Toyota Highlander — model-year timeline & key facts
Published · Researched 2026-09-21
Compiled from the Toyota Highlander deep-research dossier; researched 2026-09-21. UNVERIFIED flags from the source research are preserved verbatim.
Key facts
| Powertrain | ICE + hybrid |
|---|---|
| Power | 265 (2.4T); 243 (hybrid) |
| Range | n/a |
| Battery | n/a |
| 0–100 km/h | 8.0 |
| Fast charge | n/a |
| New price US | ~40700 (2025 base MSRP; 2026 listed from 47865 UNVERIFIED) |
| New price EU | UNVERIFIED (sold as hybrid) |
| New price CN | UNVERIFIED (sold) |
| Used price signal | Hybrids hold value best; 2021 gas models discounted for transmission risk |
| Value call | Buy the hybrid - the eCVT sidesteps the one real risk; 2021 gas only at a steep discount |
| Sweet-spot year | 2024 hybrid |
| Years to avoid | 2021 gas |
| Reliability flag | mixed (2021 8-speed; hybrids clean) |
| Biggest risk | UA80E 8-speed transmission failures on 2020-2022 gas models ($10k+ out-of-warranty); rear A/C pipe leaks |
| Community verdict | The default family SUV with one real asterisk - buy the hybrid and the asterisk disappears |
Model-year timeline 2021–2026
| Year | Generation / changes / reliability / used prices |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Gen 4; 3.5L V6 carryover · Worst year: UA80E transmission failures reported; rear A/C leak reports · Recalls modest; TSBs for infotainment · $26k–33k (est., US) |
| 2022 | V6 carryover; special editions · Improvement but 8-speed complaints persist; electrical/steering complaints noted · Mirror/recall-adjacent items minimal · $29k–36k (est., US) |
| 2023 | 2.4L turbo replaces V6; same 8AT · New turbo engine: too early for long-term verdict; turbo-specific issues not yet a pattern · None major in-session · $33k–40k (est., US) |
| 2024 | Carryover · Engine/accessory concerns minor; hybrid the safe pick · None major in-session · $36k–44k (est., US) |
| 2025 | Carryover; Hybrid Woodland trim added · Settling; complaint volume down vs 2021–2022 · None major in-session · $40k–48k (est., US) |
| 2026 | Carryover; redesign expected soon · New; TrueCar listed from $47,865 (verify) · None reported in-session · New: ~$47.9k+ (UNVERIFIED) |
Sweet-spot year: 2024 hybrid
Years to skip: 2021 gas