2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum

The midsize, 3-row Highlander—one of Toyota's best-selling vehicles—is a solid value, partly because of its abundance of standard features, which include LED headlights with auto high beams, a power liftgate, 3-zone automatic climate control, and a full suite of advanced safety features. The hybrid drivetrain on our test vehicle only increases its value. It costs less than $2,000 more than the standard Highlander but gets about 10 mpg more, enabling owners to quickly make up the price difference in fuel savings. Unfortunately, that hybrid drivetrain is also noisy and underpowered, and it's paired with a droning CVT transmission. The Highlander delivers a decent, comfortable ride for passengers, even over bumps and rough roads. Visibility is good all around, especially in the rear. There's plenty of space, including storage, in the Highlander's first and second rows, and entry and exit there is easy. But only kids will be comfortable in the third row. The center console is decently sized, with sufficient hard keys to control vehicle functions. But some of the console materials feel a bit cheap; many touch-screen menus are unintuitive and distracting; and the instrument cluster graphics are outdated. Finally, the Highlander lacks any real driving engagement: Handling, steering, and braking provide the driver with virtually no feedback.