2024 Toyota Highlander Review: Unremarkable Top Seller

Ever since its launch more than 20 years ago, the Toyota Highlander has been a huge sales success for the Japanese automaker despite rarely ranking as the top choice in its class among reviewers. Perhaps it has something to do with its dependability or all-round competence, but it far outsells other mid-size three-row SUVs that rank higher on paper, such as the class-leading Kia Telluride and excellent new Mazda CX-90, both of which offer a far roomier third row than the Toyota. In fact, Toyota moved almost 223,000 Highlanders in the USA last year - a stellar sales performance compared to fewer than 100,000 Tellurides.

After losing its base L trim this year, the $39k starting price of the 2024 Toyota Highlander is now also less than $4k below that of the brand-new and much more spacious Grand Highlander, so it begs the question - has Toyota out-Highlandered itself? Shouldn't you just go for its bigger brother now, especially since it also beats the smaller SUV's 265 horsepower by nearly 100 hp? There's parity on hybrid power, though, with 243 hp (Highlander Hybrid) and 245 hp (Grand Highlander Hybrid) from a similar powertrain. With rivals and an in-house challenger closing in on the Highlander, what's its USP nowadays, if anything?

New for 2024

The Bronze Edition is no longer available on the 2024 Highlander and is replaced this year with a Nightshade Edition, optional on the LE and XLE hybrid trims. The Nightshade treatment blacks out the exterior trim, including the wheels, rear badging, mirror caps, and grille. Inside, it gets uniquely trimmed black seats, with silver accents added to the XLE. The base L trim disappears from the range, so the LE is now the entry-level model, raising the base price to $39k - $2.5k more than last year. Last of all, the Highlander's specifications are improved with the fitment of a standard hands-free power liftgate on the XLE (gas and hybrid) and XSE (gas) grades; this feature remains standard on Limited and Platinum trims.

2024 Toyota Highlander Price: Which One to Buy

This year, the starting price of a new Toyota Highlander SUV is $2,500 higher than last year at $39,120 for the LE, because last year's base L trim has been discontinued. Last year's LE cost $39,020, so that represents a price increase of only $100 for this trim. The LE is followed by the XLE at $42,270, the XSE at $43,865, the Limited at $46,375, and the Platinum at $49,575. These prices are for the trims in their most basic configuration, which is to say, with a standard gas powertrain and FWD.

Any of the trims can be had in AWD, which will cost you $1,600 on the LE and XLE, but $1,950 on the XSE, Limited, and Platinum trims. Any trim except the XSE can be had with the hybrid powertrain for an additional $1,600, whether it's FWD or AWD. The Nightshade package is available to the LE and XLE hybrid trims for only $1,000, also with either FWD or AWD. All these prices are MSRP, and they don't include the destination fee of $1,395.

The XLE is our favorite Highlander. It is well-equipped at the price and represents excellent value, adding desirable features such as a power moonroof, power adjustment and heating for both front seats, a wireless charging pad, and a hands-free power liftgate to the LE's feature count. The leatherette upholstery is of high quality and closely emulates the real thing, bringing a welcome plushness to the cabin. The only important item it lacks is the larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, but you can add that for $735. The gas powertrain is torquey and delivers sufficient performance - and it's the one to go for if you need maximum towing capacity. There's an excellent case to be made for the Hybrid XLE if trailering and outright performance aren't that important because its gas mileage is excellent, and it feels adequately perky around town thanks to the electrical assistance.

Interior and Features

The interior is starting to age a little, and a digital gauge cluster is only standard on the top trims, but it's solidly built and attractively styled.

The current Highlander has been around since the 2019 model year, and you can tell when you get inside. The dashboard isn't as modern as that of other contemporary Toyotas, such as the new Tundra with its all-digital cockpit, and the touchscreen is a bit small on the bottom trims. The Limited steps things up a notch and gets dual digital displays and quite a bit more equipment, but it never quite reaches the Telluride in terms of tactile quality or luxury. It's not very plush, with the materials being tough and serviceable, without an overabundance of soft-touch surfaces. The base LE is an eight-seater, but a seven-seater configuration with second-row captain's chairs is offered on higher trims, though interior space is middling - and poor in the third row. The ample ground clearance means it's just a matter of sliding across to get in, but the steering wheel won't adjust to every driver's ideal seating position. Sight lines are decent, but parking is assisted by the backup camera only on base trims; you only get parking sensors from the Limited and up.

Space

The cabin is roomy enough as a five-seater, but there is very limited space in the third row, with those seats suitable for children only. Even the CX-90, which isn't exactly huge inside, offers significantly better third-row space. The base car is an eight-seater with a three-seater second-row bench, but mid-level and top trims get two second-row captain's chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven, which effectively means they can transport only four full-size adults. Its wheelbase and overall length fall short of its rivals, which helps explain the limited available space - which the Grand Highlander effectively addresses.

