Toyota Highlander 2023
Model PreviewThe 2023 Toyota Highlander will lose its V6 engine in favor of a 4-cylinder turbo, though the brand's popular SUV will remain largely unchanged otherwise. Boasting more power and nearly identical fuel efficiency, the latest version of the Highlander will undoubtedly be a compelling option for 3-row crossover shoppers when it goes on sale this year. Show
The current Toyota Highlander has a highly styled exterior with an angry face and hard creases, while the interior is a bit more restrained. Considering the largest weak point is third-row passenger space, anything short of a full platform redesign is unlikely to rectify the issue. Fortunately, Toyota is working on a larger Grand Highlander for 2023. Under the hood, the 2023 Highlander sports a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 265 horsepower and 309 pound-feet of torque. That's a noteworthy increase in power compared to the previous 3.5-liter V6 and its 295-horsepower, 263-pound-feet ratings. As before, the company will offer the more fuel-efficient Toyota Highlander Hybrid.  In terms of fuel economy, the 2023 Highlander promises 24 mpg in overall driving, the same as the outgoing V6 despite its higher-horsepower design. Interestingly, Toyota says the 2023 Highlander manages to offer a 50% reduction in NOx and NMOG (nitrogen oxides and nonmethane organic gases) when compared with the older V6 engine. As far as capacity, the 2023 Highlander can fit 7 or 8 passengers depending on the configuration, with a tow rating of up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. When it comes to safety, the 2023 Highlander comes with a full range of driver assistance features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and more. However, a blind-spot monitor with cross-traffic alert is only standard on the Highlander LE and higher trim levels. Stay tuned for a full review at a later date. Pricing & Release DateThe 2023 Toyota Highlander is expected to go on sale soon at dealerships nationwide. Pricing for the 2023 Highlander will start at $37,755 (including destination) for the L trim with FWD and go up to $52,560 for a Platinum trim with AWD. The main competitors for the Toyota Highlander are the Volkswagen Atlas, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Pilot, and Chevrolet Traverse. Check back for updates as information becomes available. Pictured: 2023 Toyota Highlander The 2023 Toyota Highlander is an excellent midsize 3-row SUV with seating for up to eight. It gets a lot of things right, especially safety, and it gets even better for 2023. Pricing starts at $36,420. This generation of Highlander midsize SUV launched for 2020, so there’s plenty of up-to-the-minute technology. This year, Toyota has given the top two trims dual 12.3-inch displays, a feature that’s becoming increasingly popular from Mercedes-Benz down to Kia. Then there are the usual Toyota traits of excellent build quality, reliability, and robust resale values. There’s an even more fuel-efficient version, the 2023 Highlander Hybrid SUV (reviewed separately). The Highlander plays in a competitive field of midsize 3-row SUVs. Some of our other favorites include the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Honda Pilot. 2023 Toyota Highlander PricingThe 2023 Toyota Highlander starts at $36,420. The most popular XLE model starts at $41,820, and the near-luxury Platinum trim begins at $49,075. All-wheel drive is a $1,600 option on the L, LE, and XLE trims, and it’s $1,950 on the upper trims. The pricing of the Highlander is similar to Honda Pilot and Mazda CX-9.
These are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) and don’t include the $1,335 factory-to-dealer delivery fee. Before buying a Highlander, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. The Highlander boasts strong resale values, and the Toyota brand earns our Best Resale Value Award. What’s New for 2023?A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is now the sole engine option in the non-hybrid Toyota Highlander. The V6 is no longer available, but the turbo engine is arguably better. Other updates for 2023 include a hands-free power liftgate for the XLE and XSE trims, plus dual 12.3-inch screens in the top two trims. Driving the 2023 Toyota HighlanderFrom a performance perspective, nothing was especially lacking in the V6 that powered the Highlander SUV up until this model year. Now the new turbocharged 4-cylinder unit we tested develops more thrust, which we felt when moving away from a standstill and when calling on maximum muscle to make it up steep climbs. The sport-tuned suspension in the XSE version might bring a slightly mischievous glint to a driver’s eye when driving solo on back roads, but life in a 2023 Highlander is generally quite relaxed. An optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) system adds confident traction on snowy roads. From the XSE version and up, all-wheel drive also includes torque vectoring, distributing the right amount of power to each wheel, depending on which has the most grip, and tackling corners with utmost efficiency. Functional InteriorEight occupants can fit into the L and LE trims. The XLE and Limited versions have a pair of captain’s chairs in row two, bringing the seat count down to seven, but offer the option of a 3-person bench seat. Those captain’s chairs are non-negotiable in the XSE and Platinum variants. Space in the first two rows is plentiful. Legroom for the second row is a generous 41 inches. Things get a little tighter in the third row, but it’s nice that the extra seats are there if you need them. One minor change this year is that, where it’s fitted, the