The Toyota Highlander burst onto the scene at the 2000 New York Auto Show and more than one million units would be sold during its first seven years in production. Now, 25 years later, the company is celebrating the trailblazing vehicle with a new special edition. It’s based on the Highlander Hybrid Limited AWD and is distinguished by silver accents as well as 20-inch wheels. Customers also have a choice between a Heavy Metal or Wind Chill Pearl paint job.
The special touches continue inside as
there’s stylish Portobello brown leather seats that feature an embossed 25th
Edition logo on the front headrests. They’re joined by special puddle lamps and
doorsill plates as well as unique floor mats. Since the model is based on the
Limited Hybrid, customers will also find a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
and a 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia system. They’re joined by a tri-zone
automatic climate control system, an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, and
the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite of driver assistance systems. The Highlander
25th Edition will be limited to 2,500 units in the United States.
Unfortunately, there’s no word on pricing yet.
Besides the new special edition, there’s a
revised color palette that now includes Cement as well as the aforementioned
Heavy Metal. The XSE Turbo also gains a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
with a Sport Mode startup screen for an “extra bit of edge.” Furthermore, all
hybrid variants now feature all-wheel drive as standard, alongside the newly
introduced Beyond Zero badge. In line with this update, the Toyota logo has
been standardized across all trims, for a unified look.
Under the hood, there are two familiar
engines. The turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder produces 265 hp and 420 Nm of torque. Customers can also opt for a hybrid
powertrain, which consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, three electric
motors, and a nickel metal hydride battery pack. This gives the crossover a
combined output of 243 hp and a fuel economy rating of up to
35 mpg across the board.
The 2025 Highlander is slated to arrive at
U.S. dealerships this November and pricing will start at US$ 39,520 before
destination. That’s a slight increase of US$ 250.