## Toyota Highlander Generations

The Toyota Highlander was first produced in the year 2000 and pioneered the crossover SUV segment as one of the first car-based, midsize vehicles of its kind. It was initially built on the same platform as the Toyota Camry to combine the comfortable ride of a sedan with the cargo space and utility of a station wagon, minivan, or full-size SUV.

The Highlander currently slots above the smaller Toyota RAV4 and the slightly larger Toyota Grand Highlander within the company's lineup. Before the Grand Highlander was released in 2024, the Highlander slotted below the full-size Toyota Sequoia. The three-row layout and all-wheel drive capability make it more family-friendly than its more off-road-focused midsize sibling.

Since its inception, its rival base has grown significantly. It has included competing three-row crossovers like the Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Subaru Ascent, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, and Ford Explorer.

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## 2020 - Present Toyota Highlander (4th Generation)

[![Toyota Highlander 4th Generation](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/5WkvvsSxrHEnoeeZT5m1X5/88b3182b34955e424cff3bb3391ee345/Toyota_Highlander_4th_Generation.jpg)](https://www.autolist.com/toyota-highlander#year_min=2020)

Based on Toyota's New Global Architecture (TNGA-K) unibody platform, the fourth-generation Highlander debuted at the 2019 New York Auto Show. It featured sleeker styling than the previous model, more cargo space than the previous model, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity for the first time.

![Toyota Highlander 4th Generation Rear](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/5mOhpUhxexJscVJIGygkaP/e9d3f4ce7a8c8e6040f949a4f63eef05/Toyota_Highlander_4th_Generation_Rear.jpg)

Despite its styling and size updates, it looked and felt more evolutionary than revolutionary, and with only 16 cubic feet behind its third row of seating, it remained one of the smaller three-row midsize in a rapidly growing segment. Thanks to Toyota's strong reputation for practicality and reliability, the Highlander's shortcomings compared to the rest of the segment did not significantly hinder its success, and it remained a sales leader.

![Toyota Highlander 4th Generation Interior](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/4A7oO9LxpEGoaoO5gjlbjn/a322362c42abac627544822daf5eca8e/Toyota_Highlander_4th_Generation_Interior.jpg)

Toyota ditched the previous four-cylinder engine for the 2020 model year, making the previously offered 295-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine standard across each trim level. Front-wheel drive remained standard across the Highlander lineup, but all-wheel drive continued to be offered across the lineup. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard.

A Highlander Hybrid was offered along with the standard Highlander to provide customers with a more fuel-efficient option. The hybrid version featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with either two electric motors for FWD models or three electric motors for AWD models. Its hybrid powertrain produced 243 horsepower and boasted 34 mpg combined fuel economy rating with the help of a continuously variable transmission.

The standard Toyota Highlander was offered in five trim levels: L, LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum. Base L trims featured the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0 suite of standard safety features, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, Waze, Amazon Alexa compatibility, an 8-inch touchscreen, tri-zone automatic climate control, and LED headlights.

More well-equipped models could be fitted with a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, blind-spot monitoring, a panoramic sunroof, a JBL audio system, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and ventilated front seats. Highlander Hybrid models came in LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum trim levels but featured similar equipment to the standard Highlander model.

Toyota introduced the XSE trim on the standard Highlander model for the 2021 model year and followed that up with the introduction of the Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition the following model year in 2022.

Toyota replaced the Highlander's V6 engine with a four-cylinder turbo in 2023 to increase fuel economy. It produced 265 horsepower, less than the outgoing V6, but it was also more torquey with 310 lb-ft. In addition to the powertrain updates, a digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen were added as standard to Limited trims and the trim levels above it.

Toyota cut the base L from the Highlander lineup in 2024, and all-wheel drive became standard on XSE and Platinum trim levels for the 2025 model year. More significant changes were made to the hybrid model in 2025 when Toyota removed the LE trim and added all-wheel drive as standard across the range.

[View 4th Generation Listings](https://www.autolist.com/toyota-highlander#year_min=2020)

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## 2014 - 2019 Toyota Highlander (3rd Generation)

[![toyota 14highlanderltd3a angularfront-325a](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/5b3ke07oYvZ3WDyfwijGkc/c29b23f66a13c4dccef2d0a7460213d9/toyota_14highlanderltd3a_angularfront-325a.jpg)](https://www.autolist.com/toyota-highlander#year_min=2014&year_max=2019)

The third-generation Highlander was longer and wider than the previous generation and designed to be less boxy to more closely resemble the sleeker profile of other crossovers on the market. 4.3 additional inches of interior space, 3.7 inches of additional width, and sliding second-row seats allowed seating for up to eight passengers.

Toyota made driver assistance and safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and pre-collision warning systems available to complement tech updates like the standard Entune infotainment system, HD Radio, and Bluetooth on all trim levels. Updates to its interior trimmings and an updated six-speed automatic transmission made it feel more premium than the outgoing model — still, the 2.7-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6 engines carried over from the previous generation.

The four-cylinder engine produced 185 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The V6 was much peppier, making 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque.

Entry-level LE models were the only ones equipped with the four-cylinder engine and could only be had with front-wheel drive. LE Plus, XLE, Limited, and Limited Platinum models exclusively came with the V6 and could be fitted with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Standard features on entry-level models included 18-inch alloy wheels, a rearview camera, a 6.1-inch touchscreen, cruise control, and heated side mirrors. Higher-end models could be fitted with niceties like tri-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, a sunroof, second-row captain's chairs, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a 12-speaker JBL sound system.

The first significant changes to the third-generation Highlander did not come until 2017, when V6 models were fitted with an eight-speed automatic that replaced the six-speed from the years prior. The V6 engine was upgraded and produced 295 horsepower, 25 more horses than before.

