2021 Toyota Highlander Reviews

Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander a good fit for your growing family in Santa Cruz? If the 2021 Toyota Highlander reviews are any indication, then the new Highlander will have everything you desire and more for trips to Watsonville and beyond. Read excerpts and highlights from Toyota Highlander reviews with Santa Cruz Toyota to make an informed decision when it’s time to upgrade.

Toyota Highlander Reviews of the Interior

Upon stepping into the 2021 Toyota Highlander interior, you’ll immediately notice the abundance of high-tech features. Every trim level is standard-equipped with the all-new Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+) system, ensuring safety and confidence on Santa Clara roads.

How many passengers can fit in the 2021 Highlander? As a 3-row SUV, the Highlander seats seven to eight people on trips to Capitola. Read highlights from the Toyota Highlander 3rd row reviews below to learn more about its interior highlights:

• Car and Driver: “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given the Highlander a five-star safety rating; the Highlander was also named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). As is the Toyota way, the 2021 Highlander offers a standard suite of driver-assistance features. The package includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and automatic high-beam headlamps.”

• Kelley Blue Book: “The 2021 Highlander is the epitome of user-friendliness. With the standard 8-inch touchscreen or the 12.3-inch alternative, no one needs a degree in software engineering to operate it. Controls for audio, climate, and other functions are similarly easy. The seats are comfortable, even the cloth-covered ones in the lower trims. And the stitched-leather interior of the Highlander Platinum could almost pass for a Lexus.”

Toyota Highlander Reviews for Performance

When you get behind the wheel of a new 2021 Highlander, anticipate strong performance specs for the road ahead. Front-wheel drive is standard, but you can upgrade to all-wheel drive for optimal performance and traction through any condition. How was the Highlander performance perceived by the experts? Take a look:

• U.S. News: “The 2021 Highlander comes standard with a 295-horsepower V6 engine. While this isn’t the most muscular SUV in the class, it serves up sharp acceleration from a stop. You can also get up to higher speeds fairly easily, thanks to an eight-speed automatic transmission that works smoothly in the background.”
• Car and Driver: “During a brief test drive, we found the V-6 could tackle short on-ramps without straining; at our test track, our all-wheel drive test vehicle made it to 60 mph in reasonably-quick 6.7 seconds. Handling is unexciting but stable, and the ride is perfectly suitable for family-chauffer duty.”

Toyota Highlander XLE Reviews

The entry-level Toyota Highlander has plenty to offer local drivers, but many of our customers gravitate towards the mid-range Toyota Highlander XLE. Check out the Toyota Highlander XLE reviews to see why:

• Car and Driver: “In our view, the mid-range XLE is the pick of the litter. It has heated front seats, a wireless smartphone-charging pad, and a power sunroof, among other niceties. We’d also spring for the Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation package, which brings in-dash navigation and an upgraded stereo system.”
• Edmunds: “If you have more room in your budget, the XLE model looks and feels quite a bit nicer thanks to its added convenience features and simulated leather upholstery.”

Toyota Highlander Hybrid Reviews

Interested in a new Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV? This model balances strong performance with impressive efficiency, offering up to 36 mpg city/35 mpg highway EPA-estimated fuel economy with standard AWD. Check out the Toyota Highlander Hybrid reviews to learn more about this lauded option:

• Kelley Blue Book: “Toyota knows hybrids, perhaps better than any other car company. The creator of the Prius was among the first to make a hybrid SUV, starting with the 2006 Highlander. Building on that legacy, the 2021 Highlander Hybrid brings smooth power and great fuel economy.”
• U.S. News: “The Highlander Hybrid gets an estimated 36 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, compared to 21/29 mpg city/highway from the standard Highlander. Driving the hybrid will save you about $450 in fuel costs per year.”

Experience the Toyota Highlander in Capitola

Ready to bring a new Highlander home to Monterey? Whether you’ve got your eye on a Highlander XLE or a Highlander Hybrid model, we can get you behind the wheel of your preferred configuration in your favorite color at Santa Cruz Toyota! Contact us or stop by our showroom in Capitola to get started on your upgrade today.