2023 Toyota Highlander Limited test drive review

It takes a lot to stand out in the crowded three-row midsize SUV segment when there are so many other high-value options to consider. The 2023 Toyota Highlander definitely deserves a chance if you’re shopping around, thanks to its composed handling, nice interior and long list of standard tech and safety features. But can it keep up with the competition? Especially from within its own family? Here’s what KSL Cars thought after spending a week with the 2023 Toyota Highlander Limited.

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Price and value 

The 2023 Toyota Highlander has an MSRP that ranges from $36,620 for the base L trim to $49,475 for the range-topping Platinum trim. Each Highlander comes with the same 2.4-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is also available for an additional $1,600 to $1,950, depending on the trim. Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below.

(Note: This list does not include the hybrid versions of the Highlander.)

L: $36,620 See listings

• 18-inch wheels

• Eight passenger seating

• Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat

• Cloth upholstery

• 8-inch touch screen

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• 7-inch digital-gauge cluster

• Tri-zone automatic climate control

LE: $39,020 See listings

• Leather wrapped steering wheel

• LED fog lights

• Blind spot monitoring

• Rear cross-traffic alert

• Power liftgate 

XLE: $42,020 See listings

• SofTex-trimmed front and second row

• Heated front seats

• 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat

• Eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat

• Seven passenger seating

• Wireless device charging

• Auto-dimming rearview mirror

• Moonroof

XSE: $43,615 See listings

• 20-inch alloy wheels

• Twin-tip exhaust

• Ambient LED interior lighting

• Blacked-out interior and exterior accents

Limited: $46,275 See listings

• Genuine leather upholstery

• Heated and ventilated front seats

• Heated steering wheel

• 12.3-inch touch screen

• 12.3-inch digital-gauge cluster

• 11-speaker JBL audio system

• Front and rear parking sensors

• Hands-free power liftgate

Platinum: $49,475 See listings

• Heated second row 

• Panoramic view monitor

• Head-up display

• Panoramic moonroof 

• Rain-sensing wipers

• Adaptive headlights

Our Limited tester came with all-wheel drive and the optional panoramic view monitor, which brought the total to $50,210, including destination fees. Given that all Highlanders have the same engine, the base L trim should make budget conscious drivers fairly happy since they’re not sacrificing anything performance-wise. The leather upholstery and heated steering wheel were definitely nice, but if you can manage without a few creature comforts and minor luxuries, you might as well save your money and stick with the most affordable trim.

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Performance 

The Highlander doesn’t market itself as the most exciting car to drive, but it doesn’t have to. Drivers will find the handling and power output to be pretty good, even if it doesn’t get your pulse racing. 

Engine and drivetrain

In the new 2023 Highlander, Toyota swapped out the previous V6 engine for a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The new engine puts out 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. That’s a drop in power from the V6 (295 horsepower), but it is a little punchier off the line with 47 pound-feet more torque than the V6. Our biggest complaint — and a common one among Highlander reviewers — is that the engine sounds like it’s laboring a bit when you mash the throttle at high speeds. Other than that, it did its job pretty well.

The gas-powered Highlander also comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission, standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive. Since fuel economy only drops by one mpg with all-wheel drive, we’d recommend spending the additional $1,600 to $1,950 for it.

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Fuel economy 

Front-wheel drive models are rated at 22/29/25 mpg for city/highway/combined driving, and all-wheel drive models are just one mpg less for city/highway/combined. That’s pretty good for a midsize SUV, but if you really want to save on gas, the Highlander Hybrid is definitely worth checking out.

Acceleration and handling 

The Highlander moves at a quick pace that’s as surprising as it is satisfying. In their testing of the Highlander Platinum all-wheel drive model, Car and Driver clocked its zero to 60 mph time at 7.2 seconds.

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Braking 

We were also pleasantly surprised with how smooth the brakes were on our Limited all-wheel drive tester. They brought the Highlander to an easy stop at both low and high speeds. 

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Interior comfort and convenience 

The Highlander’s interior can best be described as luxury on a budget. It’s got plenty of soft-touch surfaces mixed in with hard plastics to make you feel like you’re driving something more upscale than the price tag suggests. The first two rows are very comfortable and accommodating, but the third row is definitely built for kids.

