2023 Toyota Highlander: Fewer Cylinders, New Entertainment

The Toyota Highlander is often America’s greatest-promoting midsize SUV (it misplaced its crown by a nose to the Jeep Grand Cherokee previous calendar year in our calculations, even though Toyota carries on to advertise it as the best-seller in its course). So, it is not broke. It doesn’t have to have a lot correcting. All the very same, Toyota will tweak the Highlander for the 2023 design calendar year.

The headline change is a new motor, and it is a bit of a head-scratcher.

Toyota has dropped the preferred V6 from the Highlander lineup in favor of a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It presents 265 horsepower – 30 less than the outgoing 6-cylinder.

If you drove the two back again to again, you likely would not care. The new engine offers 309 lb-ft of torque, so it should feel a little much more impressive at community speeds. But, strangely, it is not more gas-economical. The new engine will get exactly the same 24 mpg combined as the old one, Toyota claims.

Highlander Hybrid models get the identical 243-horsepower powertrain as what is now presented. The Highlander Hybrid returns 36 mpg blended in entrance-wheel push (FWD) and 35 mpg with all-wheel drive (AWD).

There are no major exterior variations. Inside of, it is a distinct tale.

Just about every trim stage will get a more substantial driver’s instrument display screen. It is even now smaller on the L and LE trims, at 7 inches. But the tiny 4.2-inch screen of prior several years is long gone. Larger trims get a 12.3-inch display.

All Highlanders get a new infotainment technique. It is nevertheless just 8 inches on L and LE styles, but a 12.3-inch model is optional for all those two and normal on better trims. It runs the very same functioning system as the latest Lexus NX, incorporating organic language recognition, in excess of-the-air updates, and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Automobile performance.

Designers also arrived to their senses and moved the optional wireless phone charging pad to a shelf in straightforward attain, somewhat than hiding it in the middle console.

Other variations involve a foot-activated energy liftgate on XLE and XSE types and energy-folding mirrors on Constrained and Platinum editions.

Toyota hasn’t announced pricing for the 2023 Highlander. We don’t assume a sizeable transform from 2022’s $35,855 starting up price.