Just curious what made you choose one of these models over the others. Any advice on what factors influenced your decision? Thanks!
We got a HiHy this year and would never go back to gas models. The Grand Highlander is bigger but also had some issues, which even led to a stop in sales. Maybe in a few years it will be the better car, but right now I think the regular Highlander beats it.
@North
Got it, thanks a lot!
I grabbed a 2018 XLE and love it. I kind of wish I’d gotten a hybrid now that I know how their transmissions work and how it cuts down on potential issues.
Berlin said:
I grabbed a 2018 XLE and love it. I kind of wish I’d gotten a hybrid now that I know how their transmissions work and how it cuts down on potential issues.
Thanks for the info!
The current Highlander hybrid had been out long enough to not have any major problems and is spacious enough with a third row that works in a pinch. For a family of two with a dog and for road trips, the regular hybrid Highlander was perfect. The Grand was too large for our needs and we never needed a third row permanently. Plus, I wasn’t a fan of the Grand’s styling—it felt like a larger RAV4. The Highlander has a simpler, sportier look. After a loaded road trip, I still get about 7.1L/100km in fuel economy.
@Jonah
Thanks. So far, #1 is Hybrid and #2 is Highlander.
Went with a 21 XSE Highlander. I prefer the front-end look more and I love the red interior. The regular Highlanders’ front end looks too much like a Subaru. I think the Grand Highlander looks better overall but I didn’t have that option when I was shopping. I was considering a Honda Pilot but I had a bad experience with my local Honda dealerships, so I’m not buying a Honda anytime soon.
I bought a 2022 Highlander L. I’m a basic kind of dude, I really wanted the V6 for reliability. I did the math and it would have taken me about 7 years to break even with the hybrid price difference compared to gas.
@Fern
Noted!
I went with the Highlander XLE 2022. Mainly for the V6 and no turbo.
I pulled the trigger on a 25 XLE. It comes in January. I’m concerned about the turbo needing a lot of oil changes.
The Platinum in the most recent year.
We have a 21 Hybrid XLE and love it. My only regret is not getting the Limited because it has ventilated seats (we live in Florida). Also, the 22+ models have wireless CarPlay/Android which would have been nice to have.
Are any of these even available in the color and trim level you want?
Definitely depends on your personal needs.
I have a '22 Platinum AWD Highlander. My reasoning…
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Towing. I needed a higher tow capacity for my RV. I came from a turbo 4 SUV and it was terrible for towing. The V6 on the Highlander is way better for towing and it’s the last model year with the V6. If I were buying today, I’d probably go with a V6 Honda Pilot instead and avoid the turbo 4 Highlander. Hybrid wouldn’t work for me due to weight.
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AWD in the XSE, Limited, and Platinum trims gives better control for towing and off-roading. I also take it on rough roads and fields for boondocking, so AWD helps with that too.
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Size. The regular Highlander is perfect for me and my family of four. We don’t need a Grand Highlander because it’s just too big. I only use the third row for the dog or for extra cargo.
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Fuel economy isn’t a big deal for me. I only work two days a week, so the Hybrid’s higher cost wouldn’t pay off for years, and I don’t keep cars long enough for it to break even.
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If you have three or more kids or need to use the third row for adults, I’d go for the Grand Highlander.
I decided not to go with any of these. I couldn’t fit in the back of the Highlander and it was just ‘ok.’ The Hybrid was unavailable for months, and I needed something sooner. The Grand Highlander had some issues, so I went with a competitor.
@Grayden
Mazda CX-90
Grayden said:
@Grayden
Mazda CX-90
I test drove the Mazda and it was my second choice after the Grand. I tested 7 or 8 different models. The one I liked the least was the Hyundai Palisade.