2024 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE ON FEATURES, SPECS, AND PRICING

Toyota is one of the biggest names in the automotive industry for good reason. The brand is known for delivering high-quality, long-lasting, and reliable vehicles at an affordable price. After introducing the Prius before the turn of the century, Toyota also became the poster child of fuel-efficient hybrid powertrains, and the company has continued to innovate year after year to make the best hybrids on the market while simultaneously being a latecomer to the EV movement.

On the gas-powered side of things, Toyota makes a hybrid option for just about every model in its portfolio, with the Highlander leading the way as one of the most popular mid-size SUVs on the market. In production for more than two decades, the Toyota Highlander is a favorite among drivers for daily commutes and weekend getaways, and the 2024 hybrid models might just be the best ones ever built.

Whats New For 2024?

For the 2024 model year, Toyota dropped the base model L trim of the Highlander Hybrid, making the LE the entry-level model. The Bronze editions of the SUV were also dropped and replaced with the LE and XLE Nightshade trims, which add black accents to the exterior as well as all-black seating inside the cabin. All but the LE models also now come standard with a hands-free power liftgate to make it easier than ever to load up groceries, sports equipment, and anything else.

2024 Highlights

• LE trim is the new base-level Highlander.
• Nightshade package available on LE and XLE trims.
• FWD and AWD available on every model.
• Hands-free power liftgate now standard.

Exterior Dimensions

(Data sourced from Toyota)

Engine And Performance

All hybrid trims of the 2024 Toyota Highlander are powered by the same engine setup, which includes a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and three AC synchronous electric motors. Together, this hybrid powertrain produces 243 horsepower and you can get it in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). No matter which drivetrain you choose, the SUV will utilize an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT).

As you might expect, the Highlander Hybrid was designed to be more fuel efficient than its standard gas-powered brother, and this engine setup enables the SUV to get 34-36 miles per gallon (MPG) combined around town and on the highway. This allows you to drive up to 616 miles on a single tank of gas, making the Highlander Hybrid a great choice for road warriors and soccer moms (and dads) alike.

Performance Specifications

(Data sourced from Toyota)

Towing and Payload Capacities

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid isn't going to break any records for towing among SUVs, as all trims are limited to just 3,500 pounds. This is enough to move smaller things around town here and there, but it's not as high of a towing capacity as some of the other SUVs you can get your hands on. Staying in the Toyota family, for example, the full-size Sequoia can tow over 9,000 pounds, nearly three times as much as the smaller Highlander Hybrid.

(Data sourced from Toyota)

Off-Road Capabilities

While the Highlander Hybrid might not seem like much of an off-road beast at first glance, it's more than capable of heading off the beaten path for something a bit more adventurous. All trims come standard with an impressive eight inches of ground clearance, which combines with an 18.1-degree angle of approach, a 22.7-degree angle of departure, and a 16.7-degree breakover angle to make a capable off-road vehicle.

(Data sourced from Toyota)

Fuel Economy

(Data sourced from Toyota and the EPA)

Interior Technology, Luxury, And Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

• Third-row seating seats up to eight total passengers
• Second-row captain's chairs are available
• Better interior materials than other model years
• 12.3-inch infotainment center touchscreen

The interior of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is fairly, well, fair across the board. It's more than functional and comes with all the features and amenities you'd expect in a modern-day SUV, but nothing will jump out at you as being over-the-top luxurious. Limited and Platinum models have the best interiors of the lineup with leather upholstery and a bigger 12.3-inch infotainment center touchscreen, but the lower trims might feel a bit lacking compared to the competition.

Speaking of something that might feel lacking, the third-row seating in the Highlander Hybrid is barely usable. With the relatively compact design of the Highlander, anyone sitting in the backseat is going to feel cramped, and this same issue is mirrored by its limited cargo capacity. With all three rows of seats up, there are only 16.0 cubic feet of storage in the back, though this does increase to 84.3 cubic feet with the second and third rows laid down.

Technology

The LE and XLE models of the Highlander Hybrid come standard with an 8.0-inch infotainment center touchscreen, while the Limited and Platinum trims come with a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Highlander Hybrid Platinum also comes with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster to create an all-digital dash, while all lower trims use analog gauges. All trims come standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to make smartphone integration a breeze and wireless charging with an indicator light makes it easy to keep everything juiced on the go.

Interior Dimensions

(Data sourced from Toyota)

Safety And Reliability

Toyota is known for making some of the safest vehicles on the road, and the new Highlander Hybrid is no exception, having recently earned a perfect 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Taking its safety a step further, the Toyota Highlander was also named a 2024 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which is one of the most prestigious safety awards attainable.

Driver Assistance Features

Not only does the new Highlander Hybrid come loaded with a bunch of driver-assistance features to make your everyday commute easier, but all models also come loaded with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+). Though not the latest suite of safety features from Toyota, TSS 2.5+ includes lane-departure assist, full-speed dynamic cruise control, road sign assist, and more.

• Pre-collision system
• Pedestrian detection
• Lane-departure alert
• Active steering assist
• Automatic high-beams
• Lane-tracing assist
• Road sign assist
• Full-speed dynamic radar cruise control
• Backup camera with projected path
• Panoramic view monitor
• Front parking assist
• Rear parking assist
• Automatic braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Multi-terrain select
• Downhill assist control
• Hill start assist control

IIHS Crash Testing

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

• Recalls (NHTSA): 0
• NHTSA Investigations: 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 0
• Awards: IIHS Top Safety Pick (2024)

Warranties

Standing behind its vehicles, Toyota offers one of the best warranties of any manufacturer. The basic new vehicle limited warranty includes full coverage for 36 months/36,000 miles, powertrain coverage for 60 months/60,000 miles, and corrosion perforation protection for 60 months with unlimited miles. The Highlander Hybrid also benefits from Toyota's hybrid warranty package, which includes coverage on the hybrid powertrain for 96 months/100,000 miles.

