Toyota Highlander XSE (2021) The best midsize suv? highlander xse, interior, exterior (review)

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The Toyota Highlander is gaining an XSE model, which will come with sportier tuning
for the suspension and steering, as well as an aggressive look.
The trim will be available this fall on the 2021 Highlander.
The Highlander XSE has the same engine as the standard model, a 3.5-liter V-6.

Mainstream SUVs aren't exactly known for their sporty attributes, but the likes of Ford, Jeep, and others all offer performance variants of their SUVs—and now Toyota is jumping on the bandwagon. The company is expanding the available trims on the Highlander to include XSE, a level which brings with it upgraded and sportier looks, as well as performance-tuned steering and suspension.

The XSE trim, then, is an attempt to wake up the Highlander with a more athletic and aggressive stance that includes a significantly larger lower air intake and sharper-angled headlights. It also gains a chrome dual-tip exhaust.

That exhaust is more for aesthetics than anything else. The Highlander XSE is paired with the same 3.5-liter V-6 churning out 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque that comes on the standard Highlander. The XSE comes with the same eight-speed automatic transmission and is available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Toyota claims that it has retuned the suspension with stiffer springs and dampers and the addition of a rear anti-roll bar; the steering is also said to provide sportier feel.

2021 Toyota Highlander (overview)

Three-row SUVs are the modern-day equivalent of the old-school family station wagon, and the 2021 Toyota Highlander dutifully gets the job done—and then some. Buyers can choose from the standard V-6 engine or go with the fuel-sipping hybrid option; both powertrains are available with all-wheel drive. Inside, there are three rows of seats—although the rearmost perches are sized for kids or young adults. The nicely-equipped cabin is packed with infotainment features and thoughtful storage cubbies. Toyota also equips every Highlander with an extensive suite of standard driver-assistance features to provide an additional layer of safety.

L, $36,085.
LE, $38,285.
Hybrid, $39,685.
XLE, $41,085.
XSE, $42,680.
Limited, $45,040.
Platinum, $48,240.

In our view, the mid-range XLE is the pick of the litter. It has heated front seats, a wireless smartphone-charging pad, and a power sunroof, among other niceties. We'd also spring for the Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation package, which brings in-dash navigation and an upgraded stereo system. All-wheel drive will add $1600 to the bottom line. And opting for the hybrid powertrain over the standard V-6 will cost an extra $1400.


The Highlander comes with a 295-hp 3.5-liter V-6, which pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive. During a brief test drive, we found the V-6 could tackle short on-ramps without straining; at our test track, our all-wheel-drive test vehicle made it to 60 mph in reasonably-quick 6.7 seconds. Handling is unexciting but stable, and the ride is perfectly suitable for family-chauffer duty. More driving enjoyment can be found in the Mazda CX-9.

A 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors team up for a combined 243 horsepower in the Highlander Hybrid. This model comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and a choice between front- and all-wheel drive. Leveraging Toyota's hybrid expertise, this powertrain provides buyers with something more fuel-efficient than the standard model. The tradeoff comes in acceleration performance, both due to the hybrid's lower horsepower rating and the fact that this model uses a CVT instead of the nonhybrid's eight-speed automatic.

2021 toyota highlander xse interior.

Base L and mid-range LE models can seat eight passengers using bench seats in the second and third rows, but a seven-seat arrangement with second-row captain's chairs is available on higher trims. Passenger space is more generous here than in the CX-9, but not as spacious as in the Chevrolet Traverse, especially in the third row. Materials throughout the cabin are much improved over those in the last-generation Highlander.

Infotainment and Connectivity

An 8.0-inch infotainment system comes standard on most trims, but the Highlander Limited and Platinum get a 12.3-inch display. An 11-speaker JBL audio system is available. Toyota provides SiriusXM satellite radio, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration for all models.


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