Don’t Underestimate This Toyota Midsize Hybrid SUV
Toyota makes some of the best midsize SUVs in the game. Models like the Toyota 4Runner and Toyota Highlander have made a huge impact on their vehicle segment. Toyota midsize SUVs are known for being long-lasting. Models like the 4Runner are also incredibly capable. One Toyota midsize hybrid SUV offers value that consumers shouldn’t sleep on.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a hidden gem
The midsize SUV segment is a tough segment to stand out in. It’s easy to sing the praises of popular three-row models like the Kia Telluride, but there are plenty of other midsize SUVs that provide great value. The Highlander Hybrid builds off of a classic Toyota midsize SUV and introduces some serious efficiency with the addition of a hybrid powertrain system.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid may be pricier than many of its internal combustion engine rivals, but it provides serious value for the money. The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid starts at $40,260. It uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors to make 243 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The midsize hybrid SUV achieves 36 miles per gallon in the city and 35 miles per gallon on the highway.
Toyota’s midsize hybrid SUV has a 17.1-gallon tank size. The Highlander Hybrid can travel for over 607 miles on a full tank of gas thanks to its stellar fuel economy. That’s amazing driving range for a midsize SUV.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s efficiency is extraordinary
The Highlander Hybrid does many things well, but its defining characteristic is its gas mileage and fuel efficiency. To put its driving range into perspective, the gas Highlander can travel for around 456 miles on a full tank. Toyota’s hybrid version gets an additional 151 miles of driving range per full tank. Based on the average annual driving range, the gas model has to refuel roughly eight more times than the hybrid.
In just a few years of ownership, drivers could save thousands of dollars on fuel by choosing the Highlander Hybrid over its gas predecessor. A few extra thousand dollars doesn’t make a huge difference, especially since the Highlander is more affordable, but the savings really start to kick in over long periods of ownership.
The Highlander Hybrid can last for over 200,00 miles. If drivers choose to keep the midsize SUV beyond the average new vehicle ownership period (8.4 years), then its low refueling costs make it a better deal than the gas version. The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a modern twist on a midsize SUV that has been providing incredible value to families for decades.
What’s the best Toyota Highlander Hybrid trim to get?
The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes in five configurations. Car and Driver recommends the gas XLE model, but what about the hybrid version?
The Hybrid LE base model provides great value for the money, but the Hybrid XLE comes with more creature comforts. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE starts at $45,220. It has SofTex-trimmed front and second-row seats, heated front-row seats, and wireless smartphone charging. The Hybrid XLE also includes a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a blind-spot monitor, and an individual tire pressure monitoring system.
