Just bought the last 2022 Highlander with a v6 in a 250 mile range. Got the base L-trim. Selling price was $36k. I’ll take it! Traded in my pregnant wife’s 2013 Hyundai accent. Look forwarding to teaching our soon to be born baby how to drive in it!
It's a pleasure to listen your videos. No hyper antics or clickbait titles. Just real knowledge from a person speaks humbling but not cowardly. Stay safe and well
So Much has changed for AMD since this video came out. A great Toyota Master mechanic, shares the truth with honesty and entertainment. He is very articulate, extremely informative. Have learned so much
Not just rear hatch window. I like the rear wiper under the spoiler instead on the bottom of the glass. The life of the wiper last longer without the sun burning the rubber
I seriously didn't realize until I actually bought the car. I thought it was a normal thing that wouldn't go away 😂 Thank goodness I have a trailer but it's still a huge inconvenience.
I've been driving our 2020 Highlander Hybrid (Limited) daily for just over a year. LOVE IT! Great for road trips. Extremely smooth. Great for everyday. Perfect for weekend shopping. The kids love their space. Our dogs love the back. It takes about 50% the gas of our previous vehicle (Hyundai Sonata). So I have to gas up only once a month which is awesome. Before, I was having to gas up every 2 weeks. The torque and power is great for Winnipeg winters where we need to get out of tough situations. The 20" wheels are perfect to navigate our potholes. I would buy this again.
I traded in a 2009 Hummer H3 Alpha v8 for a 2021 Highlander XLE . I'm a big guy and I put a 2" lift kit into the chassis to make it easier to get in & out of.I then went to Discount Tire and put on computer sized Michelin 265x18 tires ,still fit inside wheel wells! I now have 40,000 miles and gas mileage on the highway is phenomenal @ 32mpg. In town I average 25/26.5 mpg . I have the 3.5 6 cylinder, which I hope the bring it back for the Highlander .
I've had a 2020 Platinum Highlander for a year now. I'd agree that without a load of passengers/cargo the vehicle doesn't feel planted and can be a little drifty. But it's designed to be a cruiser. Once you load up a full set of passengers and cargo for a trip, it changes the dynamic entirely. I'd say it feels very good for cruising on highway. So, keep this in mind. Another slight negative that wasn't mentioned was the use of the 12" screen real estate. Unfortunately, the extra size vs. 10" isn't really used well. All Toyota did was put some HVAC controls on the side (can be swiped to be on left or right of main portion of the UI where maps are). Once you realize that the HVAC portion of the large screen can't be used for anything else -- not for Carplay, not for Android auto, and not for the built-in GPS navigation -- then you realize you just have the same 10" screen the other models have. It's too bad. Maybe a software update can improve and truely make use of the bigger screen, but all you're getting is some extra HVAC sliders/controls. Finally, there is an annoying aspect of the Limited Edition wheels -- the 19" Limited edition wheels are not true alloy wheels. They're covered with a special plastic cover, in other words, they are fake. The 20" Platinum wheels are true alloy wheels and look great.
This is definitely true, we took a long trip as a family and this thing performed solidly down the highway, however when I am driving alone it seems wobbly even around town....guess it's better to have it this way then the other way around right
Sir, You are incorrect about the wheels . I have 20's on my 2022 HighlanderLimited. They are plastic. Don't ask me how I know but I CAN tell you one cost me over $700. They look great but it is a plastic cover over an alloy wheel fused together so you can't just change the outer chrome piece. Many other manufacturers do the same thing. All chrome Chrysler wheels are plastic. They all copy from one another. I do like your review of the 12"screen. How many buttons do you need to turn on the A/C ? Cheers
I bought the Toyota Highlander limited v6.i have three kids ages 5 7 11 and just perfect for us.the best..power is more than enough and shifts smoothly. and I'll keep it for life
Toyota is Extremely reliable! I just purchased a 2023 highlander, platinum, four-cylinder turbo. Extremely amazed at the power of this turbo as I just traded in a 21 Lexus GX! The platinum edition is extreme luxury..
Been in my slow Corolla Cross AWD two years now, it's been an excellent vehicle. Dependable, solid, im out in the Mojave Desert, never had any issues, works fine on those long sandy roads. I maintain it very well. It's the regular gas no hybrid, just a good old fashion motor!
We've had our 2021 Hybrid Highlander for about 3 months now, our first hybrid and first Toyota since a 1979 Celica. So far we love the Hignlander. I find power more than adequate, it's not a race car but has no problems accelerating to merge on expressways. 80 MPH feels no different than 60 as far as handling, and it corners well, much better than I expected. We drive the Blue Ridge Parkway quite often and it feels very stable on curves. MPG on our XLE was advertised as 35 City/ HWY both but we are getting 37 MPG around town, including mountain roads. I expect it will get better on long highway trips.
Wow, that is very impressive (MPG) for such a large vehicle. I have been eyeing the XSE for a while now just because I love it's look. But, you can't beat that MPG on the hybrid. I am starting to lean Hybrid.
@@JavierGonzalez-ss1sg We've had the Highlander almost a year now and have done a long road trip. As it turns out MPG on the highway isn't much different from what we get with combined city/highway, perhaps 1 MPG less. I sort of expected a little better on the highway but since the engine actually runs more on the highway than in or regular driving it makes sense that MPG would suffer a little. Still, 36 MPG is pretty good.
@@minisurfbanana The Hybrid isn't an EV vehicle. The battery gets recharged during braking and deceleration and is used alone for short periods or with the engine to reduce engine power demand which results in less fuel demand. When battery power is reduced to a certain point (about half by the gauge) the engine starts and begins to charge the battery. This can be while it's also driving the vehicle or while your sitting still.
We bought a 2022 Highlander Platinum hybrid AWD and it gets the same mileage. 35-37 city, 35mpg on the highway. We love the car. Especially the HUD on the windshield, the adaptive LED headlights and the panoramic moonroof. It rides so smooth and still handles well. It is very quiet when driving normally(non aggressive) in the city and on the highway, probably because of the acoustic glass and insulation.
Always a straightforward and honest review. Bought the 2021 Highlander Hybrid XLE last January and so far we are very happy with the purchase. Watching your videos made our decision on buying a hybrid an easy one. Looking forward to new videos.
@@theaxalanfam1107 that’s a great deal if that was the “out the door” price. We bought the ruby red pearl XLE hybrid about a month ago and the sticker price was 44,500.00 Negotiated down to 41 but after taxes/fees we were back up to around 44K out the door.
Hola Robert, I’m so confuse about getting a Hybrid or getting a AWD I think I can not afford a Hybrid AWD so I have to pick one… what do you recommend?
Thank you so much. I was so relieved that I watched this video before test driving a 2021 Hybrid from a Toyota main dealer in the UK (Highlanders are very rare and expensive over here). Everything was fine except the aircon wasn't blowing cold. I showed them your video and they insisted that a simple regas was all that was needed but I knew that wouldn't solve it. After 2 weeks and more assurances and videos from the Service Manager, I took another test drive and predictably nothing had changed. I had to force them to let me check out another Highlander they had in stock which blew out beautiful cold air - trouble was it was over 60,000GBP for a used car! The result - my deposit was refunded. PS.... We only get the 8 inch screen in the UK.
Recently purchased a Highlander Limited after driving 7 other SUV's. Love it! One thing that I have noticed is that during the day, depending on the light outside, the dash is sometimes too dark to read, even on the high button. This is especially true of the icons near the top of the dash. Will be checking on it.
I still believe the Toyota cars are reliable cars,I have Toyota Highlander 2020 LE for 5 years and I still have no problems,,, Thank you so much for all this information that you give,,,it's really helpful,,,
One of the best, honest reviews out there. Covers the tech features well. Explains the various trims nicely. The review is really helpful to make decision. Not talking about the cup-holders , is the highlight 😊
2022 Highlander Platinum...warped rear rotors and likely warped front rotors in first year of ownership...I'm not alone with these rotor issues. Replacing rotors every year...that's not what I expect from a Toyota.
You’re absolutely correct about the annoying wireless charging pad. It’s made irrelevant by the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay. We never use the wireless pad at all and it’s just in the way.
Everything being the same there is still a difference. Just turned in my 19’ for a 21’ and it drives different and much better shifting and handling. I have had several of these and the 21’ is the best version so far.
@@skyllablue Please post what you decide on. My wife and I have been saving for five years to buy a used Highlander cash. From this channel we know to get a 2019 or newer, we are going for the V6 non-hybrid model but don’t know what year yet.
