Along with the smaller, compact RAV4, the midsize Highlander forms the core of Toyota's broad crossover SUV lineup, which also includes the Corolla Cross, Sequoia, and Venza. (Toyota's other sport utility, the 4Runner, is a conventional body-on-frame SUV design.) The Highlander, now in its fourth generation, is the brand's second-best-selling SUV model behind the RAV4. It is also a top seller among midsize sport utilities, competing for buyers along with the ever-popular Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The three-row Highlander can carry seven or eight passengers depending on the second-row seat configuration. Hybrids represent 25 percent of Highlander sales in the United States. For 2023, Toyota replaced the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 gas engine version with a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that makes 17-percent more peak torque than the previous gas V6. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated fuel economy in combined city/highway driving also improves by one mpg on gas-powered versions to 25 mpg on front-wheel-drive (FWD) models and 24 mpg with all-wheel drive (AWD).
As in past years, Toyota offers a Highlander for every purse and purpose. Available trim levels include L, LE, XLE, XSE, Bronze Edition, Limited, and Platinum. Toyota limits the basic L trim to gas-powered versions, and the Bronze Edition (with its distinctive bronze-colored exterior trim) is exclusive to hybrid versions.
The gas version starts at $36,420 for the Highlander L FWD and tops out at $51,225 for the Highlander Platinum with AWD. The gas/electric hybrid starts with the Highlander LE FWD at $40,220 and rises to $52,625 for the AWD version of the Highlander Platinum. Toyota adds a $1,335 destination charge to all trims. The 2023 Highlander is in dealer showrooms now.
I recently drove in the Nashville, Tennessee, area a 2023 Highlander XSE AWD. Toyota equipped it with 20-inch black-finish alloy wheels, a Cockpit Red interior, the optional Audio Multimedia package that includes the largest available 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system. The test vehicle had the optional Wind Chill Pearl premium paint. The estimated MSRP for this vehicle was $48,500, including the $1,335 destination charge.
Photo: Ron Sessions
The Highlander can carry seven or eight passengers, depending on whether the second-row seats are individual captain's chairs (as in the XSE test vehicle) or a 60/40 split bench. Both types of second-row seats slide fore and aft to grant access to the smaller third-row 60/40 split bench seat and allow some legroom reallocation, borrowing from the second row to give the longer-legged third-row passengers a modicum of knee clearance.
Toyota nicely finished the Highlander XSE test vehicle's cabin in a not-too-subtle Cockpit Red and black two-tone color scheme. Although this is no Lexus, the Highlander makes liberal use of soft-touch materials and attractive accent stitching on the dash and center console. The front buckets, heated in all but the base L and LE trims, are comfortable with a choice of cloth or SoftTex coverings and in XSE, Limited, or Platinum trims, available with leather. Generous bolstering to the seatbacks in the torso area helps keep the driver and front passenger in place in the twisty bits but doesn't impede easy ingress and egress.
Storage space is typical for a midsize SUV with a full-size sedan-like 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 with the 60/40 split third-row seats folded, and 84.3 with the second- and third-row chairs folded flat. Also, a generously sized hidden compartment beneath the cargo floor and above the mini-spare tire will easily accommodate several computer bags, purses, briefcases, cameras, and smaller shopping items.
The cargo bay is accessible via a manually operated liftgate with the base L trim and power-operated with all higher trims. Limited and Platinum trims feature a hands-free liftgate that opens with a foot wave under the rear bumper if the key fob is on the operator's person. The opening height of the liftgate is adjustable on all but the base L trim.
Up front, the Highlander has several clever storage solutions. A handy shelf that runs in two sections under the dash center stack beneath the climate and infotainment controls and above the glovebox offers stash space for all sorts of smaller items and road-trip detritus cabin occupants might want to keep readily accessible. The shelf includes a wireless charger for Qi-compatible cellphones on all but the base L and LE trims.
The console itself provides a pair of cupholders, a well in front of the shifter with one USB-A and a couple of USB-C ports, and a nifty bin under the center armrest accessed via a sliding tambour door.
Additional storage is available in pockets and bottle holders in the doors.
Photo: Ron Sessions
The 2023 Highlander is one of several new Toyotas to adopt the brand's new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system that made its debut in some of its models for the 2022 model year. Developed at Toyota's U.S. headquarters in Texas, the new system offers several advancements, including enhanced voice-activation controls, cloud navigation, and a point-of-interest search base maintained by Google. Other elements of the system include:
Content on the infotainment screen is simple to access with easy-to-read and logically arranged touchscreen tiles and steering wheel buttons. However, Toyota did away with the easy-to-use analog tuning knob, which you could use with minimal distraction in the previous setup. Toyota did keep an analog volume control knob in the new system but moved it over to the passenger side of the screen.