(Data sourced from Toyota)

2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Versus Its Competitors

The most obvious comparison to make with the 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is to its big brother, the Grand Highlander, to see if bigger is always better. After that, let's see how the Highlander Hybrid stacks up against the Kia Telluride, which is often considered one of the best new SUVs on the road today.

How The Toyota Highlander Hybrid Compares To The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

• 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid	2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
  Model	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	Grand Highlander Hybrid
  Engine	2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine	2.5L Hybrid I-4
  Transmission	eCVT	6-Speed Automatic / 8-Speed Automatic / CVT
  Horsepower	243 HP	245 HP / 362 HP
  Driveline	FWD or AWD	Front Engine, FWD or AWD
  MSRP	$40,970 - $53,375	$43,320 - $58,125
  Fuel Economy	34-36 MPG	Up To 36 MPG Combined
  Towing Capacity	3,500 Pounds	Up to 5,000 Pounds
  Payload Capacity	1,630 Pounds	Up To 1,710 Pounds

The Toyota Grand Highlander is essentially a bigger, more stretched-out version of the Highlander Hybrid, and it can pretty much do everything its little brother can if not more. One of the biggest differences between the two is that the third row of the Grand Highlander is noticeably bigger than what the Highlander Hybrid has to offer, and up to three adults can comfortably sit back there, along with having substantially more cargo space.

Due to its larger size and more powerful engine output, the Grand Highlander can also tow up to 5,000 pounds, while the smaller Highlander Hybrid can haul only 3,500 pounds. For its larger cabin and better performance, you'll pay a slight premium, with the base model Grand Highlander costing $43,320 compared to the Highlander Hybrid's $40,970 starting price. If you're only interested in hybrid models, the Grand Highlander Hybrid starts at $45,020, so it'll cost you even more for that fuel efficiency you crave.

How The Toyota Highlander Hybrid Compares To The Kia Telluride

• 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid	2024 Kia Telluride
  Model	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	Kia Telluride
  Engine	2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine	3.6L V-6
  Transmission	eCVT	8-Speed Automatic
  Horsepower	243 HP	291 hp @ 6,000 RPM
  Driveline	FWD or AWD	Front Engine, AWD
  MSRP	$40,970 - $53,375	$36,190
  Towing Capacity	3,500 Pounds	5,500 Pounds

Next up is the Kia Telluride, an affordable third-row SUV that ranks among the best options on the market for anyone looking for a new SUV. Powered by a non-hybrid 3.6-liter gasoline-powered engine, the Kia Telluride makes 291 horsepower and can tow up to 5,500 pounds, both of which outperform what the Highlander Hybrid can do. That said, the Kia only gets an EPA-estimated 20 MPG, which is significantly worse than the hybrid Highlander.

Inside the cabin, the Kia Telluride comes with all the creature comforts and amenities that the Highlander Hybrid does, while giving off a more luxurious feel. The third row of the Kia also offers more space than the Toyota, providing more comfort and up to 21.0 cubic feet of storage space. Topping it off is the lower price tag on the Kia Telluride, which starts at just $36,190 for the base model LX, making it one of the most affordable SUVs in the segment.

How Much A 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Costs

After dropping the base model L from the Highlander lineup, the most affordable option is the Hybrid LE, with a starting price of $40,970 for the FWD setup and $42,570 for AWD. Upgrading to the LE Nightshade adds an extra $1,000 for the black accents on the front grille, mirrors, door handles, and interior. Next up is the Highlander Hybrid XLE and XLE Nightshade models, which start at $44,120 and $45,120, respectively.

Dialing it up a notch, you can opt for the FWD Hybrid Limited for $48,225 and the AWD Limited for $50,175. At the top of the Highlander food chain is the Platinum trim, which goes for either $51,425 or $53,375, depending on which drivetrain you want. No matter which model you choose, there's an extra $1,495 fee for delivery and processing.

To spruce up some of the lower-level trims, you can upgrade to the 12.3-inch infotainment center touchscreen for an extra $735. On the Limited trim, you can add a panoramic view monitor for $850 to get a little closer to everything that's included with the Platinum model. On the upper end of this spectrum, the Highlander Hybrid is priced well and comes in at a lower price than most luxury SUVs on the market, while offering many of the same features and amenities.

(Data sourced from Toyota)

Is It Worth Buying A Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

With an entry-level price of just over $40,000, getting your hands on a new Toyota Highlander Hybrid is still one of the better deals you'll find on a brand-new SUV. With the prices of many hybrid and electric SUVs heading well north of $50,000 for anyone wanting to drive them off the lot, the 2024 Highlander offers a great middle-ground while still providing plenty of performance with its hybrid powertrain.

One of the biggest things you can start considering at this price point, however, is making the jump to all-electric. Something like the Kia EV6 costs around the same amount as the new Highlander while offering EV performance and a future-proof design. With Toyota being a bit late to the all-electric movement, the Highlander Hybrid does offer a nice compromise, but anyone willing to shell out the money for one could potentially upgrade to an EV without feeling it in their wallet.

2024-05-14T00:09:04Z