@@greggschachterleppc2769 we wanted a hybrid model. We are putting this on hold and buying out our current lease to wait for the car chaos to die down. Good luck!
great videos! our 2018 Highlander has the 8 speed "hunting" transmission- drove me nuts! I found the cure- just put it in sport mode all the time, hold gearshift forward until it reads "s8" on dash. This not only eliminates gear hunting, it locks out the start/stop feature, which is just so annoying!
I own a ‘21 Premium AWD. After 1 yr and 18k miles I get 20.4 MPGs. Love it, it’s smooth but the larger tires are noisier. We’ve taken it on roadtrips and it’s comfy, leather seats are a little stiff at first. Other features like pano camera and roof and heated and vented seats are nice, rear don’t have vented. It’s roomy enough, could have used 2-3 inches in 3rd row, it’s nearly unusable by our children, still good to have. I plan to keep this 10 years. Wish it got mid-20s mpg. Hybrid is noisy and lacks critical feature: Dynamic Torque Vectoring. XSE, Limited and Premium have it, and V6 purrs.
Great review … honest and complete. I’ve had a 2020 Highlander XSE for 30 months. A few comments: 1. The driving dynamics at freeway speeds are terrible, even dangerously floaty if emergency avoidance maneuvers are required. 2. It’s easily possible to drive this car without activating the engine stop/start feature if you don’t mash the pedal at stoplights. 3. The defog mode isn’t keeping the windshield clear … thanks for the tip on the fresh air intake door!
After watching this Awesome Review about the Highlander. I still want one in the XSE Trim. I rented a 2017 Highlander SE a few years ago. I went on a 8 hr round trip and I fell in love with it. It was the perfect size for me. The only problem we had was getting confused with opening the tailgate with the pop up or pop out rear glass window. We got it right by the end of the trip. The Highlander XSE will definitely be my next vehicle hands down.
just make sure your highlander is in the garage when it rain because has travel with flowering, my is just a total lost after been at the dealer 3 times to clean the draining, just have 42 350 mile on it 7 years old.
@@irenetrierweiler7351 I hope that Toyota has fix that issue in the 2021-2022 model's. I hate that you are having that issue. But a 7 yr old vehicle with 42,350 on the miles. Besides that issue, I hope your Highlander last for a very long time.
Yes, I also 100% agree that I find your automobile review legit, practical and very helpful for potential buywrs as yiur review covers all practical and very important matters of a car or suv, unlike other TH-camrs who mainly review insignificant matters of a car or suv such as, if the seat has stitching or not, how many cup holders it has blah blah blah..👍👌
Had my Highlander since 2018 no problems love it great for traveling! Love Toyota don’t want to be on first name bases with the dealership like some other brands!
To the car nut , I am in Australia & the 2021/2022 Toyota (Kluger not the Highlander) as it is called down here, has just been released ,Slow because of Covid .But what i wanted to say ,I have watched many reviews on this suv on our sites, but yours is so direct to the point ,covers all the issues without the waffle ,well done guys ,wish all car reviews were so to the point.
All Toyota vehicles are great, can’t go wrong with any of them. It isn’t just about the vehicle but it’s actually the Toyota system that stands above the competition like spare parts, dealer network, cost of maintenance, resale value, insurance, quality, longevity and reliable etc. Toyota brand is unparalleled.
He is right, I have the 2020 V6 XLE (bought on April 2020), when you floor it in highway it sometimes gets "stuck" on high revs I have to release the pedal so it engages the gear, that's the only negative I've experienced. I really think it is a great SUV overall.
I’ve experienced the same problem. I noticed on really cold days the transmission revs at higher rpm’s until it warms up. I have to take my pedal off the gas to catch the gear. Thought it was a bad transmission.
We have had our Highlander with torque vectoring AWD through it's first winter now. I have to say it has the very best AWD system I have ever had and I have had every 4 wheel drive vehicle Toyota makes. This new system eliminates wheel spin not by using the ABS but with clutches, electronics and computers. I drove up a small pile of gravel with only the left front wheel until only it and the right rear wheel were on the ground and there was no wheel spin from either of the wheels not touching the ground. Forward motion was still very positive with seemingly no effort at all. If the pile were bigger I felt I could just keep going up. Nothing short of amazing in my opinion. All winter in any condition it always felt planted like nothing else I have owned.
I’ve had the 2020 Platinum AWD for a little over 3 years now, my wife drove it for the first 3 years, before she went back to her TRD Pro 4Runner, and had zero issues. It currently sits at 40k miles and hope to keep it for awhile, it was definitely one of the best purchases we made.
Thank you so very much for this review. I have gone through several choices from Honda to Mazda and now the Toyota Highlander. You have given me the confidence to make a purchase. Thank you! I always appreciate your reviews.
Test drive the 2022 v6, what a machine. There are no incentives on it so we passed it up. Blueprint color too, my favorite of all. Going to look at the 2023.
Thank you for video! The car is very comfortable foк travelling with family! Ukraine is watching you too). Машинка классная! Расход по городу до 6 литров,о трассе - около 6,3. Очень доволен. Рекомендую. Комплектация гибрид максимальная без панорамы.
EXCELLENT Video on 2020-'22 Highlander. I own a 2021 XLE 3.5L AWD that I purchased in early Jan 2021. Basically I love the vehicle. I agree with all of your assessments , however I will offer one additional perspective on the shifting of the transmission and will draw your attention to two additional issues; One issue GLARING issue (IMHO) is with the TSS2.5+ re: anti-jam feature for tailgate that most folks don't even know is a problem until, like in my case, they have an issue. First, let me say that I worked for 35 years for a communications electronics manufacturer and I understand that sometimes software related things DO just happen but the quality of the solution falls WAY short of where it should be. I honestly try not to make issues of these things BECAUSE I do understand the challenges but in the case of safety related issues I get very rigid on my perspective and just say, NO SHORTCUTS -Just Do It RIGHT! The issue with the anti-jam feature on the tailgate is that it works BUTunless you are an engineer it becomes WAY too complex to figure out what is happening. Specifically, the problem occurs when there is a small item, like a strap on a bag or the thin edge of a rubber cargo mat, etc. that is lying in or on the surfaces of the tailgate latching area and the anti-jam feature kicks on. The problem, which took me a longtime to understand is HOW that type of tailgate jam(in the last 1 inch of the tailgate closing movement(safety latching). What occurs is a warning tone with a message in the driver info display saying that there is a "SEATBELT" problem. So you check your seatbelts only to find that there is NO seatbelt issue, frontseat, backseats, NOWHERE, but no amaount of unlocking and relocking of your seatbelts makes the warning beep and the seatbelt message go away. The dealer in two different visits says the feature is working and the problem can't be duplicated. The REAl PROBLEM IS THAT BECAUSE THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHIN THE LAST INCH OF TAILGATE TRAVEL, THE DRIVER LOOKING IN HIS REARVIEW MIRROR THINKS THAT THE TAILGATE IS CLOSED - BUT IT IS NOT! ( I lost four $24.00 bottles of wine and damaged a $70.00 tool box all of which fell out onto the roadway as I found this out the hard way). The source of the problem as stated earlier is HOW Toyota software engineers decided to communicate the problem. After the second trip to the dealer with this issue I decided to just stay at the rear of the SUV any time I closed the tailgate with a full load and just watch the complete closing making sure that the last INCH(safety latching) of closing occurred properly. Only recently did I finally determine WHY the software engineers seemed to be OK with their system. When the seatbelt system has an issue the driver info displays a birds-eye view of the seats , front, 2nd row seat and 3rd cargo area SEAT! Apparently the 3rd SEAT graphic icon includes the tailgate latching but I'm pretty sure there is nothing in the manual that tells you that IF there is nobody in the 3rd seat(cargo area seat) and the seat icon is lighted red, then you have an unlatched tailgate, probably because the anti-jam system is activated. The only problem is that a seatbely is a seatbelt, and a tailgate is a tailgate AND the 3rd SEAT icon as well as ALL of the other seat icons are lighted up simultaneously BUT the 3rd seat icon does not flash intermittently to at least draw your attention to the 3rd seat-tailgate area! SORRY,...NOT RIGHT,..NOT ADEQUATE, potentially dangerous. Maybe this is noted somewhere in the 700+ pages of the operators manual(s), but if so, I missed it completely. Enough said. Second issue is about the FM and specifically the HDRadio portion of the Premium Sound system(but most likely applies to the Ultimate Soundsystem as well assuming that system has FM HD radio as well. Specifically, the problem is the location of the FM radio antenna, WHY in the world would ANY manufacturer place an FM(VHF 88 - 108) antenna inside the glass of the rear cargo area in the same plane as the metal door posts and below the metal roof(B-t-w, for the record GM engineers lived thru this fiasco in the 1980s nd determined it was a bad idea THEN!) I'll tell you why: to save money and THAT is the only possible raeson that makes any sense. Yes, yes, I know,..NOBODY listens to FM anymore right? I know that ther rollouit of HD radio in 2006-007 was a fiasco, mostly because nobody checked with the broadcasters to check how willing they were to spend BIG dollars to upgrade all of their FM broadcast transmitters just to increase the fidelity of the sound.. So HD Radio flopped big time also partly because it was not well explained to early home AV receiver purchasers that they would need to upgrade their antenna systems. But, mobile FM radio was the one semi-success area and in the last 8 years the majority of major music orientede stations HAVE replace their transmitters. I paid about $500 od upgrade money and the FM HD Radio is almost useless because the only time it works in a stable fashion is when the FM transmitter is located on the driver side of the vehicle so that the FM antenna is facing the station's transmitter. BOTTOM LINE: VHF FM is a line of site communication medium and a radio wave is an electro-MAGNETIC" wave(its very name TELLS you that it will be effected when placed in close contact to METAL, like the roof, door pillars and near the body of the vehicle. The ONLY proper place for an FM antenna is ON TOP of the ROOF, where it has a 360-degree view of the horizon, unobstrructed by metal(also where the metal in the roof acts as a good ground plane that actually reflects some radio energy back toward the antenna. Hey, Toyota engineers,..this is electrical engineering 101! (and it doesn't take much talent to listen to the marketing folks who don't follow ANY technology except what THEY believe is the latest and greatest. Last, you are correct that the 8-speed transmission in the Highlander is not perfectly smooth, however, I make about ten 500-mile trips a year between southern and No. California and as long as I keep the speed under about 78 mph, I am getting an honest 24 - 25 mpg with 2-passengers and about 300 lbs of cargo. (Huge win considering the Highlander replaced a super reliable Hyundai Santa Fe 3.3L V6 w/4 or 5 speed trans., 650 lbs lighter, that at 78 mph and the same exact loads struggled to get 21 mpg! (in fact I went to the local Hyundai dealer during mid-COVID to BUY a new 2021 Pallisade but was told that the price would be window sticker + $5.000.00, take it or leave it,..so, I left it!) Sorry for being wordy but the tailgate thing is REALLY WRONG. Most likely an oversight between the software teams and finger pointing with deadlines closing in. ALWAYS a recipe for disaster!
