Used 2019 Toyota Highlander for sale 

The Toyota Highlander is available in five trims. The base engine is equipped with a turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four engine. It offers a 6.1-inch touchscreen display and a standard rearview camera. The LE plus upgrades to a 3.5-liter V6 engine, this engine is standard on the rest of the trims. You can upgrade to AWD by choosing an optional package. LE plus introduces a bigger 8-inch infotainment screen and three-zone climate control.

XLE trim adds premium touches with leather-trimmed seats, sunroof, push-button start, and an optional rear-seat entertainment package. SE trim brings in a sport-tuned suspension and larger alloys. The Limited trim offers a unique saddle interior color and option to get the Platinum package that brings in goodies like Bird's Eye View Camera, 19-inch Chromtec alloys, and heated steering wheel.

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We would suggest most buyers move up to the LE Plus trim. It brings in the 3.5-liter V6 engine and a longer list of standard equipment. It offers features like a powered liftgate, an 8-inch touchscreen, upgraded upholstery, and start-stop function. This trim has the maximum value for money appeal.

In its base configuration, the Toyota Highlander is powered by a 2.7-liter inline-four engine. This engine is quite underpowered in nature for a vehicle of its heft. The 3.5-liter V6 engine, however, has enough grunt to get this three-row crossover going. Considering its power output of 295 hp, the Highlander produces the best-in-segment power.

Transmission duties are taken care of by an easy-shifting 8-speed automatic. The Highlander is available with standard FWD but AWD is available for an additional expense.

The Ford Explorer takes second place with its 288 hp output and then followed by Honda's 280 hp output. But when we consider drivability, the newly introduced Subaru Ascent has a better low-rpm grunt due to a turbocharged engine.

Acceleration

A Toyota Highlander powered by a V6 engine completes its 0-60 run in 7.2 seconds and the quarter-mile is completed within a respectable 15.5 seconds. Even after having the best power output, Highlander only manages an average acceleration. To put it into perspective, a similarly equipped Honda Pilot is faster to reach 60 mph by 1 second.

The Toyota Highlander tips the scales at 4244 lbs., it is the second lightest vehicle in this comparison. Yet it has below average acceleration. The Honda Pilot's segment-best 6.2-second run is followed by Subaru's 6.9-second. And finally, the Ford Explorer in its base trim takes the longest 8.2 seconds to reach 60 mph.

Ride and Handling

The Highlander isn't the best handling three-row crossover out there. The Highlander is bulky and you have to be careful with it in the urban space. The steering isn't the nimblest unit out there, so maneuvering the Highlander takes some attention. With a curb-to-curb turning radius of 38.4 ft. taking U-turns would require some preparation.

Although the Highlander doesn't respond well to enthusiastic input from the driver. Highlander displays good high-speed stability and it is a very capable highway cruiser. The cabin refinement is also on the higher level of this segment.

Braking

The Highlander is equipped with ventilated discs at the front and the rear has a solid disc setup. The 2019 Highlander offers below-average braking performance. Under emergency braking scenario, this three-row Toyota underperformed a lot. It covered a distance of 128 feet before coming to a standstill from 60mph. Not good figures for a family hauler.

The Ford Explorer scores an impressive stopping distance of 108 ft. This feat is achieved with the optional summer tires. However, the Toyota Highlander covers 20 feet more to stop from a similar speed.

Towing Capacity

Highlanders can tow a maximum load of 5000 lbs. when properly equipped. The Highlander can tow 5000 lbs. in every trim except the base trim which is powered by a 2.7-liter engine. When we talk about the competition, Toyota lives up to the expectations of a vehicle of its class.

The 3.5-liter V6 engine offers a combined mpg of 22. The engine start-stop system works unobtrusively to increase fuel efficiency. The competition also offers a similarly combined fuel economy but the newly introduced Subaru Ascent beats everyone by a margin of 1 mpg.

Looking at the competition, the newly introduced Subaru Ascent delivers a segment-best of 21 mpg which is followed by the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.

