- Sporty new XSE trim
- Available hybrid
- Standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+
- IIHS Top Safety Pick+
- Up to eight seats
- Pricing starts at $34,910 (plus $1,175 destination) | Price yours
For families that need a practical vehicle with plenty of seating but just don’t want a minivan, the Toyota Highlander is one of the most family-friendly SUVs available. It has standard 3-row seating, stellar safety scores, and good fuel economy. The Toyota Highlander is good at just about everything that is important to families.
Minivan Alternative
The 2021 Toyota Highlander does a pretty good minivan impression, but it has the body of a modern SUV. It’s sleek and stylish on the outside, and the interior is roomy and comfortable with a nice design. Admittedly, the third-row seats are a little cramped and best reserved for children, but we like that the Highlander is available with seating for up to eight people, which not all of its competitors can claim.
A few features that make the Highlander particularly family-friendly include five standard USB ports, 3-zone automatic climate control, and the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ safety tech suite. This includes a pre-collision system with low-light pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road sign assist, and automatic high beams. On top of that, the Highlander scores very well in crash testing, earning the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.
Optional safety tech features include a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and adaptive headlights.
Hybrid Efficiency
If you like the idea of a big family SUV with the fuel economy of a compact car, then you’ll be interested in the thrifty Toyota Highlander Hybrid. When equipped with front-wheel drive, the Highlander Hybrid achieves an excellent EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 36 city/35 highway/36 combined mpg. The Highlander Hybrid comes with drive modes including Normal, Eco, Sport, and EV Mode. There’s also a Trail Mode when the Hybrid is equipped with all-wheel drive.
The non-hybrid Highlander is pretty efficient too, achieving up to 21 city/29 highway/24 combined mpg from the standard V6. For both the hybrid and non-hybrid models, AWD is an available option on every trim, which is nice to have for confidence-inspiring traction when the roads get nasty. The Highlander can also tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.
A Highlander For Every Family
There’s a lot of variety in the model range of the Toyota Highlander. In addition to the sporty new XSE model, there’s the value-packed L trim, the comfortable mid-range XLE, and the luxurious Platinum. Each of these delivers its own blend of features and value.
Pricing starts around $35,000 and tops out near the $50,000 mark for a loaded hybrid model. The Highlander is priced a little high compared to its competitors, but remember how well-appointed it is with a standard V6 and tons of standard safety tech. And every Toyota comes backed with the company’s solid record of reliability and strong resale value.
More 2021 Toyota Highlander
Build and price your own 2021 Toyota Highlander to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see Toyota Highlander models for sale near you.
