The 2023 Toyota Highlander Trades its V6 for a New Turbocharged Engine

• The V6 is replaced by a 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder making 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque

• The interior is modernised with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and the brand’s new infotainment system

• The Highlander Hybrid is still offered for 2023

Toyota is making some changes to the Highlander for 2023, chief among which is a new turbocharged engine to replace the previous V6.

The Highlander welcomes a new standard engine under its hood for 2023: a 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder. This engine develops 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, a 17% increase over the 3.5L V6 it replaces.

This boost in torque will make for a more dynamic feel at low speeds and it should give the Highlander better accelerations when it is fully loaded. Toyota has not said which transmission will be used with this engine.

In addition to providing more low-down torque, this engine also reduces harmful emissions by more than 50% despite having the same fuel consumption figure of 9.8 L/100 km combined. The 5,000-pound towing capacity of last year’s model has not been compromised by the new engine, so the new model will be able to tow everything the old one could.

Apart from the new engine, the Highlander has also received a couple of changes for 2023, especially inside. Indeed, the interior of the Highlander can now be equipped with two 12.3-inch screens, one for the infotainment system and one for the new customisable digital instrument cluster.

The infotainment system is also new itself, since the Highlander will be the second Toyota model to use the brand’s new system, which was recently introduced in the new Tundra.

This infotainment is equipped with the Toyota assistant system that can be controlled by voice command after having said “Hey Toyota”, something that is becoming more and more popular in the industry. The system also comes with the wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto integration as standard and a 3-year trial subscription to the Remote Connect services, which allow owners to control certain functions of the vehicle via their phone.

The Highlander Hybrid is still present for 2023 and with its combined fuel consumption figure of 6.7L / 100 km, it will remain one of the most fuel efficient 3-row vehicles on the market. This model has reportedly accounted for 25% of total Highlander sales in Canada since it was introduced.

Toyota will release the pricing information for the 2023 Highlander later this summer and the first units are expected to arrive in dealer showrooms towards the end of the year.