Spacious, Capable, and Versatile: The Toyota Highlander

The midsize Toyota Highlander has room to seat seven or eight passengers, making it a great choice for those with larger families or groups of friends. It gets better than average fuel economy and comes with a long list of standard features. With five models featuring traditional gas engines and three hybrid trims, there are plenty of ways to configure your Highlander, even before you look at options, packages, and accessories. The Highlander consistently receives high honors as well.

The most recent Highlander offers an all-new 3.5-liter V6 with direct injection to give you brisker acceleration and you can boost its efficiency with the Stop and Start Engine System. Unsurprisingly, this SUV offers all-wheel drive, but in the case of the Highlander, it is Dynamic Torque Control AWD, an improved system that distributes power and manages braking side to side. The Highlander is tough enough to take you camping or bring a boat along thanks to its 5,000-pound towing capacity. Don’t forget that the Highlander also comes standard with the latest driver assistive features courtesy of Toyota Safety Sense.

2017 Toyota Highlander: What’s New?

The 2017 Toyota Highlander was redesigned three years ago, and this model year is the first significant update since then. Right from the start, you will notice some styling adjustments to the 2017 Highlander, including the trapezoidal grille getting even larger until it almost reaches the bumper’s bottom. The trim of this grille varies based on trim level, being either silver, chrome, or gloss-black. Other exterior updates include reshaped headlights, exaggerated bumper corners, standard LED lighting, and redesigned taillights. While the interior of the 2017 Highlander is mostly identical to the 2016 model, you can now swap out the second row’s captain chairs for a bench seat in the top two trims, increasing seating capacity to eight.

Don’t assume that because the 2016 and 2017 Highlanders both have 3.5-liter V6 engines that these powertrains are identical. The 2017 model is new with 295 horsepower and a torque of 263 pound-feet, compared to 270 horses and 248 pound-feet for 2016. This engine is more efficient as well as more powerful. Its 8-speed automatic transmission and automatic stop-start are also new. There is also a new SE trim for 2017 with a retuned suspension that delivers sharper handling. The new V6 can also be found as part of the Highlander Hybrid, improving its fuel economy as well. The list of updates to the 2017 Highlander continues with the features. All trims now have standard Toyota Safety Sense with automatic braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Finally, all Highlanders now come standard with an extra four USB ports over the single one on the 2016 version.

Toyota Highlander History

The 2001 Toyota Highlander was the first model and was only offered in two trims with two rows of seats. It combined the features people loved of minivans, SUVs, and station wagons and came standard with air conditioning, 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, and a CD player. Optional amenities included heated front seats, a moonroof, leather seats, keyless entry, and three-zone automatic climate control. This first-generation model had 155 horsepower or 220 horses depending on the engine. 2004 saw a mid-generation refresh with a new grille, redesigned headlights, an available third row, and a 5-speed automatic. The Highlander Hybrid arrived for the 2006 model year, as did a Sport trim. The second generation arrived in 2007 with a larger size and more power.

Warrenton Toyota Provides a Wide Selection

Discerning drivers love the Highlander because of the safety and room it provides while still remaining economical. To truly get a feel for what it is like to drive one, come by Warrenton Toyota in Warrenton, VA and let our professionals show you around the many models available. We are happy to answer any questions you have and can even help with financing right here at the dealership.