The Toyota Highlander turned age 22 in 2022 and it retains its status as a respected midsize sport utility vehicle. Its consistency and versatility have provided long-haul clout.
Last year, the Highlander had its best sales year since the three-row family hauler’s debut.
Key Takeaways
- Highlander posts record sales year in a crowded segment: Now in its fourth generation, Toyota’s three-row SUV delivered its best annual total since its 2000 debut despite strong rivals in the Telluride, Pilot, Pathfinder, Ascent, Atlas, and Traverse.
- 295-hp V6 with eight-speed automatic powers all six trims: Every Highlander gets the 3.5-liter V6, plus Eco, Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes standard.
- Price range stretches from $35,205 to over $50,000: The front-drive L trim opens the lineup, while a loaded Platinum runs roughly $5,000 above the national average new-car price.
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ standard across the lineup: Pre-collision with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, and automatic high beams come on every trim — plus eight airbags.
- Third row and steep-grade power are the compromises: Headroom and legroom in row three suit small passengers only, and the V6 audibly strains on mountain grades where more power would help.
Competition is healthy in the segment. The Highlander’s rivals include the Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent and Volkswagen Atlas. They’re all worthy, with individual strengths, all-wheel drive to the economy, determining factors.
Now in the thick of its fourth generation, the Highlander is available in six trims, including the reviewed top-line Platinum edition. The base L front-wheel-drive choice begins at $35,205; the Platinum level begins at $47,500.
Toyota Highlander: Six Available Trims
All-wheel drive is a $1,600 option for the L, LE, and XLE. It’s a $1,950 upgrade for XSE, Limited and Platinum trims.Toyota‘s durability and longevity reputation is equaled by the automaker’s generous list of standard features throughout its lineup. The Highlander does particularly well in the standard equipment category.
The base L trim is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 295 horsepower and an eight-speed shiftable automatic transmission. Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow drive modes are standard. LED headlights and taillights, 18-inch alloy wheels, 3-row seating, 3-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, five USB ports, push-button start and eight airbags are all in the mix.
Gas mileage averages for the Toyota Highlander are 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 29 mpg on the freeway with front-wheel-drive trims, 20 and 27 mpg in all-wheel-drive selections.
Toyota Highlander: Strong Tech Features
An eight-inch touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa and SiriusXM (free three-month trial) are also standard as is the Safety Sense 2.5+ safety tech suite bundle. It includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, lane tracing assist and road sign assist.The Limited and Platinum trims get the works to move into luxury status. Leather seats (heated and ventilated in front) 20-inch wheels, a heated steering wheel, JBL premium audio, a hands-free power liftgate, and navigation are part of both trims.
Platinum trim-only features include a panoramic moonroof, an adaptive front lighting system, rain-sensing wipers, a head-up display, and heated second-row seats.
Like its exterior and exterior appearance, the Toyota Highlander drives with expected standards of SUV driving. The exterior is standard fare. The Highlander, without any odd grille patterns or extreme curvature, blends into the rest of the crowd of SUVs dominating the roads. The interior is similarly defined. Everything is there. Nothing is extreme.
Toyota Highlander: Three-Row Seating
Driving the Highlander is much the same. It accelerates with satisfaction and maneuvers well through traffic. On steep ascents or winding through canyons and or mountain terrain, the engine had its moments. More horsepower would have been warranted.The navigation system works with quick, in-time direction notifications. Seating is for seven, with the second-row comfortable for two adults or three small occupants. The third row, like in other SUVs, has limitations. Head and leg room is tight, with passengers relegated to the back best positioned there if petite. With the second and third rows folded, there’s 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space. It’s an average tally for the mid-sized segment.
The top-line Highlander can surpass $50,000, enough for a financial hesitation. The tally is about $5,000 more than the average price of a new car in the United States. It softens what would otherwise make the utilitarian, family SUV overpriced.
But if reputation, longevity, durability and top-rated safety rankings are important, the 2022 Toyota Highlander is a strong choice. It’s a young adult and maturing well.
What We Like
- Best-in-segment standard safety suite with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+
- Six trims give buyers genuine choice from $35,205 to Platinum luxury
- Fuel economy up to 21/29 mpg with front-wheel drive
- Toyota reputation for durability, longevity, and resale value
- Three-zone climate, five USB ports, and eight airbags standard even on the base L
What We Don’t
- V6 strains on steep grades where more horsepower would be welcome
- Third row limited to small or petite passengers
- 84.3 cubic feet of cargo is only average for the mid-size segment
- Platinum trim pushes past $50,000
- Exterior and interior styling blend in rather than stand out
Facts & Figures: 2022 Toyota Highlander
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine | 6-cylinder, 3.5L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Economy | 20 city / 28 hwy / 23 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Regular Gasoline |
How It Compares
| Vehicle | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| 2022 Chevrolet Traverse | |
| 2022 Honda Pilot | |
| 2022 Kia Telluride | |
| 2022 Nissan Pathfinder | |
| 2022 Subaru Ascent |
Frequently Asked Questions
What engine comes in the 2022 Toyota Highlander?
Every 2022 Highlander uses Toyota’s 3.5-liter V6 rated at 295 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed shiftable automatic transmission. Eco, Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes are standard across all six trims.
How much does the 2022 Toyota Highlander cost?
The base L front-wheel-drive trim starts at $35,205. The top Platinum trim begins at $47,500 and can pass $50,000 with options. All-wheel drive is a $1,600 option on L, LE, and XLE, and $1,950 on XSE, Limited, and Platinum.
What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Toyota Highlander?
Front-wheel-drive trims average 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway on regular gasoline. All-wheel-drive trims return 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
How many passengers does the 2022 Toyota Highlander seat?
The Highlander seats seven. The second row comfortably holds two adults or three small passengers, but the third row has tight head and leg room best suited to petite passengers.
How much cargo space does the Highlander have?
With the second and third rows folded flat, the 2022 Highlander offers 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space, an average figure for the mid-size three-row segment.
What safety features are standard on the 2022 Toyota Highlander?
Every Highlander includes Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+: pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, lane tracing assist, and road sign assist. Eight airbags are also standard.
Article Last Updated: April 16, 2026.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.