2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV Consumer Reviews
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LE - $42,365 MSRP
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$40,8362024 Highlander Hybrid Platinum in-Depth Review
Danno, 12/30/2023
2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
36 of 37 people found this review helpful
We've now owned our 2024 Highlander Hybrid Platinum for 4 weeks, and, so far, couldn't be happier! I was happy to discover that the regular Highlander Hybrid is still available (the Grand is too big for us). What we love: - The quiet all-electric drive under 20 mph - VERY PLEASED with the additional sound attenuation (acoustic noise-reducing front side windows) Toyota added. The loud acceleration roar of the 2022 I test-drove is largely gone - The “Car” display option that shows how the energy flows, from the ICE and two electric motors to the batteries and wheels - The 12.3” main Display and the 12.3” digital instrument panel unique to the Platinum trim – with clear, sharp images that display useful trip, safety and navi information. The main screen menus are reasonably intuitive (even without a Home button) - The Cloud-based navigation now rivals Google Maps – although ETAs are initially inflated. After the free 12-mo. trial this requires a $15/mo. subscription; we’ll see if it’s worth keeping - The seamless, wireless switching from Android Auto (for me) and Apple CarPlay (for my wife), based on whose phone is detected - The improved location of the wireless charging tray in the center dash area (in the 2022 it was in an awkward lift-up tray in the center console). This has enabled removal of a windshield-mounted wireless charger that partially obstructed forward-left view - The ECO drive mode which emphasizes electric motor usage, most appropriate for our driving style (we’re both retired, drive about 11k miles a year, north and south, and certainly won’t need Trail or Sport modes) - MPG: The instrument panel showed 33.7 mpg after 800 mostly city miles. But then I drove 100 highway miles, and watched it drop to 32.0 – the opposite of a gas-only car. I estimate a fuel savings of about $3800 over 6 years of expected ownership (at forecasted fuel costs) - The Head-Up display! Never had this – find it helpful to see the speed limit, car speed, and Eco-indicator reflected at a focal point just beyond the windshield - Folding side mirrors -- also with blind-spot indicators, defoggers, turn signal lights, and auto backup adjusting. Should save us from unwanted parking lot encounters with people or cars - The fixed rail mount points shifted rearwards about 8”, making rear-loading of kayaks easier, and our Yakima crossbars still fit (though I did need new landing pads molded to fit the modified flush rails) - Several USB-C&A charging ports, forward and aft (my wife has wallet on the back of her iPhone, so wireless charging won’t work for her) - A slide-open, lighted center console storage compartment – easy to get at without lifting the armrest and helpful to find items that tend to get lost in the large space - The color! The exterior is a steel-blue “Moon Dust” and the interior is the same beige we like. We’re happy that we didn’t have to settle for dark colors in sunny Florida - A Consumer Reports score of 85 and a reliability rating of 75/100 – both the highest for 3-row midsize SUVs (CR gives you the best unbiased road test, reliability and owner satisfaction scores) What we’re mixed about: - Rear-window visibility is diminished by the smaller glass area due to the more streamlined roofline (side view mirrors and the 360-degree display view compensate for this) - The digital panoramic rear-view lever-activated mirror – while handy when the cargo area is loaded to the gills, the camera-fed display suffers from loss of depth-of-field, glare, and the dizzying constant motion of cars and scenery - The driver’s seat height adjustment doesn’t go as high – or maybe it’s that the hood is higher due to an extra hood hump on both driver and passenger sides. It was a noticeable when we initially got the car, but even my wife who is only 5’3” seems to be okay with the diminished road visibility - The HomeLink buttons have been moved to the rear-view mirror, but the new menu-driven programming requires a working remote – which we did not have! (Got a new remote and then it was a snap) - Automatic Profile switching to auto-adjust driver’s seat settings based on who is driving, doesn’t work (requires entering a passcode). No big deal, we just press our memory seat button on the door - Hands-free rear hatch opening: Car must be locked and foot must be swung quickly under the sensor on the left side of rear bumper. We probably won’t use this – it’s easier to just press the button under the handle, which works whether car is locked or not. - AWD: We don’t need this as this car never sees Winter snow. But it also adds a second electric motor in the rear. So, net-net it’s a plus, and as all 2024 Hybrids seem to come with AWD, we really had no choice - Somewhat higher step-up height and cargo platform (~2”?), to make more room for the hybrid’s batteries stored under the passenger compartment - The ambient lighting that added $449 to the price. It’s kind of cool and helpful at night, and has a separate app to change the colors, but I’m sure the cool factor will wear off quickly What we don’t like: - NO DISCOUNTS! The Hybrid, and especially the Platinum trim, still need to be special-ordered, and thus command MSRP, plus whatever add-ons your local distributor decides to install (we did get the dealer to remove the way over-priced $699 ToyoGuard Platinum (2 oil changes, 4 tire rotations in years 3-5, roadside and rental assistance which we get from AAA). Thankfully, gone is the $$$ upcharge that dealers were adding to MSRP during the post-Covid years - The pull-up cup holder between the second-row captain seats is replaced by a fixed plastic holder bolted to the chassis, losing the convenience of extra storage / passage space between the seats. I found a video on removing it and fashioned an all-weather cover for the bolt area by carving up the old cargo area matt - The cheap fabric carpeting that added $499 to the car price. But no worries, these are now covered and better protected with new WeatherTech “HP” mats (softer, more flexible upgrade from the ones in our 2018) - Gone is the “open rear windshield“ button when you just need to pop something small into an already full cargo area. Oh well, we’ll get used to this - Incomplete User Manuals: The car documentation comes only with a “short version” of the Owner’s Manual, and is missing the 300-page Mutlimedia Owner’s Manual. What’s the same as in our 2018: - The same comfortable, perforated leather, heated and ventilated seats - The same very handy under-dash storage bins we’ve loved for cellphone, keys, little miscellaneous stuff we want to keep accessible on long drives. Theres also a useful deeper tray forward of the gear shift next to the USB ports for little stuff - Rain-sensing wipers and auto-high beams (both only on the Platinum trim) - The same power panoramic moonroof (which we mainly use to let more light into the car or block the hot sun} - Same great JBL sound (11 speakers, with a woofer installed in a left side cargo area panel, in place of a storage nook). New tweeter speakers on the front dash pillars enhance high frequencies, helpful for hearing voices, both in music and on the phone - The same accurate dual and 2nd row Climate Control – though new dash controls require some relearning. All-in-all, we are delighted with our new car and highly recommend it to anyone with space needs similar to ours wanting to take a step toward greener driving.
