The 2025 Toyota Highlander continues to be a top choice for American families seeking a dependable and versatile SUV. It successfully blends a comfortable ride with modern technology and strong safety scores, making it a well-rounded vehicle for daily commutes, weekend adventures, and long road trips. While it faces tough competition, the Highlander remains a compelling option for its trusted reputation and practical design. This review will explore its key features to help you decide if it’s the right SUV for your family’s needs.
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A Closer Look at the 2025 Highlander Design and Space
The 2025 Toyota Highlander presents a bold and sophisticated exterior that fits right in on city streets and highways. It features a striking front grille and modern LED lighting, giving it an elegant yet rugged SUV appearance. For 2025, Toyota introduces a special 25th Anniversary Edition model with a unique body kit and exclusive badges to celebrate the vehicle’s long history. Some trims also gain new exterior color options, like Heavy Metal, refreshing its look.
How the 2025 Highlander Performs and Saves Fuel
Under the hood, the standard 2025 Highlander is powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This engine produces 265 horsepower and a robust 310 pound-feet of torque, which provides plenty of power for everyday driving and merging onto highways. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers smooth and effortless gear shifts. Some drivers note that the engine can become noisy during hard acceleration, but it remains a comfortable cruiser for daily use.
For those looking for maximum efficiency, the Highlander Hybrid is an excellent option. Its hybrid powertrain generates a combined 243 horsepower and achieves an impressive up to 35 mpg in both city and highway driving.
This model not only saves you money on fuel but also offers a longer driving range between fill-ups. A key update for the 2025 model year is that all Highlander Hybrid models now come standard with all-wheel drive, providing better traction in various weather conditions.
2025 Toyota Highlander Interior Comfort: A Spacious and High-Tech Cabin
Inside, the cabin is designed for comfort and practicality. The Highlander offers flexible seating for up to eight people across three rows, making it great for larger families. The interior is filled with smart storage solutions, including handy cubbies in the center console and dashboard, giving you plenty of places to stow phones, tablets, and other everyday items. Higher trim levels elevate the experience with premium materials like leather-trimmed seats and available heated and ventilated front seats for added comfort.
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Family-Focused Technology and Easy Connectivity
The 2025 Toyota Highlander keeps everyone connected and entertained with its modern technology features. Even the base model comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing you to easily access your smartphone’s apps and functions. You’ll also find multiple USB ports throughout the cabin to keep all passengers’ devices charged.
Upgrading to higher trims unlocks more advanced features. These include a larger 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen, a premium 11-speaker JBL audio system for a more immersive sound experience, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that clearly displays important driving information right behind the steering wheel. Some top-tier models even offer a head-up display that projects essential info onto the windshield, so you can keep your eyes on the road.
Top Safety Ratings and Driver Assistance Features
Safety is a major strength for the 2025 Highlander. It has earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is the highest possible score. It also performed well in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing, earning a 2024 Top Safety Pick award. In specific crash tests, the Highlander received top “Good” ratings in both driver-side and passenger-side small overlap front collisions.
Every 2025 Toyota Highlander comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of advanced driver-assistance systems. This includes features like:
- Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection to help prevent or mitigate collisions.
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist to help keep you centered in your lane.
- Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control to maintain a set distance from the vehicle ahead, even in stop-and-go traffic.
- Blind-Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn you of vehicles you might not see when changing lanes or backing up.
2025 Toyota Highlander Pricing and Different Models
The 2025 Toyota Highlander lineup offers a variety of trims to match different budgets and feature preferences. The starting MSRP for the gas model is $40,320. Here is a closer look at some of the key models available:
| Trim Level | Starting Price (MSRP) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| LE | $39,520 | 8-inch multimedia, tri-zone climate, Toyota Safety Sense |
| XSE | $46,340 | Sport-tuned suspension, aggressive styling, 20-inch wheels |
| Limited | $46,775 | 12.3-inch screen, JBL audio, leather-trimmed seats |
| Platinum | $51,925 | Panoramic glass roof, head-up display, surround-view camera |
| Hybrid XLE | $46,020 | ~35 MPG combined, standard AWD, 8-seating |
| Hybrid 25th Edition | $52,680 | Exclusive looks, Limited features, special badges |
Final Thoughts on the 2025 Toyota Highlander
The 2025 Toyota Highlander stands out as a practical and family-friendly SUV with a lot to offer. Its comfortable and spacious interior, strong safety credentials, and efficient hybrid option make it a reliable partner for daily life. While its third row is best suited for children and its standard engine isn’t the most exciting, its overall package is hard to beat for shoppers looking for a trustworthy and well-equipped vehicle.
If you find the standard Highlander a bit too cramped for your needs, Toyota now offers the Grand Highlander, a larger model designed to provide more passenger and cargo space. For many, however, the 2025 Highlander continues to deliver the perfect balance of size, efficiency, and value that has made it a favorite for years.
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Disclaimer: The information, specifications, and prices presented in this article are based on data available at the time of writing and are subject to change. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please contact your local Toyota dealer or visit the official Toyota website.
