Anthony’s Analytics: 2022 Toyota Highlander XSE AWD

by Anthony Fongaro  - Photos via Toyota- 10/17/2022 

Want to hear something that’s not surprising? V6 engines are being replaced by turbocharged or hybrid inline fours. They produce more torque and are supposed to be more efficient. For years, many automakers, including Toyota, have been getting rid of their V6s. One example is the latest Toyota Sienna.  Toyota replaced the naturally aspirated V6 with a hybrid inline-four. For a while, the Highlander always came with a V6 with a hybrid option. For 2023, the V6 will go away, being replaced by a turbo inline-four. The Highlander XSE AWD I tested had a V6. Will this engine be missed? Simple answer: keep reading.

Although there are many trim levels, the XSE is the most sporty-looking Highlander. It’s a great-looking midsize, seven-seat crossover. It looks like a Highlander with a body kit and some black accents. The front is interesting. There’s a trapezoidal grille with the Toyota badge along with a larger, more pronounced grille with vertical slats. This Highlander XSE had Magentic Grey paint along with 19-inch wheels. The rear sports a spoiler along with some slatted lights and silver trim. All-in-all, this is the best-looking Highlander.

I always love a car with a black and red interior, and the interior of the Highlander doesn’t disappoint. There are the usual controls on the steering wheel for adaptive-cruise control and media. In front are large analog dials and a digital readout for various functions such as navigation, speed, and others. The XSE gets Toyota’s smaller 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with physical shortcut buttons. The system is just ok, but there is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s nice that the Highlander has knobs and buttons for climate control. You’ll also see a switch for the drive select and a knob for various off-road functions. There is wireless charging, but it’s inside the center console. 

This is a Toyota, so you would think that build quality for the center console would be great. Not at all. In fact, it’s very wobbly, and putting the wireless charging station there was a bad idea. Also, a $47,000 crossover should have better materials. That said, the seats are comfortable in the first and second rows with heated front seats. There’s ample trunk space, and the rear seats are what you’d call “tolerable”. As a practical family crossover, this ticks all the right boxes. There are more expensive models, but the XSE has everything you’d want. This includes what’s under the hood.

Like I said earlier, this Highlander has a V6. It’s a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 295 horsepower/220kW and 263 lb-ft/356 Nm. This is connected to a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic and AWD. With all of this combined, the Highlander V6 gets from 0-60 MPH in 6.8 seconds. The V6 makes a decent sound and feels good to have. Also, the eight-speed automatic shifts well. There are a few driving modes including eco, normal, and sport. You feel a little difference between the three, but keeping it in normal mode is what the Highlander is made for. Handling is what you’d expect from a midsize SUV. Some body roll and not exactly a Toyota GR86. You’ll also get about 24 MPG.

For $47,000, you get the XSE along with navigation, heated seats, second-row captain chairs, various USB-Cs, and a power tailgate. It’s a good deal and has plenty of kit. Is it as good as a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Hyundai Santa Fe? The Jeep has a better interior and the Santa Fe has better quality and tech. Should you look at the Highlander? Sure. It may not be exciting, but most midsize crossovers in this segment aren’t. It’s a crossover that does everything that a family would want with a smooth V6. It’s a shame that the V6 is going away, but that’s the future. For good reliability, check out the Highlander V6 in the XSE trim.