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The Toyota Highlander marks a significant milestone in 2025, celebrating its 25th model year in the U.S. market. Over the years, this midsized utility vehicle has earned a reputation as a well-rounded, family-friendly package with understandably wide appeal. With its spacious and versatile interior, the Highlander comfortably accommodates up to eight passengers across three rows of seating. For 2025, Toyota has made select updates to keep the Highlander fresh and relevant in an ever-evolving segment. Most notably, the XSE trim now comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, adding more modern technology to the driver’s experience.
There’s also a gas-electric version, the Highlander Hybrid, which we cover in a separate overview.
2.4L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder Engine
EPA-Estimated City/Highway
Maximum Towing Capacity
Toyota offers the 2025 Highlander in five trims: LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. All grades have a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 265 horsepower. The LE and XLE get front-wheel drive (FWD) standard, while all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional and standard on the higher trims. Both drivetrains use an eight-speed automatic transmission.
With FWD, the 2025 Highlander has been estimated by the EPA to achieve 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Fuel economy for the AWD Highlander is 21 mpg around town and 28 mpg on the open road. There is 16.0 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, which can be expanded to 48.4 cubic feet when the third row is folded down. When both the second and third rows are folded, the Highlander will yield 84.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Properly equipped, the 2025 Highlander can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
The LE has an eight-passenger seating configuration, with three-person benches in the middle and back rows. It also gets fabric upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control with rear-seat vents, an eight-way power driver’s seat, LED projector-style headlights, proximity keyless entry, and push-button ignition. This well-outfitted base edition also has a windshield wiper de-icer, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a tilt-and-telescopic steering column, rear privacy glass, a 7-inch driver information display, heated power exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, an overhead console, washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers, an intermittent rear wiper with washer, a backup camera washer, five USB ports, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The XLE ramps up its equipment roster with a power moonroof, a hands-free liftgate, SofTex leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, a ten-way power driver’s seat, an eight-way power front passenger seat, roof rails, second-row sunshades, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and wireless device charging. Seven-passenger seating is standard via second-row captain’s chairs, but eight-passenger seating is optional. The XSE adds a sporty touch through unique exterior treatments like trim-specific bumpers, black accents, LED-strip daytime running lights, dual chrome-tipped exhausts, and 20-inch black-finished wheels. A 12.3-inch color digital gauge cluster and ambient cabin lighting help to set the mood for the drive.
Luxury is the name of the game with the Limited, which expands on the XLE’s equipment with leather-trimmed front and second-row seats, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a driver’s memory system, high-output LED fog lights, power-folding side mirrors with reverse tilt-down and puddle lamps, a 12.3-inch color digital gauge cluster, enhanced interior accents, a 120-volt outlet, ambient interior lighting, a cargo-area tonneau cover, and 20-inch chrome-finished alloy wheels. The Platinum takes the 2025 Highlander further upscale with a panoramic glass roof with a front power moonroof, heated second-row seats, a head-up display, illuminated metal front door sills, a digital rearview mirror, adaptive headlights, unique exterior treatments, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and acoustic front window glass.
Every 2025 Highlander is outfitted with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is also standard. The Limited and Platinum also receive front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking. The Platinum gets a surround-view monitor, which is optional for the Limited. Each trim gets a set of eight airbags along with anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, Smart Stop Technology (to minimize unintended acceleration), downhill assist control, hill start assist control, and a rearview monitor (with dynamic guidelines on the Limited and Platinum).
The infotainment command center for the LE, XLE, and XSE is an 8-inch touchscreen, while the Limited and Platinum move up to a 12.3-inch touchscreen (which is optional for the XLE and XSE). Both systems support wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A six-speaker is standard on all but the Limited and Platinum, which are upgraded to an 11-speaker JBL arrangement (available on the XSE). All Highlanders have Wi-Fi hotspot capability and access to Toyota Connected Services for Cloud Navigation, emergency support, and remote functions.
