2016 Toyota Highlander review
Toyota Highlander highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Tough SUV exterior
- Refined and compliant ride
- Seating for up to eight
Cons
- Base four-cylinder engine lacks power
- Third-row seating is better for kids
- Limited cargo room with all seats up
Mileage (EPA estimate)
18 city, 24 highway, 20 combined
Pricing for current inventory
From $24,998*
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An SUV to fit all life's adventures
Want to maximize space in your vehicle? Maybe you have three kids in car seats and need an SUV that allows them to ride in comfort. Or perhaps you want a car that can fit your crew for a weekend adventure—and tow the camper to boot. No matter why you need space, the Toyota Highlander stands out. It's one of the few midsize SUVs that can seat up to eight people, and it also boasts great cargo and towing capacity.
All Toyota Highlander years
Not sure what year to select? Learn about each Toyota Highlander generation from 2012 to 2026
What is new for the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
- The LE Plus trim now comes with Navigation System and Bluetooth Technology as standard equipment.
- The XLE trim now comes with Bluetooth Technology as standard equipment.
2016 Toyota Highlander trims
Curious how Toyota Highlander trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similaritiesLE
Includes cloth seats, 6.1-inch touchscreen, backup camera, six-way adjustable driver's seat, and more.
LE Plus
Adds fog lights, flip-up rear hatch, adjustable liftgate, three-zone climate control, eight-inch touchscreen, and more.
XLE
Adds moonroof, roof rails, leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, navigation, push-button start, available second-row captain's chairs, and more.
Limited
Adds leather seats, rear parking sonar, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, standard second-row captain's chairs, and more.
5 reasons to buy the 2016 Toyota Highlander
1. Fits the whole family
Why take two cars when you can take one? The 2016 Toyota Highlander makes traveling with your family or friends simple. Sliding seats give easy access to the third row, so you don't have to leave anyone behind. If you're traveling with little kids, you'll love that the Highlander has three full LATCH connections in the second row and can fit three car seats side by side.
2. Upgraded towing capacity
If you're into camping or boats, you'll enjoy the 2016 Toyota Highlander's towing capacity. The base model with a 2.7L four-cylinder engine can tow an estimated 1,500 lbs when properly equipped.
When you upgrade to the Highlander's 3.5L V6—an option at the base level and standard on all other trims—towing capacity leaps up to an estimated 5,000 lbs when properly equipped. As of the 2016 model year, the tow package comes standard with any V6 Toyota Highlander.3. Customizable liftgate
The 2016 Toyota Highlander is designed to make it easy to get whatever you need out of the back. In every trim except the base model, the 2016 Toyota Highlander offers an adjustable-height liftgate and a flip-up rear window. If you park in a garage, you can program the liftgate to only reach a certain height to prevent bumps and scrapes. Plus, when you've packed your Highlander to the brim, you'll appreciate being able to reach in the rear window for essentials, rather than opening the entire back.
4. Off-road capabilities
The 2016 Toyota Highlander comes standard with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available on every trim. With all-wheel drive, the Toyota Highlander becomes a capable off-roader. All trims have eight inches of ground clearance and come standard with features like downhill assist control. If you want to get off the beaten path, the 2016 Highlander can take you there.
5. Tech connectivity
Stay connected with the 2016 Toyota Highlander, which comes standard with Bluetooth®, Siri® Eyes Free, and iPod®7 capability. It also has two USB ports to keep your phones connected and charged. The base trim comes with a 6.1-inch touchscreen, while all other trims have an eight-inch touchscreen.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2016 Toyota Highlander, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
The 2017-2020 Nissan Pathfinder is a midsize SUV that comes standard with seating for seven, with a second-row bench and two seats in the third row. The 2017-2020 Pathfinder comes standard with a 284-hp 3.5L V6 engine. With that engine, the 2017 Pathfinder can tow an estimated 6,000 lbs when properly equipped, so it's a great SUV if you regularly tow campers or boats.
With 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, the 2017 Pathfinder offers plenty of storage.Here's what you'll find on the 2017-2020 Nissan Pathfinder:
Eight-inch touchscreen
Push-button start
Available panoramic moonroof
The Dodge Durango is a midsize SUV that stands out for its strong engine options. On model years 2016 and earlier, the Durango comes standard with seating for seven; model years 2017 and later come standard with seating for five, though a third row is an available option. The 2017-2021 Durango comes standard with a 293-hp 3.6L V6 engine. From there, the power just increases, with various V8 engine options available.
Here's what you'll find on the 2017-2020 Dodge Durango:
Six-speaker audio system
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity (2018 and later)
Available second- and third-row captain's chairs
The Chevrolet Traverse is a three-row midsize SUV that comes standard with seating for eight people. Available third-row captain's chairs drop seating to seven. Model years 2016-2017 come with a 3.6L V6 engine that produces 281-288 horsepower, depending on the trim. A 2018 redesign replaced that engine with a 310-hp 3.6L V6 that comes standard on model years 2018-2022.
