Toyota Highlander Review 2026
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Toyota Highlander Verdict
Seven-seat hybrid SUV with generous equipment levels. Likely to be a very reliable choice.
Limited engine line-up. Starts from more than £50,000.
Find out more about the Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander is a seven-seat SUV that sits between the RAV4 and Land Cruiser in the Japanese brand's line-up.
It's built on the same GA-K platform as the RAV4 and is powered by a 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain. As a result, it'll officially return up to 39.7mpg.
There are two models available: Excel and Excel Premium. The Excel specification includes 20-inch alloy wheels, leather seat upholstery, three-zone air conditioning, a panoramic roof and a JBL Premium Sound System. The Premium model adds a head-up display, power tailgate with hands-free operation, heated rear seats, 360-degree camera and a different 20-inch alloy wheel design.
Prices start from £50,595 on-the-road for the Excel and £52,575 for the Excel Premium. That sounds expensive, especially compared to cars like the Skoda Kodiaq, but Toyota's hoping to tempt buyers away from premium models like the Volvo XC90 and Lexus RX L. Like for like, the Highlander actually represents decent value for money, although we doubt many buyers will resist the lure of a premium badge.
Looking for a second opinon? Why not read heycar's Toyota Highlander road test?
Toyota Highlander models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4966 mm |
| Width | 2235 mm |
| Height | 1755 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2850 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 2050 kg |
| Boot Space | 332–1909 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | 10000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | - |
| Insurance Groups | 40 |
| Road Tax Bands | G |
| Official MPG | - |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
| SUV | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Excel 244 Auto Start/Stop 5dr | - | - | 8.3 s |
| Excel Premium 244 Auto Start/Stop 5dr | - | - | 8.3 s |
Model History
- December 2020: Toyota Highlander Hybrid priced from £50,595
- July 2022: Toyota Highlander updated for 2023 model year
December 2020
Toyota Highlander Hybrid priced from £50,595
A rival to the Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008, the seven-seat Highlander Hybrid SUV will be offered in the UK for the first time from 2021.
Built on Toyota’s GA-K platform, the firm says it has authentic SUV credentials, combined with high levels of comfort, drivability, seating for up to seven and a fourth generation hybrid electric powertrain.
Two grades will be available: Excel and Excel Premium. The Excel specification includes 20-inch alloy wheels, leather seat upholstery, three-zone air conditioning, a panoramic roof and a JBL Premium Sound System. The Premium model adds a head-up display, power tailgate with hands-free operation, heated rear seats, 360-degree camera and a different 20-inch alloy wheel design.
Order books will open for Highlander Hybrid on 4 January, with the first vehicles due for delivery from March 2021. The Excel model is priced at £50,595 on-the-road and the Excel Premium at £52,575.
July 2022
Toyota Highlander updated for 2023 model year
The Toyota Highlander is the latest model to adopt the new Toyota Smart Connect+ multimedia system, which introduces a 12.3-inch touch screen high-definition display and added functionality including cloud-based navigation with real-time information on road events and an on-board voice agent. The cloud navigation can be accessed without having to pair a smartphone and with no additional data costs; the new Highlander is sold with an inclusive four-year data plan that also covers convenient, over-the-air system updates. It also provides an embedded navigation system which allows routes to be planned when and where connection to the cloud is not available. This also provides 3D city mapping, road sign recognition and fixed speed camera location information.
The system also enables useful remote functions, including locking and unlocking of the doors and operation of the hazard lights to help locate the car in a busy car park. They allow wireless smartphone connection via Apple CarPlay, plus wired connection to use the Android Auto system. All Highlander models now come with a wireless charging tray, relocated in the front console for easier use.
The driver’s instrument display has undergone a full redesign with the introduction of a new 12.3-inch digital combimeter that provides easy-to-read information and intuitive operation. Also new for 2023 are 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels.
Details of prices and the on-sale date for the 2023 Highlander will be announced later.
