2022 Toyota Highlander Platinum AWD

By: Krish Persaud
May 15, 2022

It’s hard to believe it’s been over 20 years since the Toyota Highlander was introduced. Back in 2001, the Toyota Highlander hit the North American market as Toyota’s new mid-size SUV. Based on the Camry platform, it fits nicely between the Rav4 and the 4Runner. It was designed to be a smooth daily driver, but it also had the ability to go off-road. The 2001 Highlander, which was available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, quickly established itself as one of the best-selling SUVs year after year.

Now in the fourth-generation, the Highlander based on the TNGA-K remains unchanged for 2022. We simply couldn’t resist testing this SUV, which Toyota Canada kindly loaned us for a week. The 2022 Toyota Highlander Platinum AWD came with 20″ Alloy Wheels, a Panoramic Moonroof, 3-Zone Independent Automatic Climate Control, a 11-Speaker JBL Audio Clari-Fi Audio System, and a Power Rear Door with a Kick Sensor, among other things.

Our 2022 Toyota Highlander Platinum AWD test vehicle was equipped with a 2GR-FKS 3.5-litre V-6 engine that produced 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, and was mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. We’ve always enjoyed the sound of a V-6, and Toyota’s V-6 not only sounds great but also performs admirably, passing traffic on the highway with ease.

The Highlander is a stylish mid-size, three-row SUV featuring LED headlights and taillights as standard equipment. The 20″ alloy wheels included with the Platinum package are a nice touch. It’s designed to feel like a car yet performs like an SUV.

It isn’t a sports car and doesn’t need to be; it is an SUV and a damn good one. The ride is smooth, soaking up the imperfections of our Ontario roads, and the steering is light but accurate, as we would expect.

The Highlander’s interior is exceptionally user-friendly. There are physical buttons for climate control, as well as controls on the infotainment screen. The heated and cooled front seats, as well as the second row, are exceptionally supportive and pleasant for extended trips. However, the third row is better suited for shorter drives as it can quickly become uncomfortable.

The Toyota Highlander Platinum AWD comes standard with Toyota’s well-known 12.3-inch infotainment system. Many functions can be performed with ease using voice prompts because of the familiar face. The touchscreen responds almost instantly, and navigating the menus is simple. Pairing Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is easy; just do it once and forget about it. The 11-speaker JBL Audio Clari-Fi Audio System provides an overall gratifying sound experience, and we are confident you will enjoy it.

Toyota does an excellent job of providing a variety of Highlander options to the average consumer. The Highlander LE AWD starts at $44,750 and the XLE AWD starts at $47,650 for non-hybrid models. The XSE AWD costs $49,950, the Limited AWD costs $53,190, and the Platinum AWD costs $55,490. The as-tested price of our 2022 Toyota Highlander Platinum AWD was $55,745 with Ruby Flare Pearl paint.

The Highlander’s non-hybrid 6-cylinder engine isn’t the most fuel-efficient, returning 11.8 L/100 km in the city, 8.6 L/100 km on the highway, and 10.3 L/100 km in combined driving. With a combined average of 10.7 L/100 km during our test week, we weren’t far off. Our test week had below-average temperatures, so we’re sure the overall average could have been better in the warmer season.

You can opt for the Hybrid models if you want to save money on gas, as they can return an overall city and highway average of 6.7 L/100 km, which was also found in our 2022 Toyota Sienna Limited AWD tester a few weeks ago. In our opinion, both are excellent choices.

The Highlander is ideal for a long weekend getaway with the whole family. You’ll always be happy thanks to the smooth 3.5-liter V-6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. Toyota has perfected the art of giving a viable alternative to rising gas prices. The hybrid version of the Highlander is for you if you want to save money on gas without losing appearance and comfort.