The Toyota Highlander is the Swiss Army Knife of SUVs. It combines power, reliability, comfort, space, and efficiency into one neat package. For 2023, there's a new turbocharged engine replacing the beloved V6. This generation of Highlander from Toyota is now a four-cylinder only in the USA. The hybrid model remains, but the standard engine is now a 2.4-liter four-cylinder. So, how does it stack up against its competitors and previous Highlander models? Is the Highlander still a class leader among SUVs? Let's dive into it and examine the new 2023 Toyota Highlander.
2023 Toyota Highlander
- Available Sport Tuned Suspension / 20-Inch Alloy Wheels (XSE)
- Towing Upto 5000 LBS
- Available Heated / Ventilated Front Seats / 3-Row Seating For Upto 8
- Available 12.3-Inch Multimedia Display With 11 JBL Speakers
- Wireless Apple Carplay / Android Auto
- Available Panoramic Moon Roof
- Standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5
- Model: Highlander
- Engine:: 2.4-Liter I4 Turbo
- Power Output: 265 HP
- Torque: 310 Pound Feet
- Range: 430 Miles
- Transmission: 8 Speed Automatic
- Driveline: FWD or AWD
- MSRP: Starting at $36,420
- Potent Turbo Engine
- Silky-Smooth Automatic
- Digital Gauge Cluster
- Small 3rd Row
- Fully-Loaded Price Is High
- Beloved V6 Is Gone
2023 Toyota Highlander Performance And Capability
For 2023, Toyota dropped the V=6 for an all-new I4 turbocharged engine. This 2.4-liter turbo produces less horsepower, but much more torque than the V-6, which is arguably what you want in this type of vehicle. The new turbocharged engine is part of the new Toyota Dynamic Force engine family, which is shared in the latest Toyota models. This power plant is also found in the Lexus RX.
Regardless of what gas-only trim you choose, you'll get this 2.4-liter engine as the standard engine. We found it to be more than ample in moving this SUV around. The only drawback of this new 2.4-liter is the noise, it doesn't have the sewing machine smooth noise that the old V6 had. The eight-speed automatic designed by Aisin is also among the best in the business. Early renditions of this transmission sometimes had jerky and rough shifts, but that seems to have been fixed for this new Highlander. There's always a gear for your needs.
While front-wheel drive is standard, an excellent all-wheel drive system is also available. If you live in a snowy area or take your Highlander off the pavement often, spring for the AWD. AWD only drops the fuel economy by one MPG, that's hardly anything these days. The new engine is technically slower than the old V6 engine, but it feels faster due to the increased amount of torque. The Highlander with the 2.4-liter turbo has plenty of get-up.
Engine | 2.4-liter I4 |
Power | 265 HP |
Torque | 310 Pound Feet |
Transmission | 8 Speed Automatic |
0-60 | 8 Seconds |
Drive | FWD or AWD |
Range | 430 |
Towing Capacity | 5,000 Pounds |
Exterior Design
The exterior design of the Toyota Highlander is modern and clean. You get a different look depending on which model you order. The XSE (the sport model) gets a more aggressive front fascia and blacked-out trim. The grille is huge, which we've come to expect from modern Toyota products, and houses the radar for the frontal crash system and cruise control system. The headlights are LED and are a wing shape, with a large back and side. Foglights are optional and are a nice detail.
Moving around to the side, things resemble the previous Highlander models. This is an evolutionary design, which is good so that older Highlander models don't look dated right away. The doors are large and so are the windows. The mirrors are also large and are heated. Wheel designs are pleasant, and range from s standard-looking alloy wheel to a sporty dark-finish alloy wheel.
In the rear, LED taillights that are oversized and large are a good safety feature. "Highlander" is spelled out along the bottom of the tailgate with the trim and AWD badges on the other side. Depending on the model you order, you get chrome exhaust tips, again adding a sporty flare. Overall, we think the Highlander looks pleasant without being garish and overdone. This is a very practical and safe design for practical people.
