Shopping for a Used Highlander? Here’s What You Should Know

Are you ready to join an incredible automotive legacy revered for its reliability, value, and performance? You’re off to an excellent start with your search for a used Toyota Highlander for sale in Dallas. The Highlander has been a staple in the Toyota lineup for decades, debuting in the new millennium as a midsize crossover destined to become Toyota’s best-selling SUV. Today, shopping for a used third- or fourth-generation Highlander gives you the opportunity to reap the rewards of the SUV’s sophisticated styling, spacious cabin, and feature-rich packaging that guarantees more for your money and an exciting experience wherever the road leads.

The Third-Gen Facelift: 2017 and 2018 Highlander Highlights

Following its first wave of success after its debut in 2000, the Highlander solidified its fate as a top seller for the brand. Toyota’s consistent updates maintained its appeal, with its evolution leading to its third-generation debut in 2013 and a notable facelift in 2017. This facelift is significant for Dallas drivers looking for a budget-friendly Highlander with an engaging powertrain, more trim options, and an extensive lineup of safety features.

With new front and rear styling, the 2017 Highlander and the 2018 carryover are sophisticated and well-equipped. These models feature the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which equips the SUV with a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Automatic High Beams, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control that Texas drivers will appreciate. These models also introduce a significant powertrain upgrade, courtesy of a 3.5L V6 engine and smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission that produces 295 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque. For reference, that’s an increase of 25 hp and 15 lb-ft of torque from 2016.

The Sporty Highlander SE

You’ll also find more trim options, with Toyota introducing the Highlander SE in 2017. Its sporty aesthetic has trim-specific dark paint details that enhance the front grille, roof rails, headlamp housings, and roof rails. Most importantly, its athleticism isn’t solely for looks, with Toyota tuning the suspension to improve responsiveness and agility. These updates, along with the black leather-trimmed interior, make the SE a top choice for many.

The Style Update: 2019 Highlander Highlights

The Highlander enters 2019 with several style-related updates that enhance the value of each trim. For example, the newly introduced Highlander SE grows into its sporty aesthetic with updated details. These details include black headlights, a black bodyside rocker, black wheels, black chrome LED fog lamps, and black tail lamps. The blacked-out detailing gives the 2019 Highlander SE a stealthy and athletic aesthetic, while its interior offers the signature spaciousness of a three-row SUV.

The 2019 Highlander is also feature-rich, thanks to well-equipped trims and many available packages. Depending on the trim and package, you can find a 2019 Highlander XLE or SE with a rear seat entertainment system perfect for keeping your kids occupied when you venture outside the Dallas city limits. Black-leather trimmed seats distinguish the SE, while the XLE exudes luxury with its heated front seats, power moonroof, chrome roof rails, and premium audio system with integrated navigation.

The Fourth-Gen Debut: 2020 Highlander Highlights

Redesigned from the ground up, the 2020 Highlander deserves a top spot on your list. Why? Toyota ushers the Highlander into a new era, with the SUV offering best-in-class fuel economy, a bolder design, enhanced driver-assist technologies, and a larger digital landscape. These features make the 2020 Highlander a value-packed option for Dallas drivers who want the features, performance, and technologies that characterize most new models.

Driving Dynamics and Efficiency

The 2020 Highlander introduces an all-new platform, yielding a smoother ride quality that pairs well with its standard 3.5L V6 engine or 2.5L inline-four hybrid powertrain. The output for these engines remains unchanged, with the hybrid offering a best-in-class combined fuel economy of 36 MPG. This pairing between the engaging powertrains and their efficiency guarantees drivers have the best of both worlds.

Technologies

Beyond its heartbeat, the fourth-generation Highlander is a tech-savvy road warrior. When it debuted in 2020, the Highlander boasted the largest-in-class 12.3-inch media display. That display is still larger than many rivals, with the 2020 Highlander offering standard Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. These connectivity features keep you entertained and informed, while the updated Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 provides confidence every mile ahead. Toyota extends this suite with new technologies, like Road Sign Assist and Lane Tracing Assist.