Cargo

The Highlander claws back some ground when it comes to trunk space, which is more competitive compared to its rivals. With all three seating rows in use, the resultant 16 cu-ft of trunk volume behind the third row is significantly worse than the Telluride's 21 cu-ft but on par with the Mazda's 14.9 cu-ft. With the 60/40-split third row folded down, the Toyota's 48.4 cu-ft is the best of the three, compared to the Kia's 46 cu-ft and the Mazda's 40 cu-ft. With the 60/40-split second row also folded, the Highlander's 84.3 cu-ft comes out hot on the heels of the Telluride's 87 cu-ft - and both beat the CX-90's 75.2 cu-ft handsomely.

Cabin storage is good, too, with all the traditional places to put things, such as a glovebox and a lidded center-armrest storage bin. There are no fewer than 14 cup and bottle holders strewn about the interior, with even the third row getting four cupholders (two on either side of the bench in the side moldings). There is a narrow horizontal storage slot below the center air vents and another smaller one in the dashboard ahead of the passenger. Ahead of the shifter, there's a place to put your phone, which is also the wireless charging pad in trims so equipped. All four doors have door pockets, and there's a dedicated sunglasses holder in the overhead console. When the second-row captain's chairs are fitted, they're split by a console containing two cupholders and a shallow, uncovered storage tray behind them. When the second-row bench is fitted, its dual cupholders reside in its fold-down center armrest.

Materials and Colors

With the L trim now gone, only the LE gets cloth upholstery, and there are only two interior colors to choose from - Graphite (gray) and black. The XLE gets SofTex leatherette in the same two colors or, alternatively, Harvest Beige, while the Limited gets these three color choices as well, but switches the SofTex out for real leather in the first two seating rows. The Platinum gets leather in the same three colors but is the only trim with access to tan Glazed Caramel leather. To underscore its sporty intent, the SofTex in the XSE is only offered in black, with Cockpit Red leather an option, accompanied by red interior accents. The two Nightshade special editions get black upholstery only, in line with their dark theme - cloth in the LE and leatherette with silver accents in the XLE. The LE and XLE get silver-painted dashboard and door trim, while this is swapped out for faux wood from the Limited and up. All trims are fitted with a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob.

Features and Infotainment

With the rather basic L trim now gone, the Highlander is fairly well equipped, even in LE format. It only gets cloth upholstery, no seat heating, and the front passenger's seat is manually adjustable, but an eight-way power driver's seat is standard, as are a leather-trimmed shift knob and steering wheel, the latter manually height and reach adjustable. It also gets tri-zone climate control, a seven-inch driver-information display, and dual sunvisors. Further up the lineup, more features are added, such as front-seat heating, leatherette or leather upholstery, a power front passenger seat, second-row captain's chairs, a sunroof, and more.

In the LE and XLE, you get an infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen that incorporates wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audio streaming, five USB ports, a one-year trial subscription to Toyota's Remote Connect functionality, and a six-speaker audio system. The system is Wi-Fi enabled (subscription required). The Limited upgrades to a 12.3-inch touchscreen, which is optional on the XLE and XSE, while it also gains an 11-speaker JBL audio system - an item that is optional on the XSE. The Platinum is the only trim with standard navigation.

Performance

A gas and hybrid option with either FWD or AWD make for plenty of choice in terms of powertrain configuration, but no proper performance version is offered and the gas engine is hardly any more efficient than a V6.

The gas Toyota Highlander's only engine option is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, which replaced the old 295-hp naturally aspirated V6 last year. With 30 hp less, outright performance figures are worse, with the Toyota Highlander's 0-60 sprint dropping to eight seconds, down from the previously sub-seven-second time possible with the V6. There's more to it than that, though, and the new power unit is nice to use, with 17% more torque than the V6, all of it delivered from low engine speeds. This makes the car feel swift and effortless at normal speeds, and it no longer has to be revved to deliver its best, as the peaky V6 often required. The engine is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission with either FWD or AWD, giving it a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds with the factory tow hitch equipped.

The hybrid setup is available on all trims except the XSE, and it uses a different engine and drivetrain. A naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder with 186 hp and 175 lb-ft is coupled to two front-mounted electric motors in front-wheel-drive models, with an additional rear motor added to four-wheel-drive models. The total system output is 243 hp, enabling the hybrid to accelerate to 60 mph in around 8.4 seconds. Hybrids use a CVT automatic and have a lower trailering capacity of 3,500 pounds. Top speed is limited to around 118 mph in all Highlanders. Ground clearance doesn't exceed eight inches in any of the trims, and no dual-range transmission is offered, so the Highlander is not a true off-roader.

