2011 Toyota Highlander Features & Specs

 

What's New for 2011

For 2011, the Toyota Highlander receives a refresh that includes restyled front and rear ends and a few more standard features. Among the latter are a 50/50-split-folding third-row seat and rear climate controls for base and SE trims. Lastly, the Sport trim level has been dropped.

Introduction

When it debuted 10 years ago, the Toyota Highlander blazed the trail for midsize crossover SUVs. At the time, we wondered whether people would like this "Camry wagon" (the Highlander typically has had a lot of Camry in its DNA) or continue to stick with truck-based SUVs. Well, the last decade has pretty much proven that refined carlike crossovers have prevailed.
Thanks to a quiet, fairly roomy cabin, a V6 engine that is both smooth and comfortable and a reputation for reliability, the Highlander has remained one of the most popular midsize crossovers. A refresh for the 2011 Highlander brings updated styling and additional standard features. A new third-row seat has a 50/50-split folding design that makes it easier to configure the vehicle for passenger use or cargo hauling.
Otherwise, the 2011 Toyota Highlander stays the course. This means a smooth, quiet ride and comfortable seating for up to seven passengers (though the third row is a bit tight compared with some of the Highlander's competition). The Highlander also boasts a 40/20/40-split second-row seat with a removable center seat that allows walk-through access to the third row, not to mention the comfort of captain's chairs with fold-down armrests in the second row.
While the midsize 2011 Toyota Highlander has a lot going for it, this crossover faces some stiff competition. The larger crossovers from General Motors -- the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia -- offer more cavernous interiors with seating for up to eight passengers. The Ford Flex and Mazda CX-9 also have their own distinct advantages, as do the totally redesigned Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer. We suggest checking out these models, but in general we still believe the Highlander hits the sweet spot between passenger-car comfort and SUV-style utility.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2011 Toyota Highlander is a midsize seven-passenger crossover offered in base, SE and Limited trim levels.
The entry-level Highlander comes equipped with 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels, rear privacy glass, cloth upholstery, a 40/20/40-split-folding second-row seat that both reclines and slides fore and aft, a 50/50-split-folding third-row seat, air-conditioning (with rear controls), a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a six-speaker CD stereo with an auxiliary audio jack.
Step up to the SE and you get a sunroof, power tailgate (with a separate glass hatch), roof rails, foglamps, windshield wiper de-icer, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, an eight-way power driver seat, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, cargo area-mounted releases for folding down the second-row seats, a back-up camera, and an upgraded audio system (optional on base) with satellite radio, a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity/streaming audio.
The Limited adds 19-inch cast-aluminum wheels, additional chrome exterior trim and power-folding/heated outside mirrors with puddle lamps. The cabin also gets upgraded leather upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, keyless ignition/entry, a 10-way power driver seat, a four-way power passenger seat and wood-grain accents.
The Highlander's options list varies by trim level and region, but those available include a towing prep package, an upgraded JBL sound system (with six-disc CD changer and subwoofer), a navigation system (includes the JBL sound system but with a four-disc CD changer) and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2011 Toyota Highlander is available with a choice of two engines. The Base model can be had with a 2.7-liter inline-4 engine that puts out 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. EPA fuel economy estimates are 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.
Optional for the base and SE and standard for the Highlander Limited is a 3.5-liter V6 that's rated at 270 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed automatic and front-wheel drive are standard; all-wheel drive is optional. A Highlander Limited AWD tested by Edmunds sprinted from zero to 60 mph in just 7.5 seconds, performance that makes it one of the quickest crossovers on the road.
Properly equipped, a Highlander V6 can tow up to 5,000 pounds, another healthy number for this category. With front-wheel drive, the Highlander V6 returns EPA estimates of 18 city/24 highway/20 combined; adding all-wheel drive drops these numbers to 17/22/19.

Safety

The Highlander comes with a long list of standard safety features including antilock disc brakes, stability control and hill-start assist. All-wheel-drive models also come with hill-descent control, which electronically intervenes with the antilock brakes to control speed on steep, slick surfaces like snow-covered driveways.
The Highlander's cabin is fitted with a total of seven airbags, including side-impact airbags for front seat passengers, side curtain airbags that cover all three rows of seats and a driver-side knee airbag. Whiplash-reducing active front head restraints are also standard.
In government crash tests, the Highlander earned five stars (the highest possible) for the driver and four stars for the front passenger in frontal impacts, and five stars for side impacts. In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Highlander received "Good" ratings (the highest possible) in both frontal-offset and side impact tests.

Interior Design and Special Features

The 2011 Toyota Highlander features an attractive cabin, especially the top-of-the-line Limited model. Visibility is excellent, while the straightforward layout of gauges and controls makes for refreshingly intuitive operation.
The front- and second-row seats are plenty comfortable, but the third-row seat's lack of legroom makes it best suited to pre-teen passengers. The Highlander's second-row bench slides fore and aft and reclines for greater comfort. This seat's unique 40/20/40-split design, which has a removable center section that stows neatly in a special compartment beneath the center console, also makes it easy to access the way-back bench even with a pair of child car seats strapped into the second row.
When you've got cargo to haul, the Highlander offers a healthy 95.4 cubic feet of space with the second- and third-row seatbacks folded down.

