary.
When it comes to the regenerative braking, the Highlander Hybrid’s system can be adjusted in steps so, for example, when traveling through hilly or mountainous areas, it can be manually maximized when going downhill, and drag can be minimized when going uphill. Like almost everything else on the Highlander, the steps are nicely measured. All of this adds together and results in a car that is effortless to drive around town, take backroads to avoid traffic with, and cruise on the freeway alongisde other cars.
Conclusion: A Trim For Everyone
The Highlander Hybrid starts at $40,620, excluding delivery and processing fees ($1,395) for the FWD LE model, which isn’t pocket change for something that arrives with fabric-covered seats. The XLE starts at $43,620 and, while still not cheap, is the trim we’d opt for. The Limited comes in at $47,875, although there is a Bronze Edition below that at $46,380. The Platinum trim we drove costs $51,075. AWD adds $1,950 to the bill for each trim.
It’s a sign of the times that the Highlander is at least a couple of grand over what we feel it should be, but if you’re looking for a family midsize crossover right now, you should be looking for something that’s going to take your money as far as possible for as long as possible on as little gas as possible. The Highlander Hybrid is one of the best bets for that on the market before stepping up to a PHEV.