I like my 2021 Platinum Highlander very much. Before purchasing it, my concern was having to hit that engine stop over ride button every time I start it. Good news, I had my Highlander for around nine months now and I never had to touch that over ride button once! You have to really push the brake pedal firm for the engine to stop (Hats off to Toyota for that!!!) The only little issue I hope Toyota is looking into for a fix is the wind noise coming from the front side windows when it reaches higher speeds.
We just bought a platinum as well and have the same noise. A high pitched whistling, not too loud but enough that people ask about it and it annoys my wife. I wonder if there’s something on the platinum exterior that does it. Or if it’s all of them.
@@basicuser54 I believe all of them do it. I read somewhere the cause is the placement of the side view mirrors attached to the doors. I hope Toyota has a fix and they will notify us 2020/2021 and maybe future 2022 Highlander owners to bring in our vehicles to repair this issue at no cost.
its very stable at high speeds at least up till 80-85, havent driven it faster than that, its the smoothest car that ive ever driven, you are right about the transmission tho, although it only acts funny every once in a while that i notice anyways. I like the look of the xle and other models better than the xse but it looks good too
I love Toyota’s V6. Our family’s Avalon, Highlander, Sienna, Camry, Supra (inline 6) all drove past 300K miles. My current Sienna is at 311K miles and still runs flawlessly. However, my next Toyota has to be plugged in hybrid due to unpredictable California fuel price. Plug-in hybrid saves fuel on daily driving and it gives more flexibility, longer range, convenience, confidence and safety on long trips or cross country road trips. I usually drive 300 miles at a time then take break and refuel with approximately 150-200 miles range of fuel remaining in the tank.
Great video! I earlier had a 2018 Subaru Outback and was not impressed by the build quality. So I now have a 2021 Highlander Limited. This car is a very well put together, refined, and a pleasure to drive. No complaints so far.
@@griffith057 the point is toyota is a well built vehicle with a reputation of producing long lasting reliable vehicles that's the point.....It's a toyota enough said.. .
Dear Toyota: bring back the rear glass hatch! I agree that is the BEST feature and the biggest reason I haven’t bought this generation. I’ve owned gen 1, 2 and currently still own 1 & 3. Great vehicles. 😊
We purchased a Highlander in February and absolutely love it. Going from a car with no backup camera to the 360 system has been eye opening. It should be included on every model. We are also consistently getting 34+ mpg. One small complaint I have is the range. It only seems to hold 12 or so gallons, or is keeping a 5 gallon reserve.
@@robertduklus6555 that would be awesome, however after filling up, the trip computer shows it has about 400 mile (643 k) range. So it is saying I have under 12 usable gallons (45 liters). If the tank holds 17 gallons, that is a 5 gallon reserve. I am not going to risk driving over 100 more miles after the light comes on to verify.
@@ATypicalJake1 I need someone to help me with this and discuss it some more. I got a hybrid for the good gas mileage but it seems like it deplete very fast. I’m getting 34 mpg right now and my last vehicle got 21. I still have to fill up around once a week. Is this reserve a real thing?
I'm assuming you are referring to the Highlander hybrid? The gas tank is 17.9 gallons. I have put 16 plus gallons in the Highlander. It's one of those things I wanted to find out the true range, I usually filled up around 475-500 miles mark.
I purchased a 2021 Highlander Hybrid last weekend and have the same gas tank issue. Got 490 miles on first tank with 15 miles to empty and only filled up with 13.85 gallons. Seems the Highlander Hybrid fuel tanks are having the same issue as the 2019-2020 Rav4 Hybrids. Toyota fixed the issue with the Rav4. Hopefully Toyota will have a fix for the Highlander Hybrid soon.
I am glad turning off the lane keep assist is easy. That is my #1 hated feature, followed by auto start-stop, on modern cars. There should be an option in the settings to turn both off permanently instead of having to do it every time you start the car.
We had a 2019 Highlander Hybrid Limited AWD that we loved along with our 2010 Highlander Limited V6. Unfortunately the 2019 had fuel pump issues / hybrid drive warning light that left us stranded. After it was fixed it still wasn’t right and didn’t seem to run properly. Still being under Warrenty we decided to sell it during the Plandemic. Now we have just traded in our 2010 Highlander with 175K on a 2021 Highlander Hybrid Platinum front wheel drive. Currently averaging 35 mpg. I agree with some of the annoying features and lack of power compared to the V6 but with gas prices on the rise for the foreseeable future we made the right choice.
Just bought a 2021 Highlander Hybrid limited to replace a 2012 V6 RAV4. The RAV4 was quicker, but one thing I'm starting to get used to, is how the highlander doesn't feel fast because the transmission is so smooth, but it's not slow by any measure. The lack of gear changes just make it feel that way. Been getting 6.8 l/100km, so almost half what my RAV4 was getting.
Oui, c'est vrai. Letting go of a RAV4 V6 would break my heart but the new Highlander Hybrid offers AMAZING fuel economy with gas at $1.30 or more per litre.
As always Amd, excellent vehicle review, thank you! We became instantly in the market to replace our 15’ Sienna XLE when my wife was rear ended and the vehicle was totaled. She wants a ‘big’ vehicle like the Sienna but not another minivan. This video is right on spot explaining every detail of the Highlander and how it’s size compares to other Toyota models. I even screenshot your example of ‘shoes’ to show her the size options. Thanks again for passing your knowledge on to help!
Thank you so much! I just bought the 2020 hybrid XLE and it is a great car! Iam still learning since it is first suv car and its good for the price and quality! Great Family car
We have 2020 Platinum V6. So far so good. Only 1 minor issue where the sunglass holder broke and had to be replaced under warranty. Seems to be fairly common according to the Highlander Forum. I do like that the Auto Start/Stop is not easily activated when braking. Most of the time I don't even press the button because I very rarely put enough pressure on the brake pedal to activate it.
@@TheCarCareNut I drove recently new Rav4 and it is annoying. My 2019 doesn't have this function and I'm happy. Will wait for 2022 Model or 2023. I hope Toyota listening to their customers.
I took the 2023 Highlander Limited for a test drive. You're correct about the stability. The Highlander doesn't handle like you'd expect. It's not all bad but handling is still not as good as my 2012 Chevy Traverse. I need a new vehicle and want something that's better on fuel. So I ordered the Highlander platinum hybrid with AWD as I live in Canada. I'm willing to sacrifice the power and handling of my Traverse and go with the Highlander to save on fuel. Other manufacturers are not on my radar because in my opinion Toyota does it best when it comes to hybrids.