That said, improved voice control in the new multimedia system makes infotainment interaction much more straightforward. This is especially true if the Highlander owner subscribes to Drive Connect, one of Toyota's connected services offerings. Drive Connect includes Cloud Navigation, which Toyota is constantly updating. It also includes Toyota Intelligent Assistant, which springs into action when the driver pushes the steering-wheel voice-control icon button. It also works when the driver says a wake-up command such as "Hey, Toyota," at which point the Intelligent Assistant asks what you'd like to do. Commands might include adjusting the climate control settings, finding a point of interest in the Google database, providing navigation directions, making an audio selection, and more. Best of all, it responds to simple, conversational English.
Toyota equipped the Highlander XSE test vehicle with the optional 1,200-watt JBL premium audio system. Equipped with Clari-Fi audio-restoration technology, it delivered a clean, distortion-free high-fidelity sound from compressed files on my portable streaming audio source.
Relevant to its role as a family hauler, the 2023 Toyota Highlander comes standard with eight airbags, a backup camera with a projected-path view, and Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+). Elements of TSS 2.5+ include:
Not part of TSS 2.5+ and definitely a big plus for safety (although Toyota officially considers them to be "convenience "features) are blind-spot warning and a rear cross-traffic warning system, both of which Toyota includes in all Highlanders except the base L. Also nice to have but unavailable on all but the range-topping Limited and Platinum trims are front and rear parking assist with automatic braking and a 360-degree surround-view camera. The latter provides an overhead view of the Highlander and its immediate surroundings when the driver selects Reverse gear, replacing the standard reversing camera.
Photo: Ron Sessions
There are two powertrain choices for the 2023 Highlander. A gas-electric hybrid with 243 system horsepower hooked to a continuously variable transmission and EPA-rated at 35-36 mpg in combined city/highway driving carries over unchanged from the 2022 model.
New for the 2023 Highlander (and the powertrain I sampled) is a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with an 8-speed step-shift automatic transmission. The new 4-cylinder turbo makes 265 hp—down 30 hp from the previous year's 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6, but more importantly, the new turbo-four generates 310 pound-feet of torque—47 more than last year's V6 with just 263 pound-feet. Also very notable, the new turbo 4-cylinder makes its peak torque starting at just 1,700 rpm—3,000 rpm sooner than the previous V6 developed its maximum twist. In everyday driving, the new turbocharged 4-cylinder is much more responsive around town, with stronger part-throttle acceleration and less need for the 8-speed automatic transmission to stay in the lower gears longer. Because the turbo four doesn't have to rev as much, it experiences less friction and reduced pumping losses, and with the driver not as deep into the throttle to maintain spacing with the ebb and flow of traffic, it improves fuel economy.
Official fuel-economy figures for the 2023 Highlander reflect that, with an EPA-rated combined city/highway estimate of 25 mpg for FWD models and 24 mpg with AWD. That's just a one-mpg improvement, but it's significant, considering the increased torque and real-world, everyday responsiveness of the new turbocharged 4-cylinder engine.
While the Highlander's principal mission is that of a family hauler, the turbo 4-cylinder engine and XSE trim put a sporty spin on its utility. The XSE's blackout 20-inch wheels not only add visual appeal but also mount lower aspect ratio P235/55R20 tires, which by nature of its shorter sidewalls, sharpens the response of the Highlander's nicely weighted power-assisted electric rack-and-pinion steering. Higher-rate springs and a thicker rear stabilizer bar also help make the XSE just a bit more fleet of foot.
Smooth paved roads and dry weather didn't provide an opportunity to test the traction benefits of the Highlander's on-demand AWD system, which defaults to FWD under good traction situations but parses up to 50 percent of drive torque to the rear wheels if the fronts begin to slip. Even in dry weather, however, the torque-vectoring feature of the Highlander XSE's AWD helps sharpen steering response and reduce understeer by overdriving the outer rear tire when necessary in sharp corners. It also seamlessly works with the SUV's Integrated Management system to tailor throttle response and transmission shifts to maintain stability.
For 2023, Toyota polishes its popular Highlander midsize SUV with a more responsive, more fuel-efficient turbocharged gas engine and updates it with the company's latest multimedia system featuring enhanced voice control and a wide selection of connected services. Continuous improvement doesn't get the headlines, but Toyota's steady focus on quality, reliability, and dependability is evident in the 2023 Highlander. The sporty XSE, with its blackout 20-inch wheels, black mesh grille, dual exhaust, and fabulous optional red and black interior, helps make this otherwise sober and practical midsize family hauler a bit more fun.
Ron Sessions is a seasoned vehicle evaluator with more than three decades of experience. He has penned hundreds of road tests for automotive and consumer websites, enthusiast magazines, newsletters, technical journals, and newspapers.
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