2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid gets a Nightshade Edition for 2024, adding darkened exterior trim as an option.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid has long been an ultra-popular choice for families needing a dependable, somewhat economical kid hauler. It enters 2024 with few major changes, but it got a significant update a few years back that brought new styling and an updated powertrain. Toyota offers a wide array of trims and configurations for the Highlander Hybrid, but prices crest $50,000 at the top end, pushing it toward premium numbers.

What’s New for the 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Toyota didn’t make any major changes for 2024, but there’s a Highlander Hybrid Nightshade Edition that brings darkened exterior trim, and can be outfitted with front- or all-wheel drive (FWD or AWD).

Design

The three-row Highlander Hybrid features sporty styling with sharp lines and an aggressive-looking front fascia. The SUV comes standard with 18-inch wheels, but higher trims add 20-inch rollers. Toyota offers a range of wheel designs, and several paint colors are available.

Powertrain

The Highlander Hybrid comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors. Combined output lands at 243 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and it reaches the front or all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). There’s good power for most scenarios, but the SUV is not a hot rod on the highway. The Highlander Hybrid offers a smooth ride at most times, and handling is surprisingly sharp for such a large family hauler.

Interior

Toyota refreshed the Highlander Hybrid a short while back, giving it a surprisingly upscale cabin with nice materials and a visually pleasing design. Cloth upholstery comes standard, along with a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The SUV offers two seating configurations, including a seven-passenger setup with second-row captain’s chairs and an eight-passenger variant with a second-row bench seat.

Technology

The Highlander Hybrid gets an 8-inch touchscreen running wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other standard features include Bluetooth, five USB inputs, six speakers, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and more. Higher trims add a 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a JBL stereo, ambient interior lighting, and home power outlets. Toyota has drastically improved its infotainment software in recent years, revising its clunky interface with a much more usable system that brings nicer graphics, more responsive operation, and more.

Safety

Toyota equips a generous list of standard driver aids for the 2024 Highlander Hybrid, including automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. Available tech includes a surround-view camera, a rearview camera mirror system, parking sensors, a head-up display, parking assistance, adaptive headlights, and rain-sensing wipers. The 2024 model hasn’t been crash-tested yet, but its predecessor earned a Top Safety Pick+ award. We expect the new SUV to earn similar results, as it’s structurally identical and offers the same equipment.

Pricing

As of this writing, the base 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE starts at $40,270. The Nightshade starts at $41,720, and the midrange XLE trim starts at $43,870. The Hybrid Limited starts at $47,975, and the range-topping Platinum model starts at $51,175.