For long minivans have been the first choice for buyers with a large family but the looks of a minivan have been a turn-off for many. Carmakers like Toyota realized this opportunity and came up with the three-row crossover the 2018 Highlander. The Highlander, a soft-roader that looks more like an SUV and offers a good amount of cabin and cargo space with comfortable ride quality and satisfactory handling.
2018 Toyota Highlander
The 2018 Highlander comes in six trims where the base LE trims offer the choice of an inline-4 engine or the V6 whereas the higher trims come with V6 as standard. The Toyota Highlander received a major facelift last year and this year it is a carryover model. Thus there has been a minimal $600 price increment and now the 2018 Highlander comes with a starting price of $31,230 and goes up to $46,860 for the Limited Platinum trim with a V6 and AWD.
2018 Toyota Highlander Latest Updates
May' 13, 2022 : 2023 Toyota Highlander Revealed With A New 2.4-Liter Turbo-Four Engine And Improved Features Read More »
Dec' 21, 2021 : 2022 Toyota Highlander Starts At A MSRP of $35,205; Adds Hybrid Bronze Edition Read More »
Oct' 16, 2021 : Updated 2022 Toyota Highlander Launched With A New Hybrid-Only Bronze Edition Read More »
The 2018 Toyota Highlander is a carryover model with prices starting at $31,230. The 2018 Highlander offers two engine options a 2.7-liter inline-4 engine and a 3.5-liter V6 engine. The former is only available on the base LE trim while the latter is optional on the base trim and standard on all the trim above the base. The four-pot engine is best avoided due to low power and mediocre gas mileage. The V6 on the other hand matches the gas mileage of the four-pot and delivers better performance and pulling power. A well-equipped Highlander powered by V6 can tow up to 5,000 lbs.
2018 Toyota Highlander Front Three-Quarter View
The cabin of the Highlander is among the best from Toyota in terms of quality and comfort. The Highlander courtesy of its soft suspension setup offers a comfortable ride quality but lackluster handling. The standard features list of the Highlander offered at a price that is similar to its lesser equipped rivals is the main talking point here. Except for a couple of driver-assist features, all the safety features are standard right from the base trim which further sweetens the pot for the customers. That said, the Toyota Highlander falls in a fiercely contested segment rivaling the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Features
8.0/10
The 2018 Highlander is a three-row SUV from Toyota which comes in as many as six trims namely LE, LE Plus, XLE, SE, Limited, and Limited Platinum. The base LE trim starts at $31,230 for the 2.5-liter inline-4 engine while the LE trim powered by the 3.5-liter V6 engine starts at $33,230. The inline-4 engine can only be had as FWD while the V6 engine has an option of having FWD or AWD configuration. The standard safety features like adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam, lane departure alert are bundled in Toyota Safety Sense while features like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking are bundled in Toyota's Pre-Collision System. Both the bundles are standard right from the base trim.
2018 Toyota Highlander Side View
The LE Plus trim priced at $35,660 adds a power tailgate and driver's seat with upgraded upholstery. Moving to the higher trims you will add more creature comfort features while the XLE trim starting at $39,120 adds a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. The SE trim is the sporty version based on the XLE trim and commands a price of $40,290. The Limited trim is priced at $42,280 and adds mostly creature comfort and luxury features. The topmost trim Limited Platinum starts at $45,400 and maxes out at $46,860, it is based on the Limited trim and adds a surround-view camera, larger sunroof, and a few more features.
