Toyota Highlander is a famous SUV, and it can be tricky for many people to find its best years to avoid common issues found in some of its variants.
What are the Best Years for Toyota Highlander? The best years for Toyota Highlander are 2001, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2021. These models have low maintenance costs; they are also more fuel-efficient and have a lot of new features available in them.
People buy Toyota Highlander because they want a comfortable ride; it is spacious, well-made, and has all the modern amenities they need.
Why Do People Like to Buy Toyota Highlander?
Purchasing an SUV is not easy as you have to consider many things, and the decision-making process can be pretty difficult.
People purchase SUVs for various reasons, but one that stands out: comfort and its ability to drive on uneven roads.
SUVs are one of the top-selling vehicles today; an SUV is a four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle bigger than a car but not as big as a truck.
It is also an off-road vehicle; the company manufactures these SUVs on car platforms, but truck bodies give them off-road capabilities.
The Sport Utility part of SUVs distinguishes them from regular cars in the United States; in most other countries, people refer to them as 4x4s or off-road vehicles.
It is one of the most reliable vehicles in the market as it provides a smooth ride and has a large cargo capacity and plenty of safety features.
Best Years of Toyota Highlander
Toyota company released its Highlander model in 2001 as it is a type of SUV, and the company continued to increase its sales year by year.
The 2001 model has a gas engine and V6 cylinders, and it is a four-wheel drive capable of carrying heavy objects.
If you want to tow a mini-sized boat or small cart, you can easily carry it without the fear of harming the SUV.
Another best year of Toyota Highlander is 2002 that came exactly after the first model; it contained more features, and the company made many modifications.
It can travel long distances and last for almost 18 to 22 years if you take proper care and perform monthly maintenance.
It also has powered mirrors meaning that you can touch the button on your door to slide down the mirror.
There are also heated mirrors that are beneficial in snowy weather, and they will allow you to have a clear view by removing snow from the side mirrors.
The first generation started in 2001 and ended in 2007; after that, the second generation came.
2001 and 2002 models of Toyota Highlanders were good, but they have a few defects; on the other hand, 2006 and 2007 models were the best ones.
The older models had a 2.4L I-4 engine, but the company made a few modifications in the 2006 model, and it came with a 3.3L V-6 engine.
The company added a new feature in the 2006 model; it came with an all-wheel-drive type while previous models were only front-wheel drive type.
The 2007 model has almost the same features as the 2006 model, including the fuel tank capacity that is 19.2 gallons. You should know the weight of the Toyota Highlander for better results.
The second generation came in the year 2008, and it ended in the year 2013 with a lot of new features.
Second-generation SUVs are more popular among SUV lovers because of their unique design, color scheme, and towing capacity.
The company made many amendments to the 2009 model of Highlander as customers made a lot of complaints in the previous years.
In 2009, the company made a fortune, selling many models of their well-known SUV as it was a more economical vehicle than the other.
You can buy the 2009 model of Toyota Highlander as it consumes only a few liters of petrol and gives you the best possible average.
The 2010 variant is a Hybrid model with excellent fuel economy with a smooth ride and up-to-date technology.
There are two trim levels of the Highlander Hybrid, and a 3.5-liter V6 engine powers both of them, generating 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque.
The powertrain pairs with a continuously variable transmission that uses an electric motor to help the engine fully use the energy it produces.
The 2011 model remains one of the best vehicle options around for active families with a need for space and fuel efficiency.
The 2011 model is a midsize SUV, and it boasts over 22 mpg on the highway with the 3.5L V6 engine and 5-speed automatic shiftable transmission.
This model is still popular because of its versatility but also due to an extensive marketing campaign and features like Bluetooth connectivity.
Similarly, 2013 and 2017 models are also customers’ favorite models because of their large space available to occupy a family of six to seven members.
The third generation of Toyota Highlander started in 2014 and ended in 2019, but only 2017, 2018, and 2019 models gained customers attraction.
The 2018 model is also Toyota’s best-selling vehicle of this type and ranks highly on the list of best-selling vehicles overall.
The company manufactured this model on the same platform, just like its previous models, but it has a different visual design and more luxury features.
It has three engine options, one hybrid powertrain, and three electric motor options that you can combine in any way you choose.
The base model comes with leather seats and climate control, but you can add heated or ventilated seats for an additional cost.
The latest model came in 2020, 2021 and both come under the fourth generation, and the company has decided to continue manufacturing this SUV.
Buying A Used Toyota Highlander
Buying a used vehicle is not as easy as it seems; you might end up with a defective piece and have to spend thousands of dollars on getting it fixed.
It is better to avoid this situation by doing proper research before buying a used Toyota Highlander.
When you buy a used vehicle, you can bring a professional and experienced driver to help you buy the right SUV.
A used 2010 model of Toyota Highlander is the best option to buy as it is usually available with an affordable price range.
The average selling price of a used 2010 model is around $12,000 to $14,000, and while buying it, you should check its engine parts and tires.
If your budget is around $20,000 to $30,000, you should try either the 2016 or 2017 model.
The average price of a used 2016 model is around $22,000 to $24,000, while 2017 is approximately $28,000 to $30,000.
Which Years of Toyota Highlander Should You Avoid?
The 2003 and 2004 models are the worst because of the engine problems and the brake issues. There is not enough space available for five to six people to accommodate; it also does not have enough towing power.
The plastic used in the interior portion of the SUV is not reliable, and it starts to deteriorate after a few years of buying.
The 2015 model also has a lot of complaints, and you should always avoid this model while buying Highlander as its maintenance cost is very high.
It also has sound system issues, and you may hear a lot of noise coming from the engine section, and the air conditioning system also does not work correctly.
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