The refreshed 2017 Toyota Highlander is best recognized by its extended trapezoidal grille and flashier LED taillights. But significant changes underneath justify this three-row SUV’s modest price jumps across its 17 (!) trim levels.
New prices start at $31,570 for a front-wheel drive LE (up $140) and range all the way to $47,200 (up $1270) for the all-wheel-drive Limited Platinum. Those prices include the $940 destination charge, but if you buy a Highlander in certain southern and southwestern states, Toyota’s privately owned distributors charge $10 to $55 above the standard destination charge.
We don’t recommend the base LE due to its underpowered and inefficient 185-hp 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. All other Highlander trim levels come with a 3.5-liter V-6—now with both port and direct injection that bring an extra 25 horsepower, to 295, and 15 pound-feet of torque, to 263—and a new eight-speed automatic. Auto stop/start is new, and EPA estimates are also up for all V-6 models. All 2017 Highlanders now come standard with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision alert, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beams—features that many competitors reserve for upper trim levels or bundle in option packages for thousands of dollars.
The LE Plus ($36,000) adds three-zone climate control, a power liftgate, an eight-way power driver’s seat, softer fabric for all eight seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with HD radio and SiriusXM in place of the 6.1-inch display. A backup camera and windshield wiper de-icers also come standard with the LE.
The XLE ($39,190) adds leather, heated front seats, push-button start with proximity key, sunroof, roof rails, second-row window shades, navigation with voice recognition and apps, garage-door openers, an alarm, and a 4.2-inch color display on the instrument cluster (the only significant equipment change for 2017). Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert also is standard.
New for 2017 is the SE ($40,630), a semi-sporty Highlander positioned above the XLE with stiffer springs and shocks; 19-inch wheels; darkened roof rails, grille, and headlights; plus an all-black interior with silver stripes on the seats and contrast stitching. The Salsa Red Pearl paint you see in these photos is exclusive to the SE.
On the Limited ($42,620), the mirror-mounted puddle lamps now project a Highlander logo onto the pavement, and there’s now extra chrome on the rear bumper. Options for eight-passenger seating (previously, the second row captain’s chairs were the Limited’s only configuration) round out the 2017 changes. A chrome grille, chrome 19-inch wheels, cooled front seats, four-way power passenger seat, driver and passenger seat memory are upgrades over the XLE and SE. The Platinum package adds a brown leather interior, 360-degree-view cameras, a panoramic sunroof, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, rain-sensing wipers, and darkened chrome wheels for a total of $45,740.
Hybrid models in Limited and Limited Platinum trims see prices slashed by $3110 and $2605, respectively, to $45,700 and $48,820. For 2017, the gas-electric powertrain (only with all-wheel drive) is now also available on the base LE ($37,210) and the mid-grade XLE ($42,270). While thousands of dollars typically separated the Hybrid from the loaded, gasoline-only Highlander trims, the LE Hybrid is actually $250 cheaper than a comparable all-wheel-drive LE Plus while the XLE Hybrid runs a slim $1350 premium.–
Dealers will stock the first 2017 models within the next two weeks.
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