Toyota SUV Buying Guide
Toyota’s seven-SUV lineup spans from bite-sized to king-sized both in size and price, with a $60,000 difference between the least expensive C-HR and the most expensive Land Cruiser (yes, they still make the Land Cruiser, though not for long). Those ranges mean Toyota has a size and type for just about every lifestyle, whether small and affordable or beefy and capable. And as a brand, Toyota has remained at or near the top of reliability reports, so you can be almost sure that dependability won’t be a worry. In this Toyota SUV buying guide, we’ll walk you through each Toyota SUV and how to choose which one is right for you.
Related: More Toyota News
2021 Toyota SUV Starting Prices (Least to Most Expensive; Includes Destination)
- C-HR: $22,770 to $27,825
- RAV4: $27,425 to $42,750
- Venza: $33,745 to $41,075
- Highlander: $36,260 to $51,815
- 4Runner: $37,940 to $51,920
- Sequoia: $51,765 to $71,040
- Land Cruiser: $87,030 to $89,360
Toyota C-HR
Price: $22,770 to $27,825
Number of seats: Five
Cargo room: 19.1 cubic feet behind the backseat
EPA-estimated combined mpg: 29
Towing capacity: Towing not recommended
Fits three car seats across: No
Length: 172.6 inches
There’s an argument that Toyota’s smallest SUV isn’t really an SUV at all. Sure, it rides high and has a liftgate, but the subcompact C-HR doesn’t offer all-wheel drive like the rest of Toyota’s SUVs. The C-HR is front-wheel drive only, which may be fine enough if you live in an area without snow (or have good snow removal, good tires and flat land) or don’t plan on any off-pavement driving. C-HR is short for “Coupe High-Rider,” and we found it drives spiritedly, as you’d expect from something with a coupe name. It’s on the expensive side of a class that also includes the Hyundai Venue, Kia Soul and Nissan Kicks, though the C-HR does offer generous safety and driver assist technology on all trim levels (LE, XLE, Nightshade, Limited).
The Good
- Unique exterior styling, fun interior accents
- Standard safety features
- Easy-to-use multimedia system
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Relatively roomy backseat
- Nimble handling
The Bad
- Engine, transmission drone
- Confusing instrument panel menus
- Difficult to change driving mode
- Poor outward visibility
- Enclosed feeling in backseat
- Pricey for class
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What Else You Need to Know About the Toyota CH-R
Toyota RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, RAV4 Prime
Price: $27,425 to $42,750
Number of seats: Five
Cargo room: 33.4-37.6 cubic feet behind the backseat
EPA-estimated combined mpg: 28-30; 38 for RAV4 Prime with 42 miles electric range; 40 for RAV4 Hybrid
Towing capacity: Maximum 3,500 pounds (RAV4 TRD Off-Road only); most are 1,500-1,750 pounds
Fits three car seats across: No
Length: 180.9-181.5 inches
By far Toyota’s most popular SUV and one of the most popular SUVs out there, the front- or all-wheel-drive RAV4 hits that sweet spot of size and affordability, starting in the mid-$20,000 range and offering heaps of occupant and cargo room for the money; today’s RAV4 is almost as big as the first-generation Highlander. The RAV4 lineup consists of bread-and-butter versions like the LE, XLE and Limited, but there are more adventurous versions including the RAV4 Adventure and ultimate RAV4 TRD Off-Road with a trick rear axle that gives the little ’ute some legit off-road capabilities. What we’ve gravitated toward, however, are the electrified versions, the RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid (EPA-estimated 42-mile electric-only range). In addition to significantly boosting fuel economy, they also address our biggest complaints about the regular RAV4’s driving experience by adding electric assist for a more refined driving experience.
The Good
- Efficient four-cylinder engine
- Hybrid gas mileage
- Intuitive multimedia system
- Standard safety features
The Bad
- Backseat doesn’t slide
- Road and engine noise
- Modest acceleration (non-hybrid)
- Hybrid trims get pricey
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What Else You Need to Know About the Toyota RAV4
- How Do Car Seats Fit in the 2020 Toyota RAV4?
- Toyota RAV4 Vs. Toyota Highlander Spec and Feature Comparison
- 2020 Toyota RAV4 Review: Delivers More, Costs More
- Toyota RAV4 Recalls
- How Many Miles of EV Range Can We Get in the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime?
- 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Plug-In Hybrid Review: Efficiently Quick, Annoyances Aside
Toyota Venza
Price: $33,745 to $41,075
Number of seats: Five
Cargo room: 28.8 cubic feet behind the backseat
EPA-estimated combined mpg: 39
Towing capacity: Towing not recommended
Fits three car seats across: No, but it was close
Length: 186.6 inches
Formerly a funky wagon, the Venza was reimagined for 2021 as a style-focused, high-riding hybrid SUV with room for five. The Venza comes only as a hybrid, versus Toyota’s other hybridized SUVs that have gasoline-only counterparts. The Venza is also only available with all-wheel drive, and it’s a system that uses an electric motor at the rear wheels to create an electrified AWD system — there’s no traditional mechanical connection between the front and rear wheels. Slotted above the five-seat RAV4 and below the seven- or eight-seat Highlander, the Venza offers a decent mix of style and efficiency while being competitive with the Honda Passport, Nissan Murano and Volkswagen Atlas CrossSport.
