2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE FWD
All photo credits
- Photo: TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (XU70) China (50) by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum XU70 Platinum White Pearl Mica (1) by Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum XU70 Platinum White Pearl Mica (2) by Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Toyota Highlander Hybrid (XU70) 1X7A6356 by Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (XU70) CHINA VERSION INTERIOR (4) by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE FWD is a 243-hp 2.5-liter SUV with an ecvt and front-wheel drive. It starts at $38,735 MSRP and is rated at 36 mpg combined.
It makes 243 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 36 mpg city and 35 mpg highway (36 mpg combined).
The Highlander Hybrid measures 194.9 inches long on a 112.2-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 4,330 lb.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | |
| Body Type | SUV |
| Powertrain | Hybrid |
| Price | |
| MSRP | $38,735 |
| MSRP with Destination | $39,910 |
| Destination Charge | $1,175 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Type | 2.5-Liter DOHC 16-Valve 4-Cylinder Hybrid (Atkinson Cycle) |
| Displacement | 2.5 L |
| Horsepower | 243 hp |
| Torque | 175 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm (engine) rpm |
| Valvetrain | DOHC 16-Valve with Dual VVT-iE (Atkinson Cycle) |
| Bore and Stroke | 87.5 x 103.4 |
| Compression Ratio | 14.0:1 |
| Injection Type | D-4S Direct & Port Injection |
| Drivetrain | |
| Drive Type | FWD |
| Transmission | |
| Transmission | eCVT (Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable) with sequential shift mode |
| Fuel Economy | |
| City | 36 MPG |
| Highway | 35 MPG |
| Combined | 36 MPG |
| Recommended Fuel | Regular 87-octane or higher |
| Suspension | |
| Front Suspension | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with stabilizer bar |
| Brakes | |
| Front Brake Disc | Ventilated disc, 13.3 in. |
| Rear Brake Disc | Solid disc, 13.3 in.; Electronically Controlled Braking (ECB) with integrated regenerative braking |
| Tires & Wheels | |
| Wheels Front | 18 in. painted alloy |
| Wheels Rear | 18 in. painted alloy |
| Tires Front | P235/65R18 |
| Tires Rear | P235/65R18 |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
| Length | 194.9 in |
| Width | 76 in |
| Height | 68.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 in |
| Front Track | 65.3 in |
| Rear Track | 65.4 in |
| Ground Clearance | 8 in |
| Approach Angle | 18.1° |
| Departure Angle | 22.7° |
| Cargo Volume | 16 ft³ |
| Curb Weight | 4,330 lbs |
| Interior | |
| Headroom Front | 39.9 in |
| Headroom Rear | 39.4 in |
| Legroom Front | 40.4 in |
| Legroom Rear | 41 in |
| Shoulder Room Front | 59 in |
| Shoulder Room Rear | 58.7 in |
| Hip Room Front | 57.2 in |
| Hip Room Rear | 57 in |
Similar cars
Rivals to the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE FWD with similar size, power and price from around the same years.
Safety & Recalls
NCAP safety ratings
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ (16.4 % risk) |
Other tested variants (1)
- 2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV AWD: 5 ★ overall
Recalls
4 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Mar 5, 2026 · SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
Consequence: A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
NHTSA campaign 26V128000
Dec 20, 2023 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
NHTSA campaign 23V865000
Oct 26, 2023 · STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
Consequence: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB12/23TA12.
NHTSA campaign 23V720000
Apr 13, 2022 · ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.
NHTSA campaign 22V239000
15 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID
Owner Complaints
15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID. See all on nhtsa.gov
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Structure | 4 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 |
| Hydraulic | 1 |
Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.