The Toyota Highlander stands out as an excellent choice for navigating the diverse landscapes of Phoenix, Arizona. Its… comfortable and quiet ride makes it well-suited for long trips to iconic destinations like the Grand Canyon or Sedona, where families can enjoy the scenic views without sacrificing comfort. With a powerful V6 engine providing both performance and fuel efficiency, the Highlander can handle the steep inclines and desert terrain that surround the city, making it a reliable companion for both daily commutes and weekend adventures.
However, potential buyers should be mindful of the Highlander's smaller cargo space and cramped third-row seating, which may limit its practicality for larger families or those needing significant storage space for gear. If frequent road trips or transporting equipment for outdoor activities is a priority, alternatives with more spacious interiors, such as the Kia Telluride or Honda Pilot, may serve you better. That said, if a comfortable, easy-to-drive SUV appeals to you, the Highlander remains a strong contender for life in the Valley of the Sun.
EchoPark Automotive Phoenix (Avondale) (13 mi away)
Back-up camera
Bluetooth
Keyless Entry/Start
Third-row seating
Upgraded Headlights
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Located in Avondale, AZ / 13 miles away from Phoenix, AZ
At EchoPark, it’s all about offering you options for a happy experience. We have thousands of new-to-you makes and models that range from sedans to tr...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
25 Combined MPG (22 City/29 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5TDKDRAHXPS510322 Stock: RPS510322 Certified Pre-Owned: No Listed since: 03-31-2025
Located in Phoenix, AZ / 9 miles away from Phoenix, AZ
Experience the Ultimate in Comfort and Versatility with the 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE: Perfect for Adventurous Families and Daily Commuters AlikeDisc...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (21 City/29 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5TDGZRAH2NS112929 Stock: P22768 Certified Pre-Owned: No Listed since: 03-05-2025
Located in Phoenix, AZ / 12 miles away from Phoenix, AZ
Thanks for visiting our site. We have plenty of vehicles in stock and more on the way!Exterior color is , Interior color This vehicle comes with the ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary Unavailable.
Features and Specs:
25 Combined MPG (22 City/29 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5TDKDRAH7PS033798 Stock: PS033798 Certified Pre-Owned: No Listed since: 04-22-2025
EchoPark Automotive Phoenix (Avondale) (13 mi away)
AWD/4WD
Back-up camera
Bluetooth
Navigation
Leather Seats
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Located in Avondale, AZ / 13 miles away from Phoenix, AZ
At EchoPark, it’s all about offering you options for a happy experience. We have thousands of new-to-you makes and models that range from sedans to tr...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
20 Combined MPG (18 City/24 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5TDJKRFHXES051994 Stock: CES051994 Certified Pre-Owned: No Listed since: 03-12-2025
Located in Mesa, AZ / 14 miles away from Phoenix, AZ
THIS TWO OWNER 2016 HIGHLANDER HAS A CLEAN CARFAX AND A GREAT SERVICE HISTORY RECORD, PLUS ITS PRICED TO SELL FAST. HURRY IN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5TDZKRFH6GS180871 Stock: C80871 Certified Pre-Owned: No Listed since: 01-17-2024
Located in Surprise, AZ / 21 miles away from Phoenix, AZ
Odometer is 18808 miles below market average! Certified. CARFAX One-Owner. 22/29 City/Highway MPGToyota of Surprise is Different! We are a Penske Aut...
Located in Chandler, AZ / 22 miles away from Phoenix, AZ
This vehicle is a 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE, a certified pre-owned SUV with low mileage of 14,573 miles. It has a 3.5 liter 6 cylinder engine with fu...
We’ve had Toyotas for 25 years, so I’ll be commenting from that perspective.
Pros:
Performance: The four-cylinder turbo / 8 speed transmission combination has plenty of power, and no discernible turbo lag. It responds more quickly than our 2012 Camry V6, which I didn’t believe was possible for an SUV that is definitely heavier. I was wary of an eight speed transmission, but the power … flows very smoothly. The ride is smooth, but not mushy, and it corners well, with very little body roll. The interior noise is not quite as quiet as our 2012 Camry XLE.
Instrumentation: This is my first new car in a while, so I was also concerned about how complicated the controls would be. I was pleased to find that the climate controls all have dedicated physical switches and buttons (don’t have to go through the touchscreen). The AC is definitely strong enough to cool things down quickly. The satellite radio settings on the touchscreen are fairly straightforward, and the steering wheel controls for changing channels and volume are easy to use. The displays for the other settings are a little complex, but I could figure all of them out over time without needing to look at the manual.
Safety: The advanced safety and driver aids are also easy to enable, and very helpful. The blindspot detection and the cross traffic detection when backing up have both been tremendously effective (to warn of potential collisions).
Seating: I am big and tall (6’4”), but I can fit easily in the XLE model (with the sunroof) with no problems. The full power seats for both driver and passenger are great. The only model I could find had captain’s chairs for the rear seats, which are fine, and fold completely flat for additional rear storage, but I would’ve preferred to get the bench seat option. The soft gray leatherette seat material is distinctly cooler in the sun than the tan leather seats of our older Camry, and feels fine.
App: I wasn’t expecting to have an iPhone app with my new SUV, but this one has been very handy. You can lock/unlock and remote start the car via Wi-Fi (after the 3 month introductory period, there’s a small fee to keep that enabled).
Cons:
3rd Row Seating: I didn’t buy this car for the third row seating, so it doesn’t bother me about tiny and insufficient it is. It folds completely flat, and will stay that way.
Rear Storage: The fold flat third seat raises the floor for all storage in the back compared with my older 2006 Highlander. The more sculpted outside shape also consumes some internal storage space. Having said that, there is still plenty of room to haul things from the garden center or to the recycling location.
Conclusion:
I’m very very happy with this car, Which I feel is in line with the best characteristics of the previous Toyota we’ve owned.