The Good
- Stylish interior
- Not lacking for power
- Unobtrusive safety technology
- Large multimedia screen
- Cabin isolation
- Optional Star Gaze roof is neat party trick
The Bad
- Nearly useless EV mode
- Tires lack grip, road feel
- Rubber-band-feeling CVT
- Inefficient use of interior space
- Spongy brake pedal
- Touch-sensitive audio and climate controls
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What Else You Need to Know About the Toyota Venza
Toyota Highlander, Highlander Hybrid
Price: $36,260 to $51,815
Number of seats: Seven or eight
Cargo room: 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row, 16.0 cubic feet behind the third row
EPA-estimated combined mpg: 23-24 (gas); 35-36 (hybrid)
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds maximum (gas); 3,500 pounds (hybrid)
Fits three car seats across: No
Length: 194.9-197.4 inches
The Highlander is second only to the RAV4 in popularity within Toyota’s SUV lineup. Geared toward families, the front- or all-wheel-drive Highlander comes with three rows standard, seating eight by fitting three passengers each in the second and third rows. Second-row captain’s chairs are also available (standard on XLE and Limited trims) that reduce seating to seven but add cupholders mounted to the floor between the seats. The Highlander comes with a 295-hp V-6 standard, and a four-cylinder hybrid version adds 12-13 mpg combined to the EPA ratings.
Redesigned for 2020, the Highlander greatly improved its ride and handling versus the previous generation, making it more pleasant to drive, and its interior quality was also boosted. What hasn’t changed is the minimal cargo room behind the third row, which remains small for a class that also includes the Volkswagen Atlas, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride and Chevrolet Traverse. The Highlander’s third row itself is also small for adults compared with the larger Sequoia. New for 2021, the Highlander adds a sportier XSE trim level that slots between the XLE and Limited trims with uniquely tuned sport suspension and styling.
The Good
- Standard safety features
- Interior quality
- Hybrid fuel economy
- Powerful six-cylinder
- Ride quality
- Low wind and road noise
The Bad
- Transmission clunkiness
- Small third row
- Third-row access
- Minimal cargo room behind second and third rows
- Apple CarPlay doesn’t use the full screen
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What Else You Need to Know About the Toyota Highlander
- Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander Interior Any Roomier Than Before?
- 2020 Hyundai Palisade Vs. 2020 Toyota Highlander: Family SUVs Duke It Out
- 2020 Toyota Highlander: Everything You Need to Know
- 2020 Toyota Highlander Review: More in Some Ways, Not in Others
- How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2020 Toyota Highlander?
Toyota 4Runner
Price: $37,940 to $51,920
Number of seats: Five or seven
Cargo room: 46.3-47.2 cubic feet behind the second row, 9.0 cubic feet behind the optional third row
EPA-estimated mpg: 17
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
Fits three car seats across: Yes
Length: 190.2-191.3 inches
The 4Runner may look like it overlaps with the Highlander as another mid-size Toyota SUV priced from $30,000-50,000 with up to three rows of seating, but these couldn’t be more different SUVs. The rear- or four-wheel-drive 4Runner is a body-on-frame SUV with ruggedness in its capabilities as well as how it drives; it’s an off-road, old school SUV riding on a truck-based chassis versus the more carlike underpinnings of the Highlander. The 4Runner’s third row with room for two passengers is optional, but it’s an even smaller space than the Highlander’s standard third row and is best for infrequent use, plus it’s harder to get into because the 4Runner sits higher than the Highlander.
One standout feature is an available sliding cargo shelf that makes cargo access easier by allowing the cargo floor to slide out over the bumper. The 4Runner’s adventurous intentions are most apparent in its off-road-focused trim levels including the TRD Off-Road and more serious TRD Pro, the latter of which includes an inch of suspension lift with Fox shock absorbers and TRD-tuned springs. Both off-road versions emply Toyota’s off-road Crawl Control and a locking rear differential.
The Good
- Many active safety features now standard
- Off-road capability
- 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity
- Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Available sliding cargo floor
The Bad
- Tall step-in height
- Heavy, clumsy on-road driving manners
- Fuel economy
- Loud exhaust (TRD Pro)
- Busy control layout
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Toyota Sequoia
Price: $51,765 to $71,040
Number of seats: Seven or eight
Cargo room: 66.6 cubic feet behind the second row, 18.9 cubic feet behind the third row
EPA-estimated combined mpg: 14-15
Towing capacity: 7,400 pounds maximum
Fits three car seats across: No
Length: 205.1 inches
The Sequoia is a full-size, three-row SUV that answers the question, “So which Toyota SUV does have room for adults in the third row?” The rear- or four-wheel-drive Sequoia has heaps of space for third-row passengers, unlike Toyota’s other three-row offerings (the Highlander, 4Runner and Land Cruiser). The Sequoia does this through sheer size, being roughly 10 inches longer than the Highlander and Land Cruiser. It’s available in eight-seat configuration with three-passenger bench seats for the second and third rows, or with two captain’s chairs in the second row.
