2003 Toyota Highlander Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Spent significant amount of time (~6 months) researching purchase of a good car for a variety of needs and weather conditions. If you are looking for a great all-around car here are some good attributes about the 2003 Highlander: -good interior space for cargo and passengers -great leg room for tall people -handles well -reliable and well built -handles well in bad weather (no problems on highway or dirt roads from dead of summer through worst of winter)
The 2003 Toyota Highlander came as a 2WD and a 4WD, each as a four-cylinder or a V6 engine. The four-cylinder engine has 2.4 liters and 155 horsepower. The V6 has 3.0 liters and 220 horsepower. Fuel economy is about 18/22 to 22/27, depending on the engine.
Some areas I would re-evaluate if I were at Toyota: -gas mileage is so-so (though there are limits that can be reached for a car this size and its sheer weight) -some dashboard knobs and compartments are a bit flimsy (though this is more aesthetic than functionally limiting) -brakes are soft compared to other cars and take some time getting used to (this may just be Toyota compared to other manufactueres in general, not sure)
Regardless, I consider this car a great buy and have had absolutely no real problems with it mechanically. Highly recommend it.
Published Aug 8, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 2003 Toyota Highlander
Write a reviewUser rating:
by Jeanne B
Aug 22, 2023
I loved how special this is on the inside. Aug 22, 2023
by Anonymous
May 12, 2023
This car runs like a new vehicle. We were told that the previous owner kept it very clean and serviced often. This car isn’t missing anything.
This car is probably similar to a Honda CRV. May 12, 2023
by tony d
Jun 28, 2022
The Highlander is an extremely good work horse, it is very reliable,
very good gas mileage, handles very well, very comfortable under
all conditions, has a lot of features normally found in expensive models.
like the Acura, high end GM models, & BMWsJun 28, 2022
User rating:
by Jeanne B
Aug 22, 2023
I loved how special this is on the inside. Aug 22, 2023
by Anonymous
May 12, 2023
This car runs like a new vehicle. We were told that the previous owner kept it very clean and serviced often. This car isn’t missing anything.
This car is probably similar to a Honda CRV. May 12, 2023
by tony d
Jun 28, 2022
The Highlander is an extremely good work horse, it is very reliable,
very good gas mileage, handles very well, very comfortable under
all conditions, has a lot of features normally found in expensive models.
like the Acura, high end GM models, & BMWsJun 28, 2022
by rafalsandiego J
Feb 25, 2022
Great car for the price. Some minor issues like tail light out and front bumper lose on passenger side, but still runs strong with highly reliable engine and transmission. Glad I picked the V6 over the 4 cylinder that are known for engine bolts malfunctioning due to heat disappointed.Feb 25, 2022
by Dawn R
Mar 24, 2021
Love ut definitely worth price I would buy thisMar 24, 2021
by Mussy I
Oct 01, 2020
Perfect car , I really like it . I’m still looking forward to another car from you guys. Oct 01, 2020
by Anonymous
Jun 10, 2014
It's a great car, but if I had known about the defective sun visor, I would not have bought it.
New visors cost over $800. The garage door opener is built into it, making it very expensive and probably too heavy.
This is my 7th Toyota over the years, and now they can't build a good sun visor? I expected more from them. It should be recalled because it could cause a wreck if it flops down while driving.Jun 10, 2014
by Steven M
Dec 31, 2011
Good simple looks, nice interior, great room for its outward size. Stock tires are nice and ready to be taken over curbs and a little bumpy grass. Gas mileage is normal. The engine has been rattling over the last 2 yrs of ownership and its a little embarrassing, but it is still a dependable SUV.Dec 31, 2011
by MariLynn L
Aug 21, 2011
The handling, acceleration and the fuel efficiency of this car are awesome. The car is comfortable and reliable!! is an SUV that you can trust your family to be safe in. The maintanance of the car is reasonable, regular oil changes its all it needs to keep running in excellent shape!!Aug 21, 2011
by Anonymous
Jul 13, 2011
•Performance - acceleration, braking, handling - Great for an SUV
•Build Quality - needed no major repairs - only regular maintenance, squeaks/rattles - there are NONE
•Appearance - both interior and exterior styling - looks great and the paint is just like new
•Fun Factor - this car is fun to drive and is comfortable on a long trip, I can load it down with a lot of stuff. Handels great in the rain and wind also.
Jul 13, 2011
by David O
Aug 10, 2009
Smooth Ride, Plenty of Cargo room, great 4wd, performes awsome in the snow, and best of all over 20mpg(with the v6 awd). This vehicle is great for river trips and snow trips. Rack up the bikes or boards for a weekend in the mountains or fill the back for a day at the beach.Aug 10, 2009
by Anthony D
Feb 21, 2009
Marta and I bought this used last year. We absolutely love it. It's amazing in the snow, comfortable for 5, has a very quiet yet powerful motor, and all the toys you need. I work out of it and find it perfect for a road warrior salesman. We'll keep it until we can get a good deal on a V6 AWD Toyota Venza. We really like the look of them.Feb 21, 2009
by To-Mec N
Jun 05, 2008
Family friendly, great for outdoor and inner city driveJun 05, 2008
by Sothy S
Mar 17, 2008
Not really a good performance car... Acceleration over 8.5 seconds... about 13 to 14 liters per km. Nothing exciting just a carMar 17, 2008
by Arthur S
Dec 13, 2007
It rocks. Love it.Dec 13, 2007
by Anonymous
Nov 26, 2007
This car is very quite!! and its awsome i LOVE it!!Nov 26, 2007
by Anonymous
Nov 01, 2007
Quiet and very nice and simply put together, very solid.Nov 01, 2007
What users have asked
Should I buy this car?
I’m considering buying a 2003 Toyota Highlander but it has 195000 miles on it. So I’m wondering what kind of maintenance pricing I’m looking at during the first year.
51 views
Drivers side and passenger side windows do not roll down
Drivers side and passengers side do not roll down. How do I fix this. 188k miles runs perfect but does have check engine , vsc, and trac control lights on are they causing problem too. I posted previous question. Both windows are on right passenger side.
144 views
Top Comparisons
Have you driven a 2003 Toyota Highlander?Compare this car
2003 Toyota Highlander Pricing
Original MSRP
$24,390 to $31,605Price range
$5,792 to $6,031Average price on CG
$5,792YoY price change
$5,878 to $5,792Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: JBL · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Exterior Features
Pickup tonneau cover: soft
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power · Roof rack color: black
Seats
Front seat type: captains chairs · Heated: front seats · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Exterior Features
Pickup tonneau cover: soft
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: captains chairs · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Exterior Features
Pickup tonneau cover: soft
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: captains chairs · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Exterior Features
Pickup tonneau cover: soft
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Exterior Features
Pickup tonneau cover: soft
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: captains chairs · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: JBL · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power · Roof rack color: black
Seats
Front seat type: captains chairs · Heated: front seats · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent