2025 Toyota Highlander
The 2025 Toyota Highlander offers ample passenger space, seating up to eight with a sliding second-row bench seat and third row. Three zones of temperature control and five USB ports mean everyone aboard can ride comfortably and stay connected. The Highlander’s capable 5,000 lb. towing capacity and versatile cargo space (ranging from 16 cubic feet with both back rows occupied to as much as 84.3 cu. ft. with both of those rows stowed) makes it an obvious choice for those who like to hit the road for adventure.
For 2025, AWD is now standard on the XSE and Platinum (and available on all other trims). Plus, the performance-driven XSE, which features a sport-tuned suspension for superior handling, now defaults to sport drive mode for sharper acceleration from the get-go. Toyota has also introduced two new shades of gray called Heavy Metal and Cement. Like any 2025 Toyota, the Highlander comes with a standard ToyotaCare no-cost maintenance plan, covering regular factory-scheduled maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations, and multipoint inspections) for two years or 25,000 miles, plus two years (unlimited miles) of 24-hour roadside assistance.
Trims and Powertrain
The 2025 Highlander’s five trims are the LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. Their powertrain pairs a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (265 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque) with Toyota’s Direct Shift 8-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. The LE, XLE, and Limited come standard with front-wheel-drive (FWD), with all-wheel-drive (AWD) optional. As mentioned in the intro, the XSE and Platinum are made strictly with AWD. The FWD Highlander has a drive-mode selector with settings labeled Sport, Eco, Normal, and Snow Drive, while AWD adds Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, and Normal modes. The LE, XLE, and Limited return 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway in FWD. With AWD, all trims achieve 21 city/28 highway. Regardless of trim and drivetrain, the ’25 Highlander can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Standard Features by Trim Level
The base LE has cloth upholstery and room for eight, with an 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a 4-way manually-adjustable front passenger seat, and a sliding second-row bench seat and a third-row bench, both of which split 60/40 and fold flat. It also gets illuminated remote keyless entry, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, a 7-inch LCD multi-informational gauge display, tri-zone automatic temperature control, color-keyed heated outside mirrors with turn-signal and blind-spot warning indicators, a power liftgate, a backup camera washer, LED projector headlights, daytime running lights, fog lights, and taillights, the Smart Key system (on the front doors and liftgate), push-button start, high solar energy-absorbing glass on front side windows, a day/night rearview mirror, five USB ports, two 12-volt outlets, a roll-top center console with removable utility tray, a rear spoiler with integrated LED stop light, silver interior accents, 14 beverage holders, and 18-inch painted alloy wheels.
The seven-seat XLE gets a pair of captain’s chairs for the middle row, with an option to revert to the three-person bench to retain eight-passenger capacity. It also has SofTex upholstery in the first two rows, heated front seats (a 10-way power driver's seat with lumbar support and an 8-way power front passenger seat), a moonroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with integrated HomeLink, wireless smartphone charging, a hands-free power liftgate, silver roof rails, second-row sunshades, and 18-inch machined-finished alloy wheels.
The XSE comes exclusively in the 7-seat layout and receives a sport-tuned suspension, a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, ambient interior lighting, black-capped side mirrors, black headlight accents, metallic gray and chrome-plated exterior trim and exhaust, black-finished roof rails, a lower front spoiler, and 20-inch black alloy wheels. Leather-trimmed front- and second-row seats are available to replace the standard SofTex upholstery.
The Limited is upgraded with leather upholstery for the first and second rows, heated and ventilated front seats with memory, a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel, ornamental dash trim and faux-wood door trim, power-folding side mirrors with memory and reverse tilt-down, puddle lights with an integrated Highlander logo, LED-strip daytime running lights, high-output LED fog lights, a metal front doorsill plate, noise-reducing front side windows, silver roof rails, a cargo-area tonneau cover, a 120-volt outlet in the center console, dark-gray and chrome-plated exterior trim, and 20-inch chrome-finished alloy wheels. Buyers can once again opt for the 8-seat configuration with the second-row bench seats. The high-end Platinum goes beyond with heated second-row captain’s chairs, a panoramic glass roof and moonroof, a digital rearview mirror with HomeLink, a 10-inch head-up display, auto-leveling LED projector headlights with an adaptive front-lighting system, an illuminated front doorsill, silver and chrome-plated exterior accents, a rear-bumper scuff plate, and 20-inch alloy wheels.
Safety Technology
All 2025 Highlander trims have Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 installed, which includes automatic high beams, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Each Highlander also comes equipped with hill start assist control, enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, a backup camera with projected path, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. The XLE goes further with downhill assist control, while front and rear parking assist with automatic braking is added to the Limited and Platinum along with an upgraded backup monitor that shows dynamic gridlines. The Platinum alone comes loaded with a panoramic view monitor with 360-degree overhead views (available for the Limited).
Infotainment and Connectivity
The default infotainment setup for the lower trims uses an 8-inch touchscreen and a six-speaker audio system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wireless smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free phone capabilities, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Limited and Platinum move up to a 12.3-inch touchscreen (available on the XLE and XSE) and an upscale JBL audio system with eight speakers, an amplifier, and a subwoofer (available on the XSE). Access to Toyota’s subscription-based Connected Services (which includes Cloud Navigation) is available on all trims, all of which come with a 12-month trial subscription to Remote Connect and up to a 10-year trial subscription to Service Connect and Safety Connect.
