Body Styles

The Toyota Highlander is a three-row, midsize crossover SUV with a traditional upright stance and practical proportions. It features a wide front grille, high beltline, and sculpted body sides with soft creases. The 2017 refresh brought a larger trapezoidal grille, redesigned front and rear bumpers, updated LED lighting, and new wheel designs. The silhouette balances family utility with a modern crossover aesthetic, while the wide rear tailgate and low lift-over height emphasize cargo practicality. Despite seating for up to eight passengers, the Highlander remains compact enough for suburban garages and daily parking.

Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)

The name “Highlander” conveys a sense of ruggedness, elevation, and exploration. Toyota chose the name to suggest a vehicle capable of traveling over varied terrain with confidence, while still offering comfort and family utility. It evokes strength, security, and broad capability—a perfect fit for a crossover SUV aimed at balancing adventure with everyday usability.

Model Name Meaning (Languages)

“Highlander” is an English word referring to someone who lives in or comes from highlands or elevated terrain. It carries connotations of resilience, ruggedness, and independence. The name is easy to pronounce globally and holds strong emotional value, evoking imagery of natural landscapes and versatile journeys. It is especially effective for branding in markets where outdoor activity and safety are key purchase motivators.

Body & Interior Colors and Rims

The Highlander was offered in a range of conservative yet sophisticated exterior colors, including Blizzard Pearl, Celestial Silver, Predawn Gray Mica, Midnight Black Metallic, Salsa Red Pearl, Toasted Walnut Pearl, and Ooh La La Rouge. Higher trims added chrome accents, silver roof rails, and body-colored mirrors. The SE trim introduced a sportier aesthetic with darkened headlights, black grille accents, and 19-inch machined-face wheels with black inserts.

Interior finishes varied by trim, starting with durable fabric in base LE models and progressing to SofTex or perforated leather in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims. Interior themes included Black, Almond (beige), and Gray, often with woodgrain or metallic accents. The cabin design was functional and spacious, with large knobs, a deep center console tray, and a second-row bench or captain’s chairs depending on configuration. Rear seat comfort and cargo flexibility were standout features, with available power-folding third-row seats in higher trims.

Wheel options ranged from 18-inch silver alloys on base trims to 19-inch multi-spoke or turbine-style wheels on SE and Limited Platinum models. These larger wheels filled the arches more aggressively and helped visually balance the Highlander’s tall, square shape. All wheels were designed for all-season performance and family-friendly ride comfort.

Top Expensive Options

• Advanced Safety Tech Suite (Toyota Safety Sense P – post-2017): Included
• Rear-Seat Blu-ray Entertainment System: $1,810
• Panoramic Glass Roof with Sunshade (Limited Platinum): $1,200
• JBL Premium 12-Speaker Audio System: $1,100
• Navigation with 8-inch Touchscreen and App Suite: $920
• Heated and Ventilated Front Seats: $750
• Rear Parking Sensors and Bird’s Eye Camera View: $900
• Driver Memory Seating and Power Passenger Seat: $650
• Smart Key with Push-Button Start: $400
• 19-Inch Alloy Wheels (SE/Platinum): $795

vs Competitors

The Highlander competes with the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Mazda CX-9, Hyundai Santa Fe XL, and Chevrolet Traverse. Compared to the Pilot, the Highlander offers comparable performance with superior predicted reliability. Against the Explorer, it has a smoother ride and simpler tech interface. While the CX-9 outpaces it in handling and interior refinement, the Highlander wins in rear-seat usability, resale value, and real-world ownership costs. The Highlander is a safe, practical, and efficient choice—less thrilling, but more dependable and family-focused than most midsize SUVs of the era.

Fun Fact

In 2017, the Toyota Highlander became one of the first midsize SUVs to offer the full Toyota Safety Sense P package (including adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection) as standard equipment across all trims—setting a precedent in safety tech accessibility and helping cement Toyota’s reputation as a safety leader.