wireless charging pad moves to a more convenient spot. And speaking of convenience, every new Highlander 3-row SUV comes with eight cup holders, six bottle holders, and a concave conversation mirror to help the driver keep tabs on those in the back. Balanced DesignA careful corporate styling approach means the 2023 Highlander doesn’t make any visual statements that might be considered too bold. There’s a little more swagger from the XSE trim and up with 20-inch alloy wheels. This year, Limited and Platinum trims gain power-folding side mirrors, which are nice to have in tight parking spots. Cypress, a fairly dark green, is a new paint choice. In terms of size, the Highlander is slotted between the Venza and the Sequoia in the Toyota lineup. The size of the Highlander is similar to 3-row rivals like the Kia Telluride and Honda Pilot. Favorite FeaturesTurbocharged engine 3-row seating Wireless smartphone connectivity Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ Dual 12.3-inch displays JBL audio system Standard FeaturesThe most affordable new Highlander SUV is the L trim, with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, keyless entry/ignition, 3-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and cloth upholstery. Driver assistance features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing assistance, lane-departure alert, and automatic high beams. The infotainment system has an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Amazon Alexa compatibility, one USB-A port, four USB-C ports, Bluetooth, and satellite radio. Factory OptionsA better choice would be the next-up LE trim, with blind-spot monitoring, LED fog lights, height-adjustable powered tailgate, remote start/lock/unlock (optional in the L), a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and Wi-Fi. It isn’t until the XLE trim that roof rails are added, along with 18-inch alloy wheels, powered moonroof, wireless charging, heated front seats (now 10-way power-adjustable for the driver and 8-way for the passenger), simulated leather upholstery, and (new this year) hands-free tailgate operation. The XSE brings a sport-tuned suspension, 20-inch alloy wheels, ambient cabin lighting, and torque vectoring with the optional all-wheel-drive system, but other differences are mainly cosmetic. Both the XLE and XSE are eligible for a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The Limited and Platinum models gain dual 12.3-inch displays, plus a heated steering wheel, heated/ventilated front seats, perforated leather seating surfaces (optional in the XSE), Driver Easy Speak (sending the driver’s voice through the rear speakers — optional in the XLE and XSE), 120-volt outlet, front/rear parking sensors with automatic braking, and an 11-speaker/1,200-watt JBL audio system. Platinum raises the luxury game even higher with adaptive front lighting, rain-sensing wipers, panoramic roof, 360-degree camera system (optional in the Limited), head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and heated second-row seats. Engine & TransmissionThe V6 is no more. This erstwhile 3.5-liter unit has been a mainstay among Toyota engines, but the 2023 Highlander now has greater torque and lower emissions. The new turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine has less horsepower, more torque, and better fuel economy than the outgoing V6. The sacrifice in horsepower is a worthwhile tradeoff to get better efficiency with the same 5,000-pound tow rating as the outgoing V6. Like most of its rivals, front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) offered as an option. The transmission is an 8-speed automatic. 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine More Highlander fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website. 3-year/36,000-mile WarrantyThe Toyota Highlander is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This is typical protection for the segment. Top Safety Pick+Since the Highlander’s appeal is primarily as family transport, potential buyers will be reassured by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) making the current-generation Highlander a Top Safety Pick+, the institute’s highest accolade. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also awarded the Highlander its maximum 5-Star overall score. KBB Vehicle Review and Rating MethodologyOur Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability. More About How We Rate Vehicles Is Toyota redesigning the Highlander for 2023?The Toyota Highlander entered its fourth generation in 2019 with a radical redesign. Powering this fourth-gen Highlander was either a hybrid powertrain or a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6. For the 2023 model year, the Highlander is swapping the V6 for a turbocharged 2.4-liter I4 and a new base price.
Is Toyota Highlander a luxury car?Toyota is not a luxury brand, but the interior of the Highlander has a decidedly premium feel. Materials are high quality, from the dash to the seats, so it never feels cheap, even if you're considering a trim lower in the lineup.
Which is bigger 4Runner or Highlander?Bottom Line: The Toyota Highlander is bigger than the 4Runner and much more spacious for humans in just about every measure. The main reason for this is down to the way they are constructed. Where the Highlander has a unibody construction, the 4Runner is a body on frame.
What is the luxury version of Toyota Highlander?Between the two brands, there are now 6 three-row SUVs that can carry at least seven passengers. Today, the 2022 Lexus RX350 is the luxury version of the 2022 Toyota Highlander.
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