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My Second Highlander
J’s 2024. , 06/22/2024
updated 01/06/2025
2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I replaced my 2019 Highlander, gas 6 cylinder, with a 2024 Highlander Hybrid limited. Overall it seems better but I miss being to open just the back window. Also, I feel the seats were more comfortable the 2019. However the gas mileage is amazing. 36-40mpg on most trips compared to 17-24 on the 2019. It is nice on the highway and the engine noise is not that bad even if I need a boost of power! With just over 3000 miles on the 2024 it seems a solid investment and should be good for many years. One side note, the dealers today do not give you a detailed owners manual, only a short version unless you want to purchase one for $50-$65. For a vehicle which we are forced to pay sticker price we should be given an owners manual to help us operate this machine. The online version doesn’t work for me. Update: Now with 12,500 miles on the Highlander, I continue to be happy. Great gas mileage. Comfort is good and engine noise is no different than in my previous 2019 with a gas 6 cylinder engine. I continually see 36-42 mpg on many of my local trips. About 32mpg on the highway. With the colder weather here in PA, I have seen a drop in the gas mileage but that was expected.
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2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid for sale near you
3 of 44 listings
- Platinum 4dr SUVMSRP: $56,502406 mi away
- Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $53,494139 mi away
- Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $53,000348 mi away
See all 44 listings
Great suv for what I need
Sdp, 12/16/2024
2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is a good looking and very practical suv. I have the hybrid Bronze edition. I get about 36 MPG combined while driving in eco mode. It’s roomy in the passenger and 2nd row. The third row is a bit cramped however and made for children under 11 years old to be comfortable. The only downside is that the trunk space is bit small if the 3rd row is in the seated position.
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Doesn’t get 35-36mpg
Holly, 01/10/2024
2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE Nightshade 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have gotten up to nearly 1000miles on my 2024 Highlander Hybrid and I haven’t gotten more than 32mpg. I don’t drive like a nascar driver but also not like a granny. Don’t know why else to do to up mpg but would really like to get the advertised 36mpg.
Truly fantastic companion
Daniel T, 05/15/2024
2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
When I replaced my Venza (V6, I really loved that car) with the 2021 Highlander Hybrid in late 2020, I was a bit on the fence: my first hybrid, 4 cylinders "only", SUV rather than crossover, and it was the middle of the pandemic with no deals on new vehicles. This car, however, has truly exceeded my expectations in the little over 3 years of ownership. Sure, the 4 cylinders will make themselves heard a bit in acceleration and the vehicle is less zippy than my previous one (but it is fast for sure). The drive itself, however, will more than compensate for that: it is extremely quiet, well balanced and safe. The vehicle is very spacious, sturdy and well put together. The bells and whistles are abundant, and what little was criticized by experts (e.g. lack of power folding mirrors, position of wireless charger, wireless carplay, etc.) was fixed with the next model year, not that it bothers me. If there are things that I wish were a bit better, the fuel tank capacity would be one of them. I get about 440 miles with a full tank, translating to about 31 MPG since I can only put in 14 gallons. Considering that 80% of my drive is highway (where the hybrid savings effect is much smaller), this is actually a very good MPG. However, the 17.1 gallons of officially disclosed tank capacity are - I believe - from Fantasyland. Even nursing the pump and squeezing as much as possible into the tank, 14 gallons is the max. before it creates a spill. The other thing that I have to accept: the entire front fascia is made of probably softer plastic, and rock chips are all over it. Also, rock chips seem to happen quite quickly in the windshield, not sure why. The last thing: the OEM 12v-battery that came with the vehicle is not best quality (and it appears that this is a known fact). There seems to be a bit of a misconception that a hybrid vehicle should have no 12v-battery issues. In reality, these batteries are probably under a bit more stress than in a non-hybrid vehicle. My recommendation: change it out after 2 years with a high-quality branded battery, or you'll end up with a dead battery at a most inconvenient moment. Despite that, I can definitely only recommend this car (and trim level). Sometimes, I miss my Venza when I see one on the road, but this is just sentimentalism. The Highlander Hybrid is such a pleasure to drive and to own.
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