2024 Toyota Highlander Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Overview

Past Toyota Highlanders have taken the shotgun approach to the mid-size SUV segment, offering myriad trims, standard and hybrid powertrains, and front- or all-wheel drive variants in order to cover the widest possible swath of buyers. The Highlander gets some relief for 2024 with the arrival of the larger 2024 Grand Highlander, which offers more third row and cargo room. This leaves the Highlander free to focus on its core mid-sized mission, which starts with dropping the base L trim from its crowded lineup and—sorry to disappoint—that’s about the extent of changes for 2024. It continues to deliver a smooth ride and acceptable handling characteristics as expected of a family-focused SUV; if it has a wild side, we’ve never experienced it. The interior is nicely equipped, again favoring useful, logical utility features above all else. The infotainment is intuitive, a host of driver-assistance features are standard, and the turbocharged four-cylinder and hybrid powertrains return decent fuel economy. The Limited and Platinum models do a good impression of a Lexus, with handsome leather upholstery, a premium JBL stereo system, and additional tech features. Still, the Highlander prioritizes middle-of-the-road sensibilities above all else. The Mazda CX-90 offers a far more stylized interior and better driving dynamics, while the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade deliver more luxury and third-row room. The Highlander, while thoroughly competent, is a less compelling alternative in comparison.

What's New for 2024?

The updates for 2024 are minimal. The base L trim has been discontinued, as are the Bronze editions of the Hybrid and Hybrid XLE. In their place are LE Nightshade and XLE Nightshade trims of the hybrid model. Additionally, the XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum trims now have a standard hands-free power liftgate. Toyota replaced the V-6 with a new turbocharged four-cylinder for the 2023 model year.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

With the base L banished from the lineup for 2024, the XLE is an even more appealing value proposition and remains our trim of choice. In addition to the LE’s long list of standard kit, the XLE adds heated front seats, second-row captain’s chairs and sunshades, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a power sunroof. All-wheel drive costs $1600, and we'd also spring for the Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation package, which brings in-dash navigation and an upgraded stereo system.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 2024 Highlander offers buyers a choice of a traditional gasoline or hybrid powertrain. The gas version uses a 265-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive. So equipped, our drivers coaxed an all-wheel drive version from zero to sixty mph in an unhurried 7.2 seconds. The Highlander Hybrid employs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors for a combined 243 horsepower. The hybrid uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and offers a choice between front- and all-wheel drive. Though considerably more fuel-efficient, the Highlander Hybrid keeps pace with the gas car, trailing it by just one-tenth of a second in the 0-60 mph run. Both versions provide the stable and predictable ride and handling characteristics preferred for family chauffeur duty. Once a bit of an outlier, the Highlander Hybrid now has a bevy of competitors, including the Ford Explorer hybrid, Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, Mazda CX-90 PHEV, Kia Sorento Hybrid, and more. Pitting these electrified utes against each other, the Toyota comes out on top in terms of fuel economy.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The gasoline Highlander wears EPA estimates 25 mpg combined, 21 mpg city, and 29 mpg highway, though the all-wheel drive version subtracts 1 mpg in each metric. The Highlander Hybrid is significantly more efficient, returning 36 mpg combined, 36 mpg city, and 35 mpg highway, with all-wheel drive models registering 1 mpg less in combined and city ratings. To date, we haven’t had an opportunity to put either version through our 75-mph highway fuel economy test route, but we’ll update this story with the results when we do. For more information about the Highlander's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The base LE model (remember, the L is dropped for 2024) can seat eight passengers, but second-row captain's chairs are available on XLE and above trims reducing the head count to seven. Although the passenger space is on par or slightly more generous here than in the CX-90, the Chevrolet Traverse remains the passenger-space king, its third row offering nearly six more inches of legroom than the Highlander. Cargo room is the same story, with only four carry-on suitcases fitting behind the Highlander’s third row compared to the Traverse’s six. Materials throughout the cabin have been improved over the previous-generation Highlander, and the design is basic but functional. Upscale Limited and Platinum models provide the most creature comforts with leather upholstery, a larger infotainment screen, ventilated seats, and more frills, but still fall short of the feature-packed Palisade and Telluride.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The LE and XLE make do with an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, but a 12.3-inch setup is optional on the XLE and standard on Limited and Platinum; the latter also gets a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, while the rest of the lineup uses traditional analog gauges with a small 7-inch information screen. A six-speaker audio system is standard, but an 11-speaker JBL audio system is available on XSE and standard on Limited and Platinum. All models get SiriusXM satellite radio, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. An integrated wireless smartphone charging pad is standard on XLE and above. Navigation is available on XSE and standard on the top two trims.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Toyota has made a point of equipping its entire lineup with a bevy of driver-assistance features and the Highlander is no exception. The standard safety suite includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, traffic sign recognition, 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 is typical for the industry but includes two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance, a nice perk that most rivals don't offer. The electrified Highlander Hybrid 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

More Features and Specs