2025 Toyota Highlander : Price, Trims, and a Great 3-Row SUV

2025 Toyota Highlander: America’s Favorite 3-Row SUV

The Toyota Highlander has long been a titan in the American automotive market, celebrated as one of America’s favorite 3-row SUVs. For the 2025 model year, it continues to solidify its reputation as a great 3-row SUV minivan-alternative, perfectly blending efficiency, comfort, and safety into a handsome and reliable package. As a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating, the Highlander is meticulously engineered to be ready for life’s biggest moments, from daily school runs to cross-country road trips. While not officially sold through showrooms in India, its global success has made it a highly anticipated vehicle among Indian SUV enthusiasts.

This deep dive will explore the 2025 Toyota Highlander, its powerful engine options, luxurious features, and its pricing in both the US and its expected cost in India as a premium import.

Pricing: The US Market vs. India

The Highlander’s price varies significantly between its primary market, the US, and its cost as a fully imported vehicle in India.

In the United States, the 2025 Toyota Highlander starts at $40,320 for the base LE trim, making it a competitive option in the 3-row SUV segment.
In India (as a CBU Import): Due to heavy import duties and taxes, the Toyota Highlander 2025 is priced starting at ₹72 lakh (ex-showroom) for those who import it. There are some online speculations that the Toyota Highlander 25th Edition 2025 Price in India is INR 3,567,000 (approx. ₹35.67 lakh), but this is likely an inaccurate figure for a CBU and may refer to a different model or future localized production. The ₹72 lakh starting price is a more realistic reflection of its import cost.

Powertrain Options: Balancing Power and Efficiency

For 2025, Toyota offers two distinct engine choices, allowing buyers to tailor their drive. With three distinct modes (Sport, Eco, Normal), you can adjust the vehicle’s performance to your mood.

The Standard 2.4-Liter Turbo Engine

Most Highlander models come equipped with a powerful and modern 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Performance: This engine is designed for smooth and reliable performance, delivering ample power for city driving and highway merging. However, some drivers note that in sport mode, it does get a bit noisy as it pushes for maximum output.
Fuel Economy: You can expect 19 mpg overall, which is respectable for a vehicle of this size.

The 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

For those who prioritize fuel economy, the hybrid model is an exceptional choice.

Performance: The hybrid’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is naturally aspirated instead of turbocharged, focusing on maximum efficiency. While it may not offer thrilling performance, it is more than adequate for daily driving. It is a class-leading hybrid SUV offering 35 MPG efficiency, making it a very economical choice in the long run.

A Look at the Key 2025 Toyota Highlander Trims

While the Toyota Highlander comes in 10 trim levels in the US, three popular choices highlight the range of features available.

1. 2025 Toyota Highlander XLE

The XLE trim is often considered the sweet spot in the lineup, offering a host of premium features at a reasonable price point. It typically adds SofTex-trimmed seats, a wireless charging pad, and a power moonroof.

2. 2025 Toyota Highlander XSE

The XSE is the sporty variant, designed for those who want a more aggressive look and a more engaging driving experience.

Key Features: The XSE stands out with its unique front grille and bumper, blacked-out accents, and a sport-tuned suspension for sharper handling. It perfectly combines the practicality of a 3-row SUV with a more dynamic aesthetic, and often comes with the desirable panoramic moonroof.

3. 2025 Toyota Highlander Limited

The Limited trim pushes the Highlander into luxury territory with features like leather-trimmed seats, ventilated front seats, a premium JBL audio system, and larger alloy wheels.

Grand Highlander vs. Highlander: What’s the Difference?

For families needing even more space, Toyota offers the Grand Highlander. The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander is more than six inches longer than the standard Highlander, with that extra length dedicated to a more spacious third row and a significantly larger cargo area. For maximum power and efficiency, the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max powertrain is available, making the Grand Highlander the ultimate SUV for large families.

Context in the Indian Market

While the Highlander remains a premium import, Toyota’s official Indian lineup continues to grow. Here is a quick look at the Toyota car price list in India (October 2025) for some popular models to provide context.

The Toyota new car launch in India 2025 calendar is buzzing with excitement, with the highly anticipated Toyota Corolla Cross expected to arrive soon. This new SUV, which will be compact and efficient, will slot in between the Hyryder and the Innova Hycross. Recently, Toyota also launched a special edition of its mid-size SUV, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Aero, showcasing its commitment to keeping its lineup fresh.

Although the Highlander, which was last redesigned for the 2020 model year, is not a mass-market product in India yet, its global success and Toyota’s expanding hybrid portfolio in the country keep the hope alive for a future, localized version.

2025 Toyota Highlander : Price, Trims, and a Great 3-Row SUV Minivan-Alternative