Thank you for the Highlander review.. I've been wanting to buy one but my 2011 Siena still runs great.. Has 110k miles in it.. I guess I'll just wait.. 😁
I took my 2022 into my local mechanic to do the 1k oil change that you suggested. My mechanic is a crusty curmudgeon with 50 years of bending wrenches behind him. He said “I’ll change it, but yer wastin yer $$”. He allowed me into the bay where I “eyewitnessed” particulate’s
OMG! I have been watching your channel for almost 9 months, but never once did I check if I was subscribed. I really thought I was. Maybe TH-cam unsubscribed me? Anyhow, I have resubscribed and plan to continue watching. BTW, I just recently bought a used 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD. Wow! I'm so impressed and LOVE IT! I have two growing teenagers and we have needed a 7 passenger for far too long. I held onto my 2007 Chevrolet Silverado Ext, but I am seriously impressed with Toyota thus far. Thank you for this review and others like it. When I started looking for a vehicle 6 months ago, I was going to go with another SIlverado in the 2017/2018 year set due to their low level of issues. However, your confidence in the Toyota brand convinced me to look at Toyota, specifically the 2019 version. When you put this video out though, it made the case for me to go one more year up for the new model design. I'm glad I did. Thank you!
Spot on about the 8 speed. I test drove the RX350 recently with the 8 speed trans. The hesitency was crazy. It hates when you put your foot down and it needs to downshift to accelerate. I thought the trans was bad.
I haven’t had issues w the 8 speed. But I know some owners with this transmission bought a device called pedal commander or iDrive. It alters the throttle response
@@naveenthemachine I probably drove one of the first implementations of the 8 speed. 2016 Rx350. Relatively speaking my 2008 felt like a brand new trans
I had this issue when my 2005 was new. First they told me it was to keep me from doing something stupid. I replied it’s pretty stupid when you’re passing or pulling into traffic and the car doesn’t go. Then they discovered there was a computer update.
I like the Highlander hybrid but now that the sienna hybrid now exists I argue the Highlanders a harder sell. Especially when the Highlander hybrid LE is more expensive than a sienna hybrid LE
@@naveenthemachine I looked at the sienna, My wife doesn't want "another minivan" which is aesthetic but so be it. I also live in the boondocks so the extra ground clearance could be helpful, though I have my truck when ground clearance issues are expected, and it's only a difference of 1.6 inches.
@@dds2899 THAT is awesome to hear. My wife drives a 2013 Corolla, and we get about 39 mpg in it, So a car I can actually fit in (6'3") and have enough room for the family, while still getting great gas mileage is what drew us to this option, I was originally looking at the Ford Explorer, but with how its ranked compared to the highlander, and the compromises, I decided against.
Thank you for mentioning the air-con.I just bought a 2023 Lexus ES350, 2 days later,I keep getting hot air blowing out.Brought it to the Lexus dealer,got it fixed and again, 2 days later,the climate control goes out.Will take it to the dealer again on Monday and hope they can fix it.Mind you,it is a brand new 2023 Lexus ES350, with only 300 miles on it.
Wow had no idea about the remote start thank you!!! Two other things that i really dislike is 1.) The smart entry system only allows me to open the front doors with my key fob nearby but it won't allow me to enter through the rear doors without physically pressing the unlock button. Very annoying. 2.) Rear camera does not beep as you get closer to an object Other than that I love the car.
The smart entry is only installed on the front door handles, and the button on the trunk lid. I have the Corolla hybrid, and I found that changing the setting so that when you reach into any handle that it unlocks all doors, is easy enough to deal with when only needing to get into the back doors.
Found that finessing the gas pedal in my ‘22 XSE eliminates the wild downshift of the transmission when accelerating hard. And it seems more of a problem in “ Normal “ drive mode. In “ Sport” mode the shifts come quicker and don’t react wildly. The opposite is true in “ Eco” mode, it’s slower shifting but the engine doesn’t scream.
Your often repeated, and GREATLY APPRECIATED reassurances about the GOOFY 8-SPEED transmission have once and for all time set my mind at east that this thing isn't going to grenade somewhere down the road. It DOES seem that the harder I drive it, the better it feels. Makes the RX even more enjoyable........
I agree with the tranny. I have a 2020 Lexus RX350L and I find that if I get into the gas pedal when taking off, the shifting of the 8 speed tranny does much better. If you slowly take off it wants to upshift into too high of a gear and the car feels like it can't get out of it's own way. I feel they should have kept the 6 speed tranny. Just ask my wife what she thought of our 18 Highlander and now the 2020 Lexus...she'll tell you "I miss my 15 Highlander"...that thing was sneaky fast...
Agree on rear windo so convenient to use have on 2016 hybrid highlander limited platinum not on my 2022 non hybrid platinum. When traveling to Florida was convenient to put needed things to quickly grab on road.
its a shame this guy only have 141k subs. this guy is the real deal.
2 years later.. he’s almost at 1 million! Great work pays off!
A million subscribers now!!
Nice! Congrats for the 1m...
A lot of TH-camrs would kill for 140k subs, but yeah his channel exploded due to the quality of the presentation and info.
1.1 million now
Just bought the last 2022 Highlander with a v6 in a 250 mile range. Got the base L-trim. Selling price was $36k. I’ll take it! Traded in my pregnant wife’s 2013 Hyundai accent. Look forwarding to teaching our soon to be born baby how to drive in it!
It's a pleasure to listen your videos.
No hyper antics or clickbait titles.
Just real knowledge from a person speaks humbling but not cowardly.
Stay safe and well
You are absolutely correct, AMD is one of the few people providing adult supervision to TH-cam .
I just can't imagine who you are referring to...lol. Click bait Scotty!
@@sixty9harleyPittsburghPAP
How is Scotty cowardly?
I like both of these guys
Just traded in our 2007 Yukon for a 2019 Highlander Limited Platinum. HUGE step up. Love the premium features and quality fit and finish.
Holy Crap the remote start feature you described WORKS ! Thanks for spilling Toyota's secret feature !
So Much has changed for AMD since this video came out. A great Toyota Master mechanic, shares the truth with honesty and entertainment. He is very articulate, extremely informative. Have learned so much
I'm still mad at Toyota for getting rid of the independently-opening rear window. It was so convenient and clever.
Honda did the same with the pilot first and then Toyota followed the cost savings
Not just rear hatch window. I like the rear wiper under the spoiler instead on the bottom of the glass. The life of the wiper last longer without the sun burning the rubber
I seriously didn't realize until I actually bought the car. I thought it was a normal thing that wouldn't go away 😂 Thank goodness I have a trailer but it's still a huge inconvenience.
I discovered this after I bought the vehicle. I was also mad. Shame on me but not the end of the world.
Yes that is a huge fail
As soon as he said that he doesn’t count cup holders, I immediately hit the subscribe button.
Long time ago I bought second hand 2006 Highlander V6. Best problem free car I ever had. Love it
My months worth of research into one video. Wow This is a gem. Superb job
I've been driving our 2020 Highlander Hybrid (Limited) daily for just over a year. LOVE IT! Great for road trips. Extremely smooth. Great for everyday. Perfect for weekend shopping. The kids love their space. Our dogs love the back. It takes about 50% the gas of our previous vehicle (Hyundai Sonata). So I have to gas up only once a month which is awesome. Before, I was having to gas up every 2 weeks. The torque and power is great for Winnipeg winters where we need to get out of tough situations. The 20" wheels are perfect to navigate our potholes. I would buy this again.
I traded in a 2009 Hummer H3 Alpha v8 for a 2021 Highlander XLE . I'm a big guy and I put a 2" lift kit into the chassis to make it easier to get in & out of.I then went to Discount Tire and put on computer sized Michelin 265x18 tires ,still fit inside wheel wells!
I now have 40,000 miles and gas mileage on the highway is phenomenal @ 32mpg. In town I average 25/26.5 mpg . I have the 3.5 6 cylinder, which I hope the bring it back for the Highlander .
Got the 22 highlander LE love the car drove 3000 miles across the nation hauling a 2500lb trailer and it did well . So comfortable
Just bought a 2019 and absolutely love it. Drives and rides so smooth. I love my Highlander❤️
I've had a 2020 Platinum Highlander for a year now. I'd agree that without a load of passengers/cargo the vehicle doesn't feel planted and can be a little drifty. But it's designed to be a cruiser. Once you load up a full set of passengers and cargo for a trip, it changes the dynamic entirely. I'd say it feels very good for cruising on highway. So, keep this in mind. Another slight negative that wasn't mentioned was the use of the 12" screen real estate. Unfortunately, the extra size vs. 10" isn't really used well. All Toyota did was put some HVAC controls on the side (can be swiped to be on left or right of main portion of the UI where maps are). Once you realize that the HVAC portion of the large screen can't be used for anything else -- not for Carplay, not for Android auto, and not for the built-in GPS navigation -- then you realize you just have the same 10" screen the other models have. It's too bad. Maybe a software update can improve and truely make use of the bigger screen, but all you're getting is some extra HVAC sliders/controls. Finally, there is an annoying aspect of the Limited Edition wheels -- the 19" Limited edition wheels are not true alloy wheels. They're covered with a special plastic cover, in other words, they are fake. The 20" Platinum wheels are true alloy wheels and look great.