The Year of Fine-Tuning: 2021 and 2022 Highlander Highlights

Following the widespread success of its fourth-generation debut in 2020, Toyota fine-tunes the Highlander in 2021 and 2022. These adjustments are significant when shopping for a used Highlander because they affect the SUV’s styling, trim options, and standard features. First and foremost, 2021 introduced the all-new Highlander XSE.

Taking a cue from the sporty SE, the XSE ups the ante with its sport-tuned suspension, steering, and Multi-Terrain Select drive modes. Stylistically, the XSE looks like a rugged powerhouse, courtesy of exclusive details like its unique front fascia, grille, and spoiler. Its interior also receives the same treatment, with two-tone red and black leather-trimmed seating showcasing its penchant for performance.

Driver-Assist Technologies

The 2021 and 2022 Highlander models also introduce enhanced driver-assist features that Dallas drivers will appreciate in the three-row SUV. The Toyota Safety Sense is upgraded to the TSS 2.5+, reflecting updates of existing technologies to encourage more confidence behind the wheel. These updates include notable improvements to the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, which offers enhanced intersection support to detect oncoming vehicles and pedestrians during a left-hand turn. Toyota also integrates emergency steering assist into the feature, with Road Sign Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Automatic High Beams, and Lane Keeping Technology completing the suite.

Hybrid Bronze Edition

Those shopping for a Highlander hybrid won’t want to miss the Hybrid Bronze Edition that debuted in 2022. With production limited to hybrid models, the Highlander Bronze Edition is sleek, sophisticated, and boldly styled. You’ll find the model finished in Cement, Wind Chill Pearl, or Midnight Black Metallic, with bronze accents across the exterior and interior. Those accents include 18-inch bronze wheels, illuminated bronze door sills, bronze stitching along the SofTex-trimmed seats, and bronze accent stitching throughout the cabin. The trim is also remarkably well-equipped, boasting a hands-free power liftgate, ambient interior lighting, a digital rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, and a 10-way power driver’s seat with memory.

The Powertrain Overhaul: 2023 Highlander Highlights

The 2023 Highlander marks a new era for Toyota’s family-friendly SUV, with the automaker revamping its powertrain lineup to improve performance and responsiveness without negatively impacting emissions or fuel consumption. The feat seems impossible until you look under the hood of the 2023 Highlander, where an all-new 2.4L turbocharged inline-four takes the place of the 3.5L V6.

Performance and Efficiency

The Highlander’s 2.4L turbocharged inline-four produces slightly less horsepower than its predecessor at 265 hp, but its torque output is significantly higher at 309 lb-ft. This output makes the Highlander more responsive, but the engine is tuned to balance that responsiveness with efficiency. The 2023 Highlander averages an EPA-estimated 25 MPG combined with front-wheel drive or 24 MPG combined with all-wheel drive, both higher ratings than the 3.5L V6.

Digital Landscape

Navigating Dallas in the Highlander is a rewarding experience, especially if you’re behind the wheel of a 2023 model. Toyota updated the Highlander’s digital landscape in 2023, starting with two 12.3-inch standard displays on top-tier trims like the Limited and Platinum. The 12.3-inch Multi-Information Display provides vital performance insights, leaving the 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen as a hub of connectivity, entertainment, and in-vehicle apps. The vast digital landscape complements the Highlander’s entertainment features, including a premium audio system that delivers an immersive listening experience throughout the cabin.

The Big Picture

The Highlander has been a fan favorite for decades, from the reliability ingrained in Toyota’s DNA to its sophisticated styling, dynamic performance, and feature-rich packaging. These characteristics make shopping for a used Highlander exciting, especially when you start your search with late third-generation models. Toyota’s reputation for reliability gives Dallas drivers the confidence to explore these older models confidently, with newer models offering distinct appeal because of their modern styling and cutting-edge technologies. Either way, you’re destined for an outstanding experience when you’re behind the wheel of this best-selling SUV.