Verified vehicle record
2025 Toyota Highlander
A source-linked guide to the 2025 Toyota Highlander trim range, powertrain choices, drivetrain, seating and capability. The 2025 Highlander range separates gas and hybrid powertrains, with different output and towing ceilings. Seating also changes with second-row bench or captain’s-chair configuration. Key figures on record: Powertrain 2.4L turbo gas or 2.5L hybrid, Output 243 / 265 hp, Drivetrain FWD / AWD, Seating 7 or 8, Maximum towing 3,500 / 5,000 lb. Gas and hybrid trim ladders overlap but are not interchangeable; towing and output must remain attached to powertrain.
Current archiveChecked Aug. 28, 2026United States specification
Powertrain2.4L turbo gas or 2.5L hybrid
Output243 / 265 hp
DrivetrainFWD / AWD
Seating7 or 8
Maximum towing3,500 / 5,000 lb
Decision answers21Trim, ownership and verification
Research paths
Move from the vehicle to the decision.
Compare like with like: the closest configuration, not an unrelated advertised maximum.
Record summary
What to know first
The 2025 Highlander range separates gas and hybrid powertrains, with different output and towing ceilings. Seating also changes with second-row bench or captain’s-chair configuration.
Model-year note
Gas and hybrid trim ladders overlap but are not interchangeable; towing and output must remain attached to powertrain.
Trim map
How the lineup separates.
Trim descriptions identify the meaningful change from one trim to the next; individual options can still vary.
| Trim | Place in the lineup | Notable equipment |
|---|---|---|
| LE | Entry trim | 8-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen standard, Wireless smartphone connectivity standard, Base equipment level for the lineup |
| XLE | Trim 2 of 9 | Heated front seats and SofTex upholstery standard, Power tilt/slide moonroof standard, Machined-finish alloy wheels and wireless charging standard |
| XSE | Trim 3 of 9 | Sport-tuned suspension standard, 20-inch black alloy wheels standard, Gas-only trim, no hybrid option available |
| Limited | Trim 4 of 9 | Dual 12.3-inch displays standard, 11-speaker JBL premium audio standard, Leather seating with heating and ventilation standard |
| Platinum | Trim 5 of 9 | Panoramic glass roof standard, Panoramic View Monitor standard, 10-inch color head-up display standard |
| Hybrid XLE | Trim 6 of 9 | 2.5L hybrid powertrain standard, 243 hp, XLE-level heated seats and moonroof carry over, Machined-finish alloy wheels standard |
| Hybrid XLE Nightshade | Trim 7 of 9 | 2.5L hybrid powertrain standard, 243 hp, XLE-level equipment with blacked-out appearance package, Dark-finish wheels and badging |
| Hybrid Limited | Trim 8 of 9 | 2.5L hybrid powertrain standard, 243 hp, Limited-level dual 12.3-inch displays and leather seating carry over, JBL premium audio standard |
| Hybrid Platinum | Top trim | 2.5L hybrid powertrain standard, 243 hp, Platinum-level panoramic roof and head-up display carry over, Panoramic View Monitor standard |
01
Entry trim
LE
- 8-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen standard
- Wireless smartphone connectivity standard
- Base equipment level for the lineup
02
Trim 2 of 9
XLE
- Heated front seats and SofTex upholstery standard
- Power tilt/slide moonroof standard
- Machined-finish alloy wheels and wireless charging standard
03
Trim 3 of 9
XSE
- Sport-tuned suspension standard
- 20-inch black alloy wheels standard
- Gas-only trim, no hybrid option available
04
Trim 4 of 9
Limited
- Dual 12.3-inch displays standard
- 11-speaker JBL premium audio standard
- Leather seating with heating and ventilation standard
05
Trim 5 of 9
Platinum
- Panoramic glass roof standard
- Panoramic View Monitor standard
- 10-inch color head-up display standard
06
Trim 6 of 9
Hybrid XLE
- 2.5L hybrid powertrain standard, 243 hp
- XLE-level heated seats and moonroof carry over
- Machined-finish alloy wheels standard
07
Trim 7 of 9
Hybrid XLE Nightshade
- 2.5L hybrid powertrain standard, 243 hp
- XLE-level equipment with blacked-out appearance package
- Dark-finish wheels and badging
08
Trim 8 of 9
Hybrid Limited
- 2.5L hybrid powertrain standard, 243 hp
- Limited-level dual 12.3-inch displays and leather seating carry over
- JBL premium audio standard
09
Top trim
Hybrid Platinum
- 2.5L hybrid powertrain standard, 243 hp
- Platinum-level panoramic roof and head-up display carry over
- Panoramic View Monitor standard
Trim-by-trim specifications
The 2025 Toyota Highlander: 5 trims compared.
