2023 Toyota Highlander Turbo 4 replaces old reliable V-6

V-6 is dead. Turbo 40,000 years old.

of 2023 Toyota Highlander The midsize crossover will no longer have the 3.5-liter V-6 engine that suburban families across North America have come to expect from a three-row SUV. This year, the top engine is his new 265-horsepower 2.4-liter Turbo Four, which produces 310 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that powers the front wheels or all four wheels.

Highlanders have offered a V-6 since its launch in 2001, but it has been deemed too thirsty by increasingly stringent corporate average fuel economy and emissions regulations. From 23 mpg in 2022 on his V-6 with front or all-wheel drive to 24 mpg this year on the new Turbo 4 paired with AWD, the improvement in the EPA’s combined fuel efficiency rating is only a mile or two per gallon. . , or 25 mpg in basic FWD format. The 36 mpg Highlander Hybrid is essentially unchanged.

That’s 30 horsepower down on the V-6 rated at 295 hp, but Toyota says the Turbo 4’s maximum torque is up 17% from its 263 lb-ft of torque. Toyota stresses that the smaller engine doesn’t change the Highlander’s towing capacity up to 5,000 pounds. This is an important specification for the buyer. Hybrids can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

There aren’t many other changes to this year’s Highlander, with the 2023 model including two 12.3-inch screens, one for the instrument cluster, replacing the 7.7-inch digital display, and one for multimedia. A central touchscreen for the .These trims also come standard with power-folding door mirrors. A larger digital cluster is an option on the XLE and XSE grades, while the lower-end L and LE models get an upgrade from last year’s 4.2-inch version to a 7.7-inch cluster. For 2023, the base FWD Highlander starts at $37,755 and the Highlander Hybrid starts at $41,555. Both prices include a mandatory $1,335 shipping fee.

don’t spoil your success

Let’s be honest, many 2023 Highlander buyers may not know they’ve lost their V-6 unless they ask. The new Turbo 4 responds nicely above about 3,000 rpm, but is average below. In other words, parents who step into it can quickly move their children to after-school events.

they will find a turbo toyota highlander However, it gets noisy above 4,000 rpm. At least in part, this is the result of many automakers, including Toyota, making great strides in reducing noise, vibration, and harshness at low engine revs. The difference between an almost silent idle and a full he-on acceleration run is much greater than it was a decade ago. This is a disincentive to drive the Highlander hard, and you don’t need it to otherwise maintain good fuel economy.

Toyota estimates its AWD 2023 test vehicle accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds, or 0.3 seconds slower than last year’s V-6. The FF model’s difference is even smaller, just 0.1 seconds longer than last year’s 7.6 seconds. Surprisingly, the Turbo 4’s maximum torque comes at much lower engine speeds this year. 3,600 rpm compared to last year’s 4,700 rpm for the V-6. We didn’t feel much torque below 2,000 rpm, but drivers will get used to the new engine.

The company currently manufactures approximately 250,000 Highlanders annually in Indiana and exports them worldwide. The company knows his SUV’s market well and is confident that this new engine won’t upset buyers or ruffle the demand curve.

Our test vehicle was a 2023 Toyota Highlander XSE AWD in a rich metallic white called Wind Chill Pearl with a Cockpit Red interior. Top of the Highlander SE/XSE ‘sporty look’ trim line with 20″ machined alloy wheels, numerous power accessories, optional 12.3″ touchscreen infotainment interface and 11 speakers It included a JBL audio system to power the . Our vehicle revenue was $48,075 including shipping. Dealers nationwide are now adding significant surcharges to their recommended sticker prices, so shop with caution.

Toyota provided airfare, accommodation, and meals so that The Car Connection could bring you this test drive review.