The gasoline-fed Highlander is a strong and confident three-row family hauler. Toyota’s reputation does the rest to make this a solid choice for consumers.

Toyota’s Highlander is a family-oriented three-row crossover sport utility that fits above the smaller RAV4 and below the truck-based Sequoia SUV. It’s a comfortable, easy-going ride compared to the similarly-sized 4Runner thanks to the Highlander’s unibody design.

The Highlander saw a full redesign in 2020, getting more engine options and better fuel economy as a result. It remains one of the pricier family haulers compared to a few rivals, but high expectations of interior quality and reliability give the Highlander an edge.

Today’s three-row crossover segment is a busy one. Rivals offer a lot of competition for the Toyota Highlander. Among the group, however, the Highlander is still a top choice for us. Toyota’s included maintenance plan plus the company’s overall high reliability ratings are good reasons to think of the Highlander above most of the other choices in this segment.

Compared to the Highlander, the Palisade is a more upscale vehicle with a smarter interior and more luxurious look. Priced at about the same level, the Hyundai also offers a better warranty and more open interior feel. The Highlander, however, achieves slightly better fuel economy and has more stand-alone options for customization.

The Telluride is a large, roomy crossover with more interior space than the Highlander. Its longer warranty and boxier design are also appealing to many buyers. The Highlander competes based on its reliability cache. We like the Kia’s better drive quality and punchier engine, but the Toyota offers better MPG returns.

Historically the chief rival to the Highlander, the Pilot is now less appealing. It has a dated, boxy design that isn’t as eye-catching as are the newer models on this market. The Pilot does offer more cargo space and better all-wheel drive for light off-roading. The Highlander, however, is more updated and premium-feeling by comparison.

The 2022 Toytoa Highlander started at about $37,000 new. Most buyers purchased in the $40,000-$43,000 range with trim level and accessories.

The table below shows the most common trim levels and how much they will run you.

The Toyota Highlander was fully redesigned for the 2020 model year and saw a few trim level changes for 2021. It carries into 2022 without significant changes.

Small changes that happened for 2022 are technical in nature, with a slight change in fuel economy returns with new testing and some crash testing changes that resulted in lightly modified scores.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander AWD is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that outputs 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission turns all four wheels. Compared to the Highlander Hybrid model (reviewed separately), the gasoline-powered Highlander is punchier and more confident at highway speeds.

The Highlander is surprisingly agile for its size, feeling maneuverable and ready at most speeds. Especially in tight parking lot situations. The large amount of visibility the driver receives via the large windows and mirrors are a bonus in that regard.

During inclement weather driving, the Highlander AWD is competent and capable. When off-road, however, the AWD system tends to slip more often than some rivals, but it will get through most light off-road situations without difficulty.

The Toyota Highlander received updated crash testing for 2022 from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after changes to the testing body’s procedures were made. This resulted in a slight increase in the Highlander’s advanced systems results.

As with most Toyota vehicles, especially those utilizing standard powertrains like the Highlander AWD, there is an above average reliability expectation for the Highlander. J.D. Power and Associates rated the 2022 Highlander as above average as did Consumer Reports.

Compared to other models, the 2022 Highlander rates very highly in the RepairPal.com ratings, receiving a 4 of 5.

With few recalls and relatively few changes to its powertrain over the previous generation Highlander, the gasoline-fed Highlander AWD is considered a very reliable vehicle.

As with most of the vehicles we review, the mid-level trim of the Highlander offers the most bang for your buck. The Highlander XLE has all of the expected items for a modern shopper plus some comforts and safety items that boost its appeal as a daily driver. We’d skip the in-built navigation upgrade option and rely on a phone instead, since the Highlander XLE includes a wireless charging pad and has Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa connectivity built-in.

The best features of the XLE package are the large digital driver information display at the center of the gauge cluster and the addition of a power-adjustable front passenger seat. The second-row captain’s chairs are nice if you don’t need full seating for eight, but this trim level allows them to be left out in favor of a second row bench. For those with larger families or a need for more cargo space, that bench is a great option.

Toyota offers several items for new vehicle buyers. Some of these may carry over to used vehicle purchases if the used model is within the warranty coverage period.

• Basic: 3 years / 36k miles
• PowerTrain: 5 years / 60k miles
• Rust Coverage: 5 years / unlimited miles
• Certified used models may have an extended warranty included
• If buying used look at our best extended warranties

Finding a new model 2022 Highlander is probably not likely in today’s market. These sold quickly. Used models are just now beginning to appear, though, and can mean significant savings for buyers. We suggest finding a certified used model in order to increase the likelihood of the used model 2022 Toyota Highlander being a long-life vehicle.

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