Trims
LE
LE Plus
XLE
SE
Limited
Limited Platinum
MSRP I-4 (FWD)
$31,230
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
MSRP V6 (FWD)
$33,280
$35,660
$39,120
$40,290
$42,280
$45,400
MSRP V6 (AWD)
$34,740
$37,120
$40,580
$41,750
$43,740
$46,860
Features
18-inch alloy wheels
Adds or upgrades to 'LE'
Adds or upgrades to 'LE Plus'
Adds or upgrades to 'XLE'
Adds or upgrades to 'XLE'
Adds or upgrades to 'Limited'
Toyota Safety Sense
Foglights
Keyless entry and ignition
Sports suspension
Rear parking sensors
360-degree parking camera
6.1-inch touchscreen w/ six-speaker sound system
8-inch touchscreen
Heated front seats
19-inch alloy wheels
19-inch alloy wheels
Front parking sensors
Heated mirrors
Power liftgate w/ height adjustability
Sunroof
Sporty interior and exterior trims
Heated and ventilated front seats
Panoramic sunroof
Rearview camera
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Blind-spot monitor w/ rear-cross traffic alert
LED running lights
Heated second-row captain's chair
Automatic wipers
Toyota's Pre-Collision System
Upgraded upholstery and interior trims
Leather upholstery (first two rows) and simulated leather upholstery (third-row)
12-speaker JBL audio system
Heated steering wheel
Height adjustable driver's seat
Three-zone automatic climate control
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
We Recommend:
For the starting price of under forty grand, the XLE trim is the most value-for-money offering in the 2018 Highlander's trim lineup. So we suggest picking the XLE trim which not only comes with the powerful V6 engine but also adds the nifty blind-spot monitor and rear-cross traffic alert system which is a must for an SUV this size.
Engine and Performance
7.9/10
“The base engine’s 185 horses haven’t kept up with the Highlander’s growing dimensions. Trust us, if you carry more than two people, need power for passing and merging or pull a small trailer, the V6 is the engine you’ll want (and need)” – KBB
2018 Toyota Highlander Engine and Transmission
The 2018 Toyota Highlander gets two engine options. The 2.7-liter inline-4 engine is available only on the base LE trim and puts out 185 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and is available only as an FWD model. The other engine offered on the Highlander is the 3.5-liter V6 engine that puts out a meaty 295 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque. This engine comes mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and comes standard with FWD while AWD is available as an option.
2018 Toyota Highlander V6 Engine
The four-pot engine isn't cut for this heavy three-row crossover and neither offers power and performance nor is fuel-efficient. The V6 engine on the other hand is high in power and performance and matches the fuel economy of the base engine. Thus this should be the default choice for most buyers.
Models
2018 Toyota Highlander
2018 Honda Pilot
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018 Ford Explorer
MSRP
$33,280
$33,330
$30,895
$32,140
Engine
3.5-liter V6
3.5-liter V6
3.6-liter V6
3.5-liter V6
Power
295 hp @ 6600 rpm
280 hp @ 6000 rpm
295 hp @ 6400 rpm
290 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque
263 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
262 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
260 hp @ 4800 rpm
255 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Clearly, the Toyota Highlander is the most powerful among all the V6-powered SUVs here while the Jeep Grand Cherokee that puts out similar power and slightly lower torque is the cheapest V6 powered SUV among all.
2018 Toyota Highlander Acceleration
The 2018 Toyota Highlander powered by the V6 engine can do 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds flat while it covers the quarter-mile in 15.6 seconds. On the other hand, the inline-4 engine powered Highlander does the 0-60 mph run in a lousy 8.5 seconds and takes another 9.3 seconds to cover the quarter-mile.
Models
2018 Toyota Highlander
2018 Honda Pilot
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018 Ford Explorer
0 – 60 MPH (sec)
7.0 seconds
6.2 seconds
7.1 seconds
7.7 seconds
Quarter-mile (sec)
15.6 seconds
14.8 seconds
15.4 seconds
16.0 seconds
Engine
3.5-liter V6
3.5-liter V6
3.6-liter V6
3.5-liter V6
The less powerful yet the lightest Honda Pilot is the fastest accelerating SUV among all. The Pilot does 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds, taking 0.8 seconds less than the Highlander, while it covers the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds which is again 0.8 seconds less than what the Highlander took.
2018 Toyota Highlander Ride and Handling
The three-row crossover Highlander is tuned for a comfortable ride quality which remains the major criteria for most of the buyers in this segment. Although the softer suspension setup lets the handling go for a toss. Around the corners, the Highlander experiences a lot of body roll and needs constant steering correction at highway speeds.