Kelley Blue Book specifications, one row per trim.
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drive | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | EPA city / hwy / comb | Seats | Basic warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LE | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | Automatic, 8-Spd | AWD | 265 | 310 | 21 / 28 / 24 mpg | 8 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| XLE | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | Automatic, 8-Spd | AWD | 265 | 310 | 21 / 28 / 24 mpg | 8 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| XSE | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | Automatic, 8-Spd | AWD | 265 | 310 | 21 / 28 / 24 mpg | 7 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Limited | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | Automatic, 8-Spd | AWD | 265 | 310 | 21 / 28 / 24 mpg | 8 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Platinum | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | Automatic, 8-Spd | AWD | 265 | 310 | 21 / 28 / 24 mpg | 7 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Trim | Curb weight | Length | Height | Wheelbase | Ground clearance | Turning circle | Fuel tank | Front headroom | Front legroom | Towing | Tires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LE | 4,332 lb | 194.9 in | 68.1 in | 112.2 in | 8 in | 37.4 ft | 17.9 gal | 41.2 in | 42 in | 5,000 lb | P235/65R18 |
| XLE | 4,376 lb | 194.9 in | 68.1 in | 112.2 in | 8 in | 37.4 ft | 17.9 gal | 39.6 in | 42 in | 5,000 lb | P235/65R18 |
| XSE | 4,420 lb | 197.4 in | 68.1 in | 112.2 in | 8 in | 37.4 ft | 17.9 gal | 39.6 in | 42 in | 5,000 lb | P235/55R20 |
| Limited | 4,453 lb | 194.9 in | 68.1 in | 112.2 in | 8 in | 37.4 ft | 17.9 gal | 39.6 in | 42 in | 5,000 lb | P235/55R20 |
| Platinum | 4,453 lb | 194.9 in | 68.1 in | 112.2 in | 8 in | 37.4 ft | 17.9 gal | 38.4 in | 42 in | 5,000 lb | P235/55R20 |
Equipment by trim
Which 2025 Toyota Highlander trim has what.
Std is standard, Opt is optional, a dash means Kelley Blue Book lists it as not available.
| Equipment | LE | XLE | XSE | Limited | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety | |||||
| Adaptive headlights | – | – | – | – | Std |
| Anti-theft alarm | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Blind-spot alert | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Child door locks | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Child-seat anchors | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Hill-descent control | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Hill-start assist | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Pedestrian detection | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Rearview camera | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Front and rear parking sensors | – | – | – | Std | Std |
| Electronic stability control | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Traction control | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Slip control | – | – | Std | Std | Std |
| Technology | |||||
| Bluetooth audio streaming | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Bluetooth | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Hands-free calling | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Built-in internet access | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Navigation system | – | – | – | Std | Std |
| Premium audio system | – | – | Opt | Std | Std |
| Satellite radio | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Apple CarPlay or Android Auto | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Steering-wheel audio controls | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Touchscreen | Std | Std | Std | Opt | Std |
| Voice recognition | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Emergency and security services | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Comfort | |||||
| Heated front seats | – | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Heated rear seats | – | – | – | – | Std |
| Heated steering wheel | – | – | – | Std | Std |
| Heated windshield | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Heated mirrors | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Power front seats for driver and passenger | – | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Power driver's seat | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Leather seats | – | – | – | Std | Std |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Front and rear climate zones | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Panoramic moonroof | – | – | – | – | Std |
| Tilt steering wheel | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Cup holders | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Third-row seat | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Folding rear seat | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Exterior and convenience | |||||
| Alloy wheels | Std | Std | Std | – | Std |
| Fog lights | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Privacy glass | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Roof rails | – | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Power-folding mirrors | – | – | – | Std | Std |
| Power liftgate or trunk | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| 12-volt power outlet | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Power windows | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Remote keyless entry | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Proximity keyless entry | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Push-button start | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Cruise control | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Integrated garage-door opener | – | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Rear-window defroster | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Rain-sensing wipers | – | – | – | – | Std |
Complete certification table
5 configuration records.
