2018 Toyota Highlander Le Plus V6 Awd Review
The Car Connection Expert Review
Senior Editor
May 21, 2018
Likes
- Comfortable interior
- Strong 5-half dozen
- Hybrid is very thrifty
- Supple ride quality
Dislikes
- Polarizing styling
- Anemic base 4-cylinder
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
- Limited room backside third row
Buying tip
features & specs
Hybrid LE V6 AWD
Hybrid Limited Platinum V6 AWD
Hybrid Limited V6 AWD
The 2018 Toyota Highlander delivers much of what families want in a three-row crossover at a reasonable price; the Highlander Hybrid is icing on the cake.
MSRP: From $32,025
Horsepower: 185 hp to 295 hp
MPG: Up to thirty city / 28 highway
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Dimensions: 193" 50, 76" W, 70" H
Curb weight: four,165 to 4,965 lbs.
The 2018 Toyota Highlander is a three-row crossover SUV for upwards to eight passengers. Shoppers may consider the Highlander based on its badge on its nose, just its versatile interior, impressive prophylactic record, and potent V-6 engine option are reasons plenty to stick around.
All told, that means the Highlander scores a solid 6.viii out of x on our calibration. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
With its 2018 Highlander, Toyota has made time stand still—or at least information technology has carried the crossover over into the new year with no changes from 2017. This pop crossover remains bachelor in a boundless assortment of trim levels: LE, LE Plus, SE, XLE, Limited, and Express Platinum, most of which can be ordered with a hybrid gasoline-electrical powertrain.
The Highlander Hybrid is among the near fuel-efficient crossovers, but most Highlanders are powered past a iii.five-liter Five-6 rated at 295 horsepower that can exist paired with forepart- or all-bicycle drive. A 185-hp 2.7-liter 4-cylinder is standard on the base Highlander LE with forepart-wheel drive merely; it'southward inexpensive, but you go what you lot pay for.
Though it may look a niggling truckier than shapely rivals such as the Mazda CX-9 and Chevrolet Traverse, the Highlander is a machine-based crossover aimed at conquering a snow-covered parking lot in suburbia than plucking its style upwardly an unpaved mountain pass. Leave that duty to Toyota's 4Runner if you're a mud-plugger.
Toyota fits the Highlander with some of the nigh advanced safety technology in its class. All models have automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive prowl control, active lane control, and automatic high-beam headlights. That's enough to earn a Top Safety Pick+ nod from the IIHS and five stars overall from federal testers.
Its exterior won't win it many fans, only the Toyota Highlander's interior is comfortable and calming.
Dazzler, thy name is non 2018 Toyota Highlander. A substantial update last year gave the Highlander more power and a meliorate interior, but it did no favors for the crossover's exterior.
Nosotros've deducted a point for its confused styling outside only added one back for the crossover'due south attractive interior look. It earns a 5 out of 10. (Read more about how we charge per unit cars.)
Toyota seems to take taken a folio from its Lexus sectionalization with regards to the Highlander's razor-abrupt front. Looking something like a pyramid made out of Gillette Mach 3s, the snout protrudes plenty to make us somewhat uncomfortable. That's a shame since the rest of the Highlander is muscular and shapely in a sort of mini-Country Cruiser way.
The Highlander SE tones down the chrome with a dark finish to its grille slats, even so its 12-spoke wheels await a little more "1998 tuner" than we'd similar. So again, the average heir-apparent with a growing family of little ones probably dreamed of a Supra on these wheels 20 years agone, and so mayhap it'southward a valid blueprint.
Within, things are far more calming. The Highlander's broad dash is logically laid out, with secondary controls grouped to the left of the steering wheel. The two-tier look is both clean and functional; there's plenty of room to store a few charging smartphones on a shelf about halfway up the dashboard and Toyota has even thought to include pass-throughs for USB chargers to cut down on clutter. Every trim gets its own finishes, although even the reasonably convincing fake wood applied to higher-spec models won't fool anyone stepping out of, say, a Lexus into a 2018 Highlander
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All Toyota Highlanders ride well, but the optional V-6 is definitely worthwhile.
The 2018 Toyota Highlander is offered in three bones flavors: mild, medium, and gluten free paleo kale salad. This crossover rides well and the V-6 establish in most Highlanders is strong, just we've pulled off a point for the milquetoast base of operations 4-cylinder, bringing things to a 6 out of 10 overall. (Read more about how nosotros rate cars.)
