Toyota Highlander Hybrid Model Years and History

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.