The 2021 Toyota Highlander is the second model year of the fourth-generation three-row SUV. Toyota redesigned the Highlander for 2020, not 2021, and the 2021 version carried that design forward while adding a new sporty XSE grade and an upgraded driver-assist suite. This review covers the engines, fuel economy, trims, pricing, dimensions and standard equipment of the 2021 Highlander in the United States.
The Fourth Generation Arrived for 2020, Not 2021
Toyota unveiled the all-new 2020 Highlander at the New York International Auto Show on April 17, 2019. The V6 gas model reached U.S. dealerships in December 2019 and the hybrid followed in February 2020, both as 2020 models. The redesign moved the Highlander onto the TNGA-K version of Toyota’s New Global Architecture, the platform shared with the Camry and the RAV4. The new body measured 2.36 inches longer than the previous generation, with the extra length added in the cargo area, and the second row could slide an additional 1.2 inches forward to open up third-row space.
That distinction matters for anyone comparing model years. The fourth-generation Highlander and the 2021 Highlander share the same body, platform and powertrains. The 2021 changes were limited to the new XSE grade, a standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite and projector-style LED headlamps on the L, LE and XLE grades.
Exterior and Design
The fourth-generation Highlander adopted a longer, more upright body than its predecessor, with a bold grille and standard LED headlights. The L, LE and XLE grades used a black grille with a silver surround, while the Limited and Platinum used a black grille with chrome trim, high-output LED fog lights and the Highlander’s first 20-inch alloy wheels. The body sat on an 8.0-inch ground clearance, giving the crossover a taller stance than a conventional sedan, and Toyota tuned the bodywork for lower wind noise and greater stability at speed.
Interior and Seating
The cabin offered seating for seven or eight depending on grade. The L and LE came standard with a second-row bench for eight passengers; the XLE and Limited came standard with captain’s chairs for seven, with a bench available; the Platinum came with captain’s chairs only. Third-row access was gained by folding the second row, and three-zone automatic climate control was standard across the range. Cargo space measured 16.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 84.3 cubic feet with both rows folded.
Engines and Transmission
The 2021 Highlander offered two powertrains. The standard engine was a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 295 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 263 lb-ft of torque at 4,700 rpm, paired with a Direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard and all-wheel drive was optional; the V6 all-wheel-drive system could direct up to 50 percent of torque to the rear wheels. The Highlander Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a total system output of 243 horsepower, driving through an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. On hybrid models the battery sat under the second-row seats so it did not reduce passenger or cargo volume, and hybrid all-wheel drive used a separate rear electric motor instead of a mechanical driveshaft.
- V6: 3.5-liter, 295 hp at 6,600 rpm, 263 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm
- Transmission: Direct Shift eight-speed automatic
- Hybrid: 2.5-liter four-cylinder plus two electric motors, 243 hp total
- Hybrid transmission: electronically controlled continuously variable (ECVT)
- Drivetrains: front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive
- Towing: 5,000 lb with the V6 and towing package, 3,500 lb for the hybrid
Release Date and Pricing
Toyota offered five gas grades and five hybrid grades for 2021. The gas lineup ran L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum, while the hybrid was available on the LE, XLE, Limited and Platinum in front- or all-wheel drive. The XSE, new for 2021 and positioned between the XLE and Limited, started at $41,405 for front-wheel drive. It added 20-inch machined-face wheels, a sport-tuned suspension with higher-rate springs, retuned electric power steering, black exterior trim and the first twin-tip exhaust fitted to a Highlander. Pricing for the wider range opened in the mid-$30,000s for the L and climbed past $50,000 for an all-wheel-drive Platinum before destination charges.
Fuel Economy
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the 2021 Highlander with the V6 returned an EPA-rated 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, and 20/27/23 with all-wheel drive. The Highlander Hybrid was rated at 36 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 36 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, and 35/35/35 with all-wheel drive. A standard Stop and Start Engine System shut the engine off at a standstill on V6 models to trim fuel use in traffic.
Dimensions
The 2021 Highlander measured 194.9 inches long, 76.0 inches wide and 68.1 inches tall, with a 112.2-inch wheelbase, according to Cars.com. Ground clearance was 8.0 inches. V6 models with the towing package were rated to tow 5,000 pounds, while the hybrid was rated at 3,500 pounds.
Safety and Equipment
Every 2021 Highlander came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which upgraded the previous suite with intersection support for the pre-collision system, emergency steering assist, lane tracing assist and road sign assist alongside full-speed adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams. Eight airbags, a backup camera, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert from the LE up, and a rear-seat reminder were included. All grades supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa, and the Platinum added a 12.3-inch touchscreen.
Summary
The 2021 Highlander is a carried-over fourth-generation model rather than a redesigned one. Buyers shopping that model year got a three-row SUV with a 295-hp V6 or a 243-hp hybrid, seating for seven or eight and standard active safety technology. The main 2021 additions were the sporty XSE grade and the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ update. Within Toyota’s 2021 range, the Highlander sat above the RAV4, while the compact 2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback and the 2021 Toyota Corolla sedan covered the entry end of the lineup.
