Used 2021 Toyota Highlander for Sale near North Carolina

How much does the 2021 Toyota Highlander cost?

Prices have softened 5.54% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,444 listings available, which suggests you should have a workable range of choices.

Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Toyota Highlander earns a 4.86/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 10/10.

Owners consistently praise its comfort, reliability, and features, and they also highlight the smooth ride and spacious cabin. That lines up with the Highlander’s family-first mission, especially if you want a three-row SUV that is easy to live with and puts comfort ahead of excitement.

The trade-offs are clear: the styling is uninspired, the base engine is underwhelming, and the technology feels outdated. Even so, the Highlander’s comfort, space, and safety focus make it a strong fit if you value everyday usability over driving thrills.

With 36.7% of listings marked as good or great deals, there is still room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander reliable?

Owners rate it 4.86/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with repeated praise for reliability and comfort. The expert review also frames the Highlander as a smooth, predictable SUV with a reputation for reliability, which reinforces the sense that it is built for steady long-term use.

Toyota’s safety and convenience upgrades also support confidence in daily ownership, and the model’s family-oriented design suggests it is meant to handle regular use without drama. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about mechanical excitement and more about making sure the vehicle’s condition matches its strong reputation.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Toyota Highlander?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 76.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because accident-free status does not replace a full ownership and service review. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on cabin condition, electronics, and how well the vehicle’s family-use features have held up. Since some owners mention fuel-economy disappointment and limited configurability, it is worth testing the controls and making sure the setup works for your needs.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup starts with an 8-inch touchscreen on trims below Limited, while Limited can be optioned with a 12.3-inch screen and Platinum gets it standard. The XSE adds a more aggressive appearance package and some suspension tuning, while Limited leans more upscale with chrome accents and a richer interior feel.
• Powertrain: Every Highlander uses a 3.5-liter V6 with 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The setup is smooth and predictable rather than quick, and the XSE adds firmer suspension tuning for shoppers who want a little more road feel.
• Safety package: Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, plus road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. Those features are standard across the lineup.
• Infotainment: Lower trims use an 8-inch touchscreen, while Limited offers a 12.3-inch screen and Platinum makes it standard. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, and the larger screen is bright and crisp, though some functions still feel constrained by the interface.
• Fuel efficiency: The V6 is rated at 21 mpg city, 29 highway, and 24 combined with front-wheel drive, or 20/27/23 with all-wheel drive.

Which 2021 Toyota Highlander trim should I buy?

The 2021 Toyota Highlander is offered in 6 trim levels: LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, Platinum, and Limited trim.

Here's the short version:

• LE: This is the entry point, so it makes sense if you want the Highlander’s core space, safety, and V6 power at the lowest price. It gives you the essentials, but you give up the more upscale cabin and larger-screen tech found higher up.
• XLE: This is the best-value choice for many shoppers because it adds more comfort and convenience without jumping all the way to luxury pricing. If you want a family SUV that feels well equipped without overspending, this is the trim to focus on.
• XSE: Choose this if you want the Highlander to look and feel a little sportier. It adds a more aggressive appearance package and suspension tuning, but it is still more about style and road feel than true performance.
• Limited: This is the sweet spot if you want the upscale interior experience highlighted in the test drive. It sits just below Platinum and brings a more premium look and feel, with the 12.3-inch touchscreen available here.
• Platinum: Pick this if you want the most feature-rich Highlander and the 12.3-inch touchscreen standard. It is the top-tier choice for shoppers who want the most polished version of the model.
• Limited trim: This is the trim that the test vehicle used, and it stands out for its upscale cabin, chrome accents, and strong fit and finish. It is the right pick if you want the Highlander to feel more luxurious than practical.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ is standard, so you do not need to move up the lineup to get the core driver-assistance suite.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Toyota Highlander?

The market looks moderate, so you can shop carefully without feeling rushed.

• Deal availability: 36.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,444 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.54% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 76.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $29,148, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Toyota Highlander's resale value?

The current average of $29,618 sits slightly below last year's $31,356.

That decline suggests the market has become a little more buyer-friendly, which can work against a seller trying to maximize return. If you plan to sell later, the current softness means you may want to hold the vehicle longer and present it well to protect value.

At the same time, the Highlander’s strong reputation for comfort, safety, and reliability should help it stay appealing to used shoppers. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.86/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander safe?

The 2021 Toyota Highlander earns a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS and five-star ratings from NHTSA.

It earns a 10/10 safety score from our experts.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ is standard, and it includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. That gives you a broad set of standard driver-assistance features across the lineup.

The main safety takeaway is that Toyota made safety a bigger part of the Highlander’s appeal for 2021, and the test results back that up. For used buyers, the key is to confirm that the vehicle’s safety systems are functioning properly and that any prior damage has been fully disclosed.

Should I buy a 2021 Toyota Highlander or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 36.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 76.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.54% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.86/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Toyota added more standard safety-feature technology this year.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $27,468, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $29,618 average.
• It prioritizes comfort with a calm, premium-feeling ride.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $32,145, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $29,618 average.
• It emphasizes family versatility with easy-to-use tech and standard safety features.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, safety, and owner satisfaction, the 2021 is the strongest all-around pick. If your priority is saving money, the 2020 is the better value path; if you want to spend more for a newer-feeling alternative, the 2022 is worth a look.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 13, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.