2003 Toyota Highlander Review: A Very Good Mid-Size SUV, but Not at This Price

The 2003 Toyota Highlander is a comfortable, powerful, reliable mid-size SUV undone by steep ownership expenses. From the sticker price, nearing six grand, to refueling costs and normal maintenance expenses, you may wonder why you didn’t just buy a new SUV.

Is the 2003 Toyota Highlander a Good Used SUV?

• Overall Rating 7/10 – The Highlander is a very good mid-size SUV, but it might not be worth the cost of buying and owning one.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 9/10 – This is about as spacious and as comfortable as it gets without buying a full-size SUV.
• Reliability 7/10 – Toyotas are famously reliable and the Highlander is no exception, typically hitting 250,000 miles or more on the original transmission, but regular maintenance costs can be a bit steep.
• Safety 7/10 – The safety tech is dated, but Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash test scores are excellent.
• Gas Mileage 6/10 – 18/22 miles to the gallon, city/highway, isn’t so bad for a mid-size SUV from 2003… but it’s still pretty bad.
• Value 6/10 – Typically selling at nearly $6,000 the Highlander is priced a bit high, and it’s even worse when you add the maintenance and gas prices into the equation. You’re not exactly being gouged, but there are better deals to be had.

What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Toyota Highlander?

Consumer Reports liked the car-like feel of the 2003 Highlander, the quiet, comfortable cabin, the smooth ride, the effortless powertrain, and the pleasant overall driving experience. They had no real criticisms of note.

Kelley Blue Book users give the 2003 Highlander a strong 95% recommendation, citing the reliable powertrain, the powerful V6 engine, and the solid build quality overall. A few drivers have experienced rough riding in the car’s later years, and a bit of road noise.

Edmunds loved the roomy cabin, car-like handling, and clean styling. They found the SUV a bit high-maintenance, however, and point out that it’s not a viable off-roader and you can forget towing anything bigger than a rowboat.

What Common Problems Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander Have?

The 2003 Highlander’s leading issue is a coolant leak, with drivers reporting that they had to get their water pumps replaced to the tune of $600. On the upside, the last reported incident of a coolant leak was in 2012. The issue was not hit with a recall as service bulletins on the matter seem to have gotten the job done.

A more recent issue sees head bolts in the engine wiggling loose. Drivers are finding that the head bolts are totally stripped or otherwise coming undone inside the engine, leading to catastrophic failure. This usually stems from ovearheating, and can occur years after the fact if the coolant leak wasn’t properly addressed.

Powertrain complaints have been scarce for a twenty year old SUV. As long as you are ensure that the coolant leak has been taken care of, you should have no issues passing 200,000 miles with no major issues in the engine and transmission.

The 2003 Highlander has just two recalls on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is a remarkably low number for a vehicle of this age.

How Long Will the 2003 Toyota Highlander Last?

More than a few drivers have reported mileage as high as 300,000. Since you can’t vouch for the previous owner’s maintenance habits, expect to hit 250,000 miles, and consider everything after that a bonus. The only thing you really need to worry about is that coolant leak, which could cut the life expectancy in half.

According to RepairPal you’ll want to set around $489 aside for repairs each year, with the most common expensive fix being a new powertrain control module at $1,100.

This is the 2003 Highlander’s main issue. As good an SUV as it is, just keeping it running is more expensive than many comparable vehicles. Gas prices and maintenance fees alone almost make up what you’d be saving on new car payments.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology is pretty good for 2003. The Base model comes with a cassette and CD player with six speakers, and the Limited features a high-end JBL sound system with eight speakers.

Safety features are adequate for an SUV this old. Full airbags, anti-lock brakes, and a child restraint system may seem like a pretty skimpy loadout today, but for 2003 this was about as good as a typical SUV got. On the other hand, crash test ratings have been uniformly excellent.

Is the 2003 Toyota Highlander a Good Value?

The 2003 Toyota Highlander is moderately overpriced. A Base model starts at around $4,337 in the Blue Book, and typically lists much higher, at around $5,894. That’s not a terrible deal, but there are better values to be had.

