Name: Toyota Highlander (2021 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Toyota Highlander
Rating: 57.0

Summary

The Toyota Highlander was the Japanese brand’s largest SUV – bigger than the RAV4 and with its seven-seat capacity not as off-road pitched as the Land Cruiser.

On sale in other markets since 2019, the Highlander first arrived in the UK in 2021, and was only on sale for a short two-year stint, having been removed from Toyota’s range in the middle of 2023. A new generation of the Highlander is now on sale in the US, but there is currently no indication that this model will arrive in Britain.

Carbuyer called the Highlander “Toyota’s ultimate family vehicle” while The Sun commented; “It’s quiet, efficient, easy, super-comfy, spacious, swimming in kit and surprisingly easy to place on the road.”

Space and how it was used earned the most plus points amongst Highlander reviewers. As well as the useful rear row of seats, the middle row slided forwards and backwards by some 18cm. The flexibility, many storage spaces and lots of equipment also ticked the boxes, though Top Gear commented that the fit and finish “feels a couple of generations old, especially in terms of the graphics on the displays – not as slick or as pretty as the competition.”

The Highlander’s hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-litre petrol engine with electric motors on both axles, so it was not short of power. The ride comfort was praised too, though you could feel its size when cornering.

Equipment levels were impressive, extending to panoramic sunroofs, multimedia displays and 11-speaker sound systems. But as reviewers pointed out, all the kit makes it a big, expensive SUV against favourites such as the Kia Sorento, while also bringing within range tempting premium badges from the likes of Audi and Volvo. And against some stylish opposition, the Highlander’s somewhat bland visual presence became all the more obvious.

Based on UK reviews and data supplied exclusively to The Car Expert, Toyota Highlander holds a Used Car Expert Rating of D with a score of 57% as of December 2023, based on 13 reviews.

More Toyota ratings, reviews, news and features

Highlander highlights

Lots of interior space and versatility
Efficient and potent hybrid powertrain
Quality fit and finish
Extensive equipment list

Highlander lowlights

Extensive kit makes car pricey
Struggles for identity among many rivals
Exterior dull
Interior feels previous-generation

Key specifications

Body style: Large seven-seat SUV
Engines: petrol-electric hybrid
Price when new: From £50,110 on-road

Launched: Spring 2021
Last updated: N/A
Discontinued: Summer 2023

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Toyota Highlander holds a strong hand when graded against some of the more everyday requirements of a full-size family SUV: versatility, practicality and very competitive running costs.”
Read review

Auto Trader+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Highlander combines generous equipment levels with an attractive price and Toyota’s proven hybrid technology.”
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Toyota Highlander is spectacularly fit for purpose. It’s comfortable to drive, with remarkable refinement, impressive economy and plenty of space.”
Read review

Car Keys+

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid
Score: 8 / 10
“The Toyota Highlander will no doubt go down a storm with in-market SUV buyers. It’s big, comfortable and practical and, as a result, will be a hit with families. The low running costs afforded by the hybrid powertrain will also prove appealing, either to private users or business owners, too.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The Toyota Highlander offers families lots of space in a reliable package.”
Read review

Company Car Today+

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid Excel
“Excellent emissions and running costs. It’s priced to compete with premium rivals but practicality and space are good.”
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8.2 / 10
“A capable and seriously practical family SUV with hybrid power as standard.”
Read review

The Sun+

Model reviewed:
“The Toyota Highlander is efficient, easy, spacious and surprisingly easy to place on the road.”
Read review

The Telegraph+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“Launching a large SUV seems crazy in the current climate, but this economical hybrid could turn out to be a very smart move for Toyota.”
Read review

Top Gear+

Model reviewed:
Score: 5 / 10
“The Toyota Highlander suffers mainly from an excess of middle-of-the-road. It’s fine, but fine isn’t quite good enough.”
Read review

Safety rating

No safety rating

As of December 2023, the Toyota Highlander has not been tested by Euro NCAP.

Eco rating

No eco rating

As of May 2024, the Toyota Highlander has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of May 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Toyota Highlander to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Highlander, we’ll publish the score here.

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The Toyota Highlander takes on a great many rivals with big reputations. Reviewers conclude that against established favourites such as the Kia Sorento, Nissan X-Trail and Skoda Kodiaq, the big Toyota will struggle to establish itself. Its price also puts premium SUVs such as the Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC90 into the same consideration pot, and their badges may tempt buyers away from the Toyota.