2018 Toyota Highlander Driving
Speaking of the steering, it lacks any form of feel and feedback although it remains light for most of the part, and combined that with its smaller turning radius piloting this big SUV from tight spaces or taking a U-turn is very easy. That said, there is an SE trim with sports-tuned suspension which does offer improved handling but stiffens up the ride quality in the process.
2018 Toyota Highlander Braking
The 2018 Toyota Highlander under panic braking took 181 feet to stop from 70-0 mph. The Highlander despite its 4,398 pounds curb weight manages to brake effectively with minimal fade and the 12.9-inches front and 12.2-inches rear disc brakes do their job well in stopping this beast.
Models
2018 Toyota Highlander
2018 Honda Pilot
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018 Ford Explorer
Brake Rotor – Front (in)
12.9
12.6
13.0
12.8
Brake Rotor – Rear (in)
12.2
13.0
13.0
12.8
Curb Weight (lbs.)
4,398
4,074
4,545
4,453
70 – 0 MPH (ft.)
181
182
168
177
In this comparison, the Jeep Grand Cherokee with the biggest brake setup stops in a record 168 feet from 70-0 mph which is 13 feet less than what the Highlander took to stop from the same speed.
2018 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity
The Toyota Highlander powered by the V6 is a capable machine and can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Models
2018 Toyota Highlander
2018 Honda Pilot
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018 Ford Explorer
Towing Capacity (lbs.)
5,000
3,500
3,500
2,000
None of the rivals can match, forget about beating the towing capacity of the 2018 Highlander.
Fuel Economy
7.1/10
The 2018 Toyota Highlander powered by the base inline-4 engine returns a mediocre 20 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. While the more powerful V6 engine-powered 2018 Highlander has an EPA estimated gas mileage of 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. Thus compared to the base inline-4 engine the V6 offers better gas mileage for the power it puts out.
Models
2018 Toyota Highlander
2018 Honda Pilot
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018 Ford Explorer
MPG (City)
19
19
19
17
MPG (Highway)
26
27
26
24
MPG (Combined)
22
22
21
20
Fuel Capacity (gallons)
19.2
19.5
24.6
18.6
Both the Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot are among the most fuel-efficient V6-powered SUV here although the Pilot takes a slight edge here by offering one mpg more on the highway compared to the Highlander.
Interior
7.8/10
“Heated leather front seats are as comfy as furniture and offer tons of adjustment, including extendable thigh support.” – Edmunds
2018 Toyota Highlander Seating and Comfort
The cabin of the 20108 Toyota Highlander features a clean and simple layout with material quality ranging from good to budget-grade depending on where you are looking. The only chink in its armor is the not so ergonomically laid-out infotainment control with some of the control placed too far from being in driver's comfortable reach. That said, the overall visibility is great. A rearview camera and rear parking sensor available right from the base trim helps in parking while the 360-degree surround-view camera is only available on the top-end Limited Platinum trim.
2018 Toyota Highlander Dashboard
The comfortable and spacious seats are another USP of the cabin of the Highlander although the same is applicable only for the first two rows as the third-row seats are short in legroom and best suited for kids. A large family in the Highlander will be at home with plenty of USB charging ports scattered inside the cabin and AC vents all around for keeping the cabin cool. The LE Plus and above trim gets automatic three-zone automatic climate control as standard while rear-seat entertainment is available as an option on XLE and above trims to keep the passengers entertained over a long journey.
Models
2018 Toyota Highlander
2018 Honda Pilot
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018 Ford Explorer
Passenger capacity
8
8
5
7
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
40.7/ 59.3/ 44.2
40.1/ 62.0/ 40.9
39.9/ 58.7/ 40.3
41.4/ 61.5/ 42.9
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
39.9/ 59.6/ 38.4
40.2/ 62.0/ 38.4
39.2/ 58.0/ 38.6
40.6/ 61.0/ 39.5
Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
35.9/ 55.0/ 27.7
38.9/ 57.6/ 31.9
N/A
37.8/ 50.8/ 32.0
Except for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, even though it has the longest wheelbase among all, all the other SUVs offer three-row of seating. In terms of overall cabin space without doubt the Ford Explorer offers the best space in all three rows while the next closest to it is the Honda Pilot in terms of cabin space.