The turbo-four is not as quick as the old V6 and doesn't sound as nice, but its strong mid-range torque makes for effortless progress without the need for frantic engine revving. It's refined enough but only slightly more efficient than the V6 - and its torque curve is more in character for an SUV. The hybrid powertrain is adequate for sedate driving and around town, where the electric assistance makes it feel punchy enough. There is some whine and drone from the CVT when working hard, though, and the long-stroke four-pot doesn't like revs, complaining vocally when extended and not revving smoothly at high engine speeds. It feels marginally powered on the highway, especially when laden. The driving experience won't excite you, but the Highlander scores near the middle of the class, with decent ride quality and predictable handling with a bit of body roll, and some SUV-typical jiggling, bouncing, and wallowing on uneven surfaces, sometimes feeling oversprung and underdamped. There isn't much steering feel, but feedback is acceptable for a people mover, and the brakes feel strong.

Fuel Efficiency

Exchanging the old V6 engine for a turbo-four has not really paid any dividends in terms of gas mileage, with the FWD gas Toyota Highlander's mpg figures, according to the EPA, working out to 22/29/25 mpg for the city/highway/combined cycles. That combined figure is a single mpg better than the FWD V6 used to do. With AWD, expect 21/28/24 mpg. The hybrids fare significantly better, with the base FWD cars with the smaller wheels returning 36/35/36 mpg and the AWDs 35/35/35 mpg. The AWD Limited/Platinum trims return a slightly worse 34 mpg on the highway. With a 17.9-gallon fuel capacity, the gas Highlanders can cover between 430 and 447 miles on a tank. Hybrids have a smaller 17.1-gallon gas tank, but their superior fuel efficiency ensures a range of between 598 and 616 miles.

Safety

Crash tests returned mostly excellent results, and Toyota fits the TSS 2.5+ driver-assistance suite as standard, so the Highlander fulfills its brief as safe family transport.

The NHTSA's 2024 safety review of the Toyota Highlander resulted in a mix of four- and five-star scores, with an overall rating of five stars. The IIHS has not yet evaluated the 2024 Highlander but gave the 2023 model mostly Good scores and a Top Safety Pick+ award. It should be noted that the agency's updated moderate overlap frontal impact yielded a Marginal score, and that only the more advanced LED headlights on the Platinum received Good scores; the lower trims' more basic LED headlights were rated Acceptable.

The Highlander has eight airbags and the expected ABS, stability control, tire-pressure monitoring, and a backup camera. Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5+ driver-assistance suite is standard on all trims and includes front-collision alert with pedestrian detection, automatic LED headlights with auto high beams, lane-departure alert with steering assist and lane tracing, road-sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control. Other standard features include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, hill-descent control (AWD models), and hill-start assist. The XLE gains an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a HomeLink transceiver. On the Limited, the backup camera gains dynamic gridlines, and both front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking make an appearance. The Platinum is the only trim to get a surround-view camera (it's optional on the Limited), rain-sensing wipers, a ten-inch head-up display, and adaptive front headlights with automatic leveling.

Reliability

In terms of the Toyota Highlander's reliability, JD Power gave the 2023 model a decidedly average score of 79 out of 100 for its Quality & Reliability assessment, worse than the Telluride's 83. It looks better on the recalls front, with none so far recorded for the 2024 Highlander. The 2023 model was recalled once for a driver's airbag that may not deploy, while the 2022 model was recalled for an illegible load-capacity label. The 2022 Hybrid was recalled for its stability control that may become deactivated on startup.

The basic warranty of the 2024 Toyota Highlander is valid for three years/36,000, but the powertrain warranty covers the car for five years/60,000 miles. Hybrid components are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.

Warranty

Design

The Highlander looks smart without being particularly distinctive, with a Lexus-like visage and a big grille, whose finish depends on the trim. It's a simple black item with a silver surround on most trims, but the XSE gets a huge, somewhat overstyled maw that certainly does look aggressive, in addition to black-accented headlights, black 20-inch alloys, and dual exhausts. The side view does incorporate some interesting scallops and contouring that keep the car from looking too featureless in profile. All trims get all-LED exterior lighting, including foglights. The base trims run on 18-inch alloy wheels in various styles, with the XSE, Limited, and Platinum adorned with 20-inch wheels. The XLEs get a power moonroof, and the Platinum a panoramic glass roof with a power moonroof in its front section. The Nightshade Edition trims get blacked-out exterior trim and wheels.

Verdict: Is The 2024 Toyota Highlander A Good SUV?

The Highlander proves that a car that is mediocre on paper can outsell better rivals. There isn't a lot wrong with the Highlander, but its third row is cramped, its much-vaunted turbocharged engine hardly saves any fuel compared to a V6, its performance is middling, and its ride and handling are acceptable but far from class-leading. A Mazda CX-90 or Kia Telluride is plusher, roomier, and rides better. But the biggest challenge arguably comes from within the house, with the far more spacious and powerful Grand Highlander offering a more attractive package at only $4k more, even if the hybrid comes with the same underwhelming base powertrain.