The Sequoia is a body-on-frame SUV and comes with one engine and transmission: a 5.7-liter V-8 with six-speed automatic transmission; unlike the V-8-powered Land Cruiser, the Sequoia doesn’t get the more modern eight-speed automatic. Like the Land Cruiser, however, the Sequoia is in need of an update to better compete with rivals like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition and Nissan Armada that have all been redesigned in recent years (the Sequoia placed last in our most recent full-size SUV comparison). Without modern powertrains, the Sequoia’s fuel economy is poor, with only a 14-15 mpg combined EPA rating.
Fuel economy might not be a deal-breaker, though, for an SUV that can tow up to 7,400 pounds, nor one with an off-road focus in the Sequoia TRD Pro with its beefed-up suspension, BBS wheels and additional underbody skid plates for off-road protection.
The Good
- Powerful V-8
- Interior has plenty of space and cubbies
- Reconfigurable seats
- Drop-down liftgate window
The Bad
- Dashboard and gauges desperate for redesign
- Fuel economy
- Only one engine choice
- Payload and towing capacities on low end
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Toyota Land Cruiser
Price: $87,030 to $89,360
Number of seats: Five or eight
Cargo room: 53.5 cubic feet behind the second row on two-row models; 41.4 cubic feet behind the third row on three-row models, 16.1 cubic feet behind the third row
EPA-estimated combined mpg: 14 mpg
Towing capacity: 8,100 pounds
Fits three car seats across: Yes
Length: 194.9 inches
There may not be two SUVs in any lineup more disparate than the $87,000 Land Cruiser and $22,000 CH-R, but the 2021 model year is the last for Toyota’s behemoth Land Cruiser. While its intentions are as a luxury SUV with go-anywhere capabilities, in reality, the AWD Land Cruiser is dated and lacks many of the driver assist and electrification strategies employed in other more modern Toyotas.
At its $87,000 starting price, the three-row, eight-seat Land Cruiser comes with just about everything the model offers except the optional rear entertainment system.The Heritage Edition comes with two rows and seating for five as standard, though the third row is an option. The Land Cruiser still stands out as a highly capable off-road SUV, however, with a sophisticated double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension setup, active anti-sway bars and a full-time AWD system that includes a Torsen limited-slip center differential and two-speed transfer case with selectable low range. There are also numerous off-road driving assists like Crawl Control and an off-road turn assist. Finally, it’s the Toyota SUV with the highest towing capacity at 8,100 pounds, versus the next-highest Sequoia at 7,400 pounds.
The Good
- Very comfortable front seats
- Plenty of power
- Excellent visibility in all directions
- High-tech 4×4 system
- High-quality interior materials
- Good ride quality for a big SUV
The Bad
- Mind-bending price tag
- Lack of second-row foot room
- Air suspension unavailable
- Tricky seat-folding process
- Dismal fuel economy
- Not luxurious enough for the price
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What Else You Need to Know About the Toyota Land Cruiser
- Toyota Land Cruiser: Which Should You Buy, 2020 or 2021?
- 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition Celebrates SUV’s 6 Decades
- What Are the Cars That Fit 3 Car Seats?
- Toyota Land Cruiser Models, Generations and Redesigns
Toyota SUVs Ranked By Fuel Economy, Cargo Room and Towing
Combined MPG (Base Trim, Highest to Lowest)
- Venza: 39
- C-HR: 29
- RAV4: 28-40
- Highlander: 23-36
- 4Runner: 17
- Sequoia: 14-15
- Land Cruiser: 14
Source: EPA
Cargo Room Behind Backseat (Base Trim, Biggest to Smallest)
- Sequoia: 66.6 cubic feet
- Land Cruiser: 53.5 cubic feet
- Highlander: 48.4 cubic feet
- 4Runner: 47.2 cubic feet
- RAV4: 33.4-37.6 cubic feet
- Venza: 28.8 cubic feet
- C-HR: 19.1 cubic feet
Source: Toyota
Cargo Room Behind Third Row (Biggest to Smallest)
- Sequoia: 18.9 cubic feet
- Land Cruiser: 16.1 cubic feet
- Highlander: 16.0 cubic feet
- 4Runner: 9.0 cubic feet
Source: Toyota
Maximum Towing Capacity (Highest to Lowest)
- Land Cruiser: 8,100 pounds
- Sequoia: 7,400 pounds
- 4Runner: 5,000 pounds
- Highlander: 5,000 pounds
- RAV4: 3,500 pounds (RAV4 TRD Off-Road only; 1,750 pounds otherwise)
- Venza: Towing not recommended
- C-HR: Towing not recommended
Source: Toyota
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