Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Anyone have experience with these? If so, tell me about them.

was very serious about buying one, just happened upon a deal on a 2018 so we went with it.

What I like about the hybrid is it has a 2.5L engine that Toyota has standardized on for the hybrid SUVs and Sienna, and its been around a few years plus their eCVT transmission is solid.

I love this Highlander - I had an MDX before it, and its a much better riding car and its just a pleasure to drive for a lot of reasons.

I think its my favorite car I've owned, certainly in the past 20 years.


Not a fan of them switching out the V6 for the turbo 4 on the non hybrids though. They did it for emissions but I don't get swapping out an engine that was bulletproof for a turbo. The hybrid would be the only 2024 model I would buy.

We've owned 3 Highlanders over the years. Great vehicles that have taken us cross-country several times. Our last one was a '22 model as it was the last year of the V6. I didn't want new model issues with a turbo 4 in a mid-sized SUV. The '22 has been excellent. We get about 24 mpg on the highway and it's AWD.

Our 2020 Hybrid has been fabulous. It's our road trip car. Comfortable, quiet, and goes 300+ miles in the mountains on 8 gallons. It's a Platinum trim, and they had to leave out one bell or whistle or it would have been a Lexus.

I just bought another 2020 Platinum, but mine is the V-6. It's my daily and boat tower. Haven't had it on a long trip yet, but it's getting 18 city and 23 highway.

It may be THE perfect geezer car. Easy to get in and out, great visibility, third row seat if needed or lots of luggage room if not. Reliable as sunrise.

We have a 2022 Highlander hybrid. We really like it. Pretty roomy, and a comfortable ride. Fuel economy is very good and I don't have to plug it in. I wouldn't own a plug in where I live. Toyota has the hybrid concept pretty down pat.

My wife just bought one, she has less than- miles on it. It’s her 3rd Highlander, first Hybrid. Can’t tell you any particulars, I drove it 19 miles!

I have a 2006 Highlander 4 cyl and only 124 thousand miles.....never had a problem with it.....23-25 mpg. Have a 2005 Tundra with the V6 and it has 184 thousand. It has the motor that some have a million miles on. Never had a problem with it. I drive it to beach several times a year surf fishing and gets around 18 mpg. Toyota is a great vehicle and would buy another in future.

No experience on the 2024 Model, I have a 2018 and it's been superb. Had some recall fuel pump change. done for free by the dealer and I've changed battery, getting close to.needing a new one. It's not uncommon for batteries to only last 3yrs in Houston.

The radio died, and it's the only thing I believe may be a common problem issue.
My next car would be another Highlander, hybrid this time, or a Tundra. However the 2018 Highlander still has a LOT of life left.
A friend has a hybrid Rav4 and only has praise for it
if the 2024 is anything on par for Toyota, it should be a great drive.

Can’t speak to the Highlander but have a 2021 sienna with the same 2.5l hybrid drive system. Has been bulletproof and zero issues. It’s wife’s car and she loves it.

I do all the Maint as a Toyota dealer is over an hour away. Change oil every 5k and just did a 30k mile transmission flush. Has all the fluid diagnosed and everything looks great. We have had nothing but good luck with our Toyotas.

Maybe someone can explain this to me.. Why does the 2.4L engine take 5.6 quarts and the 2.5L only takes 4.5 quarts ?
Should it not be the other way around? Larger engine more oil needed ?

It's the volume of the pan rather than the cylinders.

I believe the old 1970s era 500 cubic inch Cadillac engine only took four quarts.

my 70's ford cars and trucks i owned back back in the early 80's had 302 (5.0 L)and 351(5.8 L) V-8 engines .they held 5 quarts of oil

Toyota/Lexus 4.6L takes 8.1 qts 0w-20

The hybrid uses 0w-16. Crazy how thin they make oil nowadays. I buy a few cases to keep in hand as not many places local stock it. YMMV, but if you go that route there are some details called out in owners manual for making sure you run the thin oil.

While we have all the little kids I can’t see is going away from the Toyota sienna with this drivetrain. Avg 33mpg and have done as well as 41mpg on highway trips with flat roads (South Dakota,Wyoming).

Not a HiLander, but we bought the wife a 2024 Hybrid Camry. It averages 39 mpg. It has three driving modes; eco, normal, and Roy (sport) LOL

It drives nice, has cruise control with lane holding that will drive for you if you hold onto the wheel. I haven't driven it alot but I notice some of the features that us old guys might not like like the lane holding can be shut off. It has a feature that holds the car still at a stoplight that's great, love it. Overall, a very very nice vehicle.

I don't have a problem with the hybrid engine (it could be a little bigger) it's the rubber band (CVT) transmission I don't want anything to do with. Give me a transmission with gears not rubber bands. I will not buy one with that transmission.

They are always very highly rated by Consumer Reports. I always thought that they were about the same size as our GMC Acadia until we had to transfer some stuff from our 2016 Acadia (last year of the larger ones) into the back of a 2023 Highlander. What practically hid in the back of the GMC barely fit into the Highlander. The wife is talking AWD van for our next car and I'm disappointed to see that Sienna AWD Hybrid only as a turbo four cylinder. I had a turbo Saab and it ate the turbo seals twice at $750. each time for a rebuild. I'm gun shy about another turbo anything.

Thanks for pointing that out, I didn't know, one more reason I won't buy a hybrid.
We have a 2020 Highlander gas, it's a wonderful vehicle for the Mrs.

Deans, there are major differences between a CVT and an eCVT. Toyota uses the "e" kind. The horrible Nissan CVT is what gives all such transmissions the bad reputation.