Vehicle Overview
Offered in front- and all-wheel-drive form, the Toyota Highlander crossover comes with a four-cylinder or V-6 engine. The Highlander can seat up to seven people in three rows of seats, and competitors include the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot.
A hybrid version of the Highlander is offered, and it features styling changes to differentiate it from the non-hybrid model.
(Skip to details on the: Highlander Hybrid)
New for 2012
There are no significant changes for the 2012 model year.
Exterior
Chrome accents adorn the rocker panels, and base and SE trims have 17-inch alloy wheels. The Highlander SE also features fog lights, a glass hatch that opens separately from the liftgate, and black roof rails. The Limited trim level adds 19-inch wheels and chrome roof rails.
At 188.4 inches long, the Highlander is one of the smaller three-row crossovers on the market. Its turning circle, 38.7 feet, is on the narrower side of its class. Exterior features include:
- Standard variable intermittent windshield wipers
- Optional moonroof
- Optional power liftgate
Interior
A third-row seat is standard, and it folds into the floor in a 50/50 split. The second-row bench features a removable center seat that stows in a compartment below the front-seat center console. Without it, the second row converts into two captain’s chairs with a center aisle or a center console (also removable). Both seats can recline and adjust forward and back, and the passenger-side seat has a walk-in feature for easier third-row access.
Fold down the second and third rows, and the Highlander’s 95.4 cubic feet of maximum cargo volume is class-competitive. With the second and third rows up, however, there’s just 10.3 cubic feet of cargo volume — small for its class. Other interior features include:
- Standard fabric upholstery; leather optional
- Standard tilt/telescoping steering wheel
- Standard air conditioning; optional three-zone automatic air conditioning
- Standard CD stereo with MP3 jack
- Optional touch-screen navigation system
- Optional rear entertainment system
Under the Hood
A 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine is standard, and a 3.5-liter V-6 is optional. Four-cylinder models come with front-wheel drive, but if you get the V-6 engine, you can have all-wheel drive. Mechanical features include:
- Four-cylinder makes 187 horsepower and 186 pounds-feet of torque
- V-6 makes 270 hp and 248 pounds-feet of torque
- Six-speed (four-cylinder) or five-speed (V-6) automatic transmission
- Maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds (four-cylinder) or 5,000 pounds (V-6) when properly equipped
Safety
Standard safety features include:
- Antilock brakes
- Side-impact airbags for the front seats
- Driver’s knee airbag
- Side curtain airbags
- Electronic stability system
- Active front head restraints
Highlander Hybrid
A 3.5-liter V-6 underpins the 2012 Highlander Hybrid’s drivetrain. With the help of an electric motor, the Highlander Hybrid makes a combined 280 hp. Equipped with standard all-wheel drive, the hybrid uses an additional electric motor to power its rear wheels rather than the usual driveshaft coupling in most all-wheel-drive models. The Highlander Hybrid can cruise at low speeds on electric power only. A dashboard EV button allows drivers to maximize the threshold for electric-only propulsion, given a sufficient battery charge.
An electrically variable automatic transmission is standard. A display alerts drivers to which sources of power are being used — the gasoline engine, electric motors or a combination of both — as well as battery charge and overall gas mileage.
The Highlander Hybrid is styled similarly to the non-hybrid Highlander, but several elements — a unique grille and bumper, plus vertical fog lights — aim to differentiate the two. The headlights and taillights are tinted blue as well. Trim levels include the base and Limited, with equipment similar to the regular Highlander. Back to top
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