2003 Toyota Highlander Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Overview
Spent significant amount of time (~6 months) researching purchase of a good car for a variety of needs and weather conditions. If you are...
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.
What owners say
"Overall, owners of the 2003 Toyota Highlander are quite pleased with their experience. They appreciate its reliability, comfort, and spacious interior, making it a great choice for families and road trips. Many highlighted its strong performance in various conditions, especially in snow. However, some owners mentioned minor issues, such as engine rattling and concerns with acceleration, indicating that while it's dependable, it might not deliver thrilling driving dynamics."
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!!
August 21, 2011Smooth 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.
August 10, 2009Marta 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.
February 21, 2009What owners say
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!!
August 21, 2011Smooth 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.
August 10, 2009Marta 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.
February 21, 2009This 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, 2023Great 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.
February 25, 2022Quiet and very nice and simply put together, very solid.
November 1, 2007Good 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.
December 31, 2011Trims & specs
Base MSRP $24,390 | Seating 5 |
Engine 2.4L 155 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 22 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $27,470 | Seating 5 |
Engine 3.0L 220 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 18 | Drivetrain AWD |
Base MSRP $25,790 | Seating 5 |
Engine 2.4L 155 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 19 | Drivetrain AWD |
Base MSRP $26,070 | Seating 5 |
Engine 3.0L 220 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 19 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $26,070 | Seating 5 |
Engine 3.0L 220 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 19 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $31,605 | Seating 5 |
Engine 3.0L 220 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 18 | Drivetrain AWD |
Pricing trends
MSRP range
$24,390 - $31,605
Current avg. market price
$5,560
Trending down by 4.0% this month
May 2026 - October 2026