Perhaps more significantly, the Highlander received Toyota's Safety Sense P suite of driver assistance systems. It included features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning.

A revised front and rear end with restyled headlights, a larger grille, and LED taillights were also part of the refresh, and a new SE trim was added to the lineup.

Minor trim revisions like black body molding and chrome accents surrounding the Highlander's fog lights were introduced in 2019. Still, the comprehensive mid-cycle updates in 2017 were deemed enough to carry the Highlander through the final years of its third generation of production.

[View 3rd Generation Listings](https://www.autolist.com/toyota-highlander#year_min=2014&year_max=2019)

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## 2008 - 2013 Toyota Highlander (2nd Generation)

[![2008-highlander-izmo-325](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/2zpBpQ4JA0f3c8bLOEtPP4/0b7f6d074e34bc6e976b2673596bb0fc/2008-highlander-izmo-325.jpg)](https://www.autolist.com/toyota-highlander#year_min=2008&year_max=2013)

The second-generation Highlander was redesigned for the 2008 model year, growing bigger, more powerful, and far less boxy than the first generation. All models had a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine and a five-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard across all three Highlander trim levels, but all-wheel drive is also available.

Buyers could choose the base Highlander, the Highlander Sport, or the Highlander Limited trim. They all came with about 15 more cubic feet of cargo space than the outgoing model and a more upscale interior without sacrificing the previous elements that made it well-loved. Buyers who wanted better overall fuel economy could opt for a 270-horsepower Highlander Hybrid model with a 3.3-liter V6 engine, three electric motors, and a CVT.

Features like 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes, hill-start assist, seven airbags, and four-wheel ABS were all standard on the least expensive models. Features that required more cash included dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-operated liftgate, a JBL audio system, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a navigation system.

Toyota added a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine option to the mix for 2009. It came with a six-speed automatic transmission, 187 horsepower, and 186 lb-ft of torque. Still, it only produced small gains in fuel economy over the V6 model and was exclusively offered with front-wheel drive.

An SE model was introduced to the lineup in 2010 and would go on to replace the Sport trim level in 2011. On the heels of that change, Toyota refreshed the Highlander's front and rear-end styling and gave it a third-row bench seat. The four-cylinder engine became available on the SE trim, and the Highlander Hybrid model benefitted from a new 3.5-liter engine, which helped boost the hybrid powertrain's output to 280 horsepower.

A Plus trim was added below the SE trim for 2013. It took the four-cylinder engine option from the SE model, pushing it below the top-tier Limited trim.

[View 2nd Generation Listings](https://www.autolist.com/toyota-highlander#year_min=2008&year_max=2013)

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## 2001 - 2007 Toyota Highlander (1st Generation)

[![2001-Highlander-325](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/7HdEFb9oKWI2ZMMxNl3zDX/766d7ebea9a3ebb53860786777eca563/2001-Highlander-325.jpg)](https://www.autolist.com/toyota-highlander#year_min=2001&year_max=2007)

In 2001, Toyota introduced the first-generation Toyota Highlander to offer an alternative to the more rugged truck-based SUVs of the day. It featured boxy overall styling but had smoother body lines than its more off-road-capable siblings like the 4Runner, Land Cruiser, and Sequoia and shared its underpinnings with the Lexus RX 300.

It was available with two different powertrains. A 155-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine served as the entry-level powerplant. It was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and was available with front or all-wheel drive. A 220-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 was the alternative powerplant, but it shared its transmission and drivetrain options with the smaller four-cylinder unit.

The first Highlander models came with compelling features like standard four-wheel disc brakes, electronic brake force distribution, a Snow Mode to help get it started in slippery weather, independent suspension, optional vehicle skid control, and Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence on V6-powered models.

In its first year of production, the Highlander's trim levels were simply differentiated by the engine and drivetrain equipped on a buyer's model of choice. That changed in 2002 when Toyota added a Limited trim to the lineup. It was available exclusively with the V6 engine and received upgrades like foglights, automatic climate control, and a JBL audio system.

Toyota yanked the 3.0-liter V6 from the Highlander lineup for the 2004 model year, replacing it with a more powerful 230-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 engine. The four-speed automatic transmission was also replaced with a five-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine was not replaced, but it did receive an update to boost output to 160 horsepower.

A third-row seat was added as optional to the entry-level Highlander and was made standard on the Limited trim. Electronic stability control and a tire pressure monitoring system became standard, while side curtain airbags were optional. Also optional was a rear-seat entertainment system. And the Highlander's interior and exterior were slightly refreshed.

A Sport trim and an all-new Highlander Hybrid model were added to the lineup for 2006. The hybrid sported the same 3.3-liter V6 as the standard Highlander, but electric motors assisted it with a total output of 268 horsepower.

Front-wheel drive models came with two electric motors and fuel economy ratings of 33 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, with all-wheel drive versions slightly reduced.

In the final year of its first generation of production, 2007 Highlanders benefitted from standard front-seat side airbags and second-row side curtain airbags.

[View 1st Generation Listings](https://www.autolist.com/toyota-highlander#year_min=2001&year_max=2007)

The Toyota Highlander was first produced in the year 2000 and pioneered the crossover SUV field, as one of the first car-based, mid-size vehicles of its kind.

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Here are the top Toyota Highlander listings for sale ASAP. Check the carfax, find a low miles Highlander, view Highlander photos and interior/exterior features. Search by price, view certified pre-owned Highlanders, filter by color and much more. What will be your next ride?

Aquí están los mejores listados de Toyota Highlander a la venta lo antes posible. Verifique el carfax, busque millas bajas en Highlander, vea las fotos de Highlander y las características interiores / exteriores. Busque por precio, vea Highlanders usados ​​certificados, filtre por color y mucho más. ¿Cuál será tu próximo vehículo?

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