Toyota Highlander: the Camry-based crossover sold as the Kluger

The Toyota Highlander, sold as the Toyota Kluger in some markets, is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating produced since 2000. It was announced in April 2000 at the New York International Auto Show and was among the first of a new class of mid-size SUVs built on a car platform.

Toyota Highlander at a glance

Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Toyota Highlander.

History of the Toyota Highlander

First generation (XU20; 2000)

The Highlander shared its platform with the XU30 Lexus RX and Toyota Harrier, and was built on Toyota’s K architecture, also used by the Camry. It came in five-seat form from 2001 and with seven seats from 2004, with front-wheel drive as standard and full-time four-wheel drive as an option. Unlike the 4Runner, the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, it aimed at on-road comfort, with a unitary body and independent rear suspension. It was longer than the 1996–2002 4Runner at launch, although the redesigned 4Runner overtook it in August 2002. American trims were base, Sport and Limited, the Sport arriving in March 2006, and the hybrid got its own twin-spoke wheels. Engines were a 2.4-litre 2AZ-FE four of 155 hp and a 3.0-litre 1MZ-FE V6 of 220 hp, replaced for 2004 by a 3.3-litre 3MZ-FE of 230 hp that cut the 0–60 mph time from about 8.8 to 7.8 seconds.

Updates

The first cars lacked an integrated centre console, with cup holders built into the seats; the console reached US cars in late 2001 and Canadian models later. For 2004 the V6 gained a five-speed automatic, the optional third row arrived, and the floor behind the second row was modified to hold it, with the spare wheel moving underneath the car. A DVD navigation system became available in 2006 on the Hybrid Limited. From 2006, Canadian Highlanders were sold only as V6 all-wheel-drive models, and the hybrid used a part-time system Toyota calls 4WD-i, with the rear wheels driven separately.

The Kluger and later generations

In Japan the first-generation Highlander was sold as the Kluger, exclusive to Netz dealers as a larger alternative to the RAV4. Australia also uses the Kluger name because “Highlander” is a trademarked trim level owned by Hyundai; the name comes from the German klug, meaning clever. The Kluger reached Australia in October 2003 in CV, CVX and Grande forms, with a CV Sport limited edition in 2006, and only the 3.3-litre V6. The Highlander became Toyota’s best-selling SUV in the United States before the smaller RAV4 overtook it in 2006. The fifth-generation Highlander of 2026 became a battery-electric model, and a Subaru version is sold as the Subaru Getaway.

Design and features

• Car-based crossover: unitary construction and independent rear suspension for on-road comfort.
• Camry platform: the K architecture shared with the Camry and the Lexus RX.
• Kluger name: used in Japan and Australia, from the German word for clever.
• Hybrid 4WD-i: a part-time system with separately driven rear wheels.

Toyota Highlander versions

• XU20 (2000): first generation, five seats, 2.4-litre four or 3.0-litre V6.
• 2004 update: 3.3-litre V6, five-speed automatic, optional third row.
• Sport (2006): American trim with a distinctive grille.
• Kluger (2003): Australian version in CV, CVX and Grande trims.
• Hybrid: part-time four-wheel drive with a separate rear motor.
• 2026 generation: battery-electric Highlander.

The Highlander shares its platform with the Camry and Harrier, and sits above the RAV4. More cars are in the Toyota collection.

Sources

• Toyota Highlander, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, markets