Best Year for Toyota Highlander: Which Used Years to Buy
Updated: 10 hours ago
The best year for Toyota Highlander buyers depends on which engine you want, and the engine changes that matter most came inside a generation rather than at a redesign. For the 2017 model year Toyota gave gas models a revised V6 with a new eight-speed automatic and made Toyota Safety Sense P standard, and for 2023 it replaced the gas V6 with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder.
So a 2016 and a 2017 are different buys, and so are a 2022 and a 2023.
Carleton Place Ford is a Ford store with an all-makes used lot. We are not a Toyota dealer, and we do not speak for Toyota.
Key Takeaways
For 2017, gas models got a revised V6 and a new eight-speed automatic. Toyota Safety Sense P became standard on every 2017 Highlander.
2022 is the last gas Highlander with a V6. For 2023 Toyota replaced it with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder.
The hybrid moved from a V6 to a four-cylinder for 2020. Before that, for 2011, it moved from a 3.3-litre to a 3.5-litre V6.
The redesign arrived for 2008, 2014 and 2020. In Canada, every 2014 Highlander is a V6, after a four-cylinder was offered for 2013.
Transport Canada's record 2026427 lists certain 2021 to 2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid models for second-row seatback recliners. Toyota recommends not seating passengers there until the repair is done, so run the VIN.
Transport Canada's block heater records cover certain heater kits on certain Highlander and Highlander Hybrid model years between 2006 and 2019. Until the VIN is checked, don't plug the heater in.
With over 300 used vehicles in stock, Carleton Place Ford has one of the largest selections in the area. Any financing is on approved credit (O.A.C.).
Start with our used SUVs and tell our team the roads you actually drive.
Which used Toyota Highlander years are the best ones to buy?
The honest answer is a set of boundaries rather than a ranking. The redesign arrived for 2008, 2014 and 2020, and inside those designs the powertrain changed for 2009, 2011, 2017 and 2023, so the year in front of you tells you which engines were on offer.
Model year | Where it sits | What changed |
|---|---|---|
2008 | Redesign | Gas Highlander received a newly developed 3.5-litre V6; the Highlander Hybrid used a 3.3-litre V6 with electric motors. |
2009 | Inside the 2008 design | Gas Highlander: 2.7-litre four-cylinder joins the V6 |
2011 | Inside the 2008 design | Restyle; hybrid moves from a 3.3-litre to a 3.5-litre V6 |
2014 | Redesign | 3.5-litre V6 in every Canadian model |
2017 | Inside the 2014 design | Gas Highlander: revised direct-injection V6 and new eight-speed automatic; Highlander Hybrid: updated direct-injection V6 with a continuously variable transmission; Toyota Safety Sense P standard |
2020 | Redesign | Hybrid moves from a V6 to a four-cylinder; Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 standard |
2023 | Inside the 2020 design | Gas Highlander: 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder replaces the V6; Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ standard |
Every row rests on Toyota's own model-year releases.
A year not in the table is not a claim that nothing changed; it means we have no sourced change to report.
What the 2014 redesign settled, and what 2017 added
2014 is a redesign year and 2017 is the powertrain year inside that design. Toyota's 2014 release says "All 2014 Highlander models feature a 3.5 L V6 engine", and its 2017 release gives gas models a revised direct-injection V6 with a new eight-speed automatic.
That matters on a Canadian lot because Toyota's 2013 lineup still had a front-wheel-drive four-cylinder. A Canadian 2014 buyer is choosing between front-wheel and all-wheel drive, not between engines.
For 2017, Toyota's release states it plainly: "All 2017 Toyota Highlander models are standard equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P." The hybrid got an updated direct-injection V6 with an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.
Toyota's 2017 Canadian lineup included an FWD LE plus AWD gasoline grades, including the new SE; confirm the drivetrain on the individual vehicle.
2019 or 2020 Highlander Hybrid: two different engines
They are different hybrids, because the 2020 redesign changed the hybrid's engine as well as its body. Toyota's 2017 release describes the hybrid built around a 3.5-litre direct-injection V6, and its 2020 release describes an Atkinson cycle four-cylinder working with electric motors and a continuously variable transmission.
Toyota's 2020 release also calls it the first Highlander built on its Toyota New Global Architecture platform, with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 standard.
We have one warranty fact, and it is for the 2020 model year. Toyota's release on 2020 hybrids sets hybrid battery coverage at "10 years from date of first use, or 240,000 km, whichever comes first", for the first owner and all later owners.
That release names the 2020 model year, so do not carry it to a 2019 or a 2021 without that year's own document. And the clock started with the first owner, so what is left on one vehicle depends on its in-service date, kilometres, VIN and the warranty's terms.
If you are still weighing whether a hybrid suits your driving at all, our plug-in hybrid and hybrid comparison walks through how each fits a commute.
