Toyota Highlander Model Years and History

The Grand Highlander and Grand Highlander Hybrid were added to the Toyota lineup in 2024 and roll into 2026 with minimal changes.

The 2026 Toyota Highlander loses the FWD trims, as well as the LE AWD. The 2026 Highlander Hybrid also loses a couple variants, with the XLE Nightshade and Limited 25th Edition going by the wayside. Amongst the remaining trims, the 2026 Highlander remains essentially unchanged.

The Grand Highlander and Grand Highlander Hybrid were added to the Toyota lineup in 2024 and roll into 2025 with minimal changes.

The Toyota Highlander carries over with minimal changes for 2025.

The Grand Highlander and Grand Highlander Hybrid are all-new additions to the Toyota lineup for 2024.

The Toyota Highlander drops the L trim for 2024 but otherwise carries over with minimal changes.

The Toyota Highlander gets a few minor updates for 2023 including a larger touchscreen on the higher trims and the V6 engine was replaced with a turbocharged 4-cylinder model.

The Toyota Highlander carries over with minimal changes for 2022 while the Hybrid model gains a new Bronze trim.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander is a sporty yet modern styling suv including a reshaped grille combined with a ton of both safety and convenience technology built in. The hybrid model returns, with Toyota now claiming that the Highlander Hybrid has the best fuel economy in its class. Toyota has also been trying to standardize much of their safety tech across their entire range, with the Highlander benefitting from that change as the new Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5; Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and satellite radio are all standard across the ranges.

The Highlander enters into 2019 mostly unchanged aside from aesthetic updates to the body-side rocker panels in black, chrome accents and darkened updates to the headlights, taillights and fog light housings.

After a large series of changes for the 2017 model year, the Highlander enters into 2018 mostly unchanged.

Going into 2017, the Toyota Highlander receives a significant number of changes including a new grille, a direct-injected V6 backed by an 8-speed automatic transmission, and every trim level now comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense bundle of accident-avoidance technologies. These include a forward-collision warning and automatic-braking system that can detect both cars and pedestrians. Other features include lane-departure warning and steering assist, automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control. Another key update is the addition of four extra USB ports.

The Toyota Highlander remains essentially unchanged for 2016. The tow package is now standard on all V6 Highlander models, while rain-sensing wipers are also new this year as an option. The Highlander is otherwise unaltered.

Following a redesign for 2014, the Toyota Highlander is unchanged.

The Toyota Highlander has been completely redesigned for 2014. It features all new sheetmetal and a new interior and is now available as a hybrid.

The big change for the 2013 Toyota Highlander is the addition of a new trim level--the Highlander Plus--which replaces the previous Tech Package while adding a rear backup camera, 3.5-inch multi-touch display, fog lights and more. Highlanders in base, SE and Plus trims now feature a standard Display Audio unit with 6.1-inch touchscreen. The Highlander Hybrid now includes as standard Display Audio with Navigation and the Entune multimedia package.

The 2012 Highlander sees no significant changes from last year's model.

For 2011, the Toyota Highlander has been given revised front and rear styling, with slimmer headlights, a new grille and silver accents around the bumper-mounted fog lamps. New taillights and rear trim have also been fitted. The Sport model has been discontinued, and the Hybrid model has been given more power through the use of a 3.5L V6 in place of last year's 3.3L unit, pushing horsepower up from 270 in 2010 to 280 in 2011. A third-row seat is now standard on all models.

The 2010 Toyota Highlander and Highlander hybrid are basically unchanged from 2009. A sunroof is now available across the lineup, including on the base trim and a backup camera is available on all trims with a V6 engine.

Following a major redesign in 2008, the 2009 Highlander sees few changes. A new base-level 2-wheel-drive 4-cylinder model joins the lineup, featuring a 187-horsepower 2.7-liter engine that gets an estimated 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway and is rated as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle by the EPA. Two-row seating is standard in the base model, with third-row seating and an upgraded stereo optional.

The Toyota Highlander has been completely redesigned for 2008. The new Highlander is completely new mechanically and significantly larger; it's about four inches longer and about three inches wider, with an inch more ground clearance. A much more powerful 3.5L V6 replaces the former 3.3L engine, the four-cylinder engine is gone from the lineup, and a new set of active and passive safety features are introduced. Also, larger wheels are installed across the line.

The Toyota Highlander gains for 2007 what the Highlander Hybrid already had: front seat-mounted side air bags and two row curtain side air bags, complete with a rollover sensor. The 2007 Highlander also gets redesigned headlights.