Overview

The Toyota Highlander isn’t a car that’ll be familiar to most people in the UK, but if you live in the USA, Russia or Japan you may well recognise it. This fourth-generation model is the first that’s been available in Western Europe and the UK, filling a gap in Toyota’s passenger lineup – giving it a seven-seat SUV to sit below the off-road focused Land Cruiser.

Rivalling cars such as the Kia Sorento, Skoda Kodiaq and Land Rover Discovery, the Highlander takes a uniquely Toyota approach with just one hybrid powertrain, smooth and easy driving dynamics, and a no-nonsense but comfortable interior.

Feeling a lot like a larger RAV4 (a car we rate highly), the Highlander does a good job of providing dependable family transport. It offers plenty of space for all the family across its three rows of seats, promises to be dependable (with Toyota’s warranty cover of up to 10 years) and shouldn’t prove too taxing to run, either.

Choosing a Highlander is simple, with only a single engine and just two trim levels. Both come generously equipped, as you might hope for the Highlander’s rather high starting price.

Excel models come with heated seats, a panoramic sunroof, a JBL sound system, 20-inch alloy wheels – plenty of goodies, in short. Stepping up to Excel Premium nets you a few extra bits, such as ventilated front seats, a head-up display and a 360-degree camera. Regardless, you’re unlikely to be dissatisfied with the level of kit on offer.

Click through the next few pages to read more about the Toyota Highlander – what it’s like inside, how practical it is, how cheap it is to run and what it’s like to drive – and click here to jump straight to the definitive verdict.