2022 or 2023: the last V6 or the first turbo four
For the 2023 model year Toyota replaced the V6 with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and an eight-speed automatic. So a 2022 and a 2023 gas Highlander share a generation but not an engine, and 2022 is the last year to find the V6.
Toyota's first 2023 release sets the turbo four against "the previous 3.5-litre V6 engine", and both 2023 releases list Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ as standard.
Toyota's 2026 release still pairs a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, with stop and start technology, and an eight-speed automatic.
Toyota has also announced that the next-generation Highlander will be battery electric. It is not on any used lot, so it does not change this choice.
Which used Highlander years to check harder, and how
No year is one to skip on this evidence, but some carry Transport Canada records naming certain vehicles, and the check for each is the VIN rather than the year. A model year on a record does not mean every vehicle built that year is affected.
Start with the newest. Transport Canada's record 2026427 lists certain 2021 to 2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid models, where "the seatback recliners for the second-row seats may not have been manufactured properly" and the seatback could move in a crash.
Its remedy is a dealership replacing the spring in the second-row seatback recliner assemblies. The record also carries Toyota's own advice: "Toyota recommends not using the second-row seats to transport passengers until the recall repairs have been completed."
If you have read that this one stops at 2023, that was an earlier record, since replaced; the current one lists certain vehicles through 2025. Whatever year you are looking at in that range, run the VIN before anyone rides in the second row.
Transport Canada's record 2023574 lists certain 2020 to 2023 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid models, where the front lower bumper cover may not be attached properly and could separate after a minor impact. The remedy is a dealership inspecting and securing the cover, and replacing it if damage is found, so run the VIN and ask the seller for that repair record.
Transport Canada's record 2020005 lists certain 2018 and 2019 Highlanders, where the low-pressure fuel pump could fail and the engine may run rough or not start. The remedy is a replacement fuel pump at a dealership, so run the VIN and ask for the record of that repair.
Transport Canada's record 2014187 lists the 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, and whether one particular vehicle is affected is a VIN check. Its issue is occupant classification programming that could limit seat belt loading for the front passenger in a crash, and dealers reprogram the module.
Transport Canada's record 2010124 lists 2008 to 2010 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid models, and whether one particular vehicle is affected is a VIN check. Its issue is Toyota's optional "tray-type" floor mat, which "could move forward and interfere with the accelerator pedal" if unsecured or laid over another mat; the remedy is removing that mat, with a reimbursement.
Transport Canada's record 2013296 lists 2006 to 2010 Highlander Hybrid models, and whether one particular vehicle is affected is a VIN check. Its issue is a control board in the hybrid inverter's Intelligent Power Module that could fail while driving, and dealers inspect and, if necessary, replace the module.
Those are the records we read on Transport Canada's own pages, and we are not claiming they are all of them. Recall work on a Toyota is a Toyota dealership's job, not ours.
Check the block heater before the first cold night
Find out whether the vehicle is on a block heater record before you plug it in. Transport Canada's records 2021723 and 2017363 cover certain block heater kits on certain Highlander and Highlander Hybrid model years between 2006 and 2019, and the risk named is a short circuit while the heater is plugged in.
Transport Canada's record 2021723 says the heater cable "may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures", and that wiring which overheats or melts "could create the risk of a fire." Its instruction is direct: "Stop using the engine block heater immediately."
Transport Canada says Toyota will direct owners to a dealer to disable the heater. For some vehicles, the corrective action was still under development; for others, Toyota says a replacement heater cannot be installed and the owner will receive a refund. This record applies only to certain block-heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships.
Transport Canada's record 2017363 lists certain 2016 and 2017 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid models, among many other models, where the power cords of some dealer-installed block heaters may short circuit. Dealers replace or remove the heater, and until then they cut the plug end off the cord to disable it.
So on a vehicle from those years whose heater status is unknown, leave the heater unplugged until the VIN check is done. That is our buying advice, built on Transport Canada's own instruction to stop using an affected heater.
These records cover certain heater kits on certain vehicles, not every Highlander block heater.
What to check on the lot, whatever the year
Three things settle more than the model year: the drivetrain on the vehicle itself, its VIN, and what the underside looks like after Eastern Ontario winters. Toyota's 2014, 2017 and 2020 Canadian lineups each had a front-wheel-drive gas grade, so read the vehicle rather than the year.
The VIN is on a dashboard plate on the driver's side at the windshield, on a label on the driver's door pillar, and on the registration and insurance documents. Ask our team to check the VIN and confirm any open campaigns before you buy.
Then have your own mechanic look underneath, because salted roads reach places a listing photo never shows. That is general advice for any used vehicle here; no Highlander record we read ties anything to road salt.
When you are ready to compare, put a few used SUVs side by side on the things that genuinely differ between them.
What is your Highlander worth toward your next vehicle?
Find that out before you shop, because it changes which vehicles are genuinely on your list. At Carleton Place Ford we take trades of any make, whether it is paid off or not, and we put our appraisal of your trade in writing.
