Toyota has introduced the 2023 Highlander for the SUV fans boasting an upgraded interior, more safety, and a new turbo powertrain. The automaker has ditched its tried-and-tested naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 for a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder producing 265 horsepower (198 kilowatts) and 309 pound-feet (419 Newton-meters) of torque, against the V6’s 295 hp (220 kW) and 263 lb-ft (357 Nm) from the outgoing powerplant.
Comparing the power figures, we can see the turbo generates a lower horsepower rating (30 hp less) but has more torque – 46 pound-feet more, to be exact. The good news is that the fuel economy rating of the turbo is the same as the replaced-V6, but with lesser NOx, NMOG, and CO2 emissions. With the new engine, the towing capacity of 5,000 pounds (2,268-kilogram) remains the same.
The new gasoline mill gets assistance from an eight-speed automatic transmission to send power to either front- or all the wheels. The Lexus NX350 also has the same turbo four as the Highlander, but that yields 275 hp and 317 pound-feet of torque.
Interior Changes
The Limited and Platinum trim levels come with two 12.3-inch displays – for the instrument cluster and infotainment. Earlier, Toyota was offering a 7.0-inch instrument cluster. The infotainment system supports connectivity through Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. These high-end models also get power-folding side mirrors as standard equipment.
The lesser XLE and XSE grades receive a 7.0-inch display in the instrument cluster and an 8.0-inch screen for the infotainment. However, buyers can opt for the bigger 12.3-inch displays for extra money. A hands-free power liftgate is an elective function for these two trims.
The low-level L and LE models boast a 7.0-inch screen for the instruments. Previously, they had 4.2-inch screens.
Besides the changes to the displays, Toyota has moved the wireless smartphone charger to a more accessible position. The engineers also introduced some interior trim changes along with new exterior paint, known as Cypress.
Highlander Hybrid
For the 2023 Highlander Hybrid, Toyota carries over the old powertrain. It means the propulsion duty is entrusted to the 2.5-liter four-cylinder that gets assistance from two motor generators to generate a combined output of 243 horsepower (181 kilowatts). Toyota claims it delivers 36 miles per gallon combined fuel economy and has the ability to haul equal to 3,500 pounds (1,588 kilograms).
Safety
The Highlander does not compromise on safety as it gets the new Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite, offering a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and automatic high beams. The LE grade and above get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited and Platinum come with front, and rear parking assist with automatic braking. A 360-degree camera system is elective for the Limited trim and typical on the Platinum.
The automaker did not disclose the pricing details for the 2023 Highlander yet. However, we believe it will be more expensive than the 2022 Highlander, which costs $37,070 at least for the entry-level L trim and goes as high as $51,175 for the Platinum.
Source and Images: Motor1