Driving Impressions

If you're used to the lumbering trucklike feel of a traditional SUV, the 2011 Toyota Highlander will be a pleasure to drive. The fully independent suspension delivers decent handling, at least by family-hauler standards, and the ride quality is surprisingly smooth. The steering feels light enough for easy parking-lot maneuverability, though it is rather numb and uninspiring compared to its crossover rivals.
The 3.5-liter V6 adds to the appeal by providing strong acceleration that makes this 4,000-pound crossover seem smaller than it is. The fact that this powertrain is also among the most fuel-efficient in the category is an added bonus.

Colors

Exterior

Interior

Exterior

Body

• Rear spoiler

Tires and Wheels

• Alloy wheels
• 17 x 7.5 in. wheels
• Alloy spare wheel
• P245/65R17 tires
• All season tires
• Underbody mounted spare tire
• Fullsize matching spare tire

Roof and Glass

• Variable intermittent wipers
• Privacy glass
• Rear defogger
• Intermittent rear wiper

Doors

• Fixed lifgate window
• Rear liftgate door

Towing and Hauling

• Cargo tie downs

Measurements

• Width: 75.2 in.
• Height: 68.1 in.
• Length: 188.4 in.
• Ground clearance: 7.8 in.
• Front track: 64.0 in.
• Rear track: 64.2 in.
• Wheel base: 109.8 in.
• Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 10.3 cu.ft.
• Maximum cargo capacity: 95.4 cu.ft.

• Maximum towing capacity: 3500 lbs.**
• Maximum payload: 1554 lbs.**
• Gross weight: 5500 lbs.
• Drag Coefficient: 0.34 Cd
• Curb weight: 3946 lbs.
• Angle of approach: 29.0 degrees
• Angle of departure: 24.0 degrees

Exterior Options

• Body Side Molding
• Door Edge Guard
• Cross Bar
• Tow Hitch w/Wiring Harness
• Running Board
• Wheel Locks
• Hood Protector
• Exhaust Tip by Valor
• Paint Protector Film
• Mudguards
• Special Color

Mechanical

Engine & Performance

• Base engine size: 2.7 L
• Cam type: Double overhead cam (DOHC)
• Cylinders: inline 4
• Valves: 16
• Valve timing: Variable
• Torque: 186 ft-lbs. @ 4100 rpm
• Horsepower: 187 hp @ 5800 rpm
• Turning circle: 38.7 ft.

• Base engine type: gas

DriveTrain

• Drive type: front wheel drive
• Transmission: 6-speed shiftable automatic
• Brake hill holder

Suspension

• MacPherson strut front suspension
• MacPherson strut rear suspension
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Front and rear stabilizer bar

Fuel

• Fuel type: gas
• Fuel type: regular unleaded
• Fuel tank capacity: 19.2 gal.
• Range in miles (cty/hwy): 384.0/480.0 mi.
• EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 20/25 mpg

Mechanical Options

• Remote Engine Start

Safety

Safety & Security

• 4-wheel ABS
• Front, rear and third row head airbags
• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Child seat anchors
• Emergency braking assist
• Ventilated front disc / solid rear disc brakes
• Rear door child safety locks
• Daytime running lights
• Auto delay off headlamps
• Dusk sensing headlamps
• 2 front headrests
• 3 rear headrests
• Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
• Rear center 3-point belt
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Stability control
• Traction control
• Electronic brakeforce distribution
• Front height adjustable headrests
• Rear height adjustable headrests
• Post-collision safety system
• Passenger head restraint whiplash protection system
• Driver head restraint whiplash protection system
• Tire pressure monitoring

Safety & Security Options

• V.I.P. RS3200 Plus Security System
• V.I.P. Glass Breakage Sensor
• First Aid Kit
• Emergency Assistance Kit

Warranty

• Basic: 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
• Drivetrain: 5 yr./ 60000 mi.
• Free Maintenance: 2 yr./ 25000 mi.
• Roadside: 2 yr./ 25000 mi.

Interior

Front Seats

• Front head room: 40.6 in.
• Front hip room: 56.7 in.
• Front leg room: 43.2 in.
• Front shoulder room: 59.7 in.
• Height adjustable driver seat
• Cloth
• Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

• Rear hip Room: 56.5 in.
• Rear head room: 40.1 in.
• Rear leg room: 38.3 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 59.5 in.
• Split-folding rear seatback
• Reclining rear seats
• Folding with storage center armrest
• Manual folding bench third row seats
• Rear ventilation ducts

Power Features

• Remote power door locks
• Power mirrors
• 1 one-touch power windows

Convenience

• Cruise control
• Front console with storage
• Front and rear cupholders
• Front and rear door pockets
• Overhead console with storage
• Front seatback storage
• Electric power steering
• 12V front and 12V cargo area power outlet(s)
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• Cruise controls on steering wheel

Comfort

• Interior air filtration
• Front and rear air conditioning
• Cargo area light
• Front reading lights
• Simulated alloy steering wheel
• Dual vanity mirrors

Instrumentation

• Clock
• Tachometer
• Low fuel level warning

In Car Entertainment

• Mast antenna
• 6 total speakers
• AM/FM in-dash single CD player with CD MP3 Playback stereo
• Auxiliary MP3 audio input

Telematics

• Pre-wired for phone

Interior Options

• Auto Dimming Mirror
• BLU Logic Hands-Free System
• Cargo Net Spider
• Cargo Net
• Carpet Floor/Cargo Mat Set w/3rd Row Mat

Packages

• Tech Package
• Tow Package
• Preferred Accessory Package
• Convenience Package
• Cold Weather Package