2017 Toyota Highlander Road Test and Review

2017 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD exterior hero ・ Photo by Toyota

Good news for customers who need a high-quality three-row crossover SUV: The 2017 Toyota Highlander Limited—along with the rest of the Highlander clan—has been thoroughly updated for the new model year. That includes some noticeable changes in style, with the Highlander Limited showing, for example, a new grille, revised taillights, and a chrome garnish for the rear bumper. All Highlander trims also get a more powerful V6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission, and the new-for-2017 SE trim matches the increase in performance with sportier design cues and a retuned suspension. Further, the Highlander welcomes an advanced bundle of driver-assistance technologies as standard equipment in all trims. But even the Highlander Limited, with its wide range of family-friendly amenities, is a tough worker. In fact, it has the strength to tow 2.5 tons.

Pricing

The 2017 Toyota Highlander Limited has an MSRP of $41,680; that’s a fair amount of change. But it also represents one of the best values in the lineup. Consider: The starting price of the entry-level Highlander is $30,630. True, that does include standard driver-assistance technology that’s missing from the base-level Toyota rivals, yet it does give the Highlander a higher MSRP in its least-expensive trim. The entry Highlander trim has a standard 4-cylinder engine, while many rivals have standard V6s. The Highlander Limited, however, is chock full of standard content like the V6 engine, and it’s less expensive than the top-grade Chevy Traverse Premier, for one. Also, every 2017 Highlander gets standard Toyota Care, which brings 2-years/25,000-mile coverage for routine maintenance and 24/7 roadside assistance.

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Power, Performance, Fuel Economy

We touched on the powertrain earlier in this Autobytel review of the 2017 Toyota Highlander Limited, and here are the details: For the new model year, Toyota has fitted D-4S fuel-injection technology to the Highlander Limited’s standard V6 engine, boosting output by 25 horsepower and 15 lb.-ft. of torque as compared to last year's V6. The new bottom line for the V6-equipped 2017 Highlander: 295 horsepower and 263 lb.-ft. of torque—and a maximum tow rating of 5000 lb.

To better manage that power, Toyota pairs the new V6 with an equally new “Direct Shift” 8-speed automatic transmission. Further enhancing the Highlander’s V6's fuel economy is a standard start/stop system. EPA fuel economy ratings for the new more powerful Highlander have reached 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway/23 mpg combined, gains of 1 mpg, 2 mpg, and 2 mpg respectively.

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Exterior Design and Lighting

A menacing, two-piece grille, with sophisticated chrome-finished accents and intricate sculpting, helps create a bold yet upscale road presence for the 2017 Toyota Highlander Limited—which wears the same new LED taillights and brake lights that now come standard across the roster. As for the new Highlander's projector-beam halogen headlights, those are set off by smoked-chrome accents and LED daytime running lights. Careful sculpting along the sides of the Highlander gives this 3-row crossover SUV a “ready to run” stance that’s complemented by the Limited trim’s standard 19-inch Chomtec alloy wheels (with black center caps).

The Highlander Limited also is dressed up by luxurious exterior touches such as integrated foglights, a power tilt/slide moonroof, and power-adjustable heated side mirrors with puddle lighting. A power-opening rear liftgate provides access to the Highlander Limited’s large rear cargo hold, as does an independent flip-up rear window.

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Interior Design and Capacities

Although some Highlander models offer eight seats—with benches in the second and third rows—the 2017 Toyota Highlander Limited features individual captain’s chairs in the middle row, for a 7-person cabin. The upper-trim Limited model leverages perforated, leather-trimmed seating, and the driver and front passenger are coddled by heating and ventilation. The standard multi-function steering wheel in the Highlander Limited is trimmed in leather as well, while soft-touch surfaces, ambient LED lighting, and a tonneau cover for the rear cargo area are among the vehicle’s other up-level details.

To supply owners with the cargo space they need, the Highlander has a center console up front that can hold 24.5 liters, and a storage space in the back that can fit 13.8 cubic feet. Folding the third-row bench bumps that to 42.3 cubic feet of storage. When all rear seats are folded, the Highlander’s maximum cargo capacity reaches 83.7 cubic feet.

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Infotainment and Audio Technology

Standard for the 2017 Toyota Highlander Limited is a range-topping Entune infotainment system, complete with voice recognition, navigation, and Toyota’s App Suite interface for access to mobile apps. An 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen—with split-display capability—supports the system, which provides Bluetooth for handsfree calling and audio streaming, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and HD Radio with Predictive Traffic and Doppler Weather overlay.

For audio, a premium JBL setup with 12 high-efficiency GreenEdge speakers is on board; they’re specifically designed to deliver a high-fidelity listening experience even as they weigh less and consume less power than typical speakers. It’s also worth noting that the Highlander’s audio speakers also serve another important purpose: Toyota’s “Driver Easy Speak” system is standard in the Limited trim, allowing the driver’s voice to be broadcast over the infotainment system. As a result, in-vehicle communication with second- and third-row passengers is a lot easier.

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Safety Technology and Ratings

We mentioned the Highlander's new driver-assistance features. Details: Each Highlander gets a standard rearview camera plus the Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) package. The TSS-P bundle incorporates forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assistance, and automatic high beams. The Limited trim gains a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and sonar-based rear parking sensors. Toyota’s focus on occupant protection in the Highlander has been rewarded with a Top Safety Pick+ certification from the IIHS and a 5-Star Overall Safety Score from the NHTSA. And unlike some Highlander rivals, that IIHS rating does apply to all trims of this Toyota crossover suv, not just the most expensive ones.

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Available Equipment

Buyers can upgrade the 2017 Toyota Highlander Limited for both capability and comfort. In regards to the former, Toyota’s Dynamic Torque Control all-wheel-drive system stands out, offering on-demand traction for all scenarios and an “AWD LOCK” mode for the most challenging conditions. Moreover, standard EPA ratings for the AWD 2017 Highlander jump 15 percent in combined driving as compared to the 2016 edition. A Platinum package can then raise luxury levels in the Limited trim. Here, standard content extends to a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seating, a panoramic moonroof, rain-sensing wipers, and Toyota’s new  “Bird’s Eye View Camera” system. This high-tech visibility feature displays a top-down, 360-degree view of the Highlander’s immediate surroundings, and the “Perimeter Scan” setting increases functionality with a live, rotating view around the vehicle.

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Other Cool Info

As the producer of the Prius, Toyota is well known for its hybrid powertrains, and it's no surprise to learn there's a 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited. It has all of the same premium content as the gas-only version, including the updated V6 engine and the optional Platinum package. But it adds the automaker’s latest Hybrid Synergy Drive system into the mix for a major advance in fuel efficiency. Indeed, EPA ratings for the Highlander Hybrid Limited are up at 29 mpg city/27 mpg highway/28 mpg combined, representing a 9-mpg spike in city efficiency and a 5-mpg improvement in combined fuel efficiency (versus the V6 model). All the more impressive: The 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid model also is more powerful than the conventional Highlander, and it comes standard with electric on-demand all-wheel drive.

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Final Thoughts

The auto industry’s record sales numbers in 2016 were based largely on the surging demand for crossovers and SUVs, but that rising tide didn’t seem to lift all rivals equally: Highlander deliveries, for instance, were up by more than 20 percent in 2016, whereas the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and Chevy Traverse all saw sales fall. While it’s true that past performance is no guarantee of future success, Toyota isn’t merely relying on the past performance of its Highlander. Instead, the 2017 Toyota Highlander Limited has been thoroughly refreshed for the new selling season, and it will be more competitive than ever.

Photo by Toyota