The Toyota Highlander is a great SUV; it sells well and sleeps seven comfortably. But, we got it; It’s kind of, well, simple. It’s simple, that is, until you upgrade to the $49,075 Platinum version. The big question to ask yourself, however, should be; Is the Highlander Platinum a $50,000 experience?
What is the 2023 Highlander Platinum trim?
The 2023 Highlander Platinum should be called the “everything package,” because it adds every option Toyota can offer to this SUV. Sure, it comes with the fancy stereo, leather-trimmed seats, 20-inch wheels, and all-wheel drive you’d expect in a luxury SUV. But it adds a modicum of luxury trim that could make it a competitor to its Lexus cousin, the RX 350, but with a third row. It also adds LED headlights, a power liftgate, and more.
All non-hybrid Highlanders get Toyota’s new 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 265 horsepower. While that’s less power than last year’s V6, it makes up for it with 309 pound-feet of torque, up from 263 last year. You can also order the Platinum trim with the all-wheel-drive hybrid engine, but that bumps the price up to $52,010 but drops horsepower to 243.
Is the 2023 Highlander Platinum much better?
In Platinum trim, the Toyota does a good job of impersonating a Lexus. Noise-reducing glass quiets the cabin, and it comes with a giant touchscreen and large digital gauge cluster. Almost all the tech upgrades you want are standard, too, including a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. However, it still has the same hard plastic, console and door panels in many places that show off its mid-price roots, even if they’re covered in sleek unseen wood, carbon fiber or soft-touch leather trim. in a $50,000 Lexus.
The Platinum also comes with the newest version of Toyota Safety Sense, which includes a number of driver aids such as Dynamic Radar Cruise and Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist. It also has the latest Toyota Audio Multimedia system which adds many phone capability options. But both systems are also available on the $42,000 XLE version of the Highlander.
For $50,000, a Lexus RX 350 or a Palisade Calligraphy could be great alternatives
However, if you look at the Hyundai dealership down the street, you’ll see that the $49,200 Calligraphy version of the Palisade might offer something more. In the Hyundai, you get a more powerful 290-horsepower V6 and many of the same features. It also comes with a head-up display, a large digital gauge cluster and Hyundai Remote Smart Park Assist, which helps you park hands-free. It also carries Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The base 2023 Lexus RX 350 starts at $48,550, or $50,150 for an all-wheel-drive version. It has a 275-horsepower engine and also includes the Lexus security system, which is similar to the premium version of Toyota’s system. The Lexus RX also has an interior that, even in base trim, shows it’s a luxury SUV and generally has higher-quality leather on the doors, a sleeker dash, and a luxury finish that the Highlander lacks. Platinum 2023. However, the RX only seats five. According to JD PowerThe RX also has a better reliability score than the already exceptional Highlander.
But of course, the Toyota nameplate says something about a buyer that a giant Lexus grille never will. And while the Hyundai may not impress the neighbors with its badge, you’ll know sitting in it that it’s a Platinum contender, too. The Highlander last received an update for 2020, while the RX is all-new for 2023, and the Hyundai Palisade just received a major update, which should keep it looking fresher for longer.
RELATED: How Reliable Is the Toyota Highlander?