2018 Toyota Highlander Cabin
Interior Features:
Height-adjustable driver's seats
Rear AC vents
Rear privacy glass
60/40-split folding second and third-row seats
Available power-adjustable front seats
Available heated and ventilated front seats
Available second-row heated captain's chair
Available leather upholstery
2018 Toyota Highlander Infotainment System
The infotainment system of the 2018 Toyota Highlander is a 6.1-inch touchscreen as standard which comes with features like a CD player, Bluetooth, six-speaker sound system, etc. While the LE Plus and higher trims get an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with higher resolution. This setup adds a bunch of smartphone connection apps, satellite radio, HD radio, etc.
2018 Toyota Highlander Infotainment
The infotainment system isn't very user-friendly and takes time to get accustomed to its function. That said, higher trims like XLE and above adds features like a navigation system, 12-speaker JBL sound system, rear-seat entertainment system, etc.
2018 Toyota Highlander Cargo Capacity
The 2018 Toyota Highlander offers 13.8 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seats up. While both the second and third-row seats offer either 60/40-split fold or complete fold to liberate more space.
2018 Toyota Highlander Trunk
With the third row folded the Highlander gets 42.3 cubic feet of cargo space while with the third and second row folded the Highlander has a maximum cargo capacity of 83.7 cubic feet.
Models
2018 Toyota Highlander
2018 Honda Pilot
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018 Ford Explorer
Cargo Volume to seats 1 (ft.3)
83.7
83.8
68.3
80.7
Cargo Volume to seats 2 (ft.3)
42.3
46.8
36.3
43.8
Cargo Volume to seats 3 (ft.3)
13.8
16.5
N/A
21.0
Both the Ford Explorer and the Honda Pilot offer better cargo capacity than the Highlander with all the seats up. While the Pilot and Highlander offer almost similar maximum cargo capacity.
Exterior
7.9/10
"The 2018 Highlander’s grille is huge, following the big-grille trend that’s been stylish for the past few years." -KellyBlueBook
2018 Toyota Highlander Dimension and Weight
The 2018 Toyota Highlander carries forward the last year's design with no change whatsoever. Last year's update gave it a Lexus-like front grille with slim and sharp headlights flanking from the side. Opting for the SE trim reduces the bling by substituting exterior chrome bits with black finished trims.
2018 Toyota Highlander Front Three-Quarter View
On the sides, the profile of the Highlander remains neutral with a high shoulder line and prominent wheel arches to suggest it's a rugged SUV. At the rear, the things are simple with not much to talk about. That said, the Highlander sits 192.5-inches long with 109.8-inches of wheelbase between its wheels.
Models
2018 Toyota Highlander
2018 Honda Pilot
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018 Ford Explorer
Curb Weight (lbs.)
4,398
4,074
4,545
4,453
Length (in)
192.5
194.5
189.8
198.7
Width (in)
75.8
78.6
76.5
78.9
Height (in)
68.1
69.8
68.1
70.0
Wheelbase (in)
109.8
111.0
114.8
112.8
Ground Clearance (in)
8.0
7.3
8.6
7.8
Dimension wise the Highlander isn't the biggest SUV here and that goes on to prove why it lags in terms of cabin space. The Explorer is the one with the best length, width, and height among all while the Grand Cherokee has the longest wheelbase with the highest ground clearance among all.
