Used 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is much more fuel efficient with a little less power than the non-hybrid Highlander (reviewed separately).

The hybrid powertrain in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid makes it super efficient for its size, both in the city and on the highway. An SUV this size is normally a compromise, where you sacrifice some efficiency for the extra space and seating, but the Highlander Hybrid is an efficient midsize family SUV with little compromise. It even has pretty quick acceleration on top of the great fuel economy you can achieve.

The Highlander Hybrid is an SUV with few direct competitors. Its closest competition is the Ford Explorer Hybrid, which is much less efficient and only available in two expensive trims. Another option is the Kia Sorento Hybrid, an excellent 3-row SUV with great fuel economy, but it’s smaller and has an even tighter third row than the Toyota.

The only notable update to this Toyota SUV for the 2022 model year is a stylish new Bronze Edition. It’s essentially an appearance package for the XLE trim with unique bronze accents inside and out, including special 18-inch wheels.

Driving the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a pretty serene experience. The hybrid powertrain delivers a smooth and comfortable ride while you enjoy the nicely appointed interior. We do have one minor gripe: The engine can be noisy under hard acceleration, but you’ll hardly notice it when cruising on the highway.

The Highlander Hybrid is an SUV that drives like a minivan. That means what you gain in comfort, you lose in sportiness. Acceleration is satisfactorily peppy, but the steering is numb, and there’s noticeable body roll if you take a corner too fast. This safe and reliable hybrid 3-row SUV is not for the driving enthusiast, but that’s no surprise.

In some hybrids, the brakes feel weird because the regenerative braking system captures energy from the brakes and feeds it back into the hybrid system. The Highlander Hybrid has regenerative brakes, but the feedback when you hit the brake pedal feels normal and consistent.

The interior of the Toyota Highlander is attractive and comfortable. We wouldn’t quite call it “premium” in the lower trims, but the interior materials are high-quality throughout the model range. It gets more luxurious in the upper trims with features like leather seats, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and a panoramic moonroof.

The seating is roomy and comfortable in the first two rows, but the cramped third row is a different story. If you have third-row passengers regularly, they’ll appreciate the extra room in the Toyota Sienna hybrid minivan. However, if you only need the third row occasionally, these additional seats are good in a pinch. They’re easier to access if you opt for the available second-row captain’s chairs rather than the standard bench seat.

The cargo space in the Highlander Hybrid is good when all three rows of seats are in place but great when you fold down the third-row seats. The more seats you can afford to fold down, the more cargo space you get. With the second- and third-row seats folded, the Highlander Hybrid has a cavernous 84.3 cubic-foot cargo area.

The exterior styling of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is subtle but attractive. “Bland” isn’t the right word to describe the look of the Highlander Hybrid, but it does tend to blend in with traffic. If you’re not looking for a showy SUV, that won’t be a problem.

The look of the Highlander Hybrid changes a bit depending on the trim. For example, the new Bronze Edition for 2022 has unique accents like bronze-colored wheels.

The size of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is average for a midsize 3-row SUV. It’s about the same size as the Honda Pilot and Kia Telluride, but some rivals are bigger and roomier, like the Chevy Traverse and Volkswagen Atlas.

HYBRID POWERTRAIN
This efficient powertrain achieves an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of up to 36 city/35 highway mpg.

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE 2.5+
The standard suite of safety tech features in the Highlander Hybrid includes full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign assist, and more.

The base LE trim of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is well-equipped with standard features. On top of the efficient hybrid powertrain, standard features include LED headlights and fog lights, push-button start, a power driver’s seat, 3-zone automatic climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The standard infotainment system is an 8-inch screen loaded with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa. You also get five USB ports ensuring everyone’s devices will stay charged.

The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite of driver assistance features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring also comes standard.

One of the most popular options for the Highlander Hybrid is all-wheel drive, which is optional on every trim. It adds extra all-weather traction to this SUV with only a slight fuel economy penalty.

The mid-range XLE trim adds some nice features to the Highlander Hybrid while keeping the price reasonable. A few upgrades over the base trim include 18-inch wheels, a power moonroof, a wireless charging pad, a 7-inch driver information display, heated front seats, and SofTex faux leather seats in the first and second rows. A new Bronze Edition adds an appearance package with bronze-colored wheels and interior accents.

Second-row captain’s chairs are standard on XLE, but a bench second-row seat is a no-cost option if you want seating for up to eight people.

The Limited trim is where the Highlander Hybrid gets into luxury territory. It adds leather seats, ventilated front seats, a hands-free power liftgate, navigation (optional on XLE), JBL 11-speaker premium audio, 20-inch chrome-finished wheels, and two 120V power outlets.

The Highlander Hybrid gets even more luxurious in the Platinum trim. A few of the premium features in the top trim include a panoramic moonroof, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen (optional on Limited), a 360-degree camera, a color head-up display, an adaptive front lighting system, heated second-row captain’s chairs, and a memory driver’s seat.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor. Front-wheel drive is standard, and the optional AWD system adds a second electric motor for the rear wheels, but it doesn’t change the SUV’s power or torque rating.

Compared to its most direct rival, the Ford Explorer Hybrid, the Highlander Hybrid is less powerful but much more efficient than the Ford.

Unsurprisingly, the fuel economy ratings of the Highlander Hybrid are excellent for a midsize 3-row SUV. Performance is adequate for daily driving but not awe-inspiring.

The Highlander Hybrid has a maximum towing rating of 3,500 pounds.

2.5-liter inline-4 + electric motor(s)
243 total horsepower
175 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 36/35 mpg (FWD), 35/35 mpg (AWD), 35/34 mpg (Limited/Platinum AWD)