2015 Toyota Highlander

The 2015 Toyota Highlander is offered in five different trims, ranging in price, power and convenience features. The base model starts at an MSRP of $29,765 and offers some compelling features for a base model. Medium trims come in at around $35,000, offering a good deal of comfort features, along with a more potent V6 powertrain. The top-end Limited Platinum trim can go as high as $44,140, offering AWD, impressive luxuries, and a good deal of practical features. The following table sums up the trims and features offered with the 2015 Toyota Highlander. 

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The 2015 Toyota Highlander is a fantastic vehicle which can truly be enjoyed only when you get most of what Toyota has to offer with the Highlander. That being said, we recommend going for the Highlander XLE, which offers an impressive balance of luxury, comfort, technology and price. Lower trims do offer great value, but comfort and convenience features sure seem rather compromised.

The 2015 Toyota Highlander comes with a 3.5L V6 engine, which is capable of putting down 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. The engine feels very powerful, and can execute comfortable overtakes on the highways. City driving feels refined and contained, with the powertrain showcasing little to no NVH issues.

The V6 engine comes mated to a clever 6-speed automatic transmission, which does feel slightly dated, but works just fine in general. Gear ratios are not perfectly spaced, but the top gear feels tall enough to keep revs low during comfortable highway driving. The 2015 Toyota Highlander sprints from 0 to 60 MPH in 7.3 seconds, which is sufficiently quick for a vehicle of its size. 

Among the competition, the Ford Flex offers the most power and torque figures, albeit by a small margin over competitors. While the Ford and the Toyota are offered with 6-speed gearboxes, the Honda Pilot comes with a 5-speed automatic, which feels dated and unoptimized. The Ford Flex also happens to be the quickest to 60 MPH, and also posts the best quarter-mile times. The Flex also boasts the highest top speeds among the competition. 

The 2015 Toyota Highlander offers great gas mileage, and stands as a more fuel-efficient option than many other vehicles in this segment. The 2015 model year Highlander returns 18 MPG in the city, and 24 MPG on highways. The result is a combined EPA rating of 24 MPG. The Highlander also comes with a sizable 19.2-gallon fuel tank, which enables the SUV an impressive driving range of 460.8 miles on the highway.

Comparing the competition, the Toyota Highlander offers better city MPG figures, along with slightly higher highway and combined fuel economy. From a gas mileage standpoint, the 2015 Toyota Highlander offers to be the best choice among rivals. The 2015 Honda Pilot, however, gets the largest fuel tank, and delivers the highest driving range of 504 miles. 

The 2015 Toyota Highlander offers a cozy and tech-ready cabin, which invites you into an environment of comfort and convenience. The Toyota Highlander offers a few customization options, such as selecting the finish of your seating surfaces. Higher trims offer splendid, comfortable bucket seats wrapped in high-quality leather. There’s power-adjustment on offer, along with memory settings. 

The dashboard features soft-touch leather upholstery, along with a plush wooden trim under the instrument panel. We love the hybrid gauge cluster on offer, along with the cleverly arranged driver controls on the steering wheel. There’s a lot of space for storage under the central armrest, along with sizable cupholders up front, which amp up the practicality of the Highlander’s cabin. 

Comparing the competition, the 2015 Ford Flex offers the most headroom in the front row, while the Toyota Highlander has the most legroom to offer at the front. In the second row, the Ford Flex again offers the most headroom, while also offering the most legroom. Things get tighter in the third row, where the Ford Flex yet again manages to offer the most headroom and legroom. Some major interior features offered with the 2015 Toyota Highlander include:

• Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror. 
• Dual Cup Holders. 
• Matte Leather Surfaces. 
• Hybrid Gauge Cluster. 
• Steering-Mounted Buttons. 
• Dual-Zone Climate Control. 
• Keyless Start. 
• Optional Remote Ignition. 

2015 Toyota Highlander Infotainment System

Toyota offers the 2015 Highlander with a fairly basic infotainment system. The 2015 model year Toyota Highlander gets an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, which features some basic functions and settings. You get Bluetooth Audio Streaming, which conveniently plays your favorite music wirelessly. There’s also USB and Aux support, which adds flexibility to your infotainment needs. Toyota also offers CD and MP3 players, ensuring all-round music needs are met. The Highlander also features Satellite Radio, along with an in-built navigation system. For music aficionados, Toyota also lets you upgrade your Highlander to feature a compelling JBL Audio System. Some key infotainment features offered with the 2015 Toyota Highlander include:

• 8.0-inch Infotainment Screen. 
• USB and Aux Input. 
• Bluetooth Audio Streaming. 
• CD and MP3 Player. 
• Satellite Radio. 
• Optional JBL Audio. 
• In-Built Navigation. 

The 2015 Toyota Highlander comes with a bulky but aggressive look, which sets it aside from most of the Toyota lineup. The Highlander features angular headlamps at the front that taper into an aggressive trapezoidal grille up front. Massive wheel arches give the Highlander a hunky look, and make it look like a capable off-roader. 

The rest of the aesthetic associated with the 2015 Toyota Highlander is quite conventional, featuring gentle folds and curves throughout the exterior. You also have the option for having horizontal roof rails installed for increased practicality. All in all, the Highlander is not exactly a looker, but hosts an aggressive, can-do look, which suits its personality well. 

Comparing the competition, the 2015 Ford Flex weighs the most, while the Honda Pilot boasts the least weight. The Ford Flex also measures the longest in the lot, while also being the widest by a slim margin. The Honda Pilot stands the tallest, while sharing the greatest ground clearance with the Toyota Highlander. The Ford Flex has the longest wheelbase on offer, and that too, by a significant margin over its competitors. Some key exterior features offered with the 2015 Toyota Highlander include:

• Chrome Grille Surrounds. 
• Power Folding Mirrors. 
• Mirror Turn Signal Indicators. 
• Integrated Fog Lamps. 
• Optional Roof Rails. 
• 18-inch Alloy Wheels. 
• Optional Chrome Door Handles. 
• All-Weather Tires.

The 2015 Toyota Highlander stands as an impeccably safe SUV, and offers better safety features compared to some of its rivals. The NHTSA has rated the 2015 Toyota Highlander with a 5-Star Safety Rating, while the Japanese SUV has been acknowledged with a “Good” rating by the IIHS. Toyota offers the 2015 model year Highlander with some compelling active and passive safety aids which help the SUV be a safe haven for daily driving. Some key safety features offered with the 2015 Toyota Highlander include:

• LATCH Anchors. 
• Post-Collision Safety System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Dual-Stage Airbags. 
• Post-Collision Safety System
• Anti-Theft Alarm System
• ABS and ESP. 
• Traction Control. 

The 2015 Toyota Highlander offers immense value in terms of reliability, space, comfort, and technology. Priced similar to its competitors, the Highlander offers a good deal of practicality and great technological features, which gives it an immense competitive edge. While rivals such as the Ford Flex offer greater power and more seating space, the Toyota Highlander makes up for the same with unparalleled fuel economy. In conclusion, the 2015 Toyota Highlander is an excellent package for your family, offering all the necessary space, practicality and safety required on your daily commutes and weekend trips alike.