This is definitely true, we took a long trip as a family and this thing performed solidly down the highway, however when I am driving alone it seems wobbly even around town....guess it's better to have it this way then the other way around right
So do you recommend getting a highlander?
Sir, You are incorrect about the wheels . I have 20's on my 2022 HighlanderLimited. They are plastic. Don't ask me how I know but I CAN tell you one cost me over $700. They look great but it is a plastic cover over an alloy wheel fused together so you can't just change the outer chrome piece. Many other manufacturers do the same thing. All chrome Chrysler wheels are plastic. They all copy from one another.
I do like your review of the 12"screen. How many buttons do you need to turn on the A/C ? Cheers
@@The_Sword3 the Limited has what hes talking about. The Platinum are completely alloy. Love how they look. Wouldnt trade em for any other rims
I bought the Toyota Highlander limited v6.i have three kids ages 5 7 11 and just perfect for us.the best..power is more than enough and shifts smoothly. and I'll keep it for life
Same, just not sure what that equipment under the grill to the passenger side rear in trunk is.
Toyota is Extremely reliable! I just purchased a 2023 highlander, platinum, four-cylinder turbo. Extremely amazed at the power of this turbo as I just traded in a 21 Lexus GX! The platinum edition is extreme luxury..
Been in my slow Corolla Cross AWD two years now, it's been an excellent vehicle. Dependable, solid, im out in the Mojave Desert, never had any issues, works fine on those long sandy roads. I maintain it very well. It's the regular gas no hybrid, just a good old fashion motor!
You're a blessing for us Toyota owners, God bless you Brother. I LOVE MY 2021 HIGHLANDER.
Ahmed I love how you separate your videos into different sections to easily jump or rewatch a portion again. Thank you for taking the time to do that.
We've had our 2021 Hybrid Highlander for about 3 months now, our first hybrid and first Toyota since a 1979 Celica. So far we love the Hignlander. I find power more than adequate, it's not a race car but has no problems accelerating to merge on expressways. 80 MPH feels no different than 60 as far as handling, and it corners well, much better than I expected. We drive the Blue Ridge Parkway quite often and it feels very stable on curves. MPG on our XLE was advertised as 35 City/ HWY both but we are getting 37 MPG around town, including mountain roads. I expect it will get better on long highway trips.
How long does the ev power last?
Wow, that is very impressive (MPG) for such a large vehicle. I have been eyeing the XSE for a while now just because I love it's look. But, you can't beat that MPG on the hybrid. I am starting to lean Hybrid.
@@JavierGonzalez-ss1sg We've had the Highlander almost a year now and have done a long road trip. As it turns out MPG on the highway isn't much different from what we get with combined city/highway, perhaps 1 MPG less. I sort of expected a little better on the highway but since the engine actually runs more on the highway than in or regular driving it makes sense that MPG would suffer a little. Still, 36 MPG is pretty good.
@@minisurfbanana The Hybrid isn't an EV vehicle. The battery gets recharged during braking and deceleration and is used alone for short periods or with the engine to reduce engine power demand which results in less fuel demand. When battery power is reduced to a certain point (about half by the gauge) the engine starts and begins to charge the battery. This can be while it's also driving the vehicle or while your sitting still.
We bought a 2022 Highlander Platinum hybrid AWD and it gets the same mileage. 35-37 city, 35mpg on the highway. We love the car. Especially the HUD on the windshield, the adaptive LED headlights and the panoramic moonroof. It rides so smooth and still handles well. It is very quiet when driving normally(non aggressive) in the city and on the highway, probably because of the acoustic glass and insulation.
I’ve had my 18 HL for 3 years now … I know it’s still young but at 56k miles I love it more and more
Always a straightforward and honest review. Bought the 2021 Highlander Hybrid XLE last January and so far we are very happy with the purchase. Watching your videos made our decision on buying a hybrid an easy one. Looking forward to new videos.
If you don't mind how much you pay for xle hybrid on the road , I live in Toronto Canada. Thank you!
42k US dollars.
@@theaxalanfam1107 that’s a great deal if that was the “out the door” price. We bought the ruby red pearl XLE hybrid about a month ago and the sticker price was 44,500.00 Negotiated down to 41 but after taxes/fees we were back up to around 44K out the door.
I leased 2021 Highlander Hybrid XLE in December 2020 for US $2500 down and 375/month
Hola Robert, I’m so confuse about getting a Hybrid or getting a AWD I think I can not afford a Hybrid AWD so I have to pick one… what do you recommend?
Thank you so much. I was so relieved that I watched this video before test driving a 2021 Hybrid from a Toyota main dealer in the UK (Highlanders are very rare and expensive over here). Everything was fine except the aircon wasn't blowing cold. I showed them your video and they insisted that a simple regas was all that was needed but I knew that wouldn't solve it. After 2 weeks and more assurances and videos from the Service Manager, I took another test drive and predictably nothing had changed. I had to force them to let me check out another Highlander they had in stock which blew out beautiful cold air - trouble was it was over 60,000GBP for a used car! The result - my deposit was refunded. PS.... We only get the 8 inch screen in the UK.
Recently purchased a Highlander Limited after driving 7 other SUV's. Love it! One thing that I have noticed is that during the day, depending on the light outside, the dash is sometimes too dark to read, even on the high button. This is especially true of the icons near the top of the dash. Will be checking on it.
You can adjust the brightness totally, research in google how to do it ( I would but my memory fails me) and its actually bright like crazy.
I still believe the Toyota cars are reliable cars,I have Toyota Highlander 2020 LE for 5 years and I still have no problems,,,
Thank you so much for all this information that you give,,,it's really helpful,,,
One of the best, honest reviews out there. Covers the tech features well. Explains the various trims nicely. The review is really helpful to make decision. Not talking about the cup-holders , is the highlight 😊
2022 Highlander Platinum...warped rear rotors and likely warped front rotors in first year of ownership...I'm not alone with these rotor issues. Replacing rotors every year...that's not what I expect from a Toyota.
Yes, there is a problem 2022/23
AMD. I watched this one when it came out. I rewatched it as a family member is interested in buying a Highlander. Really good video on the Highlander.
Another great review. I learn more about my Highlander hybrid from your reviews than I do from my dealer. Thanks, keep on making these videos.
The reviewer is a good man. God bless
You’re absolutely correct about the annoying wireless charging pad. It’s made irrelevant by the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay. We never use the wireless pad at all and it’s just in the way.
Learned a lot from you. You are a blessing for us who want to really understand cars well.
This man reviews are great and honest!
How did you judge?
Everything being the same there is still a difference. Just turned in my 19’ for a 21’ and it drives different and much better shifting and handling. I have had several of these and the 21’ is the best version so far.
Why you didn't go for 22 ? I think they have the same price
I agree. I had the ‘19 too and traded it in. The ‘21’s features are night and day
@@H21maker Curious too. We are debating what year hybrid to get (22,21,20...19?).
@@skyllablue
Please post what you decide on. My wife and I have been saving for five years to buy a used Highlander cash. From this channel we know to get a 2019 or newer, we are going for the V6 non-hybrid model but don’t know what year yet.
@@greggschachterleppc2769 we wanted a hybrid model. We are putting this on hold and buying out our current lease to wait for the car chaos to die down. Good luck!
great videos! our 2018 Highlander has the 8 speed "hunting" transmission- drove me nuts! I found the cure- just put it in sport mode all the time, hold gearshift forward until it reads "s8" on dash. This not only eliminates gear hunting, it locks out the start/stop feature, which is just so annoying!
I own a ‘21 Premium AWD. After 1 yr and 18k miles I get 20.4 MPGs. Love it, it’s smooth but the larger tires are noisier. We’ve taken it on roadtrips and it’s comfy, leather seats are a little stiff at first. Other features like pano camera and roof and heated and vented seats are nice, rear don’t have vented. It’s roomy enough, could have used 2-3 inches in 3rd row, it’s nearly unusable by our children, still good to have.
I plan to keep this 10 years. Wish it got mid-20s mpg. Hybrid is noisy and lacks critical feature: Dynamic Torque Vectoring. XSE, Limited and Premium have it, and V6 purrs.
