I drove Toyota’s $55,000 Highlander Hybrid. It’s an efficient and well-made family SUV, but lacks power and space.

• The Toyota Highlander is one of the best-selling three-row family SUVs in the US.
• I was impressed by its efficient hybrid powertrain, well-designed cabin, and strong build quality.
• I was disappointed by its noisy engine, tepid performance, and limited passenger/cargo space.

For much of its existence, the Toyota Highlander was a unicorn as the only three-row, midsize family SUV available as a hybrid.

But a number of hybrid and battery-electric options have come onto the market in recent years, such as the Mazda CX-90 PHEV and Kia EV9.

Despite the growing competition, the fourth-generation Highlander, which debuted in late 2019, remains extremely popular with consumers.

Sales took a 24% dip in 2023, due in large part to the introduction of the bigger Grand Highlander. Yet Toyota still managed to move nearly 170,000 Highlanders off dealership lots, outselling rivals like the Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Nissan Pathfinder, and Subaru Ascent.