Making its first appearance as far back as the 2005 model year, the Highlander Hybrid is practical and fuel-efficient.
The 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a top pick in the hybrid three-row SUV space, and remains the gem of the Highlander lineup. It can seat up to seven or eight people in its cabin, depending on configuration. For a more spacious third row, however, Toyota offers the Grand Highlander Hybrid.
What’s New in new 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
-AWD is standard on every Highlander Hybrid
-Highlander 25th Anniversary Edition model
-Heavy Metal paint color available
What We Think about 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
The Highlander Hybrid isn’t the most exciting SUV to drive, but the Toyota stands out for its balanced blend of performance, space, and fuel economy. It doesn’t suffer from the mushy brake feel of many hybrids. Power is generally sufficient, although acceleration feels like it tapers off toward the end of a highway onramp, as we noted in our 2020 Highlander Hybrid review.
Perhaps more important, the Highlander Hybrid benefits from strong efficiency. And with around 600 miles of driving range, your trips to the gas station will be fewer and farther between than in the standard Highlander.
Diminishing practicality is its tight third row. Making up for this shortcoming, its other rows are spacious and it boasts strong safety ratings and ample safety features. The 2025 Highlander Hybrid has few direct competitors, but the Kia Sorento Hybrid is a solid alternative.
Performance and Efficiency: 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with electric motors, the Highlander Hybrid pumps out a combined 243 hp. The SUV is efficient, topping out at 35/35 mpg city/highway. Range could continue to exceed 600 miles on certain models. Toyota no longer offers FWD on the Highlander Hybrid; all variants come with AWD.
Safety: 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
The 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid will undoubtedly target top safety marks. NHTSA gave the 2025 Highlander Hybrid a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in the front crash test, five stars in the side crash test, and four stars in the rollover evaluation. The 2024 Highlander earned 2024 Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, making it among the safest SUVs on sale.
Toyota packs in plenty of standard safety features including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high-beams, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
Technology: 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
The Highlander Hybrid comes standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen and 7.0-inch gauge cluster screen. A 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch gauge cluster are standard on higher trims. Regardless, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remain standard on every variant.
Highlander 25th Anniversary Edition
Toyota is commemorating the Highlander’s 25th anniversary with a special edition built on the Hybrid Limited trim. This celebratory model features distinctive bumpers and rocker panels, plus exterior color options including Wind Chill Pearl and the exclusive Heavy Metal hue. You’ll find 25th Anniversary badging on the liftgate and puddle lamps.
Inside, the Highlander 25th Anniversary Edition boast Portobello (tan) leather-trimmed seats accented with black stitching. Additional special logos adorn the floor mats, cargo liner, door sills, and headrests. A 260-degree camera comes standard. This model, along with the rest of the 2025 lineup, will be available starting in October 2024.
2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Trims and Pricing
Toyota Highlander Hybrid History
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was one of the first crossovers to offer a hybrid variant. With seating for up to eight passengers and all-wheel drive standard, the Highlander Hybrid is family friendly and comes with plenty of cargo space should you need to use it for hauling gear.
History
The original Toyota Highlander Hybrid first appeared in 2005 as a 2006 model year with a 3.3-liter V-6 coupled to an electric motor for a total system output of 268 hp. A CVT automatic was the only transmission available. Production of the first generation Highlander Hybrid ended for the 2007 model year. The second-generation Highlander Hybrid debuted as a 2008 model with the same powertrain as the outgoing model but it was tuned up to 270 hp combined.
Toyota updated the Highlander Hybrid for the 2011 model year with a new 3.5-liter V-6 from the Lexus RX 450h, increasing total output to 280 hp. In addition to a hybrid variant, the Highlander was also used as a hydrogen fuel cell prototype vehicle.
Toyota introduced the third-generation Toyota Highlander Hybrid as a 2014 model in 2013 with the same 3.5-liter V-6 coupled to an electric motor. In a 2014 First Test , we said that nearly every throttle input causes the car to go out of EV mode and into hybrid mode.
Despite the additional power, the extra weight of the hybrid powertrain means the Highlander Hybrid was slower than the gas-only variant when it comes to acceleration. For the 2016 model year refresh, Toyota added a new direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6 that raises total output to 306 hp.
The Latest Generation
Toyota introduced the fourth-generation Highlander Hybrid for the 2020 model year. Replacing the last-gen model’s V-6 for a 2.5-liter I-4 meant higher efficiency and improved affordability compared to other Highlander variants. When we first drove the new Highlander Hybrid with a four-cylinder engine, it felt responsive around town, but we noted that it feels like “it runs out of juice toward the end of a highway onramp.
” We also noted that its engine noise is louder than what we’d like for a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. However, the Highlander Hybrid surprised us with natural brake pedal feel, a longtime challenge for automakers selling hybridized vehicles.
Why It Matters?
Not many three-row hybrid crossovers exist. If you’re averse to the idea of a minivan or don’t want to spend a fortune for one with a luxury badge, the Toyota Highlander is worth consideration. Those looking for a three-row hybrid that places more of a priority on the driving experience may want to choose the pricier Ford Explorer Hybrid instead.
Toyota Highlander Bronze Edition
Toyota builds on the Highlander Hybrid good looks in the XLE trim with a Bronze Edition package that was introduced for the 2022 model year. Bronze wheels are the most noticeable difference between this model and other Highlander Hybrid models. It also adds illuminated door sills and interior stitching.
Source: Motortrend