20.5 MPG is too low. I get 29mpg 70% highway 30% city.
Great review … honest and complete. I’ve had a 2020 Highlander XSE for 30 months. A few comments:
1. The driving dynamics at freeway speeds are terrible, even dangerously floaty if emergency avoidance maneuvers are required.
2. It’s easily possible to drive this car without activating the engine stop/start feature if you don’t mash the pedal at stoplights.
3. The defog mode isn’t keeping the windshield clear … thanks for the tip on the fresh air intake door!
After watching this Awesome Review about the Highlander. I still want one in the XSE Trim. I rented a 2017 Highlander SE a few years ago. I went on a 8 hr round trip and I fell in love with it. It was the perfect size for me. The only problem we had was getting confused with opening the tailgate with the pop up or pop out rear glass window. We got it right by the end of the trip. The Highlander XSE will definitely be my next vehicle hands down.
just make sure your highlander is in the garage when it rain because has travel with flowering, my is just a total lost after been at the dealer 3 times to clean the draining, just have 42 350 mile on it 7 years old.
@@irenetrierweiler7351 I hope that Toyota has fix that issue in the 2021-2022 model's. I hate that you are having that issue. But a 7 yr old vehicle with 42,350 on the miles. Besides that issue, I hope your Highlander last for a very long time.
Yes, I also 100% agree that I find your automobile review legit, practical and very helpful for potential buywrs as yiur review covers all practical and very important matters of a car or suv, unlike other TH-camrs who mainly review insignificant matters of a car or suv such as, if the seat has stitching or not, how many cup holders it has blah blah blah..👍👌
Had my Highlander since 2018 no problems love it great for traveling! Love Toyota don’t want to be on first name bases with the dealership like some other brands!
I owned a 2001 Chevy venture the dealership knew me by name....Believe me it sucks....The toyota dealership don't know who I am it's great!!!!
To the car nut ,
I am in Australia & the 2021/2022 Toyota (Kluger not the Highlander) as it is called down here, has just been released ,Slow because of Covid .But what i wanted to say ,I have watched many reviews on this suv on our sites, but yours is so direct to the point ,covers all the issues without the waffle ,well done guys ,wish all car reviews were so to the point.
Did you end up ordering one mate? v6 or hybrid? Whats the wait time like?
All Toyota vehicles are great, can’t go wrong with any of them. It isn’t just about the vehicle but it’s actually the Toyota system that stands above the competition like spare parts, dealer network, cost of maintenance, resale value, insurance, quality, longevity and reliable etc. Toyota brand is unparalleled.
Hey, thank you for the video! It was this video that ultimately led me to buy my 2021 Highlander this weekend for me and my family!
He is right, I have the 2020 V6 XLE (bought on April 2020), when you floor it in highway it sometimes gets "stuck" on high revs I have to release the pedal so it engages the gear, that's the only negative I've experienced. I really think it is a great SUV overall.
I’ve experienced the same problem. I noticed on really cold days the transmission revs at higher rpm’s until it warms up. I have to take my pedal off the gas to catch the gear. Thought it was a bad transmission.
@@user-zb7tg5hi3t my nissan rogue does this
You are a genius when It comes to organize your videos ! Very informative ! Good job
I SO LOVE YOU. YOU ARE SO HONEST. I SUBSCRIBED.🌸🌸🌸
We have had our Highlander with torque vectoring AWD through it's first winter now. I have to say it has the very best AWD system I have ever had and I have had every 4 wheel drive vehicle Toyota makes. This new system eliminates wheel spin not by using the ABS but with clutches, electronics and computers. I drove up a small pile of gravel with only the left front wheel until only it and the right rear wheel were on the ground and there was no wheel spin from either of the wheels not touching the ground. Forward motion was still very positive with seemingly no effort at all. If the pile were bigger I felt I could just keep going up. Nothing short of amazing in my opinion. All winter in any condition it always felt planted like nothing else I have owned.
I’ve had the 2020 Platinum AWD for a little over 3 years now, my wife drove it for the first 3 years, before she went back to her TRD Pro 4Runner, and had zero issues. It currently sits at 40k miles and hope to keep it for awhile, it was definitely one of the best purchases we made.
Thank you so very much for this review. I have gone through several choices from Honda to Mazda and now the Toyota Highlander. You have given me the confidence to make a purchase. Thank you! I always appreciate your reviews.
I have an 8 speed in a 2020 Camry I’ve had it for over a yr now and I think it shifts excellently, smooth no issue with the shifting at all.
Test drive the 2022 v6, what a machine. There are no incentives on it so we passed it up. Blueprint color too, my favorite of all.
Going to look at the 2023.
Thank you for video! The car is very comfortable foк travelling with family! Ukraine is watching you too). Машинка классная! Расход по городу до 6 литров,о трассе - около 6,3. Очень доволен. Рекомендую. Комплектация гибрид максимальная без панорамы.
My wife has a 2020 AWD Platinum. Totally awesome vehicle! No problems after 1 year and 15K miles on it. Chose it over the comparable Lexus model.
Excellent video. We bought a 2021 Highlander Platinum and couldn’t be happier. Yes, the center cubby is wierd but otherwise superb. Thanks again
Any issues with wind noise at 45 mph? I bought my 2021 platinum 2 weeks ago, and I hear it… not to loud but is there.
EXCELLENT Video on 2020-'22 Highlander. I own a 2021 XLE 3.5L AWD that I purchased in early Jan 2021. Basically I love the vehicle. I agree with all of your assessments , however I will offer one additional perspective on the shifting of the transmission and will draw your attention to two additional issues; One issue GLARING issue (IMHO) is with the TSS2.5+ re: anti-jam feature for tailgate that most folks don't even know is a problem until, like in my case, they have an issue. First, let me say that I worked for 35 years for a communications electronics manufacturer and I understand that sometimes software related things DO just happen but the quality of the solution falls WAY short of where it should be. I honestly try not to make issues of these things BECAUSE I do understand the challenges but in the case of safety related issues I get very rigid on my perspective and just say, NO SHORTCUTS -Just Do It RIGHT! The issue with the anti-jam feature on the tailgate is that it works BUTunless you are an engineer it becomes WAY too complex to figure out what is happening. Specifically, the problem occurs when there is a small item, like a strap on a bag or the thin edge of a rubber cargo mat, etc. that is lying in or on the surfaces of the tailgate latching area and the anti-jam feature kicks on. The problem, which took me a longtime to understand is HOW that type of tailgate jam(in the last 1 inch of the tailgate closing movement(safety latching). What occurs is a warning tone with a message in the driver info display saying that there is a "SEATBELT" problem. So you check your seatbelts only to find that there is NO seatbelt issue, frontseat, backseats, NOWHERE, but no amaount of unlocking and relocking of your seatbelts makes the warning beep and the seatbelt message go away. The dealer in two different visits says the feature is working and the problem can't be duplicated. The REAl PROBLEM IS THAT BECAUSE THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHIN THE LAST INCH OF TAILGATE TRAVEL, THE DRIVER LOOKING IN HIS REARVIEW MIRROR THINKS THAT THE TAILGATE IS CLOSED - BUT IT IS NOT! ( I lost four $24.00 bottles of wine and damaged a $70.00 tool box all of which fell out onto the roadway as I found this out the hard way). The source of the problem as stated earlier is HOW Toyota software engineers decided to communicate the problem. After the second trip to the dealer with this issue I decided to just stay at the rear of the SUV any time I closed the tailgate with a full load and just watch the complete closing making sure that the last INCH(safety latching) of closing occurred properly. Only recently did I finally determine WHY the software engineers seemed to be OK with their system. When the seatbelt system has an issue the driver info displays a birds-eye view of the seats , front, 2nd row seat and 3rd cargo area SEAT! Apparently the 3rd SEAT graphic icon includes the tailgate latching but I'm pretty sure there is nothing in the manual that tells you that IF there is nobody in the 3rd seat(cargo area seat) and the seat icon is lighted red, then you have an unlatched tailgate, probably because the anti-jam system is activated. The only problem is that a seatbely is a seatbelt, and a tailgate is a tailgate AND the 3rd SEAT icon as well as ALL of the other seat icons are lighted up simultaneously BUT the 3rd seat icon does not flash intermittently to at least draw your attention to the 3rd seat-tailgate area! SORRY,...NOT RIGHT,..NOT ADEQUATE, potentially dangerous. Maybe this is noted somewhere in the 700+ pages of the operators manual(s), but if so, I missed it completely. Enough said.