Compact SUVs like the CR-V, for instance, typically list at around five hundred to a thousand dollars cheaper than that, while Ford Explorers start at under three grand. The Highlander is more spacious than an Explorer, but it’s not two, three thousand dollars more spacious.

What are the Different Models of the 2003 Toyota Highlander?

Toyota sold the 2003 Highlander in just two models, being the Base and the Limited.

The entry-level Base features:

• Cruise control
• Manual air conditioning
• Cassette and CD player with six speakers
• 6-way manual driver seat adjust
• Power windows and door locks

The high-end Limited adds:

• 8-way power driver seat
• Leather wrap for the steering wheel and shift lever
• Remote keyless entry
• Fog lights
• Heated mirrors
• Automatic air conditioning

What Engines Come In the 2003 Toyota Highlander?

• The base engine in the 2003 Highlander is a 2.4L inline-four delivering 155 horsepower and 163 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission and configured in front wheel drive.
• Available in the Base model and standard in the Limited is a 3.0L V6 engine cranking out 220 horsepower and 222 lb.-ft. of torque. If you’re buying a Highlander, it’s probably for access to this engine. Paired to a 4-speed automatic and configured in four wheel drive, the V6 can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

What Colors Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2003 Toyota Highlander?

With around 55 inches of hiproom in the back and plenty of head space, the Highlander is plenty roomy. It’s one of the most comfortable and spacious SUVs you’re going to find without shelling out for a full-size and doubling your bill at the gas pump.

You don’t want to skip the test drive, but you could almost count the Highlander’s suspension complaints on one hand. So expect the ride to still be as buttery smooth today as it was twenty years ago.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander Have?

The 2003 Highlander offers 38.5 cubic feet of storage space in the back, and if you fold the seats down you more than double that, at 81.4 cubic feet. Pretty much anything that doesn’t require a moving van or a full-size pickup, you can move it with your Highlander.

To put this in car dealer terms, that’s a whopping 21 suitcases with all seats down and no passengers. You can get roof racks for your 2003 Highlander, but you’ll probably never need them.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

2003 was the last model year before the 2004 refresh that would overhaul the body design and engine lineup. The 1st Generation Highlander technically ran from the 2001 model year to 2007, but 2004 marked a clear turning point for the nameplate.

2001: The 2001 Highlander was launched with the same platform as the Luxus RX/Toyota Harrier with front wheel and all wheel drive options, a unibody construction, and an emphasis on comfort.

2002: Toyota added an integrated center console for 2002.

2003: No major changes between 2002 and 2003. If you’re shopping for a used Highlander, keep the 2002 and 2003 both on your list and find the one with the fewest miles on the odometer.

2004: The unibody was redesigned for 2004, a DVD based navigation system was added, and the V6 models got a new 5-speed automatic transmission, marking the beginning of a new era in the Highlander’s history.

How Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander Compare to the Competition?

The 2003 Honda Pilot is probably the 2003 Toyota Highlander’s closest competition. V6 engines show comparable specs, they tend to price in the same range. But the Pilot has 14 recalls on file with the NHTSA and three times as many complaints as the Highlander, which may be worrying.

A 2003 Ford Escape tends to list at around five hundred to a thousand dollars cheaper than the Highlander, though the V6 engine models max out at 201 horsepower. The Escape may be a better value, but it comes down to whether twenty extra horsepower in a 20 year old SUV is worth the money.

The Highlander is one of the most dependable vehicles on the road today, but you’ve got plenty of options for used full-size SUVs. The early 2000s were a golden age for this size class, and your best bet is to test drive as many models as you can before making a choice.

Most of the problems that come with the 2003 Highlander are shared with pretty much every mid-size SUV from this model year. As great as these vehicles may be, they’re going to be more expensive to buy, fuel, and maintain than a comparable compact SUV or a mid-size sedan from the same year.

Do Owners Recommend the 2003 Toyota Highlander?