Seats

There’s definitely something to be said for the genuine leather upholster on the upper trims. Our Highlander Limited was very comfortable up front, especially with the heated seats and steering wheel. Leg and head room were great in the first two rows, but the third row told a different story. As a 5-foot-9 adult, I could only fit in the third row if the second row seats were pushed forward quite a bit. And even then, my head touched the ceiling. We’d suggest leaving those seats for elementary-aged kids or smaller middle schoolers.

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Climate control 

We got to test the Highlander just as the temperatures were starting to drop in Utah, and we couldn’t be more pleased with how quickly it warmed things up inside. The tri-zone automatic climate control worked to keep everyone comfortable, which was especially nice since none of the rear seats were heated. (Our kids are spoiled with that feature in our family car.)

Cargo space and cabin storage 

Cargo space is so-so on the Highlander with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row and a grand total of 84.3 cubic feet with all rear seats folded down. Cabin storage was perfectly fine, with standard cupholders and a center console cubby up front.

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Infotainment system 

With an updated and user-friendly infotainment system for 2023, we had almost nothing to complain about. Almost nothing. For some perplexing reason, Toyota decided to place the volume control knob on the right of the center console screen, which is just a bit inconvenient for the driver.

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Exterior appearance and functionality 

We loved the green paint on our Limited tester, and the side profile almost makes it look like a junior Sequoia. 

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Wheels 

Though we’re personally not big fans of chrome, the 20-inch chrome-finished wheels looked nice and did a good job of deadening the road noise.

Lights and turn signals 

For nighttime driving, the headlights provided ample light on the road. One notable missing feature was the lack of integrated turn signals on the side mirrors, which we’ve grown accustomed to on our family car. It’s not a deal-breaker by any means, though. 

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Front and rear windshields 

While visibility is excellent up front, the rear windshield is lacking in this category. Even without third-row passengers, it’s hard to see out the back. The cameras and side mirrors helped compensate for this, however.

Cameras and side mirrors 

Our Limited tester came with the optional panoramic view monitor for an additional $850. The more cars we drive, the more this feature starts to feel like a necessity. The camera system on our Highlander delivered crisp, clear images that definitely rank among the best we’ve seen.

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Safety 

The 2023 Toyota Highlander comes with a bevy of standard safety features as part of its Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ system. These included:

• Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection

• Adaptive cruise control

• Lane departure alert

• Lane-tracing assist

• Automatic high beams

• Traffic sign recognition

Optional features include:

• Blind spot monitoring

• Panoramic view monitor

• Adaptive headlights

• Front and rear parking sensors

• Head-up display

• Rain-sensing wipers

• Rear cross-traffic alert

For a full list of safety features, click here.

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Awards and ratings 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2023 Toyota Highlander a Top Safety Pick+ in the midsize/four-door SUV category. The Highlander received top marks in all categories except for the updated moderate overlap front test (which measures the risk of chest injuries), where it scored a “Marginal.” The Platinum and Hybrid Platinum trims received the highest rating of “Good” for headlights, but all other trim level headlights were deemed “Acceptable.” 

Final impression 

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Limited is a good car, and we have few complaints. People who need a midsize SUV with a functional (if not comfortable) third row will have a lot to like about the Highlander. It has to compete with a lot of other comfortable, capable and affordable midsize SUVs, however, so shopping around is a definite must. The Highlander also has to deal with some friendly fire, too. For better gas mileage, we recommend checking out the hybrid version. For more space, meanwhile, the Grand Highlander is definitely worth a look.

Shop 2023 Toyota Highlander models on KSL Cars 

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FAQs 

Is the 2023 Toyota Highlander a good family SUV? 

There are several reasons why families might consider buying the 2023 Toyota Highlander. The first two rows are spacious and accommodating, and the ride quality is smooth. Even though the third row is cramped, it can fit smaller children if needed. However, even though the fuel economy is decent, the hybrid version of the Highlander might be the better option if saving on gas is a priority. 

What kind of fuel does the Toyota Highlander take?

The Toyota Highlander takes regular gasoline. 

Is the Toyota Highlander reliable?

J.D. Power gave the 2023 Toyota Highlander a score of 79 out of 100 for Quality and Reliability. A rating of 91–100 is ranked as “Best,” 81–90 is “Great,” 70–80 is “Average” and 0–69 is “Fair.”