The 2023 Toyota Highlander Limited L4T AWD SUV
You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: What is a Highlander? Highlander is a midsize crossover SUV built in the Princeton, Indiana assembly plant, and sold by Toyota in North America. While most similarly sized SUVs of the time were built on truck frames, the Highlander is based on the Toyota Camry sedan chassis. Both FWD front wheel drive and AWD all wheel drive versions are available, with either the 4 cylinder engine, or the gas engine with an electric motor and hybrid battery driveline.
For 2023, the V6 engine of the Toyota Highlander has been replaced by a new turbocharged 2.4L liter 4 cylinder turbo gas engine. This engine produces 265 HP horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 310 ft-lb torque at 1,700 rpm. The engine is bolted to an 8 speed automatic transmission that sends power into an AWD all wheel drive dynamic torque vectoring transfer case, with a multi terrain dial select feature, for the best traction and control on all road surfaces.
The Highlander has plenty to offer, is in a very competitive midsize SUV segment of more than a dozen vehicles and it’s a solid team player. The 2023 Toyota Highlander is offered in 6 trim levels: L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. Highlander prices start at $36,420. The most popular XLE model starts at $41,820, and the near luxury Platinum trim begins at $49,075.
This week Toyota sent me a 2023 Highlander Limited L4T AWD SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this Limited AWD model is: $48,025. The options on the press car are the panoramic view monitoring system for $850. The MSRP manufactures suggested retail price, including the $1,335 destination charge, is $50,210.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealers fees, the off the dealers’ lot and into your garage total purchase price came to $56,486. In 2023, the average sales transaction price will be around $50,000, and as this is a Limited AWD model, it falls right into the middle of the midsize crossover SUV class, and is considered a Best Buy by Consumer Reports.
To achieve this Best Buy rating the 2023 Highlander comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 with pre-collision and pedestrian detection, full speed range dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams, road sign assist, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking assist with automatic braking, Toyota Star Safety system, connected 4G services capable, 4G network dependant, and LATCH lower anchor & tether children seat attaching points.
Exterior appointments start with a great looking set of 20” bright chrome finished alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED taillights, LED fog lamps, heated outside power folding side view mirrors with puddle lamps, a hands free power lift gate, and a power tilt and sliding moonroof with interior sun shade.
Comfort and convenience includes a nice 12.3” audio multimedia system with wireless AppleCar Play, plus Android Auto and Sirius XM Platinum radio, a JBL sound system with a powered subwoofer and amplifier wired into 11 speakers, leather trimmed seating for all 7 passengers, heated and ventilated power front seats, driver seat with memory settings, 3rd row 60/40 split fold down seats, integrated 2nd row door window sunshades, auto dimming rear view mirror with garage door openers, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a 12.3” full color LCD center stack gauge cluster. The Limited Edition has all of the things that you really need, with none of the stuff that you have to pay extra for.
So, when you’re ready to buy a new midsize crossover SUV, the 2023 Toyota Highlander Limited L4T AWD SUV should be on your ride and drive list, as it’s one of the best priced and optioned crossover SUV’s in the midsize SUV class.
Call, click or visit your local Toyota dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the new 2023 Toyota Highlander Limited SUV. And remember that the base price for a new Highlander starts at only $36,420. Toyota - Let’s Go Places.
Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, “You Are What You Drive” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today”.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a “Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense” editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. “Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net