Toyota Highlanders are a common sight. The Highlander is popular with drivers who value reliability and longevity. The Highlander has been around for quite a while and has a strong fan base. 2020 marked the start of the fourth generation of Highlanders.

One of the things that set the Highlander apart from the competition is Toyota’s willingness to include some nice luxury features in the standard trim level rather than reserving them for the 2021 Toyota Highlander XSE.

Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander a good car?

The Toyota Highlander made its North American debut in April 2000 at the 2000 New York Auto Show. Drivers were finally able to drive the Highlander home when it hit local dealerships in January 2001.

It didn’t take drivers long to fall in love with the SUV. The Highlander had the distinction of being the best-selling Toyota SUV until 2006 when it was knocked off its throne by the RAV4.

The luxury touches that are standard on the basic 2021 Toyota Highlander

One of the nice things about Toyota is that the company realized that there’s no reason the standard version of the Highlander has to be a stripped-down machine.

Toyota made a conscious effort to add some nice, almost luxurious touches to the standard 2021 Highlander. The features found on all versions of the 2021 Highlander include High Solar Energy-Absorbing (HSEA) glass on front side windows, color-keyed side rocker panels and lower molding, and privacy glass on rear side.

The features don’t stop there and you can also expect quarter and liftgate windows, three-zone automatic climate control, soft-touch roll-top center console (15L) with removable utility tray, 4.2-in. color LCD Multi-Information Display, integrated backup camera with projected path, and reading lights for both the front and second row of seats.

Autotrader reported that the standard-issue Toyota Safety Sense has a plethora of features that make driving easier. These features include mistaken pedal application, adaptive cruise control, left turn intersection support, lane tracing functions, and lane departure alerts.

Drivers who decide to upgrade to the XLE trim will enjoy additional luxury features that include a heated steering wheel.

What you can expect from this Toyota SUV

“The Highlander comes with a 295-hp 3.5-liter V-6, which pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive,” Car and Driver reported in their review of the 2021 Toyota Highlander.

Consumer Reports gave the 2021 Toyota Highlander an overall rating of 84 out of 100. The vehicle has a predicted reliability and predicted customer satisfaction of four out of five. It scored an 86 out of 100 on the road test.

There seems to be praise across the board for the new Highlander.

Is it worth it to buy a new Highlander?

You can purchase your own standard trim 2021 Toyota Highlander for $34,910. The top of the line, all special features, version of the vehicle starts at around $47,000. Eco-conscious drivers who want to replace the V6 engine that comes standard in the Toyota Highlander with a hybrid engine for a few thousand more.

Does the high number of luxury features that are included on the standard trim inspire you to purchase the 2021 Toyota Highlander or are you considering a different SUV?