Fortunately, the Highlander's 2.seven-liter inline-4 is relegated only to the base LE trim level with front-cycle drive. Its 185 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque is tasked with motivating about four,165 pounds of crossover, meaning even the slick-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission can't elevate it. With a total load of humans and cargo aboard, it'due south a struggle to pass even tractors plugging forth at half the speed limit.
Moreover, the base inline-4 is considerably thirstier than the optional V-6—mainly because it'south constantly struggling. Our advice? Avoid the 4-cylinder.
Optional on the LE and standard elsewhere the Highlander's 3.5-liter V-6 is rated at 295 hp and 263 lb-ft, which is shuttled to either the front- or all-4 wheels via an excellent eight-speed automated. This shine and potent Five-half dozen is muscular and refined. It'due south one of our favorite engines in any application, fifty-fifty something as big and heavy as the Highlander.
The Highlander Hybrid, available equally an LE, XLE, or Limited, or Platinum, uses a version of the aforementioned V-6 mated to a 45 kw nickel-metal hydride battery and two electric motors. All Highlander Hybrids are all-wheel drive. At 306 hp combined organisation output, they're peppy, just the roughly 300 pound adjourn weight increase over a non-hybrid means they're slightly slower. The Highlander Hybrid uses a continuously variable transmission that provides near-instant acceleration, albeit with a lilliputian engine drone reaching the cabin.
Most Highlanders ride on a suspension that's tuned to prioritize ride condolement. LE and XLE trim levels feature 18-inch blend wheels with a decent amount of sidewall that provides them with a buttery smooth ride virtually worthy of a Lexus bluecoat. Opt for a Limited or Limited Platinum and the nineteen-inch blend wheels standard on those make things a hair firmer. The Highlander SE—not bachelor as a hybrid—has a sport suspension that firms things up without actually making this crossover much more fun to drive. All models accept precise, accurate steering that'south light enough for easy in-boondocks maneuverability albeit with a hint of on-center vagueness on the highway.
Despite their vaguely mini-Land Cruiser looks and eight.0 inches of ground clearance, Highlanders are non meant for serious off-road utilize. Instead, their optional all-wheel-drive system endows them with confidence-inspiring traction on slippery, snow-covered roads. If you lot're a sun-belter, the front end-wheel drive Highlander volition probably suffice.
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The Toyota Highlander's interior is well thought out with adept storage for both humans and cargo, although information technology'south not particularly upscale.
All versions of the 2018 Toyota Highlander are comfortable and solid inside, with terrific space for up to viii passengers.
Nosotros've given the Highlander points in a higher place boilerplate for its terrific forepart and second row seats, also as another point for its roomy cargo area when all but the driver and passenger seats are stowed abroad. It's an 8 out of 10 on our scale. (Read more than nigh how we charge per unit cars.)
Front seat passengers are treated to supportive seats. The driver's seat is power-adjusted on all models, while XLE and above grades feature a ability passenger'due south seat. Oddly, no model has a height-adjustable passenger's seat, an omission that feels borderline glaring on a fully equipped Highlander.
The second row moves fore and aft at the tug of a lever and folds flat in a 60/40 configuration for larger objects. Some versions are available with individual captain's chairs for the second row. While this drops the Highlander's seating capacity from eight to vii, it allows for an easy pass-through to the standard third row and at that place's even a modest table that pops upward to concord pocket-size items while on the get. All the mode back, at that place is room for kids, but it'southward tight for adults. The third row isn't power-folding, simply information technology flops flat with the tug of a lever and, when upright, the backrest is adjustable for rake.
Behind the tertiary row, the Highlander has just shy of 14 cubic anxiety of cargo infinite. Fold the third row and that grows to more than 42 cubes. With the second and third rows stowed away, the cargo flooring is flat and offers more than 83 cubic feet of space. Both the Highlander and the Highlander Hybrid have the same amount of infinite inside. There'south plenty of small item storage space scattered throughout the cabin. We're particularly enamored with a shelf integrated into the dashboard that'due south perfectly sized for smartphones, pens, and sunglasses.
The Highlander'due south motel is fitted with fairly overnice materials given its price. Soft-touch plastics and rubbers dominate the dashboard and forepart door panels. Work your way dorsum and the cloth quality drops off a bit. LE models take copious painted argent trim that looks downmarket, simply Limited and Limited Platinum variants swap in reasonably disarming fake wood. The SE has its own interior trim and blackness leather seats, just no model feels particularly luxurious inside.
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Kudos to Toyota for making some important safe tech standard on the 2018 Highlander.
The Toyota Highlander boasts one of the highest levels of standard standoff-avoiding tech for a three-row crossover and information technology has performed well in crash tests.
