When it comes to choosing the perfect family SUV, the Toyota Highlander has long been a top contender. Known for its combination of power, comfort, and cutting-edge technology, the 2025 Toyota Highlander takes these qualities to the next level. Whether you’re planning a road trip or simply navigating your daily routine, the 2025 model delivers an exceptional driving experience with upgraded features that cater to the needs of modern families.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore all the exciting upgrades the 2025 Toyota Highlander brings to the table, from its refreshed exterior design and enhanced interior comfort to the impressive performance and advanced safety features that make it a standout choice for families everywhere.
Updated Exterior and Design
The 2025 Toyota Highlander has received a fresh, modern look that will turn heads on the road. Toyota has given the front grille a sleek redesign, making the Highlander’s face more assertive and dynamic. This update is complemented by new LED headlights that not only enhance visibility but also add a touch of sophistication to the SUV’s appearance.
Key Exterior Features:
- Sleeker Body Design: The 2025 Highlander’s streamlined body design improves aerodynamics while giving the SUV a more polished and refined look.
- New Color Options: For the 2025 model year, Toyota introduces exciting new color choices, including a fresh “Midnight Black Metallic” and a “Celestial Silver Metallic,” which add a contemporary touch to the Highlander’s overall aesthetic.
- Updated Wheel Designs: The new wheel options, including 18-inch and 20-inch alloys, elevate the SUV’s style, ensuring it looks as good in the city as it does on a weekend adventure.
These exterior upgrades contribute not only to the Highlander’s beauty but also to its overall driving performance, making it a perfect fit for families who appreciate both form and function.
Interior Comfort and Spaciousness
Step inside the 2025 Toyota Highlander, and you’ll immediately notice the luxurious upgrades to its cabin. Toyota has focused on providing families with a comfortable and spacious interior that’s perfect for long drives or daily commutes.
Key Interior Features:
- Premium Materials: The Highlander’s interior now features high-quality materials, including soft-touch surfaces and available leather seating, that elevate the overall comfort and elegance of the cabin.
- Seating for Up to Eight Passengers: Whether you’re carpooling or heading on a family vacation, the 2025 Highlander offers seating for up to eight passengers, with roomy second and third rows designed to accommodate adults comfortably.
- Increased Cargo Space: The redesigned interior layout provides more cargo space than ever before, making it easier to pack up for a weekend getaway or simply store groceries and everyday essentials.
- 12.3-Inch Digital Display: The 2025 Highlander is equipped with a new 12.3-inch digital display that serves as the focal point for navigation, entertainment, and vehicle settings. This display is paired with an updated touchscreen interface, which ensures everything is at your fingertips.
Toyota’s focus on comfort and convenience shines through in the 2025 Highlander’s interior, making it an ideal choice for families seeking both practicality and luxury.
Performance and Efficiency
Under the hood, the 2025 Toyota Highlander brings exciting performance options that deliver a smooth and powerful driving experience. Whether you choose the traditional gasoline engine or the newly introduced hybrid powertrain, the Highlander offers excellent performance and efficiency.
Engine Options:
- 2.4-Liter Turbocharged 4-Cylinder Engine: The standard engine in the 2025 Highlander is a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 265 horsepower. This engine provides plenty of power for everyday driving while maintaining excellent fuel efficiency.
- 3.5-Liter V6 Engine: For those seeking more power, the available 3.5-liter V6 engine generates 295 horsepower, delivering a more robust performance for families who enjoy towing or need extra strength for difficult terrains.
- Hybrid Powertrain: The new hybrid engine offers an impressive balance of performance and fuel efficiency, combining a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor to deliver 243 horsepower. This hybrid powertrain provides up to 36 MPG city and 35 MPG highway, making it an excellent choice for eco-conscious families who want to save on fuel costs without sacrificing power.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Options:
For those who need additional traction, the 2025 Toyota Highlander offers an all-wheel-drive option on both the gasoline and hybrid models. This makes the Highlander more versatile, allowing families to navigate different driving conditions, whether you’re heading to the mountains or dealing with rainy weather.
The 2025 Highlander’s combination of power and efficiency ensures a smooth and enjoyable driving experience no matter where the road takes you.
Safety and Driver Assistance Features
Toyota has always prioritized safety, and the 2025 Highlander continues that tradition with the latest suite of safety and driver assistance features. The Highlander’s advanced tech helps keep families safe on the road, offering both proactive safety features and reactive systems that help prevent accidents.
