The mid-size crossover SUV was first introduced at the 2000 New York International Auto Show and is now in its fourth generation. The Highlander represents one more success story for the popular brand and was at one time, Toyota's best-selling SUV before it was overtaken by the RAV4. The new-look 4th generation Highlander was first introduced for the 2020 model year and is clearly an indication of Toyota's new design language.
For the 2021 model year, the Highlander got the sporty XSE trim that may actually be an alternative for those who want a mix of performance and practicability but cannot afford the premium SUVs that combine these features so well.
10 Upgraded Safety Technology
Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) was first launched in 2015 by the Japanese carmaker in line with the demands of the evolving automobile sector. It is an array of safety features specifically designed to support the driver's awareness and decision-making across a range of speeds and driving conditions.
The 2021 Highlander gets the latest TSS system that comes with Emergency Steering Assist, enhanced automatic braking alongside pedestrian and cyclist detection. This is in addition to the other standard features like lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control.
9 The New Trim
For the 2021 model year, Toyota has introduced the XSE model trim which is aimed at customers who crave a bit of sporty performance in addition to all the other upgrades for the revamped crossover. It joins the already considerable lineup of available Toyota Highlander options and should help the company rein in even more customers.
The Highlander in this XSE guise now boasts chassis enhancements that include a stiffer sport-tuned suspension and rear anti-roll bar. The steering set-up has also been tweaked to feel more responsive to driver inputs.
8 Styling Upgrades
The XSE comes with some external styling tweaks that add to its sporty profile and should differentiate it from the other Highlander trims. The grille has been reshaped; jutting forward slightly over an enlarged air dam that helps with engine cooling.
The rear bumper has also widened to improve its aesthetics and it blends well with the car's blacked-out exterior trimmings. The crossover's interior is decked out with exclusive upholstery consisting of black SofTex vinyl with cloth inserts that can be visually enhanced by optional red leather.
7 More About The Model Trims
Toyota is by design a mass-market product and the carmaker has developed strategies that have helped it become one of the most successful players in the automobile industry even in the face of intense competition.
Take the Toyota Highlander for example. The SUV is available in 10 different model trims and configurations, offering a mix of front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive hybrid powertrains. The upside to this business strategy is that it helps make the car appealing to a wider customer segment with different tastes and preferences.
6 Captain Seat Option
The new Highlander now comes with the option of having two seats on either side of the car, behind the driver's compartment. This arrangement is commonly referred to as the captain's seats and it adds to the executive feel of the car especially when compared to the more traditional bench seat arrangement.
The seats, together with those on the third row, can also be completely folded to create a significantly larger cargo area. It helps make the Highlander a much more versatile SUV in real-world scenarios.
5 Generous Interior Space
The third-row seats on the Highlander are best reserved for kids but there's no denying the fact that the Highlander offers more room on the interior than many similarly-sized alternatives. Second-row occupants get a decent amount of legroom with the seats in a regular position.
That space can extend to 40 inches with the seats pushed all the way back. Cargo space starts at 16 cubic feet with all the seats up and expands to a pretty impressive 84 cubic feet with all seats folded.
4 More About The Styling
The new Highlander is based on Toyota's New Global Architecture (TNGA) that makes use of modular automobile platforms to enhance the fundamental design of the company's vehicles. The 2021 Highlander adopts a new stance that offers more than just improved aesthetics.
The sculpted body and redesigned profile also deliver significant aerodynamic improvements, improving fuel efficiency while reducing noise, vibration, and harshness. In terms of fuel efficiency, the 2021 Highlander Hybrid AWD delivers up to 35 mpg compared to about 28 mpg for the 2019 model.
3 Interior Look and Infotainment
The interior of the Highlander has been upgraded and looks decidedly more luxurious especially when compared with the previous generation. The tiered dash layout comes with different compartments that are ideal for small-item storage.
The infotainment system offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. There is also an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system and 8.0-inch display that increases in size to 12.3 inches in the top trim levels.
2 The All-Wheel-Drive System
There are different types of AWD systems available across all Highlander trims. The base and mid-level trims get a simple all-wheel-drive system that can transfer up to 50 percent of the available power to the rear of the front wheels slip.
On the high-end Limited, Platinum, and XSE models, you get a more sophisticated system that not only sends power to the rear but can also shift that power from side to side with the aid of an ingenious mechanical torque vectoring system. There's a third option on the Hybrid AWD models only and here, the rear wheels are powered by an electric motor.
1 Additional Features
Even the base Highlander trims come with a pretty decent equipment loadout that puts it ahead of rivals in the same price bracket. As you move on through to the top-end trims, prepare to be confronted with a list of features that will not be out of place in a marque luxury cruiser.
For example, the Platinum Edition comes with 20-inch wheels, leather upholstery, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, and ambient lighting for the cabin. It almost begins to feel like an overload in some cases but at least, there's justification for the $50,000 plus sticker price.