Compact SUVs have room for five passengers, while full-size SUVs have room for up to nine adult passengers and plenty of cargo space. Somewhere in the grey area between are midsize SUVs. Many of them offer three rows of seating, but sometimes that third row is best reserved for smaller passengers. Many also offer towing, but the maximum towing is often just slightly higher than that of compact SUVs.

Midsize SUVs seem to be losing their identity as automakers shuffle capability and convenience features to appeal to various market segments. However, the 2025 Toyota Highlander asks, “Why not have it all?”

With plenty of power, a full array of options that meet different drivers’ needs, and configurable space that can comfortably keep your crew and cargo in check, the 2025 Highlander has so much to offer to so many drivers that it might just be a midsize mega-SUV. Let’s take a look at what the 2025 Toyota Highlander has to offer.

Dynamic Performance: Powering the 2025 Toyota Highlander

There are technically two different 2025 Toyota Highlanders available today. The first, and the subject of this post, is the gasoline-powered version.

Armed with a 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the gasoline-powered models are capable of a hearty 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Offered in LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum trims, drivers can also choose the drivetrain that makes the most sense for their daily driving needs.

The LE and XLE trims are offered with a choice between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The Limited trim offers a choice between front-wheel drive and Toyota’s Dynamic Torque Vectoring all-wheel drive system. The XSE and Platinum trims are offered exclusively with this upgraded, more responsive all-wheel drive system. All the all-wheel drive models include Multi-Terrain Select driving modes, including Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, and Snow modes.

Those who prefer an active drive may want to check out the Highlander XSE. With a specialized sport-tuned suspension, this version of the SUV takes turns with more attitude and finesse than the other vehicles in the lineup. However, those who prefer a little extra savings at the gas pump may wish to check out the hybrid version of the 2025 Highlander.

The trim levels are different for the hybrid; however, many of the features are similar. The hybrid XLE, XLE Nightshade, Limited, Limited 25th Edition, and Platinum trims are equipped with a 2.5L engine and electric motor for a combined 243 hp. The Highlander hybrid models are deserving of their own full spotlight article, but if 35 MPG combined is music to your ears, ask to experience Toyota’s hybrid SUVs in person.

Key Features: The 2025 Toyota Highlander at a Glance

With an overall body length measuring just under 200 inches, the Highlander is much larger than its car-like driving manners may suggest. The LE and XLE trims ride on 18-inch wheels, while the XSE, Limited, and Platinum models all have 20-inch wheels. The result is a comfortable eight inches of ground clearance.

Toyota helps provide Highlander drivers with plenty of peace of mind thanks to the impressive suite of safety and driver assistance technology that’s on board each and every trim. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ package is standard on all models, equipping them with a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Road Sign Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Toyota has also given every 2025 Highlander a Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

However, climbing the trims adds even more to the overall sense of well-being drivers can find behind the wheel of a Highlander. While the LE, XLE, and XSE include a backup camera, the Limited and Platinum trims add dynamic grid lines along with Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking. The Limited and Platinum also offer a 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor, which provides a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle when driving at low speeds.

Flexible Space in the 2025 Toyota Highlander

The 2025 Toyota Highlander comes with three rows of seating; however, drivers have the option of whether they’d like seven or eight total seats. The LE comes standard with second- and third-row bench seats for a total of eight seats, and the XLE and Limited trims can also be configured with two rear bench seats.

Choosing the seven-passenger configuration equips the second row with two cozy captain’s chairs. In both versions, the second row can fold flat, while the third row offers a 60/40 split-folding function, allowing drivers to create the best space for their passengers and cargo.

With all seats occupied, the 2025 Highlander can accommodate 16 cu.ft. of gear. With the third row stowed, that space increases to 48.4 cu.ft. Folding all the rear seats provides a maximum of 84.3 cu.ft. of cargo space. If that only scratches the surface of your cargo needs, bear in mind that all Highlander models can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Comfort for All: Must-Have Features

The sleek, sophisticated interior of the 2025 Toyota Highlander provides each passenger with their own comfortable nook within the vehicle. Standard features like 14 cup holders, three-zone automatic climate control with a separate control panel for the second row, five USB ports, and two 12-volt outlets help keep all passengers comfortable and connected.

The Highlander LE starts things off right with fabric-upholstered seats and a power-adjustable driver seat. Stepping up to the XLE or XSE trim unlocks SofTex seats in the front and second rows and a power-adjustable front passenger seat. The front seats in these trim levels are heated and add power lumbar adjustments.

The Limited includes leather-trimmed seats, and the front two seats are not just heated and power-adjustable, but ventilated with memory function. At the Platinum level, the second-row seats are also heated.

Cutting-Edge Connectivity: Top-of-the-Line Tech

But the 2025 Toyota Highlander isn’t just about good looks and comfort—its onboard technology provides drivers with the latest in connectivity and convenience. The technological centerpiece in the LE, XLE, and XSE trims is the eight-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, which offers wireless compatibility with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This screen is flanked by the seven-inch color Multi-Information Display behind the steering wheel, which provides drivers with information about the vehicle as well as safety alerts.

The Limited and Platinum trims take tech to the next level with a 12.3-inch version of this system, along with an 11-speaker JBL Premium Audio system. This enormous touchscreen is accompanied by a 12.3-inch color digital gauge cluster. There are plenty more top-shelf features exclusive to the top Platinum trim, including a digital rearview mirror with a universal garage door opener, a 10-inch color Head-Up Display, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a panoramic glass roof with a power moonroof.

Of course, the other trims are not without their charms. A power moonroof is standard on all but the LE trim, as is an auto-dimming rearview mirror, wireless smartphone charging, and a hands-free power rear liftgate.

Perfectly Balanced: The 2025 Toyota Highlander Shines

The 2025 Toyota Highlander takes its job as a midsize SUV seriously. In a world in which some SUVs have lost their identities, Toyota has settled the Highlander into a “just right” spot of power, sophistication, versatility, and impressiveness.

Toyota allows drivers all the right choices in picking the drivetrain and features that best suit their needs, without creating a complicated roadmap of choices that overwhelms the driving experience. This makes the Highlander the gold standard for the three-row midsize SUV.