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0:
- Adaptive Cruise Control: This system now features enhanced adaptive cruise control that adjusts the vehicle’s speed to maintain a safe distance from other cars on the highway.
- Lane Centering Assist: The 2025 Highlander introduces lane centering assist, which helps keep the vehicle centered in its lane, offering additional support during long highway drives.
- Blind-Spot Monitoring: The latest blind-spot monitoring system offers improved sensitivity, helping you stay aware of vehicles that might be in your blind spots.
- Rear-Seat Reminder: A new rear-seat reminder system ensures that parents and caregivers don’t accidentally leave children or pets in the backseat. This feature is designed to increase safety and reduce the risk of heatstroke in the summer months.
Toyota’s comprehensive safety suite is one of the reasons the Highlander is consistently rated as one of the safest family SUVs on the market.
Tech and Connectivity
In today’s connected world, staying in touch while on the road is essential, and the 2025 Toyota Highlander is equipped with advanced tech to keep families connected and entertained during their journeys.
Key Tech Features:
- Expanded Wi-Fi Hotspot: The Highlander comes with an available Wi-Fi hotspot that allows passengers to stay connected to the internet, stream movies, or browse the web during long trips.
- Enhanced Connectivity for Mobile Devices: With Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration, the 2025 Highlander ensures that your devices sync seamlessly with the SUV’s infotainment system, making it easier than ever to access your favorite apps and features.
- Cloud-Based Navigation: The updated navigation system now offers cloud-based updates, ensuring you always have the latest maps and traffic information at your fingertips.
- Remote Start & Smart Parking Assist: New for the 2025 Highlander, remote start allows you to start your vehicle from a distance, while smart parking assist helps you navigate tight spaces with ease, taking the stress out of parking in crowded areas.
Toyota’s focus on connectivity ensures that the 2025 Highlander keeps your family entertained and informed, no matter where the road leads.
Sustainability and Green Technology
As part of Toyota’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, the 2025 Highlander includes eco-friendly features that reduce its environmental impact without sacrificing performance or comfort.
Hybrid Powertrain Benefits:
- Fuel Efficiency: The hybrid powertrain offers excellent fuel economy, helping reduce your carbon footprint while saving you money at the pump.
- Eco-Friendly Materials: Toyota has also incorporated sustainable materials in the interior of the 2025 Highlander, such as recycled fabrics and eco-conscious manufacturing processes, making the SUV a greener choice for families.
The hybrid powertrain, combined with Toyota’s dedication to sustainability, positions the Highlander as an excellent choice for environmentally conscious families who want to reduce their impact on the planet.
Competitive Comparison
While the 2025 Toyota Highlander is a fantastic option for families, it’s always good to compare it with other SUVs in the same category. Here’s how it stacks up against some of its closest competitors.
Toyota Highlander vs. Honda Pilot:
- Interior Space: The Highlander offers seating for up to eight passengers, while the Pilot seats seven. The Highlander’s increased cargo space gives it an edge for families with lots of gear.
- Fuel Efficiency: The Highlander’s hybrid model is more fuel-efficient than the Pilot’s non-hybrid options, making it a better choice for families focused on eco-friendliness.
Toyota Highlander vs. Ford Explorer:
- Power and Towing Capacity: The Ford Explorer’s available V6 engine offers more towing power (5,600 lbs) compared to the Highlander’s maximum 5,000 lbs. However, the Highlander hybrid offers superior fuel economy.
- Technology: The Highlander offers better standard technology features, including a larger digital display and more comprehensive safety features.
Toyota Highlander vs. Kia Sorento:
- Hybrid Options: The Sorento also offers a hybrid version, but the Highlander’s hybrid powertrain provides slightly better fuel economy and a smoother ride.
- Interior Comfort: The Highlander has a more refined interior, with higher-end materials and more room in the third row.
Conclusion
The 2025 Toyota Highlander is a well-rounded family SUV that combines power, comfort, and safety in a way that few other vehicles can match. With its upgraded design, improved performance options, and cutting-edge technology, it’s a vehicle that will appeal to families looking for reliability, efficiency, and a touch of luxury. Whether you’re tackling daily errands or embarking on a cross-country road trip, the 2025 Highlander is ready to meet your needs. With a focus on sustainability and safety, it’s a smart choice for families who want a vehicle that’s as kind to the planet as it is to their family.