2014 Toyota Highlander

2014 Toyota Highlander Overview

Is the 2014 Toyota Highlander a Good Used SUV?

The 2014 Toyota Highlander is a great choice for large families. It sits in the midsize SUV class, and it has quality interior materials, a smooth ride, and seating for up to eight. The Toyota also boasts a generous number of standard features and good fuel economy estimates. However, it doesn’t offer as much cargo space as some rivals. The Highlander's reliability rating is average among all vehicles, but some rivals surpass it.

Why You Can Trust Us

We’ve analyzed 25 Toyota Highlander reviews, as well as fuel economy estimates, reliability ratings, crash test results, and more, to give you all the information you need to make a smart car-buying decision.

U.S. News & World Report has been reviewing cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our Best Cars team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. To remain impartial, we do not accept extravagant gifts from automakers, and an outside source handles our advertising.

How Much Is the 2014 Toyota Highlander?

Based on nearly 400 listings on our site, the average list price of the 2014 Toyota Highlander is $25,800, which is above average among rivals. Prices range from roughly $19,900 to $31,000, and they vary depending on the vehicle's condition, mileage, features, and location.

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How Much Does the 2014 Toyota Highlander Cost to Own?

Five-year estimated costs for fuel, insurance, maintenance, and repairs on the 2014 Toyota Highlander are around $27,260 – or about $5,450 per year. Those five-year costs are slightly below average. 

Is It Better to Buy a Used or New Highlander?

Compared to the 2014 model, the 2019 Toyota Highlander has updated interior and exterior styling, a revised V6 engine with more power and better fuel economy, and a standard towing package for V6-equipped models. It also has many more advanced safety features, including lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and brake assist. If these additions don't interest you, opt for the more affordable 2014 Highlander.

Read about the new Toyota Highlander »

There are a few new midsize SUVs with starting prices that are close to the 2014 Toyota Highlander's average price. Starting at just under $26,000, the highly ranked 2019 Kia Sorento has a compliant ride, great gas mileage estimates, and one of the nicest cabins in the class with additional standard features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

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Which Model Year of the Toyota Highlander Is Best?

The third-generation Highlander launched for 2014 and continues through the 2019 model year. Models from 2013 and earlier cost less, but they are significantly different. For 2014, Toyota updated the Highlander’s interior and exterior styling, added additional cargo space, and boosted seating up to eight (older models seat seven). Third-generation Highlander models also have better V6 fuel economy than before.

Toyota refreshed the Highlander for 2017, introducing a standard suite of active safety features, a more powerful V6 engine with fuel economy, and updated styling inside and out. If you can foot the bill, consider spending the extra on a 2017 Highlander. Otherwise, you’ll be fine with a 2014 model.

Compare the 2012, 2013, and 2014 Highlander »

How Reliable Is the 2014 Toyota Highlander?

J.D. Power gives the 2014 Toyota Highlander a reliability rating of three out of five, which is about average for all vehicles on the road but a little below average for the midsize SUV class.

Read more about Highlander reliability »

2014 Toyota Highlander Recalls

There are four safety recalls for the 2014 Toyota Highlander. They address a fuel delivery pipe that may leak fuel, improperly installed seat belt restraint software, and seat assemblies that may not completely lock into the seat track. Make sure a Toyota dealer has addressed these recalls before purchasing a used Highlander.

See more information on Toyota Highlander safety recalls »

Which Used Toyota Highlander Model Is Right for Me?

The 2014 Toyota Highlander comes in four trim levels: LE, LE Plus, XLE, and Limited. The base LE trim has a substantial number of features for most shoppers, including a rearview camera, a 6.1-inch touch screen, six speakers, a USB port, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and remote keyless entry. A number of option packages were available when the Highlander was new, so some trims may come with more than their standard features.

The LE Plus trim adds tri-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, satellite radio, HD Radio, a power liftgate, fog lights, and alloy wheels. The XLE trim builds on the LE with a moonroof, push-button start, leather-trimmed first- and second-row seats, an 8-inch touch screen, a 4.2-inch driver information display, and navigation.

If you’re looking for a loaded Highlander, check out the top-of-the-line Limited trim. It includes a 12-speaker audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, power-adjustable front seats, and second-row captain's chairs, which shrinks the seating capacity to seven.

