The 2019 Toyota Highlander’s engine lineup features two engines that are excellent for this three-row SUV, and one that isn’t. Both the V6 engines completely outshine the base in performance, fuel economy, and are available with all-wheel-drive across most trim levels.
Key Points
- The 2019 Toyota Highlander‘s 2.7L inline-four is less fuel-efficient than the V6/V6 Hybrid and is only available on the base trim.
- The 3.5L V6 gets 20/27 mpg and can tow 5,000 pounds.
- 2019 Toyota Highlander’s Hybrid V6 engine ups the horsepower to 306 and gets 30/28 mpg.
- Both V6 engines are available on all trims except the base.
Base 2.7L Inline-four Engine’s 185 Horsepower isn’t Enough for 2019 Toyota Highlander’s 4,134-pound Curb Weight
The base engine offered in the 2019 Toyota Highlander is a DOHC 16-valve 2.7L inline-four. It puts out 185 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
For a three-row SUV, those numbers are pretty low, especially considering that the 2019 Highlander weighs over two tons.
Thanks to that lack of power and torque, four-cylinder Highlanders can only tow 1,500 pounds.
The news gets worse if you live in variable weather because the base engine is only available with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is only available with V6 equipped 2019 Highlanders.
This engine’s lackluster performance was noticed by the automotive press. Kelley Blue Book stated, “Unless you’re really pinching pennies and don’t care about meandering in the slow lane, skip the four-cylinder that’s only available in the base Highlander.”
In the fuel economy department, the 2.7L gets an EPA estimated 20 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. That number can vary and likely drop when merging and overtaking at highway speeds.
As for oil, the inline-four takes 4.6 quarts of SAE 0W-20 engine oil.
2019 Toyota Highlander’s 3.5L V6 Gets an Eight-speed Transmission and 5,000-pound Max Towing Capacity
The second engine offered in the 2019 Highlander is a DOHC 3.5L V6. Putting out 295 horsepower and 263 lb.-ft. of torque, it can tow up to 5,000 pounds. This engine is paired with an eight-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.
With this upgraded transmission, you’ll also be getting dynamic rev management and direct-shift technology for manual gear changes.
In terms of acceleration, the V6 is leagues better than the base engine. It propels the 2019 Toyota Highlander from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. That’s faster than rivals like the Dodge Durango, Volkswagen Atlas, and Nissan Pathfinder. However, the Subaru Ascent is faster by two-tenths of a second.
The V6 comes with stop/start technology that allows for better fuel economy. As a result, the V6 puts out an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
With all-wheel-drive equipped, the numbers drop marginally to 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. These numbers vary between the different trim levels, but the changes are minimal.
As for oil, the 3.5L V6 takes 5.8 quarts of 0W-20 engine oil. We recommend getting it changed every 12 months or roughly 10,000 miles.
Hybrid 3.5L V6 Engine Offers Ideal Balance of Horsepower and Fuel Economy
Last but not least is the 3.5L Hybrid V6 engine. It is mated to an electronically controlled CVT. The total hybrid system performance output is 306 hp and 215 lb.-ft. of torque.
Toyota’s hybrid system is one of the best in the business, which is no exception in the 2019 Highlander. It adds three electric motors to the V6 engine. Each of those motors has a unique role.
The first motor powers the engine starter and the transmission ratio control. The other two power the front and rear wheels as well as regeneration during braking.
What that all adds up to is a great balance of performance and fuel economy. For starters, the extra weight of the hybrid system only adds a tenth of a second to the zero to 60 time.
As for fuel economy, it puts out an impressive 30 mpg city and 28 mpg highway on the LE trim. XLE, Limited, and Limited Platinum vehicles get 29 mpg city and 27 mpg highway respectively.
2019 Toyota Highlander’s Base Engine is Subpar, Making Either of the V6 Engines the Best Option
With some vehicles, arguments can be made for the less powerful base engines. This is usually in the name of cost savings and fuel economy.
In the case of the 2019 Toyota Highlander, the base engine has no merits that warrant choosing it over the clearly superior V6 engines. For starters, it is significantly low on horsepower and torque.
Secondly, it is less fuel-efficient than both V6 engines, which throws the fuel economy argument out the window.
If you are really keen on cost savings, instead of opting with the base engine, we recommend just going with the Mazda CX-9 or another rival SUV. Otherwise, the V6 engines are the best way to experience the 2019 Toyota Highlander.
Photos: Toyota
