Used 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid sits virtually unchallenged among today’s mid-size, 3-row SUVs.

Though there are other commendable mainstream 3-row SUVs, such as the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade, the only other contender with a hybrid option and optional all-wheel drive (AWD) is the Ford Explorer.

The 2021 Kia Sorento hybrid is another attractive option among the ranks of 3-rows SUVs, offering good fuel economy that’s comparable to the Toyota. But the Kia suffers in comparison to the Highlander Hybrid due to its lack of an AWD option, a barely useable 3rd-row seat, and meager towing capability.

As for the Ford Explorer hybrid, it has a number of drawbacks, notably in terms of inferior fuel economy and higher price, when compared to the Highlander Hybrid.

Toyota has been building the Highlander for 20 years now and has carefully honed its design to suit consumer desires. The US-made, 4th-generation Highlander is only two years old and has a pleasing blend of comfort, convenience, safety, refinement, and modern features.

The Highlander Hybrid has seating capacity for up to eight passengers, a choice of front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and four trim levels, LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum.

Considering their considerable size and weight, SUVs are generally heavy on fuel, but the Highlander Hybrid counters that problem by delivering superior fuel economy, up to 36 miles per gallon (MPG).

On top of the standard 36-month/36,000-mile warranty and 60-month/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, the 2021 Highlander Hybrid covers hybrid-related components for 8 years/100,000 miles. Also, the hybrid battery is covered for 10 years/150,000 miles.

Beyond that, Toyota throws in two years, or 25,000 miles worth of normal scheduled maintenance and two years of roadside assistance.

To explore a lower-priced, higher-horsepower V6 version of the Highlander, take a look at our 2021 Toyota Highlander Review.

Like most larger SUVs, the Highlander doesn’t disguise the fact that it is a relatively long and heavy vehicle.

From the driver’s seat, it feels substantial, and body roll is noticeable on winding roads. The steering does not provide much feedback at the wheel, but it does respond crisply. And the Highlander is fairly easy to maneuver in tight spaces.

The ride quality and isolation from road noise are good, and passengers will enjoy a comfortable, quiet cabin environment.

Performance from the hybrid powertrain is a mixed story. The 4-cylinder gasoline engine is paired with two electric motors to drive the front wheels; the AWD version adds another electric motor to power the rear wheels.

The total power output of 243-horsepower is just sufficient to propel the Highlander Hybrid down the road at a reasonable pace, but it is no ball of fire. Pushed hard, the 4-cylinder engine sounds loud and coarse, in notable contrast to the rest of the vehicle’s refined nature.

Buyers who want to prioritize more energetic performance over fuel economy will definitely want to consider the non-hybrid V6 engine Highlander.

One hybrid driving characteristic the Highlander does master better than some other hybrid models is the braking sensation. As hybrids use energy derived from braking to regenerate their batteries, the pedal action can be grabby and inconsistent. But the Toyota stops smoothly, with a pleasing linear feel to the pedal action.

The interior design is a tad fussy in places. For example, the dashboard styling is overwrought, with a mishmash of angular shapes and different materials. That said, the quality of the trim is excellent, and overall, the cabin is a relaxing and comfortable place to be. Except for the 3rd-row seat, which is really only fit for small children, or adults for a brief trip.

With the 3rd-row seats raised, cargo space is just fair, but storage is excellent with the third row folded and even better – more than 84 cubic feet – with the second seat row folded.

Also, the hybrid battery pack fits under the floor without compromising interior space.

On the base LE trim, the 2nd-row seat has a standard bench design, which provides 8-passenger capacity. Higher trim levels all provide two captain’s chairs in the second row as standard, which allows for up to seven passengers.

The bench 2nd-row seat is optional on the middle-grade XLE and Limited trims but not available on the Platinum trim. Seating materials on all trim grades are excellent and downright luxurious on the leather-trimmed Limited and Platinum versions.

The Highlander dashboard comes with a standard 8-inch touchscreen, or a 12.3-inch touchscreen that is optional on the Limited trim and standard on the Platinum version. Both screens are fairly simple to learn and function well, especially with navigation and management of phone messages and email.

Buttons for the heating and cooling system as well as the heated and cooled seats are conventionally positioned just below the touchscreen. We are pleased to see buttons for these functions, rather than more complicated touch screen managed controls that some rivals use. For similar reasons, we like the Toyota’s rotary controls for primary functions on the audio system.

Compared to more staid-looking competitors such as the Honda Pilot, the 2021 Highlander exterior is quite adventurous.

With flared fenders and a body shoulder line that extends from front to rear, the Toyota design is cohesive and looks pleasing from all angles.

The Highlander looks even more handsome when shod with the 20-inch wheels that are standard on the Limited and Platinum trims (lower trims come with 18-inch wheels).

FUEL EFFICIENCY
The 4-cylinder gasoline motor in the 2021 Highlander Hybrid may not be the smoothest hybrid engine, but combined with Toyota’s efficient electric motors, it does provide excellent fuel economy for a large, heavy SUV.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT
The comprehensive collection of safety systems and driver aids that come with Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5+ in the 2021 Highlander Hybrid is truly impressive and is standard equipment in all trims.

The Highlander Hybrid is sold in four trim levels; LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum. Each trim is available in FWD or AWD.

Equipment levels are excellent across the board.

Standard features in LED projector headlights and taillights, power door mirrors with turn signal and blind-spot monitoring indicators, power locks, 8-way power driver’s set, 3-zone climate control, 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, five USB ports, and a back-up camera.

A comprehensive suite of safety features is encompassed in Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5+ system. These include stability control, radar cruise control, lane-departure alert, lane-steering assist, and pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection.

Unusually these days, there are not that many options on the different trim grades, as most features are standard equipment or not available. However, XLE buyers can opt for the more sophisticated audio systems and the 12.3-in center touchscreen.

The XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims all step up the instrument panel LCD screen size from 4.2 inches to 7.0 inches, while the Platinum trim goes further still with a 10-inch head-up display.

Optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum trims is a bird’s eye view camera system. The Platinum trim also comes with a power panoramic moonroof and rain-sensing wipers as standard.

Both the Limited and Platinum trims also feature the interesting ‘easy speak’ system, which allows the driver to communicate to rear passengers through the speaker system. That could come in handy when you are ferrying around a load of rowdy kids.

Toyota has downsized the hybrid gasoline engine from the previous generation Highlander hybrid, which used a V6 engine.

For 2021 the combined output of the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and electric motors is 243-horsepower. This is significantly less than its primary competitor, the Ford Explorer hybrid, which uses a 3.3-liter V6, for a combined output of 318-horsepower. As a result, the Ford offers superior performance to the Toyota hybrid, but its economy suffers.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Highlander hybrid (FWD) versions return 35 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 34 mpg combined. That beats out the Explorer hybrid, which records 27 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined.

The Highlander hybrid AWD model shaves 1 mpg off its FWD stablemate’s number, with a 34/32/33 mpg city/highway/combined rating. This is also superior to the Ford hybrid, which loses about 3 mpg in its AWD form.

The Highlander Hybrid is rated to tow 3,500 pounds.

2.5-liter inline-4 + electric motors
Total system output: 243 horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 35/33 mpg (FWD) 34/32 mpg (AWD)