See 2014 Toyota Highlander trims and specs »

What Does Toyota's Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

Toyota offers a certified pre-owned program for vehicles six years old or less and with fewer than 85,000 miles. Eligibility is determined by the vehicle’s initial sale date. Toyota provides a one-year/12,000-mile limited warranty on all its certified pre-owned vehicles, and it extends the original new-car powertrain warranty to seven years from the initial sale date or 100,000 miles. Each CPO Toyota must pass a 160-point inspection. Additional benefits like a CarFax vehicle history report, towing, and roadside assistance may be available, so read the Toyota warranty page carefully.

Toyota’s CPO program is about average for an affordable carmaker, according to our research. Mazda, Hyundai, and Honda all have better programs.

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Read more about the Toyota certified pre-owned program »

How Safe Is the Highlander?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2014 Toyota Highlander a Top Safety Pick+, the organization’s highest accolade. The IIHS also gave the 2014 Highlander the highest rating of Good in four crash tests and the second-highest rating of Acceptable in both small overlap front tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2014 Highlander an overall rating of five out of five stars, with four stars in frontal and rollover tests and five stars in the side crash tests.

The Highlander comes standard with a rearview camera. Some models also feature adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors.

See Highlander safety scores »

2014 Toyota Highlander Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: 2014 Toyota Highlander or 2014 Toyota 4Runner?

If you're looking for a little more cargo room and good off-road capabilities, the 2014 Toyota 4Runner has you covered. In most other aspects, though, it pales in comparison to the Highlander. The Highlander has a comfier ride, a nicer cabin, and superior fuel economy. It also has a lower average list price than the 4Runner, which means you'll save money upfront. Unless off-roading is a top priority, the Highlander is the better choice.

Which Is Better: 2014 Toyota Highlander or 2014 Honda Pilot?

The 2014 Honda Pilot finishes near the Highlander in our midsize SUV rankings. Both offer a stable ride and seating for up to eight people. There are some noteworthy differences between the two models, however. The Pilot has a little more cargo space and a higher reliability rating, while the Highlander offers more available safety features and a stronger V6 engine with better fuel economy estimates. Your personal preference will determine which model is right for you.

Compare the Highlander, 4Runner, and Pilot »

2014 Highlander Performance

How Does the 2014 Toyota Highlander Drive?

With composed handling and a compliant ride, the 2014 Toyota Highlander has no problem holding its own out on the road. The standard 185-horsepower four-cylinder engine is potent enough for daily driving, but if you're searching for more power, opt for a model with the available 270-horsepower V6 engine. All Highlanders come with a responsive six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available.

Does the 2014 Toyota Highlander Get Good Gas Mileage?

The four-cylinder Highlander is rated at 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. These are good estimates in the class. Gas mileage with V6-equipped models drops by only 1 mpg on the highway.

2014 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity

When properly equipped, the 2014 Highlander can tow up to 1,500 pounds with the standard four-cylinder engine, or up to 5,000 pounds with the V6 engine.

Read more about Highlander performance »

2014 Highlander Interior

How Many People Does the 2014 Highlander Seat?

You can seat up to eight people in the 2014 Highlander. The Highlander's first two rows of seats are roomy and comfortable, but like most 3-row SUVs, the third row is best suited for children. Quality materials fill the Highlander's cabin, which is an improvement over the previous generation. Cloth upholstery is standard, and some models come with synthetic leather upholstery or genuine leather, heated and ventilated front seats, power-adjustable front seats, and second-row captain's chairs.

How Many Car Seats Fit in the 2014 Toyota Highlander?

There are two full sets of LATCH child-seat connectors on the second-row outboard seats and upper tethers for the second- and third-row middle seats.

2014 Toyota Highlander Features

Standard features include a 6.1-inch touch screen, six speakers, Bluetooth, a USB port, and voice recognition. Some models come with an 8-inch touch screen, a 4.2-inch driver information display, navigation, a 12-speaker audio system, satellite radio, and HD Radio.

See 2014 Toyota Highlander specs »

Read more about Highlander interior »

2014 Toyota Highlander Dimensions

Toyota Highlander Cargo Space

The Highlander has 13.8 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, 42.3 cubes behind the second row, and 83.7 cubic feet of space with the second and third rows folded. The Highlander has a sufficient amount of space for most families, but a number of its competitors offer more cargo room. Nonetheless, the Highlander has tons of small-item storage space throughout the cabin. A power liftgate is available.

2014 Highlander Length and Weight

The 2014 Highlander is about 15.9 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 4,130 to 4,510 pounds.

Where Was the 2014 Toyota Highlander Built?

Toyota built the 2014 Highlander in Indiana.