Magnetic Gray Metallic | Standard |
Celestial Silver Metallic | Standard |
Moon Dust | $425 |
Midnight Black Metallic | Standard |
Ruby Flare Pearl | $425 |
Blueprint | Standard |
Wind Chill Pearl | $425 |
Cypress | Standard |
Cement | Standard |
Length | 194.9 Inches |
Width | 46 Inches |
Height | 68.1 Inches |
Wheelbase | 112.2 Inches |
Curb Weight | 4,155 - 4,453 Pounds |
Interior Quality And Technology
The interior quality and design of the Highlander is a big step up from previous models. There are still some hard plastics to be found, but much fewer than before. The design may not be to everyone's taste, but it is unique and striking at a glance. An available 12.3-inch display for the center screen reminds us of Lexus models and looks great here. Cloth upholstery is standard, while several optional colors of leather or Softex are available, and the red leather has a very bright color to it.
Dual-zone climate control is standard as well as a smart-key system. There are two moon roof options available, one is the standard-size moon roof, and one is a panoramic roof. If you're the claustrophobic type or like light, definitely opt for the panoramic moon roof. The panoramic moon roof also comes with a power sunshade. The back seat of the Highlander has optional captain chairs if you order it, but we'd recommend the standard bench seating as it allows for one more passenger for maximum people-moving abilities. The back seat room is plentiful and comfortable, however, the third row is a different story.
Unfortunately, the Highlander is smaller than many of its competitors, and that third seat is where that length reduction takes place. The third row is reserved for children only. It's just too tight for any adults to fit comfortably back there. There are even sunshades for the backseat passengers. This was previously reserved for luxury cars, but now it's included in family cars, like the Highlander. Overall, the interior of the Highlander has plenty of tech, and plenty of space (for the first two rows), and fit and finish are above average. This is still a fantastic SUV for families.
Seating Capacity | 7-8 |
Headroom | 36.1 - 41.2 in |
Legroom | 28 - 42 in |
Shoulder room | 55 - 59 in |
Hip room | 45.6 - 57.2 in |
2023 Toyota Highlander Price
Prices for the 2023 Toyota Highlander start at $36,420 with a standard $1,335 delivery fee.
Build your 2023 Toyota Highlander here.
L | $36,420 |
LE | $38,820 |
XLE | $41,820 |
XSE | $43,415 |
Limited | $46,075 |
Platinum | $49,075 |
Safety
The 2023 Toyota Highlander has some very impressive safety scores. NHTSA rates the 2023 Highlander at 5/5 stars and IIHS rated the 2022 Highlander as an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, which is the highest score a vehicle can get. The 2023 Highlander has not been tested by IIHS yet. Should a collision occur, your family will be very safe in this SUV.
As for safety features, the Highlander comes loaded from the base model. Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 is standard which includes collision braking and warning, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, pedestrian detection, and lane keep assist. Blind-spot alert is optional. As with every Toyota, ABS, stability control, traction control, TPMS, and smart-stop are standard too. This is a very safe SUV.
Main Competition
This is a very competitive class of vehicle here in the USA. There are scores of great vehicles in this segment. Some of these include the Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, Kia Sorento, and the Mazda CX-9. All the vehicles in this class of SUV have abundant room and features. All of them are also decently good on gas mileage too.
But the biggest selling point for the Toyota Highlander is the buttery-soft ride, above-average fit and finish, roomy first two rows, potent turbo engine, and Toyota reliability. The weakest link in the Highlander is the tight third row. The turbo engine meanwhile is one of the biggest hits. It's slower than the V-6 to 60 MPH, but it feels faster due to the increased torque. The Toyota Highlander soldiers on for 2023 as one of the most competitive models amongst its three-row SUV rivals.
FAQ
Q: Is the 2023 Highlander a hybrid?
There is a hybrid model available for almost every trim of the Highlander for 2023.
Q: Is the Highlander safe?
Yes, it's a very safe vehicle. The 2023 Highlander gets a 5-star rating from NHTSA.
Q: Is the 2023 Highlander four-cylinder only now?
Yes, it is. The 2023 Highlander dropped the V6 engine in place for a turbocharged four-cylinder.
Q: How many can the Highlander seat?
Seven to eight passengers depending on the model.
Q: What's the combined fuel economy of the Highlander?
25 MPG for FWD models and 24 MPG for AWD models.
Q: Does the 2023 Highlander have a power tailgate?
Yes, it's an optional feature.