The Toyota Highlander can seat a maximum of eight people. The front and second-row offer good space along with a commendable headroom and legroom. The third row is poorly equipped to seat adult passengers. This row is best left to smaller passengers. The cabin has a lot of space to store items. Starting from the center console, it offers enormous space for miscellaneous items. You can easily keep your laptop there. It offers a power socket. The row between the glovebox and the upper part of the dashboard is a well-designed space to keep keys, wallets, and tickets.

The interior has a sturdy built and the higher trim levels have been decorated with wood grains and metal inserts. The upper part of the dashboard and the doors have been finished with nice soft-touch material. The top-spec Limited trim is offered with a massive panoramic roof that elevates the in-cabin ambiance.

The Toyota Highlander's interiors are starting to show their age. Newly updated competitors offer better interior features and also offer more passenger volume. The newly introduced Subaru Ascent offers the maximum passenger volume in this segment - 153.5 cu-ft.

Infotainment

The base trim level is equipped with a 6.1-inch touchscreen display and a 6-speaker setup. The higher trims come with an 8-inch touchscreen display. The Entune touchscreen system from Toyota doesn't support Apple Carplay and Android Auto. It has soft-touch buttons on either side of the screen. The system requires little time to get used to. Hopefully, Toyota will upgrade this system in the upcoming generation change.

Interior Features

• Power adjustable door mirrors
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Cargo area light
• 3 Climate control zones
• Adaptive cruise control
• Cargo Capacity

The Toyota Highlander offers the least cargo space behind the 3rd row at 13.8 cu-ft. Fold the third row, and space increases to 42.3 cu-ft. Fold the second and third rows and the total cargo space available is 83.7 cu-ft. The cargo bay doesn't have a loading lip. It is easy to load/unload your luggage. The rear window can be opened for easy access to the boot. Ford Explorer offers the best rear cargo space behind the third row.

The Highlander comes with a generous chrome application at the front. The front fascia tries to bring out the width of the car. This design comes off as aggressive but once you are behind the wheel you will feel a lack of driving dynamics. The higher trims receive a fancy cladding beneath the grille that accentuates the width of the vehicle. The exhaust is hidden below the well and the reflectors are covered in chrome.

The Toyota Highlander offers modest dimensions. It has the smallest wheelbase in this comparison and has the least passenger volume in the segment. Highlander has a decent ground clearance of 8.0-inch and it can handle light off-roading jobs.

The competition has an edge over Toyota here, the Ascent offers a whopping 8.7-inches of ground clearance and also offers a larger wheelbase which translates to more passenger volume. When we compare the third-row dimensions, the Highlander offers the least space there.

The 2019 Toyota Highlander receives an overall 5-star rating from NHTSA. The Highlander also scores well in the safety tests conducted by IIHS. The Toyota Highlander comes with standard Toyota Safety Sense. It really takes the safety of the driver and passengers to a higher level. This system comes with a Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

Safety Features

• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA W/ SA)
• Automatic High Beams (AHB)
• Pre-collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS W/ PD)
• 8 Airbags

Toyota Highlander vs Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates 280 horsepower. Pricing for the Honda Pilot starts at $31,450. The 2019 Honda Pilot comes off as a more contemporary vehicle due to the newly introduced updates. Honda has a very intuitive infotainment system on offer. It also offers standard Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The Pilot offers electrically operated second-row seats for convenient third-row access. When it comes to convenience, the Pilot takes the crown from the Highlander.

Toyota Highlander vs Ford Explorer

Explorer's 3.5-liter V6 engine belts out 288 horsepower. The Explorer is the heaviest three-row crossover in this segment. It has a lot of positives like a spacious cabin, mild off-roading capacity, and the option to choose from a lot of three engines. The Toyota has only two engines on offer - a 2.7-liter inline-four and a 3.5-Liter V6. Ford Explorer offers more features than the Toyota Highlander but it commands a bigger price tag.

Toyota Highlander vs Subaru Ascent

Subaru Ascent is powered by a four-cylinder boxer engine and comes mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission. Ascent is a better driving three-row SUV available in the market. The turbocharged engine produced more torque than the Highlander's V6. And when it comes to standard features, Ascent is equipped with standard AWD, Subaru's Eyesight safety system and offers better cargo and passenger volume than the Highlander. Until Toyota updates the Highlander, the Subaru comes off as a better package.