Second issue is about the FM and specifically the HDRadio portion of the Premium Sound system(but most likely applies to the Ultimate Soundsystem as well assuming that system has FM HD radio as well. Specifically, the problem is the location of the FM radio antenna, WHY in the world would ANY manufacturer place an FM(VHF 88 - 108) antenna inside the glass of the rear cargo area in the same plane as the metal door posts and below the metal roof(B-t-w, for the record GM engineers lived thru this fiasco in the 1980s nd determined it was a bad idea THEN!) I'll tell you why: to save money and THAT is the only possible raeson that makes any sense. Yes, yes, I know,..NOBODY listens to FM anymore right? I know that ther rollouit of HD radio in 2006-007 was a fiasco, mostly because nobody checked with the broadcasters to check how willing they were to spend BIG dollars to upgrade all of their FM broadcast transmitters just to increase the fidelity of the sound.. So HD Radio flopped big time also partly because it was not well explained to early home AV receiver purchasers that they would need to upgrade their antenna systems. But, mobile FM radio was the one semi-success area and in the last 8 years the majority of major music orientede stations HAVE replace their transmitters. I paid about $500 od upgrade money and the FM HD Radio is almost useless because the only time it works in a stable fashion is when the FM transmitter is located on the driver side of the vehicle so that the FM antenna is facing the station's transmitter. BOTTOM LINE: VHF FM is a line of site communication medium and a radio wave is an electro-MAGNETIC" wave(its very name TELLS you that it will be effected when placed in close contact to METAL, like the roof, door pillars and near the body of the vehicle. The ONLY proper place for an FM antenna is ON TOP of the ROOF, where it has a 360-degree view of the horizon, unobstrructed by metal(also where the metal in the roof acts as a good ground plane that actually reflects some radio energy back toward the antenna. Hey, Toyota engineers,..this is electrical engineering 101! (and it doesn't take much talent to listen to the marketing folks who don't follow ANY technology except what THEY believe is the latest and greatest.
Last, you are correct that the 8-speed transmission in the Highlander is not perfectly smooth, however, I make about ten 500-mile trips a year between southern and No. California and as long as I keep the speed under about 78 mph, I am getting an honest 24 - 25 mpg with 2-passengers and about 300 lbs of cargo. (Huge win considering the Highlander replaced a super reliable Hyundai Santa Fe 3.3L V6 w/4 or 5 speed trans., 650 lbs lighter, that at 78 mph and the same exact loads struggled to get 21 mpg! (in fact I went to the local Hyundai dealer during mid-COVID to BUY a new 2021 Pallisade but was told that the price would be window sticker + $5.000.00, take it or leave it,..so, I left it!)
Sorry for being wordy but the tailgate thing is REALLY WRONG. Most likely an oversight between the software teams and finger pointing with deadlines closing in. ALWAYS a recipe for disaster!
thanks 🙏
this is very informative for me👍
I like my 2021 Platinum Highlander very much. Before purchasing it, my concern was having to hit that engine stop over ride button every time I start it. Good news, I had my Highlander for around nine months now and I never had to touch that over ride button once!
You have to really push the brake pedal firm for the engine to stop (Hats off to Toyota for that!!!)
The only little issue I hope Toyota is looking into for a fix is the wind noise coming from the front side windows when it reaches higher speeds.
Such a great implementation of this annoying start/stop “feature”. Toyota doesn’t get enough credit for this brake pedal control.
We just bought a platinum as well and have the same noise. A high pitched whistling, not too loud but enough that people ask about it and it annoys my wife. I wonder if there’s something on the platinum exterior that does it. Or if it’s all of them.
@@basicuser54 I believe all of them do it. I read somewhere the cause is the placement of the side view mirrors attached to the doors. I hope Toyota has a fix and they will notify us 2020/2021 and maybe future 2022 Highlander owners to bring in our vehicles to repair this issue at no cost.
Some of the whistling in these vehicles may be due to the roof rails if so equipped.
Just reserved one.......Toyota Highlander XLE AWD V6 2022. Purchased on 6/21/2022. Color Opulent Amber (nice color). Very pleased
its very stable at high speeds at least up till 80-85, havent driven it faster than that, its the smoothest car that ive ever driven, you are right about the transmission tho, although it only acts funny every once in a while that i notice anyways. I like the look of the xle and other models better than the xse but it looks good too
I love Toyota’s V6. Our family’s Avalon, Highlander, Sienna, Camry, Supra (inline 6) all drove past 300K miles. My current Sienna is at 311K miles and still runs flawlessly. However, my next Toyota has to be plugged in hybrid due to unpredictable California fuel price. Plug-in hybrid saves fuel on daily driving and it gives more flexibility, longer range, convenience, confidence and safety on long trips or cross country road trips.
I usually drive 300 miles at a time then take break and refuel with approximately 150-200 miles range of fuel remaining in the tank.
Great video! I earlier had a 2018 Subaru Outback and was not impressed by the build quality. So I now have a 2021 Highlander Limited. This car is a very well put together, refined, and a pleasure to drive. No complaints so far.
It's a toyota enough said.
@@Timeforchangenow then why reply?
@@griffith057 the point is toyota is a well built vehicle with a reputation of producing long lasting reliable vehicles that's the point.....It's a toyota enough said.. .
2021 XSE. I Love It! Agreed on the center console isn’t great.
What a way to kick off a wonderful Saturday, thank you Mr. & Mrs. Car Care Nut.
Dear Toyota: bring back the rear glass hatch! I agree that is the BEST feature and the biggest reason I haven’t bought this generation. I’ve owned gen 1, 2 and currently still own 1 & 3. Great vehicles. 😊
We purchased a Highlander in February and absolutely love it. Going from a car with no backup camera to the 360 system has been eye opening. It should be included on every model. We are also consistently getting 34+ mpg. One small complaint I have is the range. It only seems to hold 12 or so gallons, or is keeping a 5 gallon reserve.
65 liters, you should be able to do 850 km with reserve of 70 km. sounds plenty range to me.
@@robertduklus6555 that would be awesome, however after filling up, the trip computer shows it has about 400 mile (643 k) range. So it is saying I have under 12 usable gallons (45 liters). If the tank holds 17 gallons, that is a 5 gallon reserve. I am not going to risk driving over 100 more miles after the light comes on to verify.
@@ATypicalJake1 I need someone to help me with this and discuss it some more. I got a hybrid for the good gas mileage but it seems like it deplete very fast. I’m getting 34 mpg right now and my last vehicle got 21. I still have to fill up around once a week. Is this reserve a real thing?
I'm assuming you are referring to the Highlander hybrid? The gas tank is 17.9 gallons. I have put 16 plus gallons in the Highlander. It's one of those things I wanted to find out the true range, I usually filled up around 475-500 miles mark.
I purchased a 2021 Highlander Hybrid last weekend and have the same gas tank issue. Got 490 miles on first tank with 15 miles to empty and only filled up with 13.85 gallons. Seems the Highlander Hybrid fuel tanks are having the same issue as the 2019-2020 Rav4 Hybrids. Toyota fixed the issue with the Rav4. Hopefully Toyota will have a fix for the Highlander Hybrid soon.
I have a 2022, I would not call it quiet. Lots of road and wind noise but no problems after 60,000km.
Have had our 2021 Limited since Dec. 2020 and never knew the wiper access, the mute radio feature and the cancellation of the lane assist! Thank you!!
I am glad turning off the lane keep assist is easy. That is my #1 hated feature, followed by auto start-stop, on modern cars. There should be an option in the settings to turn both off permanently instead of having to do it every time you start the car.
We had a 2019 Highlander Hybrid Limited AWD that we loved along with our 2010 Highlander Limited V6. Unfortunately the 2019 had fuel pump issues / hybrid drive warning light that left us stranded. After it was fixed it still wasn’t right and didn’t seem to run properly. Still being under Warrenty we decided to sell it during the Plandemic. Now we have just traded in our 2010 Highlander with 175K on a 2021 Highlander Hybrid Platinum front wheel drive. Currently averaging 35 mpg. I agree with some of the annoying features and lack of power compared to the V6 but with gas prices on the rise for the foreseeable future we made the right choice.
I got the 2019 SE and im so happy with it🔥🔥🔥❤️
how’s the 3rd row seat?
thanks 🙏
@@jpdoc5722 not for adults only for kids.
I’ve owned my 2018 HL for 3 years now and I love it … congratulations
@@jpdoc5722not for adults 😅
Just bought a 2021 Highlander Hybrid limited to replace a 2012 V6 RAV4. The RAV4 was quicker, but one thing I'm starting to get used to, is how the highlander doesn't feel fast because the transmission is so smooth, but it's not slow by any measure. The lack of gear changes just make it feel that way. Been getting 6.8 l/100km, so almost half what my RAV4 was getting.