| EPA ID / label | Engine / technology | Drive / transmission | Fuel | City | Hwy | Combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48913Highlander | 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI & PFIConventional | Front-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S8) | Regular | 21 | 28 | 24 | N/A |
| 48912Highlander | 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; with Stop-StartConventional | Front-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S8) | Regular | 22 | 29 | 25 | N/A |
| 48940Highlander AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI & PFIConventional | All-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S8) | Regular | 21 | 28 | 24 | N/A |
| 48981Highlander Hybrid AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; HybridHybrid | All-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S6) | Regular | 35 | 35 | 35 | N/A |
| 48979Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT | 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; HybridHybrid | All-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S6) | Regular | 35 | 34 | 35 | N/A |
Direct answers
21 questions tied to this model-year.
Each answer names its source.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Highlander come in?
The 2025 Toyota Highlander (three-row SUV) comes in 9 trims: LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, Platinum, Hybrid XLE, Hybrid XLE Nightshade, Hybrid Limited, Hybrid Platinum.
Source: Toyota
Q02What are the 2025 Highlander trims?
The 2025 Toyota Highlander trims are LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, Platinum, Hybrid XLE, Hybrid XLE Nightshade, Hybrid Limited, Hybrid Platinum, listed from the entry LE up to the top Hybrid Platinum.
Source: Toyota
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Highlander use?
The 2025 Toyota Highlander is built around 2.4L turbo gas or 2.5L hybrid, rated at 243 / 265 horsepower across its three-row SUV body style.
Source: Toyota specifications
Q04Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Highlander?
The 2025 Toyota Highlander is offered with FWD / AWD.
Source: Toyota specifications
Q05What changed for the 2025 Highlander?
Gas and hybrid trim ladders overlap but are not interchangeable; towing and output must remain attached to powertrain.
Source: Toyota model-year information
Q06How many recall campaigns does NHTSA list for the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation records 3 recall campaigns for the 2025 Toyota Highlander, covering electrical system, backup camera, seat belts.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall campaigns
Q07Which driver-assistance features are standard on a 2025 Toyota Highlander?
The 2025 Toyota Highlander is documented with 10-inch color head-up display standard, Platinum-level panoramic roof and head-up display carry over.
Source: Manufacturer equipment table and owner’s manual
Q08How did the 2025 Toyota Highlander do in NHTSA's side crash and rollover tests?
The 2025 Toyota Highlander earned 5 stars in the side crash test (5 stars driver side, 5 stars passenger side) and 4 stars for rollover resistance, a 16.4% to 16.9% chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
Q09How much is the destination charge on the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
Kelley Blue Book's review of the 2025 Toyota Highlander puts the destination charge, the fee for delivering the vehicle from the factory to the dealer, at $1,450. It is added to the base price.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
Q10What engine oil does the 2025 Toyota Highlander take?
The 2025 Toyota Highlander owner's manual specifies SAE 0W-20 engine oil. Source: 2025 Toyota Highlander owner's manual.
Source: Manufacturer owner's manual
Q11What are the 2025 Toyota Highlander trim levels?
The 2025 Highlander lineup is LE, XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum.
