2022 Toyota Highlander

Overview

Practical, comfortable, and stylish, the 2022 Toyota Highlander is a family SUV with its eye on the mid-size prize. This three-row ute has plenty to offer and a variety of configurations to appeal to the widest possible audience. Although the base powertrain consists of a V-6 engine, the Highlander is one of only a few three-row SUVs offered with an optional hybrid setup; both powertrains can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive. Toyota has gone the value-packed route with the Highlander, too, incorporating desirable infotainment and driver-assistance features as standard across the entire lineup. Opt for one of the Highlander's ritzier trims and enjoy a more luxurious environment that just about matches the offerings of a Lexus-branded SUV. What's missing is driver engagement. The Highlander's ride is smooth and its acceleration is decent, but overall it lacks the driving verve of rivals such as the Kia Telluride, the Hyundai Palisade, and the Mazda CX-9.

What's New for 2022?

A new Hybrid Bronze Edition model joins the lineup and wears Cement or Wind Chill Pearl exterior paint with a set of cool 18-inch bronze-colored wheels. The cabin also receives some unique design elements in the form of geometric-patterned upholstery with bronze-colored detailing and illuminated bronze-colored doorsill protectors. Elsewhere, XLE and higher trims now come with a height-adjustable power-seat feature for the front passenger. The Highlander otherwise carries over to 2022 with no other changes.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

In our view, the midrange XLE is the pick of the litter. It has heated front seats, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a power sunroof, among other niceties. We'd also spring for the Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation package, which brings in-dash navigation and an upgraded stereo system. All-wheel drive will add $1600 to the bottom line. And opting for the hybrid powertrain over the standard V-6 will cost an extra $1400.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Highlander comes with a 295-hp 3.5-liter V-6, which pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive. During a brief test drive, we found the V-6 could tackle short on-ramps without straining; at our test track, our all-wheel-drive test vehicle made it to 60 mph in a reasonably quick 6.7 seconds. Handling is unexciting but stable, and the ride is perfectly suitable for family-chauffeur duty. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors team up for a combined 243 horsepower in the Highlander Hybrid. This model comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and a choice between front- and all-wheel drive. Leveraging Toyota's hybrid expertise, this powertrain provides buyers with something more fuel efficient than the standard model. The tradeoff comes in acceleration performance, both due to the hybrid's lower horsepower rating and the fact that this model uses a CVT instead of the nonhybrid's eight-speed automatic. At our test track, the hybrid model made it to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. Potential buyers in this segment will perhaps know that the Ford Explorer comes in hybrid form, too. But pitting these utes against each other, the Toyota comes out on top in terms of fuel economy.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates that the Highlander V-6 will deliver up to 29 mpg on the highway when equipped with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive cuts that by 2 mpg. Hybrid models carry higher ratings, with front-wheel-drive variants earning 36 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. We've tested the standard Highlander on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy route, where it delivered 28 mpg. When the hybrid visits our office, we'll be putting its fuel efficiency to the test on the same route. For more information about the Highlander's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Base L and midrange LE models can seat eight passengers using bench seats in the second and third rows, but a seven-seat arrangement with second-row captain's chairs is available on higher trims. Passenger space is more generous here than in the CX-9, but not as spacious as in the Chevrolet Traverse, especially in the third row. Materials throughout the cabin are much improved over those in the last-generation Highlander. Upscale Limited and Platinum models provide the most creature comforts, but compared with the features proffered by the Palisade or Telluride, they fall short. The cargo area behind the third row fit a mere four carry-on suitcases; the Traverse fit six.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

An 8.0-inch infotainment system comes standard on most trims, but the Highlander Limited and Platinum get a 12.3-inch display. An 11-speaker JBL audio system is available. Toyota provides SiriusXM satellite radio, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration for all models.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

As is the Toyota way, the Highlander offers a standard suite of driver-assistance features. The package includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and automatic high-beam headlamps. For more information about the Highlander's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear-cross-traffic alert
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Toyota's warranty coverage adheres to the norm of the segment; however, buyers get two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance, which is a nice perk that most rivals don't offer. The electrified Highlander comes with a separate hybrid-component warranty that provides eight years or 100,000 miles of coverage.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Hybrid-component warranty covers eight years or 100,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles

Specifications

Specifications

2020 Toyota Highlander AWD

VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE AS TESTED
$51,112 (base price: $49,920)

ENGINE TYPE
DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
211 in³, 3456 cm³
Power
295 hp @ 6600 rpm
Torque
263 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm

TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 13.3-in vented disc/13.3-in disc
Tires: Goodyear Eagle Touring, 235/55R-20 102V M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 112.2 in
Length: 194.9 in
Width: 76.0 in
Height: 68.1 in
Passenger volume: 132 ft³
Cargo volume: 16 ft³
Curb weight: 4504 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
Rollout, 1 ft: 0.3 sec
60 mph: 6.7 sec
100 mph: 18.2 sec
110 mph: 23.3 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 7.2 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.3 sec
¼-mile: 15.3 sec @ 93 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 114 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 167 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.85 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
75-mph highway driving: 28 mpg
Highway range: 500 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 23/20/27 mpg

2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid AWD

VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE AS TESTED
$51,068 (base price: $49,975)

POWERTRAIN
DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter inline -4, 186 hp, 175 lb-ft + 3 permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors; combined output, 243 hp

TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 13.3-in vented disc/13.3-in vented disc
Tires: Goodyear Eagle Touring, 235/55R-20 102V M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 112.2 in
Length: 194.9 in
Width: 76.0 in
Height: 68.1 in
Passenger volume: 135 ft³
Cargo volume: 16 ft³
Curb weight: 4615 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.3 sec
100 mph: 21.9 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 7.8 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.9 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.2 sec
1/4 mile: 16.0 sec @ 87 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 118 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 176 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.82 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 29 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 35/35/35 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs