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As nearly every carmaker is throwing their hats into the crossover/SUV market, some of the OGs have to start figuring out ways to stand out against the constant wave of new flashy models. The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is shooting for a standout SUV by slapping on the shiniest wheels in the game. The 2022 Toyota Highlander Bronze Edition is a strong flex when rolling through the Suburbs. The wheels alone might make this the best hybrid crossover.

2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition in silver and bronze
2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition | Toyota

Meet the 2022 Toyota Highlander Bronze Edition 

In a world where every other car seems to be an eco-friendly crossover, the 2022 Toyota highlander Hybrid sticks to script while also letting its owners feel a little different and maybe even a touch flashy. 

the back end of the 2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition
2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition | Toyota

Obviously, the most notable thing about this new 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid trim is 18-inch shiny bronze wheels. It looks more like a JDM drift car than it does humble suburban grocery getter. 

Other than the killer bronze wheels, plenty of other bronze touches separate a Bronze Editon driver from the pack. According to The Drive, the 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition comes packed with strange yet unique additions like illuminated door sills, special interior stitching, floor, cargo mats, and fancy-looking seats dripping in gold/brown metallic accents. 

Is the Bronze Edition any better than the regular Highlander?

A silver 2021 Toyota Highlander parked, the Highlander is a three-row SUV often compared to the 2021 Subaru Ascent
2021 Toyota Highlander | Toyota

No. Mechanically, both trims are the same. However, the Bronze Edition is cooler looking, and in the automotive world, that little fact can make a difference. The flossy bronze is only offered in the hybrid powertrain and the XLE trim package or higher. 

This means Toyota’s 243-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors are driving the Bronze-clad Highlander. It is still offered in either front-wheel drive or electric-rear-axle all-wheel drive. 

To elaborate on some of the interior features of the Bronze Edition, this suburban flex-mobile features trim-specific seats that have an almost quilted pattern on the seat with a bold bronze stripe running down the middle of the seats. The door panels are also lined with stitching that really drives the whole bronze thing home. 

The Bronze Edition is still a Highlander Hybrid

Interiro of the 2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition
2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition | Toyota

Although you may have to get used to some new attention on the block, the Hybrid Highlander with Bronze wheels is still a Highlander, and that is not a bad thing. The Highlander is widely regarded as one of the best hybrid SUVs in the game. 

Since the Bronze Edition builds off the XLE trim package, it has all the XLE equipment and some additions like a digital rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, a 1500-watt power outlet, in-dash ambient lighting, and more. 

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Bronze Edition falls between the XLE and Limited, which means the price will likely land in between as well. The 2022 XLE is $42,710, and the Limited sits at $46,665. 

Much like the blacked-out Kia Telluride Nightfall, these aesthetic packages are an interesting way to keep people excited about an increasingly pedestrian segment. The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition might be a bit gimmicky, but injecting a little pizazz and flash into an otherwise plain model can’t hurt.