That brings it to an 8 out of 10 in our eyes, with only a picayune room for comeback. (Read more well-nigh how we rate cars.)
All Highlanders come standard with what Toyota brands its Toyota Rubber Sense-P bundle: adaptive cruise control, forrard collision warnings with full-speed automatic emergency braking, lane deviation warnings, active lane control, and automated loftier beams. Hither, those features are included; on rivals, nosotros suggest paying extra for them.
Combined those features a full complement of airbags and a solid crash structure, and it's a recipe for success. The IIHS rates the Highlander a Top Safe Pick. Only its "Acceptable" headlights proceed information technology from earning perfect scores all around.
The federal authorities awards the Highlander with five stars overall, albeit with 4 stars in the frontal crash test and four stars for rollover.
Toyota offers a wide range of Highlander models suitable for simply about every upkeep.
You'll desire to spend some time working your fashion through the 2018 Toyota Highlander lineup. For its wide range of models, good infotainment organisation, and the fact that it's well-equipped even at the base level, the Highlander rates an 8 out of 10 here. (Read more most how nosotros rate cars.)
The lineup starts with the Highlander LE, bachelor with either 4- or six-cylinder power (all other models are V-6-only). It may be the base Highlander, just the LE looks the part with its eighteen-inch alloy wheels, tinted windows, and turn indicate mirrors. Within, it'south fitted with a 4.2-inch LCD screen in the instrument cluster, a rearview camera, cloth upholstery with a ability driver's seat, and a 6.1-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity.
The Highlander LE Plus runs near $2,400 more than an LE with the optional Five-half dozen. For that money, you're treated to an 8.0-inch infotainment system with a navigation app that uses a continued smartphone's data plan, three-zone automatic climate control, a power passenger'due south seat, synthetic leather and fabric upholstery, a flip-up rear window for modest item access, and a few styling bits.
Adjacent up is the Highlander XLE with a moonroof, total navigation that doesn't require a smartphone, leather upholstery, heated seats upwards front, and a microphone integrated into the overhead console that amplifies the driver's voice then that passengers in all three rows can hear the answer to "are we there yet?" crystal clear.
The Highlander SE builds on the XLE with a sports pause and some special styling elements, and 19-inch blend wheels.
Next upward, the Highlander Limited features perforated leather with air conditioned seats up front and heated seats in row ii, memory for the driver's seat, and a JBL audio organisation. The Limited Platinum bridges the gap between Toyota and Lexus with a surroundings-view camera system, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic moonroof.
The Highlander Hybrid model range mostly mirrors the gas-only model, albeit without the LE Plus and SE trim levels. Additionally, all Highlander Hybrids are all-bicycle drive.
Toyota doesn't offer likewise many options on the Highlander lineup. XLE and Express models offering the pick betwixt a second row demote and helm's chairs and they can be equipped with a Blu-ray rear-seat entertainment organisation.
Toyota'south Entune infotainment organisation works well and the available integrated navigation system is like shooting fish in a barrel to employ. We similar that Toyota offers an app-based navigation on LE Plus models, a move that allows owners admission to a big navigation screen at a reasonable toll indicate. But no model offers Apple CarPlay or Android Automobile, a glaring omission in 2018.
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The 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid delivers excellent fuel efficiency. Other models? Not so much.
With its strong V-6, the 2018 Toyota Highlander is fairly fuel-efficient given its size and girth. But the real standout here is the Highlander Hybrid, one of few truly thrifty vehicles capable of seating upwards to eight.
Our half-dozen out of x score is based on the acknowledged version: an all-wheel-drive Highlander with the V-6 gas engine. (Read more about how we charge per unit cars.)
That model is rated using the EPA test at 19 mpg city, 26 highway, 22 combined. Not great, but not terrible either. Skip the all-wheel drive and those figures ascent to 20/27/23 mpg.
Think you're going to use less gas past sticking with the Highlander 4-cylinder only bachelor with front-wheel bulldoze on the entry-level LE? Call back again: its twenty/24/22 mpg actually makes it the thirstiest Highlander since the little 4-cylinder has to piece of work and then difficult to motivate this bulky crossover.
All V-6 Highlanders have an auto showtime/finish arrangement that cuts out the engine at traffic lights and starts it up over again as presently equally the commuter's foot leaves the brake pedal. It's mostly unobtrusive and is amidst the best of these systems.
Information technology's a prettier picture when it comes to the Highlander Hybrid: xxx/28/29 mpg for the LE with its 18-inch wheels and 29/27/28 mpg for other models thank you to slightly larger wheels and a roof rack that increases drag.
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Source: https://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/toyota_highlander_2018
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