2018 Toyota Highlander Rear Three-Quarter View
Exterior Features:
18-inch alloy wheels
Automatic headlights
Windshield wiper de-icer
Available foglights
Available roof rails
Available sunroof
Available power liftgate
Available 19-inch alloy wheels
Safety
8.6/10
Except for the blind-spot monitor with rear-cross traffic alert the 2018 Toyota Highlander offers most of the advanced safety features right from the base trim. As a result, the NHTSA gave the 2018 Highlander a perfect score in the overall safety rating with a perfect score in the side crash test and a four out of five-stars rating the front crash and rollover mitigation test. The IIHS on the other hand gave the top rating of 'Good' to the Highlander in five out of six parameters while the small-overlap front passenger-side crash test was rated the second-best 'Acceptable' by IIHS.
2018 Toyota Highlander IIHS Crash Test
Safety Features:
Adaptive cruise control
Forward collision detection
Automatic emergency braking
Automatic high beam
Lane departure warning
Available blind-spot monitor w/ rear cross-traffic alert
Competition
6.0/10
2018 Toyota Highlander vs 2018 Honda Pilot
Among all its rivals the Honda Pilot remains the Highlander's toughest competitor. It has a similar price tag but a less powerful V6 engine. Although its lighter curb weight helps it beat the Highlander in the 0-60 mph and quarter-mile runs. Also, the Pilot in terms of ride and handling fares better than the Highlander but it can't tow as much as the Highlander.
2018 Honda Pilot
Coming to the cabin the Pilot offers better space and cargo capacity than the Highlander while the cabin quality is more or less the same on both the SUVs. That said, the only major advantage that the Highlander has over the Pilot is its long list of standard features and safety systems which otherwise in Pilot are limited to higher trims.
2018 Toyota Highlander vs 2018 Ford Explorer
If the cabin space and overall practicality had been the deciding factor between the two SUVs then the Ford Explorer is the clear winner here hands down. But for a prospective buyer of this segment, this is not the only thing that matters instead the overall product is valued, and based on that the best between the two is decided.
2018 Ford Explorer
On that note, the Explorer lacks in terms of power, towing capacity, and gas mileage compared to the Highlander. While ride and handling of both the SUVs are in the same league. The cabin quality of the Explorer also falls behind that of the Highlander. So, as said earlier had it been for space and practicality then the Explorer is the clear winner but as a whole picture, you need to choose the one that suits your needs.
Final Verdict
The 2018 Toyota Highlander is kind of jack of all trades but master of none. It has a powerful engine but isn't the quickest in terms of acceleration. It can tow more than the rivals but not everyone needs daily towing. The Highlander offers a roomy cabin but the Pilot and the Explorer is a notch above in that. If you want to take the Highlander off-road then it will fare similar to what its other rivals can except the Jeep Grand Cherokee. So the main play point for the Highlander remains the associated reliability of the T-badge and long list of features with almost all the safety and driver-assist features available right from the base trim.
Pros - Engine, fuel economy, spacious interior, compliant ride quality and many safety features.
Cons - No available Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Economical SUV with compliant ride quality. I purchased the 2018 Highlander because of the many standard amenities, positive ratings, and affordable pricing. It has many of the attributes that families look for in a three-row crossover, such as spaciousness, high gas efficiency, and several safety features. My driving experience is made more enjoyable by the precision steering, competent brakes, ...
Pros - Comfortable interior, strong V6 with good fuel economy, quiet and compliant ride quality and the availability of high tech safety features.
Cons - Cramped third row seats, touchscreen and controls require extra long reach from drivers seat and non availability of Apple CarPlay& Android Auto.
safe and powerful midsize SUV It's almost been a year since I purchased my Highlander. It provides most of what I was looking for in a three-row crossover for my family at a fair price. Its luxurious interior and soft ride make it ideal for lengthy journeys. While the Highlander isn't as large as classic truck-based SUVs, it's simpler to move about town and yet offers three rows of seating that's...
Pros - Lots of room, Sporty suspension, Build quality.
Cons - Navigation system issues.
SE varient is fun I'm glad I could find the SE variant of the Highlander as it's a bit sportier than the rest and its very evident in the way this car drives. The suspension travel and damping is slightly stiff making the drive much more engaging and the cabin is very well finished keeping everyone inside the cabin very comfortable. The only major and annoying issue I face with the Highlander is ...
