My week with the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD was memorable and just added to the love I have for the Toyota Brand. The Highlander is already an awesome vehicle but when you add the Hybrid motor plus the Platinum trim, you have a vehicle blazing a trail in the Hybrid SUV segment. The highlights were the overall tough but elegant look of the exterior, the technology and beautiful interior and the power /performance to gas mileage ratio. Toyota seems to have checked every box with this latest iteration of the Highlander.
Exterior:
The exterior design, marked by an imposing grille, distinct light fixtures, and chrome accents, exudes confidence. Toyota really flexes it’s muscles with this SUV design. The Platinum trim adds bold 20-inch wheels, roof rails, and touches of chrome, enhancing its premium appearance and giving it just the right amount of elegance and luxury.
2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum
Interior:
The Highlander Platinum’s interior is a testament to luxury. Quality materials, meticulous stitching, comfortable seats, a substantial center-stack screen, and ample storage define the cabin. The gauges are easily readable with a 12.3-inch center stack screen, and a 10-inch head-up display. The JBL entertainment system’s sound quality is amazing. Additional tech featurese include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The interior’s tranquility is maintained, with minimal road noise intrusion. It is comfortable to drive and it just feels like you are protected while you drive.
Passengers love the Highlander as well. The 3rd row seating makes it easy to fit a large family. It is roomy and comfortable with plenty of outlets for everyone to charge their devices. Perfect for any road trip.
Powertrain:
Powered by a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive with dynamic torque vectoring, the Highlander Platinum offers a balanced and efficient drive. With a combined fuel economy of 35 mpg, it can tow up to 5,000 pounds. The blend of gas mileage and power are almost unbelievable for a SUV of this size. Toyota’s engineering is impressive on the 2023 Highlander.
Safety:
The Highlander Platinum is equipped with advanced safety feature which are part of the Toyota Safety Sense ™ 2.5+. A bundle of safety features including a pre-collision system, dynamic radar-based cruise control, multiple airbags, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot detection, and more.
Driving Experience:
Despite its size, the Highlander remains easy to handle in urban areas. The 2.4-liter engine delivers adequate power for daily driving, and the well-tuned suspension provides a smooth ride. The steering is crisp and the Highlander drives like a dream. I felt ready for whatever adventure came my way and there is a feeling of being protected and overall reliability when you drive the Highlander. This, I have found, is a key trait to Toyota vehicles in general and is one of the reason the brand is so popular across all vehicle segments.
2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum
Conclusion:
The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD is a standout in the hybrid SUV segment. Its fusion of fuel efficiency, luxurious features, and advanced safety technologies makes it a compelling choice. While the base Highlander starts around MSRP $37,000, My test vehicle with the Platinum trim was at MSRP $53,760. The Highlander has a lot of versions that could appeal to a wide variety of drivers considering a larger SUV.
For more info and to check out the official word from Toyota on all things Highlander visit here:
