The Toyota Highlander was introduced to America as a 2002 model and was redesigned for the 2008 model year. The Highlander Hybrid (pictured at right) produces solid gas mileage figures for a seven passenger SUV at 27 city and 25 highway miles per gallon (MPG).
The non-hybrid Highlander is equipped with a 3.5 liter double overhead cam (DOHC) V-6 engine that produces 270 horsepower, while the Highlander Hybrid mates a slightly smaller 209 horsepower 3.3 liter V-6 with its electric motors and is classified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV).
We spent a week with the seven-seat MPG champ this last summer. Check out our Toyota Highlander Hybrid review:
Toyota Highlander Gas Mileage – 2002-2010
Year | Manf. | Model | Engine | Disp. | Fuel | Trans. | City | Hwy |
2010 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (S6) Auto | 20 | 27 |
2010 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (S5) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2010 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (S5) Auto | 17 | 23 |
2010 | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (AV) Auto | 27 | 25 |
2009 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (S5) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2009 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (S5) Auto | 17 | 23 |
2009 | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (AV) Auto | 27 | 25 |
2008 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (S5) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2008 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (S5) Auto | 17 | 23 |
2008 | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (AV) Auto | 27 | 25 |
2007 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2007 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 19 | 25 |
2007 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 25 |
2007 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2007 | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (AV) Auto | 32 | 27 |
2007 | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (AV) Auto | 31 | 27 |
2006 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 27 |
2006 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 19 | 25 |
2006 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2006 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 21 | 25 |
2006 | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (AV) Auto | 33 | 28 |
2006 | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (AV) Auto | 31 | 27 |
2005 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 19 | 25 |
2005 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 27 |
2005 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2005 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 21 | 25 |
2004 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 19 | 25 |
2004 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 27 |
2004 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2004 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 21 | 25 |
2003 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 27 |
2003 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 23 |
2003 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 24 |
2003 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 18 | 22 |
2002 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 23 |
2002 | Toyota | Highlander 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 27 |
2002 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 24 |
2002 | Toyota | Highlander 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 18 | 22 |
Note: the EPA tweaked their testing procedure, starting with the 2008 model year, with the end result being that the 2008 MPG estimates are now lower than previous years. As always, YMMV.
– by Daniel Gray