The 2017 Toyota Highlander received some changes and it was presented at the 2016 NY Auto Show. When it came out three years ago, the third-generation had record sales in 2014 and in 2015. Last year 158,915 units were sold and Toyota hopes to continue this exceptional trend. Let’s see what is new on Highlander.
Refreshed Exterior of new 2017 Highlander
The front end is equipped with a grille, which upper section didn’t keep the large chrome trim around the company emblem. Instead of it, Toyota added two bars to support the emblem. Overhauled headlights feature more LED details, but in general, the face of the car is bigger and more aggressive.
The lower grille reminds us of Lexus. We can see three prominent grille slats with chrome trim, whereas the smaller slats are inserted underneath. The chrome piece is a border between the grille and air dam. On the sides, in the bottom, the vents are vertical with fog lights located in them. The Limited and Platinum trims have a chrome grille, while the silver one is visible on other trims.
The sides and the rear end remained identical. The chrome trim surrounds windows, whereas the black cladding is positioned along the wheel wells. There is a large spoiler on the rear as well as enormous taillights. The bottom of the bumper features a black trim on which red reflectors are positioned. Speaking of the color, you can opt for Salsa Red Pearl, Celestial Silver Metallic or Toasted Walnut Pearl.
Minor Changes in the Cabin
The Toyota didn’t make almost any changes to the interior, but let’s see what is new. The SE trim, the interior really looks cool because of the black leather seat combination with the silver stitching and details. Furthermore, the dash shelf is also black, which is a great match with the door inserts. The Limited Platinum model sports a brown leather color for a more upscale look.
Four USB ports are added to the car, which is significant, considering that there was only one in the previous model. There is room for eight passengers, and instead of second-row bench seats, the captain’s chairs are available on the two top trims.
Power Plant
The Highlander is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, which features direct injection. Due to this the fuel economy has improved and the engine has more power. This unit produces 295 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque. The fuel economy is 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA estimates. The unit is paired with Direct Shift eight-speed automatic.
The Hybrid version also comes with a 3.5-liter V6 power plant combined with an electric motor generator. It delivers 306 hp and according to the EPA ratings, the fuel economy is 30mpg in the city, 28mpg on the highway, which makes it 29 mpg combined. CVT gearbox is used.
The LE trim with FWD has a 2.4-liter V4 engine under the hood. The engine is in combination with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Safety Features
The new Highlander features the Toyota Safety system which offers Pedestrian Pre-Collision System and Automatic Emergency braking. In addition, the package comes with Forward Collision Warning and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The safety is also improved by adding Lane Departure Alert and Automatic High Beams.
This car is the first one to feature Perimeter Scan, which has an exterior camera system. With it, you can see the area around your vehicle, but it is only available for the Limited Platinum. Bird’s Eye view Camera system is also included. These are just some of the features, but there are also numerous airbags and three-point seatbelts.
2017 Toyota Highlander Price
The prices of the 2017 model are not so different from the previous version. The base LE trim costs $30,630, whereas for the LE Plus with the V6 unit you would have to pay $35,060. The SE with the 2WD costs $39,690, but you would have to add $1190 for the AWD model. The top-shelf Limited Platinum with AWD would set you back $46,260. Although the prices went up for the gas models, the hybrid ones see the reduction in price. The base LE hybrid is priced at $36,270, whereas for the range-topping Limited Platinum, you would have to cough up $47,880, which is $2,605 less than the 2016 model.
Although the 2017 Toyota Highlander received some minor upgrades to the appearance, it does look a bit more aggressive due to the front-end revisions. Inside, there are some nice touches whereas the powerful engine would make you fall in love with this car. Two bitter rivals of the Highlander are Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer, but the various improvements should move Toyota in front of the competitors.
Do you like or dislike the 2017 Toyota Highlander? Why?