Oui, c'est vrai. Letting go of a RAV4 V6 would break my heart but the new Highlander Hybrid offers AMAZING fuel economy with gas at $1.30 or more per litre.
And that's why I got the 2019 hybrid for the V6 power much better than 2020. Gas mileage 29 vs 35 not a bad hit for getting a V6
As always Amd, excellent vehicle review, thank you! We became instantly in the market to replace our 15’ Sienna XLE when my wife was rear ended and the vehicle was totaled. She wants a ‘big’ vehicle like the Sienna but not another minivan. This video is right on spot explaining every detail of the Highlander and how it’s size compares to other Toyota models. I even screenshot your example of ‘shoes’ to show her the size options. Thanks again for passing your knowledge on to help!
Thank you so much! I just bought the 2020 hybrid XLE and it is a great car! Iam still learning since it is first suv car and its good for the price and quality! Great Family car
We have 2020 Platinum V6. So far so good. Only 1 minor issue where the sunglass holder broke and had to be replaced under warranty. Seems to be fairly common according to the Highlander Forum. I do like that the Auto Start/Stop is not easily activated when braking. Most of the time I don't even press the button because I very rarely put enough pressure on the brake pedal to activate it.
It took me a little bit to get used to it, but now I almost never activate it.
Can you complete disable auto start stop?
Hi! Other than pressing the button to turn it off every time no way to disable it through the dealership
@@TheCarCareNut I drove recently new Rav4 and it is annoying. My 2019 doesn't have this function and I'm happy. Will wait for 2022 Model or 2023. I hope Toyota listening to their customers.
best car reviews on TH-cam!
Wireless charger was the same problem in my 2017 NX. Very inconvenient place to put it and it barely fits phones today that are so much bigger
I took the 2023 Highlander Limited for a test drive. You're correct about the stability. The Highlander doesn't handle like you'd expect. It's not all bad but handling is still not as good as my 2012 Chevy Traverse. I need a new vehicle and want something that's better on fuel. So I ordered the Highlander platinum hybrid with AWD as I live in Canada. I'm willing to sacrifice the power and handling of my Traverse and go with the Highlander to save on fuel. Other manufacturers are not on my radar because in my opinion Toyota does it best when it comes to hybrids.
Thank you for the Highlander review.. I've been wanting to buy one but my 2011 Siena still runs great.. Has 110k miles in it.. I guess I'll just wait.. 😁
I took my 2022 into my local mechanic to do the 1k oil change that you suggested. My mechanic is a crusty curmudgeon with 50 years of bending wrenches behind him. He said “I’ll change it, but yer wastin yer $$”. He allowed me into the bay where I “eyewitnessed” particulate’s
I’m a fan of your channel. Can we have an update for a 2023 highlander gas awd version review? Thank you very much.
OMG! I have been watching your channel for almost 9 months, but never once did I check if I was subscribed. I really thought I was. Maybe TH-cam unsubscribed me? Anyhow, I have resubscribed and plan to continue watching. BTW, I just recently bought a used 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD. Wow! I'm so impressed and LOVE IT! I have two growing teenagers and we have needed a 7 passenger for far too long. I held onto my 2007 Chevrolet Silverado Ext, but I am seriously impressed with Toyota thus far. Thank you for this review and others like it. When I started looking for a vehicle 6 months ago, I was going to go with another SIlverado in the 2017/2018 year set due to their low level of issues. However, your confidence in the Toyota brand convinced me to look at Toyota, specifically the 2019 version. When you put this video out though, it made the case for me to go one more year up for the new model design. I'm glad I did. Thank you!
FINALLY....thank you SO MUCH. I've been waiting for this. We LOVE our '21 limited nonhybrid. You're the best!
I got my xse highlander...I love it so much...thanks for the video.
Spot on about the 8 speed. I test drove the RX350 recently with the 8 speed trans. The hesitency was crazy. It hates when you put your foot down and it needs to downshift to accelerate. I thought the trans was bad.
I haven’t had issues w the 8 speed. But I know some owners with this transmission bought a device called pedal commander or iDrive. It alters the throttle response
@@naveenthemachine I probably drove one of the first implementations of the 8 speed. 2016 Rx350. Relatively speaking my 2008 felt like a brand new trans
I had this issue when my 2005 was new. First they told me it was to keep me from doing something stupid. I replied it’s pretty stupid when you’re passing or pulling into traffic and the car doesn’t go. Then they discovered there was a computer update.
Lexus IS good for smooth ride. Now sport drive. I drive infinity cars. I totally agree with you
I wish there are more master technician like you on the TH-cam channel but for different car brands
Sadly, most other brands need their master technicians to repair their shoddy workmanship 24/7.
@@rightlanehog3151 exactly! 😂😂
Watching now, I've been looking at the highlander hybrid for my new car, so this is perfect for me!
I am averaging 41 MPG in mostly city driving with my 2020 Highlander hybrid.
I like the Highlander hybrid but now that the sienna hybrid now exists I argue the Highlanders a harder sell. Especially when the Highlander hybrid LE is more expensive than a sienna hybrid LE
@@naveenthemachine I looked at the sienna, My wife doesn't want "another minivan" which is aesthetic but so be it. I also live in the boondocks so the extra ground clearance could be helpful, though I have my truck when ground clearance issues are expected, and it's only a difference of 1.6 inches.
@@dds2899 THAT is awesome to hear. My wife drives a 2013 Corolla, and we get about 39 mpg in it, So a car I can actually fit in (6'3") and have enough room for the family, while still getting great gas mileage is what drew us to this option, I was originally looking at the Ford Explorer, but with how its ranked compared to the highlander, and the compromises, I decided against.
Thank you for mentioning the air-con.I just bought a 2023 Lexus ES350, 2 days later,I keep getting hot air blowing out.Brought it to the Lexus dealer,got it fixed and again, 2 days later,the climate control goes out.Will take it to the dealer again on Monday and hope they can fix it.Mind you,it is a brand new 2023 Lexus ES350, with only 300 miles on it.
same, that connector issue needed a 600$ ac line part. (fixed under Warranty)
Thank you brother for an honest review.
One other comment the The 12” screen is awesome I love this ! It makes it easy to use and backing up is so much better !
Keep sending videos forever….great job, well presented…
Wow had no idea about the remote start thank you!!!
Two other things that i really dislike is
1.) The smart entry system only allows me to open the front doors with my key fob nearby but it won't allow me to enter through the rear doors without physically pressing the unlock button. Very annoying.
2.) Rear camera does not beep as you get closer to an object
Other than that I love the car.
The smart entry is only installed on the front door handles, and the button on the trunk lid.
I have the Corolla hybrid, and I found that changing the setting so that when you reach into any handle that it unlocks all doors, is easy enough to deal with when only needing to get into the back doors.
I HEAR YOU ITS A PAIN WHEN YOU PUT OBJECTS IN THE BACK SEAT
Another gripe that i just thought of is after starting the car via remote start the car shuts off as soon as I open the door. Annoying again
i bought my XSE Trim i love it and drive so smooth and sporty thanks AMD i like your channel 👌✌👍
All the negatives are exactly what I noticed. We love our 2019 SE!
Same reasons we just got a 2019 platinum with 26k miles. Also better styling. Doesn’t look like the mazda suv thing.
Yes finallyyyy! I've been waiting for this moment
Found that finessing the gas pedal in my ‘22 XSE eliminates the wild downshift of the transmission when accelerating hard. And it seems more of a problem in “ Normal “ drive mode. In “ Sport” mode the shifts come quicker and don’t react wildly. The opposite is true in “ Eco” mode, it’s slower shifting but the engine doesn’t scream.
Thank you AMD. The best Chanel on TH-cam.
In your review of the previous generation you pointed out an oil leak issue. I trust from this review that the issue has been resolved.
Yes I haven’t seen any cases
Your often repeated, and GREATLY APPRECIATED reassurances about the GOOFY 8-SPEED transmission have once and for all time set my mind at east that this thing isn't going to grenade somewhere down the road. It DOES seem that the harder I drive it, the better it feels. Makes the RX even more enjoyable........
I agree with the tranny. I have a 2020 Lexus RX350L and I find that if I get into the gas pedal when taking off, the shifting of the 8 speed tranny does much better. If you slowly take off it wants to upshift into too high of a gear and the car feels like it can't get out of it's own way. I feel they should have kept the 6 speed tranny. Just ask my wife what she thought of our 18 Highlander and now the 2020 Lexus...she'll tell you "I miss my 15 Highlander"...that thing was sneaky fast...
Right with you. my wife misses her 2008 Highlander! Me too.
Agree on rear windo so convenient to use have on 2016 hybrid highlander limited platinum not on my 2022 non hybrid platinum. When traveling to Florida was convenient to put needed things to quickly grab on road.