Source: Dealer research pages
Q12Does the 2025 Toyota Highlander come with captain's chairs?
LE comes exclusively with a second-row bench and eight-passenger seating; XLE and Limited offer either the bench or a 7-passenger captain's-chair layout, while XSE and Platinum are only offered with the 7-seat captain's-chair configuration.
Source: Dealer research pages
Q13What is the difference between Highlander LE and XSE seating?
LE is bench-only for eight-passenger seating, while XSE is available only with second-row captain's chairs, capping seating at seven; XLE and Limited let buyers choose between the two layouts.
Source: Dealer research pages
Q14What size is the touchscreen on the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
An available 12.3-inch touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa integration on higher trims.
Source: Dealer technology research pages
Q15What safety system is standard on the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 is standard across all trims, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with lane tracing assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
Source: Dealer safety-feature research pages
Q16Why does the 2025 Highlander use an older Toyota Safety Sense version than the RAV4?
The 2025 Highlander uses Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, an older generation than the 4.0 system launched on the redesigned 2026 RAV4 and the 3.0 system used on most other current Toyota models like the Camry and Corolla; safety-suite versions update on a model-by-model redesign cycle, not all at once across the brand.
Source: Dealer safety-feature research pages
Q17What is the warranty on a 2025 Toyota Highlander?
The Highlander carries Toyota's standard 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty; hybrid components are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles, and the first two years or 25,000 miles of scheduled maintenance are included.
Source: Dealer warranty research pages
Q18Is the Toyota Grand Highlander the same as the regular Highlander?
No, they are separate nameplates: the Grand Highlander is a larger, longer three-row SUV (201.4 inches long) sold alongside the standard Highlander, not a trim of it.
Source: Dealer research pages
Q19What size wheels does the 2025 Toyota Highlander have?
The 2025 Toyota Highlander's wheel diameter is 18 inches on the LE and XLE and 20 inches on the XSE, Limited and Platinum. Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications.
Source: Kelley Blue Book vehicle specifications
Q20How do the 2025 Toyota Highlander trims differ from one another?
All 5 trims share the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) making 265 hp. The XLE has power front seats for driver and passenger, heated front seats, an integrated garage-door opener and roof rails as standard equipment over the LE. The XSE has slip control as standard equipment over the XLE. The Limited has front and rear parking sensors, a heated steering wheel, leather seats and 4 more as standard equipment over the XSE. The Platinum has adaptive headlights, alloy wheels, heated rear seats and 3 more as standard equipment over the Limited.
Source: Kelley Blue Book vehicle specifications
Q21What does the 2025 Toyota Highlander cost across its trims?
Kelley Blue Book's national base prices for the 2025 Toyota Highlander run from $41,770 for the LE to $54,175 for the Platinum, across 5 trims. Those figures include the destination charge.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
Live NHTSA evidence
Current federal safety records for 2025 Toyota Highlander.
Exact-vehicle evidence desk
Move from the guide to the VIN record.
Trim research establishes the marketed lineup. These primary-source paths resolve recall applicability, manufacturer-submitted identity fields and exact EPA configuration data.
01 · NHTSARatings, recalls, complaints and manufacturer communicationsExact model-year search → (opens in a new tab)02 · NHTSACheck unresolved safety recalls by VINOfficial remedy status → (opens in a new tab)03 · vPICDecode manufacturer-submitted vehicle attributesInternal VIN tool →04 · EPAResolve the exact fuel-economy configuration1984–current browser →
Other model years
Compare the Toyota Highlander across model years.
Source trail
Evidence behind the record
01
Toyota Highlander official model pageManufacturer lineup, equipment and specifications
↗ (opens in a new tab)02FuelEconomy.gov vehicle dataEPA-certified configuration and fuel-economy records
↗ (opens in a new tab)03NHTSA vehicle data and recallsVIN attributes, safety campaigns and ratings
↗ (opens in a new tab)Specifications and pricing can change after publication. Critical purchasing decisions should be confirmed against the exact vehicle window sticker or manufacturer build record.