Best Toyota Highlander Years to Buy Used

Used Toyota Highlander Quick Facts

• The best choice is probably the 2008-2013 version.
• Launched in 2000, the Toyota Highlander is a midsize SUV known for its reliability, safety, and comfort.
• Third-generation models of this family-friendly SUV grew longer and wider in 2014. Seating increased to eight, with a sliding second row.
• Fourth-generation Highlander models in 2020 got a power boost to the standard 295-horsepower V6.
  

The Toyota Highlander holds a special place in the world of family SUVs. Its combination of safety, value, longevity, and comfort is unsurpassed, as are its numerous trim levels and engine configurations, including a hybrid model. With most models offering seating for up to seven and some later versions up to eight, the Highlander is the perfect antidote to the dreaded minivan.

• What Is the Best Model Year Used Highlander to Buy?
• Fourth-Generation Toyota Highlander: 2020-Present
• Third-Generation Toyota Highlander: 2014-2019
• Second-Generation Toyota Highlander: 2008-2013
• First-Generation Toyota Highlander: 2000-2007
• Toyota Highlander Reliability
• Which Toyota Highlander Is Right For Me?

What Is the Best Model Year Used Highlander to Buy?

The best choice is probably the 2008-2013 version. This generation gives you more interior space, more features, and a more powerful engine lineup, plus better safety and crash test scores. Although the Highlander holds its value well, you should be able to find a low-mile 2010-2013 Highlander Limited for around $20,000 and one of the lower trims for even less.

See Used Toyota Highlander cars for sale in your area.

Toyota Highlander By Generation: Which Should You Buy?

The Toyota Highlander has always sold well, consequently, you can find plenty of examples for sale on the used market. Currently, there are four generations from which to pick the Highlander that’s just right for you.

Fourth Generation: 2020-Present

A new generation of the Highlander was introduced for 2020. It advanced the Highlander as a family-friendly minivan alternative with a roomy, comfortable interior. Third-row seating is still a little cramped but good for kids. One of the biggest stories of the fourth-generation Highlander is that the old, underpowered 4-cylinder base engine was dropped, and a 295-hp V6 became standard, which achieves up to 24 mpg (21 city/29 highway mpg) in mixed city-and-highway driving.

A new Highlander Hybrid was also introduced. It’s quite a bit more efficient than the previous Highlander Hybrid achieving up to 36 mpg (36 city/35 highway mpg) in mixed driving, which is outstanding for an SUV its size. All-wheel drive is no longer standard on the Highlander Hybrid but is optional and still super-efficient.

Toyota added the Grand Highlander to its product mix in 2024. We talk more about it below. Since the fourth-gen Highlander is still pretty new, used examples aren’t a whole lot cheaper than new ones. That said, it’s still worth keeping an eye out for a used 2020 or newer Highlander if you want a modern family crossover with a discount compared to a new one.

See 2020 to current Toyota Highlander SUVs for sale near you.

Third Generation: 2014-2019

For 2014, the Highlander again grew a bit larger and much more sophisticated. Longer and wider than the second-generation Highlander, the gen-3 model also found a new sense of style, with long sweeping lines and a more dynamic front end. The passenger count increased to eight people, with a sliding second-row seat and new driver assists such as lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward emergency braking, and automatic high beams offered only on the Limited and Limited Platinum trims. After 2017, these features became standard on all trims. The interior quality is noticeably better on these models, with lots of soft-touch surfaces and elegant trim.

The base engine remained the 185-hp 2.7-liter 4-cylinder, which was standard on the FWD LE trim. Optional on the LE and standard on the LE Plus, XLE, Limited, and Limited Platinum was the 270-hp 3.5-liter V6. The Hybrid Limited and Hybrid Limited Platinum employ the same V6 and electric motor combination as the previous generation. In mixed city-and-highway driving, the fuel economy for the Highlander Hybrid came in at a respectable 27 mpg (27 mpg city/28 mpg highway).

The base Highlander LE came nicely equipped, including a rear backup camera, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, 8-passenger seating, and Bluetooth. Moving up to the top of the line Limited Platinum netted a panoramic moonroof, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row captain’s chair seating, and a full suite of driver assists. Clever features for the Highlander included a flip-up rear liftgate window, a Blu-ray DVD rear entertainment system with a 9-inch screen, and Driver Easy Speak, which allows parents to communicate with unruly children in the third-row seat.

In 2016, rain-sensing wipers were added to the Limited Platinum trim, and in 2017 the Highlander received a minor face-lift, a new 8-speed automatic transmission for the V6-powered models, and the addition of the Toyota Safety Sense-P driver-assist suite. The V6 also received a revised fuel-injection system and a bump in output to 295 hp, while the hybrid powertrain was expanded to some of the less expensive trims.

See 2014 to 2019 Toyota Highlander SUVs for sale near you.

Second Generation: 2008-2013

Arriving in 2008, the redesigned Highlander was considerably larger than the original, with more power and features, such as a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, a telescopic steering wheel, and a flip-up glass window built into the rear liftgate. Trim levels included base, Sport, and Limited, with AWD again an option. The Highlander Hybrid also carried over but retained the old 3.3-liter V6 until 2011, when it upgraded to the 3.5-liter V6. In 2009, a 4-cylinder engine was returned to the lineup, this time being a 187-hp 2.7-liter unit offered only on the base 5-passenger model with FWD.

Standard features for the Toyota Highlander included power mirrors, air conditioning, a stowable second-row middle seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, power windows, and power door locks. Available options varied by trim and included leather seating, a power liftgate, JBL audio, navigation, a power sunroof, and Bluetooth. Electronic traction and stability control were standard, as were seven airbags, including side-curtain and a driver’s knee airbag. In 2010, a rear backup camera was made standard on Sport and Limited, with the SE trim later replacing the Sport. The model year 2011 saw the Highlander get a mild makeover, and the third-row seat made standard.