Value your trade online first, then let us appraise it in person.
We buy vehicles outright, so an appraisal does not commit you to buying from us.
With your permission, we get the payout from your lender and show it beside our appraisal, so you can see whether you owe more than your vehicle is worth. If approved (O.A.C.), some or all of the difference may be included in a new finance agreement; that increases the amount financed and total borrowing cost.
You may also cover the difference with money down. Bring the ownership, every key and fob, and any service records.
And if a Ford belongs on your list beside a Highlander, our Explorer Tremor guide asks whether your roads call for one.
How does financing a used vehicle work at Carleton Place Ford?
Apply before you visit if you wish. We can review financing options with participating lenders, subject to your consent and lender approval (O.A.C.).
Approval, rate, term and payment depend on the applicant, lender and vehicle, and submitting an application may involve a credit-bureau inquiry. If a bruised credit file is the worry, our guide explains what happens when you apply.
Bring a driver's licence and proof of income if requested; lender requirements vary. A joint application with a spouse or partner is welcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year for Toyota Highlander buyers?
It depends on the engine you want. For 2017, gas models got a revised V6 with a new eight-speed automatic and Toyota Safety Sense P became standard, and 2022 is the last gas V6 before a gas 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder took over for 2023.
After that, the individual vehicle's records decide more than its year.
Which Toyota Highlander years should you avoid?
On the evidence we read, no model year is one to write off, because Transport Canada's records apply to certain vehicles rather than to every vehicle built that year.
Check hardest on certain 2021 to 2025 models named on the second-row seat record, and on block heaters from certain model years between 2006 and 2019.
What is the difference between a 2022 and a 2023 Toyota Highlander?
The gas engine. For the 2023 model year Toyota replaced the V6 with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and an eight-speed automatic.
Same generation, different engine, so pick the side you want first and then compare individual vehicles.
Which Highlander years does the second-row seat issue cover?
Transport Canada's current record, 2026427, lists certain 2021 to 2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid models. It replaced an earlier record that stopped at 2023, and it still covers certain vehicles only.
Toyota recommends not carrying passengers in the second row until the repair is done, so run the VIN first.
Should you plug in the block heater on a used Toyota Highlander?
Check first. Transport Canada's block heater records cover certain heater kits on certain Highlander and Highlander Hybrid model years between 2006 and 2019, and one tells owners of affected vehicles to stop using the heater immediately.
Until the VIN check is done, leave an unknown heater unplugged.
Does the hybrid battery coverage transfer on a used 2020 Highlander Hybrid?
Toyota's release for 2020 hybrids sets hybrid battery coverage at 10 years from date of first use or 240,000 km, whichever comes first, for the first owner and all later owners.
It names the 2020 model year only, and what is left on one vehicle depends on its in-service date, kilometres, VIN and the warranty's terms.
So which used Highlander should you buy?
The one whose paperwork holds up. Pick your side of the engine boundaries first — the gas V6 from before 2023, or the gas turbo four from 2023 on, with 2017 as the line inside the 2014 design — and then let the VIN check and your own mechanic choose between individual vehicles.
If the VIN check comes back clean and the vehicle looks right underneath, the history matters more than the year on the windshield.
Start with our used inventory, all makes, and tell Carleton Place Ford what the vehicle actually has to do for you.
Generation, engine, equipment, warranty and VIN-location facts come from Toyota Canada's own published documents; record numbers, model years, scope and remedies come from Transport Canada. All read 2026-10-01.
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About the Author:
Kerry Irven is the Vice President of New and Used Automotive Operations for Heighton Automotive Group, a family-owned and operated automotive group serving communities across Eastern Ontario. Kerry began his automotive career in new-car sales, building his experience on the showroom floor and working his way through multi-store dealership operations.
With over 25 years in the automotive industry, Kerry has helped grow automotive businesses from one location with 40 to 50 vehicles in stock to more than 500 vehicles across 10 rooftops. His hands-on background in both new and used-vehicle operations gives him a practical understanding of what customers look for when shopping for their next vehicle.
Throughout his career, Kerry has always been actively involved in staff coaching and in understanding customer wants and needs, helping ensure the businesses he works with continue to adapt to what customers are truly looking for.
One of the most exciting chapters of his career has been the shift into modern automotive marketing, embracing new technology, transparent pricing, customer-first inventory strategies, and new ways to create a better vehicle-shopping experience.
Kerry has completed extensive automotive training, including certification through the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, involvement with the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario, Canadian automotive dealer training, and multiple customer service courses.
Born and raised on a farm, Kerry has always valued family, hard work, and a practical, down-to-earth approach. Joining Heighton Automotive Group and working alongside Thomas Heighton and family, along with managing partners Kyle Lothian and Martin Gougeon, has allowed him to bring those same values into the car business. It has also allowed Kerry to continue following a simple philosophy: treat every customer exactly the way he would want to be treated.
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