View All Media
A slew of trim levels and drivetrain options, combined with high customer-satisfaction numbers, make a strong case for the Highlander.
Do you off-road or tow more than 5,000 pounds constantly? Then perhaps you should look at some other alternatives like the Dodge Durango or the refreshed Toyota 4Runner.
All-new for 2014, the Toyota Highlander boasts new features like Driver Easy Speak and a wonderful in-dash shelf. The base hybrid model goes away for the 2014 model year with the Hybrid Limited remaining as the only option. Exterior and interior restyling and optional seating for eight join the Highlander lineup.
Born to haul families and all of their cargo, the Toyota Highlander continues to uphold that reputation but brings a more refined feel than those before it. Competition is stiff with the likes of the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot circling close by but the Highlander is no slouch. Toyota estimates that 90 percent of all 2014 Highlander models sold will leave the lot with a V6 engine and 60 percent of those will come equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD). We’re inclined to go with that combination, too.
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors, but here's a general idea of what buyers are currently paying for used 2014 Toyota Highlander models when purchasing from a dealership.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$32,840 | $14,872 | |||
$35,085 | $15,284 | |||
$38,385 | $17,523 | |||
$41,985 | $18,451 | |||
$44,835 | $18,143 | |||
$48,160 | $21,620 | |||
$50,650 | $19,457 |
For reference, the 2014 Toyota Highlander originally had a starting sticker price of $32,840, with the range-topping Highlander Limited Platinum Hybrid Sport Utility 4D starting at $50,650.
Equipped with available all-wheel drive, the new Toyota Highlander holds its own on a variety of road surfaces. The 3.5-liter V6 engine and its 270 horsepower smoothly spring into action when called upon and provide adequate power when getting up to highway speed. The front-wheel drive V6 model has been rated by the EPA to return 19 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway, while the all-wheel-drive variant drags those numbers down only slightly. The 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine trades some operational smoothness for a more fuel efficient ride. If you wish to stretch those mpgs even further, opt for the Highlander Hybrid, which turns in 27 city/28 highway fuel economy. No matter which powertrain you decide on, the latest Highlander delivers a quality on-road experience, allowing some engine and road noise into the cabin, though certainly less than the previous model.
The all-new Toyota Highlander SUV boasts a clean interior that was redesigned for the latest model year. Horizontal lines on the dashboard escort your eyes from one end, stopping at the centralized multimedia screen, and spans all the way to the front passenger’s side door. A few big round knobs made the cut for the 2014 model year, but three flat buttons now flank the standard 6.1-inch touch screen on each side. Storage space is abundant throughout the cabin and a cavernous center console can swallow at least 58 standard size juice boxes. A sliding 2nd-row seat gives way to an optional third row which now offers seating for eight.
Representing the first run of the third generation, the Highlander now sports a bolder, more chiseled look. This redesigned exterior styling is still aimed at family-centric customers with hopes of more male buyers using the Highlander as their daily driver. More defined side panels play into the aerodynamic look Toyota was going for when it first sketched this latest Highlander. Not as round as the one it replaces, the new Highlander still goes after Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot sales.
IN-DASH SHELF WITH EASY CABLE MANAGEMENT
A shelf deep enough to hold even the biggest smartphone stretches from the front passenger’s door to the driver’s right knee. As advertised, the "easy cable management" keeps your smartphone’s charging and audio cables organized and out of the way.
FLIP-UP REAR HATCH WINDOW AND ADJUSTABLE POWER LIFTGATE
New for 2014, the optional rear hatch window can now open while leaving the lower gate door closed. The optional power liftgate can adjust to different heights, too.
Opting for the base front-wheel drive Toyota Highlander will land you 18-inch split 5-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels, halogen headlights, Entune Audio with AM/FM/CD and a MP3/WMA-capable 6-speaker stereo, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, day/night rearview mirror, and three 12-volt auxiliary power outlets (two up front and one in the second row). Standard safety features include eight airbags, Lower Anchor and Tethers for Children (LATCH) points, stability and traction control, and antilock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution.
The vast majority of options and packages can be found on the Limited and Hybrid Limited trim levels. These packages feature an abundance of cutting-edge safety features including lane-departure, dynamic radar cruise control and automatic high beams as well as heated 2nd-row captain’s chairs, a panoramic moonroof, a heated steering wheel, and a rear-seat Blu-Ray and DVD entertainment system.
The base 2014 Toyota Highlander crossover SUV relies on a 2.7-liter inline-4 cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and a 6-speed automatic transmission for motivation. This model is only available in a front-wheel-drive configuration. The automaker asserts, however, that 90 percent of all transactions will include the 3.5-liter V6 variant. The V6 engine is available in either front-drive or all-wheel drive on everything except for the top-tier Hybrid Limited trim, where only a V6 AWD setup is offered. The V6 engine is paired up with an electronically controlled automatic transmission. The hybrid drivetrain consists of the same 3.5-liter V6 gas engine but is assisted by two electric motors to produce 280 horsepower. During EPA testing, the Highlander Hybrid turned in 28 mpg on the highway.
2.7-liter inline-4
185 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
184 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/25 mpg
3.5-liter V6
270 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
248 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/25 (front-wheel drive), 18/24 (AWD)
3.5-liter V6 + AC 650-volt permanent-magnet motors
280 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
215 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/28 mpg
Our 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.
Curb Weight | 4398 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 145.0 cu.ft. | ||
EPA Total Interior | 158.8 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 19.2 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 40.7 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 44.2 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 8 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 8.0 inches | ||
Overall Length | 191.1 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 59.3 inches | ||
Towing Capacity, Maximum | 2000 lbs. | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 78.6 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 38.7 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 109.8 inches | ||
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) | 6000 lbs. | ||
Payload Capacity | 1455 lbs. | ||
Width with mirrors | 75.8 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
Privacy Glass | Available | ||
Rear Spoiler | Available |
City | 18 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 24 mpg | ||
Combined | 20 mpg |
Drivetrain | AWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
6 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular | ||
Hill Descent Control | Available | ||
Hill Start Assist | Available |
Horsepower | 270 @ 6200 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 248 @ 4700 rpm | ||
Engine | V6, 3.5 Liter |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 60000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 5 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2014 Toyota Highlander | Used 2017 BMW X1 | Used 2016 Kia Sorento | Used 2014 Porsche Cayenne | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $15,360 | $13,853 | $13,825 | $13,833 | |
KBB.com Rating | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.0 | |
Consumer Rating | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | |
Fuel Economy | City 18/Hwy 24/Comb 20 MPG | City 23/Hwy 32/Comb 26 MPG | City 20/Hwy 27/Comb 23 MPG | City 20/Hwy 24/Comb 21 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Hybrid | |
Safety Rating | 5.0 | N/A | 5.0 | N/A | |
Seating Capacity | 8 | 5 | 7 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | |
Horsepower | 270 @ 6200 RPM | 228 @ 5000 RPM | 240 @ 6000 RPM | 380 @ 5500 RPM | |
Engine | V6, 3.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, Twin Turbo, 2.0L | 4-Cyl, Turbo, GDI, 2.0 Liter | V6, SC, Hybrid, 3,0L | |
Drivetrain | AWD | FWD | FWD | AWD |
Americans bought more than 15 million cars in 2023 — not quite back to pre-pandemic levels (which sometimes approached 17…
Toyota and its Lexus luxury marque say they are recalling “approximately 1 million vehicles” to correct a problem that could keep airbags from…
Toyota and its Lexus luxury arm have recalled about 110,000 vehicles because an electrical problem in their steering columns could…