2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum Reviewed – Comfy, Compromised
Toyota’s 2021 Highlander Hybrid is an incredibly fuel-efficient family hauler. But it comes saddled with some notable trade-offs.
Toyota currently offers a hybrid for pretty much every budget. However, the larger buyers go, the more interesting their choices become. That’s because the Japanese automaker developed some impressively fuel-efficient hybrid crossovers, like the recently redesigned Highlander.
The current Highlander offers families a lot to like. But the hybrid variant comes with some baked in qualities that may prompt shoppers to opt for the V6 instead. Overall, it’s a very compelling option for those able to accept a slightly unpolished driving experience.
Not Afraid of Lexus
The Highlander originally debuted almost 20 years ago, but previous models didn’t exactly look upscale. With the new design, that’s changed. It boasts a chiseled exterior and a high quality cabin that sits at or near the top of its class. To be fair, Toyota loaned me a range-topping Platinum model with an MSRP just shy of $52,000. But it came bundled with an interior worthy of a Lexus RX…and it might actually be the better buy too.
With standard features like a digital rearview mirror, LED headlights with Adaptive Lighting, a 10-inch head-up display, heated second-row captains seats, and a hands-free liftgate, Platinum trimmed Highlanders could easily siphon off a number of prospective Lexus RX shoppers. And the Harvest Beige leather interior, accented with chocolate brown accents, impressed me greatly.
Highlander Hybrid Compromises
Unfortunately, there are some issues with the way the Highlander Hybrid operates. When the gasoline engine kicks in, it’s very noisy. That loudness is abundant even when driving regularly. If it only occurred upon initially entering a highway, it wouldn’t be worth mentioning. But it happens regularly.
Some people will be turned off by the constant droning of the 2.5 liter four cylinder. Why is it so loud? Because it is virtually the same hybrid system Toyota equips in the Rav4, with an additional 24 horsepower added in. But the Highlander weighs about 900 pounds more than its smaller sibling and therefore has to utilize more of the power band when accelerating. With more people and cargo inside the Highlander, things could get even louder.
Smooth and Refined
Buyers who regularly haul several passengers and their belongings will definitely want to opt for the 295 horsepower V6. That being said, while the gasoline engine emitted a bit too much noise, the hybrid powertrain packed plenty of grunt around town and on the highway. And while you the engine when on the gas, you don’t feel it when it kicks in. Everything is extremely seamless in that regard. Unfortunately, the brake pedal vibrates after every stop. That peculiar behavior clearly has something to do with the hybrid’s braking system. After a while it didn’t bother me, but other people may not feel the same way.
A Capable Cruiser
With the redesign, which arrived for the 2020 model year, Toyota clearly improved the Highlander’s driving dynamics. The crossover composed itself well over road imperfections. When encountering lots of potholes or grooved pavement, the rear end would sometimes sway sideways a bit more than expected, but that occurred infrequently and most drivers probably wouldn’t notice that behavior.
Twisty roads didn’t scare the Highlander either. While it doesn’t exactly express an eagerness to tackle curves, it doesn’t protest them either. Similarly, the steering doesn’t transmit much feedback to the driver, although it does respond very well to inputs. The best thing automakers can do with vehicles like the Highlander is make them feel smaller than they are. And Toyota absolutely accomplished that here.
A Well-appointed Cabin
As previously mentioned, Toyota nailed the Highlander’s interior. Regularly touched buttons, switches, and dials are very high quality. And everything looks aesthetically pleasing too. An admirable feat that’s worth mentioning since Toyota crafted storage cut-outs into the design that don’t detract from the decidedly upscale ambiance. The area beneath the 12.3 inch touchscreen easily accommodated a Samsung Galaxy S20+.
Seat comfort also excelled. The Highlander’s Harvest Beige leather seats were firm but very comfortable. It did not take me, a 5′ 6″ 145 pound human, a long time to find a comfortable seating position either.
Finally, Some Decent Infotainment
12.3 inches is apparently the size it takes for Toyota to develop the type of infotainment one would expect of a modern vehicle. With their 8 inch system, Toyota often leaves out some information that should belong on the screen. But the space afforded by this larger setup – which is optional on the Limited but standard on the Platinum – enabled the company to outfit the Highlander with a slick looking and informative setup. That allowed me to broadcast Google Maps onto the left portion of the screen while still having a devoted audio section on the right, with some climate stuff thrown in for good measure. The above orientation could have also been flipped if desired. That’s what those two arrows do on the left side of the screen.
And it’s that flexibility that Toyota needs to extend to every model in its lineup. Regardless, my Samsung smartphone and ancient iPod Touch failed to stymie the system and call quality was very good.
Highlander Third Row Limitations
As for passenger accommodations, the Toyota provides a decent option for families. The second row captains chairs probably can’t be moved without the help of an adult, but they are easy to operate. The third row, while boasting the ability to seat 3, can realistically only do so if those humans are quite young. And it’s quite likely that anyone located back there for any extended period will experience sharp discomfort too, because the seats sit up at a 90 degree angle. Limited legroom also forces adults to sit with their legs raised uncomfortably high.
It’s an area only very small children will enjoy – as long as they don’t have anything that needs charging. Even in Platinum models there’s no 12V power outlets or USB ports back there.
Conclusion
The Highlander is an extremely compelling choice for current owners if they’re looking to upgrade. It’s a major step up from the previous generation. And it makes a good case against its counterpart at Lexus. But the hybrid model is quite noisy. Obviously, the hybrid will save owners money on gas. And the 35 combined EPA rating for the Highlander Hybrid is far superior to anything else in the class. That being said, people who regularly transport a large family or lots of cargo would be wise to compare the hybrid to the regular gasoline V6 before they buy.
It might also be a good idea for shoppers to check out the 2021 Toyota Sienna. The newly redesigned minivan comes equipped with the same hybrid powertrain as the Highlander, and it comes with standard all-wheel drive. Pricing should be about the same too, but the third row will be far more accommodating to passengers.
In any event, for those willing to tolerate the 2.5 liter four cylinder, the 2021 Toyota Highlander is without a doubt one of the best options in the non-luxury, three-row crossover segment.
Photos for YotaTech by Edward Snitkoff