Here's what you can expect on the 2016-2022 Chevrolet Traverse:
6.5-inch touchscreen (2016-2017); 7-inch touchscreen (2018 and later)
Six USB ports (2018 and later)
Rear-seat reminder to check for child passengers (2018 and later)
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Ratings & reliability
Customer ratings
4.7 out of 5
26 customer reviews| 5 Stars | 20 |
|---|---|
| 4 Stars | 5 |
| 3 Stars | 1 |
| 2 Stars | 0 |
| 1 Star | 0 |
RepairPal gave the Toyota Highlander an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Toyota Highlander 6th out of 32 among Midsize SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Toyota HighlanderToyota Highlander features and specs
Curious how Toyota Highlander trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities
XLE 2WD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- CD Audio
- Cruise Control
- Entune
- Fold-Away Third Row
- Front Seat Heaters
- Leather Seats
- Navigation System
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Hatch/Deck Lid
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Seat(s)
- Power Windows
- Rear Air Conditioning
- Rear Defroster
- Rear Sunshade
- Rear View Camera
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Sunroof(s)
- Third Row Seat
- Traction Control
- Bluetooth Technology
- Full Roof Rack
- Quad Seats
- Rear Entertainment System
- Remote Start
- Running Boards
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
3.5L
Horsepower
270
Torque (ft-lbs)
248
Engine type
Gas
Fuel capacity
19.2
Wheelbase
109.8"
Overall length
191.1"
Width
75.8"
Height
68.1"
Leg room
F 44.2"/M 38.4"/R 27.7"
Head room
F 39.5"/M 39.6"/R 35.9"
Front tires
P245/60SR18
Rear tires
P245/60SR18
Seating capacity
8
Max towing capacity
500/5000 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2016 Toyota Highlander FAQ
While the Toyota Highlander isn't classified as a luxury car, it does have luxury features on upper trims. On the 2016 Toyota Highlander, for example, you'll find heated leather front seats and a moonroof on XLE and Limited trims.
The Highlander is bigger than the 4Runner. Most notably, the 2016 4Runner only has seating for five passengers, while the 2016 Toyota Highlander comes standard with seating for eight people. These SUVs do have comparable cargo space behind the second row: the 2016 4Runner has 46.3 cubic feet, while the 2016 Highlander has 42.3 cubic feet.
Yes, the Highlander can go off-road. If you're off-roading, you'll want to select the available all-wheel drive, and you might also want the more powerful V6 engine. Even without those upgrades, the Highlander comes standard with eight inches of ground clearance and downhill assist control.
More about the 2016 Toyota Highlander
Exterior colors:
Alumina Jade Metallic
Blizzard Pearl
Crème Brulee Mica
Midnight Black Metallic
Nautical Blue Metallic
Ooh La La Rouge Mica
Predawn Gray Mica
Shoreline Blue Pearl
Silver Sky Metallic
Interior colors:
Almond
Ash
Black
Interior details
The Toyota Highlander is a supremely comfortable midsize SUV. The 2016 model comes standard with cloth seats and second- and third-row benches. Second-row captain's chairs are available on the XLE trim and standard on the Limited trim. The 2016 Highlander comes standard with a soft-touch upper door trim, with more soft-touch finishes available at higher trim levels. A power moonroof becomes standard at the XLE trim.
Child seat details
The 2016 Toyota Highlander is a great vehicle for families with many car seats. This SUV has three complete sets of LATCH anchors on the second-row bench. Three car seats can fit side by side, which is a rare perk. The third row of the Highlander has no LATCH connections and only one rear car seat tether, which is located behind the middle seat.
Manufacturer warranty
When new, the 2016 Toyota Highlander included 3-year/36,000-mile (whichever occurs first) basic coverage and 5-year/60,000-mile (whichever occurs first) powertrain coverage. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. See Warranty Information Booklet for complete details. The balance of this warranty may apply on some vehicles.
Performance
The 2016 Toyota Highlander comes standard with a 2.7L four-cylinder engine on the base trim, and a 3.5L V6 engine on all other models. With the V6 engine and all-wheel drive, the 2016 Toyota Highlander can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds and reach top speeds of 114 mph (according to the manufacturer, when new). All 2016 Highlanders come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission that has sequential shift mode and snow mode. All 2016 V6 Highlanders come with a transmission cooling system to support towing capacity.
Emissions
According to EPA estimates, the FWD four-cylinder 2016 Toyota Highlander's tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions are 398 grams per mile.
According to EPA estimates, the FWD V6 2016 Toyota Highlander's tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions are 425 grams per mile.
According to EPA estimates, the AWD V6 2016 Toyota Highlander's tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions are 437 grams per mile.
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