A genuinely practical three-row family SUV sharing its exceptionally dependable V6 with the Lexus RX350 — the same engine, the same strong reputation, in Toyota's more accessible badge.
The Highlander's midsize SUV body is an easy, unstressed load for this V6 — the same genuinely strong engine covered in detail on the related Lexus RX350 page, here in Toyota's more accessibly priced three-row SUV.
A hybrid variant was also offered across this generation — worth asking about specifically if you're comparing powertrains, since it carries a different (though also generally well-regarded) drivetrain profile.
This is about the car itself — for engine-specific failure points, see the dedicated engine page below.
This Highlander shares its 3.5L V6 with the related Lexus RX350. Full detail on this engine's exceptional reliability track record lives on the shared engine page.
FULL ENGINE BREAKDOWNLexus 3.5L V6 (2GR-FE) — Reliable or Not →Beyond general maintenance history, there's genuinely little engine-specific risk to flag on this combination.
Confirm which powertrain the specific car has (conventional or hybrid) if shopping in a market where both were available.
Inspect for rust around wheel arches and the underbody, especially on cars from regions that salt roads in winter.