It should be noted that the 2008-2010 models were part of Toyota’s massive recall related to the mysterious unintended acceleration incidents on some of its cars. The recall required a new accelerator pedal to be installed. Other than this, owner complaints were few, mostly pertaining to less than claimed fuel economy on the 4-cylinder cars, issues with the CD changers failing, difficulties pairing certain cell phones with Toyota’s Bluetooth, and some odd vibrations upon startup.

People who tried pushing the AWD hybrid models to do prolonged off-road adventures (such as plowing through sand) soon found the electric motors would overheat and shut down. Owners with higher mileage Highlanders have reported a clunking or popping sound when turning the steering wheel, which turned out to be a relatively common issue with the intermediate steering shaft, a repair that can run anywhere from $500-$900.

See 2008 to 2013 Toyota Highlander SUVs for sale near you.

First Generation: 2000-2007

With the success of the compact RAV4 under its belt, Toyota needed to build a larger SUV its customers could move into as their families expanded. The answer was to create a midsize crossover based on the Toyota Camry, giving birth to the Highlander. Making its debut in 2000, the Highlander offered seating for five, the choice of a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a 3.0-liter V6, and front- (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). From the get-go, the Highlander was a success, offering a smooth, carlike ride, excellent crash test scores, cutting-edge safety features, and outstanding resale value. One oversight on early Highlander models was the lack of a proper center console between the front seats, an issue later remedied in 2004 when it became standard on all trims.

In 2004, the Highlander received a refresh, bringing with it a more powerful 3.3-liter V6 mated to a new 5-speed automatic. Also, new this year was the option of a 2-passenger third-row seat, a feature that increased the seating capacity to seven, although admittedly, the seat was only fit for small children. A sliding second-row seat made accessing the rear-most seat a lot easier, but with the third row in place, many owners complained of greatly diminished cargo space. After 2004, vehicles not equipped with the third row had the storage well converted to a cargo compartment, with the spare tire being accessed from beneath the vehicle. In 2006, the Highlander Hybrid joined the team, offering a 3.3-liter V6 paired with a hybrid electric motor. AWD versions were equipped with Toyota’s 4WD-I system that used two electric motors to power the rear wheels.

For the most part, the first-gen Highlander SUVs suffered very few complaints. Those who bought the AWD hybrid models quickly learned the system was designed for use only on paved roads, discovering the electric motors would overheat and shut down during extreme off-road situations. Toyota later issued a recall for this problem due to poorly soldered transistors in the Intelligent Power Module controlling the system. There was also an issue with the 2001 and 2002 V6 engines overheating due to a buildup of oil sludge in the engine. Issues for used buyers include remembering to change the V6’s timing belt every 90,000 miles and issues with a check engine light related to a clogged charcoal canister (part of the emissions system) that can be quite costly to replace.

See 2000 to 2007 Toyota Highlander SUVs for sale near you.

Toyota Grand Highlander

Still considered a midsized SUV, the Grand Highlander rolled onto the stage in 2024. With a 4-inch longer wheelbase, the Grand Highlander is more than six inches longer overall than the Highlander. It’s wider and taller, too. However, the Grand Highlander isn’t simply an enlarged Highlander. It uses a different platform, and its exterior styling is distinctive enough that most people won’t confuse the two. Sourcing its thrust from the Highlander’s turbo 4-cylinder, it features basically the same drivetrain. One significant difference for families, however, is that, with the optional second-row bench seat, the Grand Highlander can seat up to eight rather than the maximum of seven in the Highlander.

Toyota’s main purpose for the Grand Highlander exercise is to provide more cargo space and rear-seat legroom. Here’s how those numbers match up:

Toyota Highlander Reliability

Consumer reviews consistently give this midsize SUV high marks and praise for its reliability. Readers of Kelley Blue Book, our sister company, rate the Toyota Highlander’s reliability 4.8 out of 5 stars for most model years and 4.6 out of 5 for others. Model year 2020 is an outlier, with a consumer reliability rating of 4.2 out of 5.

Can You Go Off-Roading in a Highlander?

The Toyota Highlander was born to give growing families an alternative to bland minivans, and this larger SUV boasts plenty of safety features those owners want. At the same time, the vehicle offers ample interior space for some camping gear and towing capacity for a small trailer when properly equipped. For many drivers, the best Highlander quality is its ground clearance, which provides a smoother ride for family adventures, including light off-road driving.

Which Toyota Highlander Is Right For Me?

With the Toyota Highlander, it’s hard to go wrong regardless of which year you choose. The first-generation models will likely be the most affordable but also have the highest mileage. The cabins are snug and lack important features like a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.

If you’re willing to spend north of $25,000, you can get into a third-gen Highlander, which opens the door to 8-passenger seating, advanced driver assists, and more features and interior room, but not advanced infotainment options like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

If you go with models older than six years, a private-party sale may be advantageous both for the ability to negotiate a better price and the possibility that the owner kept meticulous repair and maintenance records. A car only a few years old might be better bought from a dealer that can provide an inspection as well as some type of warranty, as found on certified pre-owned (CPO) cars. Find a CPO Toyota Highlander for sale.

Toyota Highlander Years to Avoid 

We suggest steering clear of the 2001 and 2002 models, with the V6 requiring timing belt changes and issues related to replacing costly clogged charcoal canisters and oil sludge issue. Some early hybrid models faced a recall for overheating electric motors when off-roading.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since it was originally published.

Read Related Toyota Highlander Articles:

• 5 Thoughts About the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
• 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Choosing the Right Trim
• Toyota RAV4 vs. Highlander: Top 10 Differences You Should Know