Used 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid for SaleNationwide

Is the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid a good car?

The 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a mixed but appealing choice: your 3/5 user rating sits below its 7.3/10 expert score, which reflects a well-equipped, competitively priced midsize hybrid SUV with broad practicality and efficiency appeal. The standout strength is Form and function at 9/10. Toyota’s long hybrid-SUV experience shows in the Highlander Hybrid’s polished, semi-luxury feel, and the model’s blend of practicality and efficiency gives it more appeal than fuel economy alone might suggest. With a 36.5% good-or-great deal share, the market still offers some room for value-minded shoppers.

Is the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid reliable?

The 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s appeal is tied to Toyota’s long-running hybrid expertise, and the expert evaluation describes the powertrain as seamless and highly refined in everyday use. The hybrid system is presented as transparent and relaxing, with smooth engine shutoff and restart behavior, and the vehicle’s long run in the lineup points to a mature design. The cost-effectiveness notes also suggest that the hybrid premium can make sense if you drive enough to benefit from the fuel savings. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is paying extra for hybrid efficiency without getting enough mileage to offset the upfront premium.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

At 58.3% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle-history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially on any example with incomplete service records or visible bodywork. Focus on overall condition, because the market includes a meaningful number of cars with prior damage, and the hybrid’s premium equipment can make repairs more expensive if something has been neglected.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Limited trim comes with almost everything, while the Platinum trim adds the Driver Technology Package and other upscale equipment; the base setup leaves out some of those convenience and driver-assist features.
• Powertrain: The hybrid system uses a 3.5-liter V6 with two electric motors for 280 combined horsepower, and the setup is tuned for smooth, efficient driving rather than excitement.
• Safety package: The Driver Technology Package includes auto high beams, forward-collision alert with auto-braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning; only the highest Platinum trim gets it here.
• Infotainment: Entune includes live traffic and rerouting, customizable multi-screen displays, and smartphone app integration; the system also uses a touchscreen interface with voice functions.
• Fuel efficiency: The hybrid is EPA-rated at 28 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Which 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid trim should I buy?

The 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is offered in 2 trim levels: Limited and Platinum.

Here's the short version:

• Limited: This is the trim that gives you the core Highlander Hybrid experience with the upscale cabin, strong comfort, and most of the equipment shoppers expect from this model. It’s the better value if you want the hybrid’s refinement without stretching to the top trim.
• Platinum: This is the one to choose if you want the most complete version of the Highlander Hybrid, including the Driver Technology Package with auto high beams, forward-collision alert with auto-braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning.

Only the highest Platinum trim receives the Driver Technology Package.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

This looks like a moderate, selective-buyer market: there are enough listings to shop carefully, but you should still compare condition and history closely before making an offer.

• Deal availability: 36.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 115 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 58.3% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid safe?

The 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid earns the highest five-star rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS. It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The Highlander Hybrid comes standard with blind-spot monitoring and a backup camera, and the IIHS award reflects a top result in all five crash tests plus a passing score for its forward-collision alert with auto-braking system. Only the highest Platinum trim receives the Driver Technology Package, which adds auto high beams, forward-collision alert with auto-braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning.

Should I buy a 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 36.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 58.3% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Toyota’s hybrid expertise is evident in the seamless, relaxing powertrain and the model’s polished, semi-luxury character.

The bottom line: If you want a refined hybrid SUV with strong efficiency, a comfortable cabin, and a mature Toyota powertrain, the 2016 is a solid target. If you’re shopping primarily on price, you may want to compare carefully against other years and focus on the cleanest, best-documented examples.

How does the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid compare to the 2016 Honda Pilot?

Our experts score the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 7.3/10 and the 2016 Honda Pilot 7.3/10. The Highlander Hybrid is the more efficient choice, with much stronger city fuel economy and a hybrid powertrain that emphasizes smoothness and refinement. The Pilot is far cheaper to start and has far more listings, so it gives you a much broader shopping pool. If you want hybrid efficiency and a more upscale feel, the Highlander Hybrid makes sense; if you want lower entry cost and easier availability, the Pilot is the simpler buy.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.