2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid AWD Bronze Edition Review and Snow Test 

This vehicle seems to be the best all arounder for someone interested in an SUV or van for weekend camping/road trips. It has space, some ground clearance, is somewhat affordable, super reliable, good resale, and good gas mileage for a larger vehicle with a naturally aspirated engine. I would be very interested to see this pushed to its limits off road.

That color on that Alloy design makes it looks like a Hubcaps

Having two 1500 watt AC outlets has to be one of this car's most underrated features. Most vehicles with AC outlets top out at 120 or 180 watts. with 1500w you could run ANYTHING you would use on a household outlet.... toaster ovens, crock pots, electric griddle, etc. That's a game changer for people who want to use this for camping.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. You make a review of a Highlander fun to watch.

I have a 2013 Highlander hybrid limited AWD and I love it as I can still tow 3500lbs safely and get 26-29mpg. I wish the new highlanders kept the rear flip up glass which makes loading things like groceries so much easier without having to open the rear gate and the center console that has 4 cup holders and a huge armrest storage. I test drove a 2021 highlander hybrid last year and yes there is good torque up to about 40 mph but passing on the freeway requires planning because there’s no power after 40 mph. It’s unfortunately that Toyota still hasn’t improved their third row like the competition. I have owned a 2007 Prius which got replaced by a 2015 Camry hybrid which got replaced by a 2013 Highlander hybrid. Can not wait until Toyota come out with a hybrid truck!

I have a ‘21 Platinum and I powder coated my rims black. They look awesome. Great vehicle!b

It used to be an SUV, but now it's a straight up STATIONWAGON! LOVE THAT!

Great review as always

Great review! Your reviews are great and detailed. Thank you for stating the tow capacity as that helps determine if its a fit for certain towing conditions.

Excellent content again.

Surprised to see 1500 watt 120v outlet in Hylander hybrid where new Tundra (gas and hybrid model) only comes with 400 watt 120v outlet inside and in truck bed. Really wish Toyota would put a 1500+ watt outlet in new Tundra for power tools, etc.

I really enjoy your videos I think you do a thorough job. I must say though, although I have not driven a hybrid Highlander, I have test driven several hybrid RAV4S and ended up buying a Venza. I would agree sport mode does not improve things as much as one would hope but it a substantial increase in available torque due to the engagement of the rear motor sooner rather than later in the sport setting. Also it's really a disservice to lump Toyotas solidly geared synergy drive system ECVT in with what most people have come to understand of a push chain or belt driven CVT in most other crossovers. This drivetrain system is damn near bulletproof and will save on brake replacement.

A very nice flavor of vanilla. There’s nothing wrong with it, and it suits the needs of a large number of American buyers for a do-everything transportation appliance that is both competent and reliable. I don’t mind the bronze wheels, though the paint color matters a lot on how well it works overall. Sometimes blending in with traffic rather than standing out is preferred. I like the 18” wheels and wish more crossovers/SUVs would have a 16-18” wheel option, even on higher trims, since they will be called upon to serve on gravel and dirt roads, getting to trail heads and such, more often than most other vehicle categories. The AWD system seems suited to its purpose. You don’t always need 100% of power to both rear wheels as usually just a little extra shove is all that is required. Its real competition is not the 4Runner but rather the Sienna. Useful review.

Thanks for this video dude! I loved it.. No tacky jokes, no dumbass nonesense bullshit. Just stuff I wanted to know about the car. Bravo!

I drove on in deep winter in Canada, it did a remarkable job. I would buy one

Hi, thanks for great review. i really like off road tests. i just wish you add metrics as subtitle while talking about sizes, it would be quite useful for viewers from other countries.

2:40, Ryan knows exactly what we're looking for for this type of vehicle

This version appears to be a rebranded XLE version with minor upgrades. I see USB C, 12Ov and seat memory buttons for the driver as the only changes other than the “bronze” look bits. Not sure into limited territory but a sweet spot for sure.

We have a Bronze Edition and are enjoying it, especially the MPG in a midsize SUV. The MAP button works when CarPlay is connected.

Great review, and thanks for sharing. Do you have a feel for how the light-duty "trail road" performance of the Highlander Hybrid would compare to the RAV4 Prime Hybrid?

For me they missed two essential options, second row bench seat and birds eye view camera. Both used to be available on 20-21 limited, not anymore. Second row bench seat is essential for sleeping inside.

I have a HiHy platinum AWD. No issues sleeping in the back with gaps. Though I forgot my camping sleeping pad and sleeping on the cargo liner is worst than sleeping on the ground

I own this exact car, and the Cement color in my oppinnion is the sharpest you can get on a highlander. I love the Platinum features that spice it up. I get between 32 and 45 MPH. I use it to tow my Side x Side, and it does good enough, but I see 21 MPH while doing it

Awesome job Ryan hey nick

On Highlander, the sport mode does actually give more power compared to other Toyota models. A surprise for me too, but I saw several seconds difference between normal and sport modes with full gas. Nice surprise.

I am still contemplating this vs a sienna Ang grabbing that lift kit. They look cool and it'd be great for camping

Ooof. Those seats. Remind me of early 2000s rental spec patterns/colors. 2005 Malibu Maxx is crazy close match.

Can you expand a bit more on the lane keeping and is it better with the 2.5 safety sense version.

Thank you for this video and demonstrations. We’re looking at ‘23 highlander hybrid awd and wanted to know about the trail button features. Should i use it on gravel roads with switch back turned in the mountains ? Or only when there is snow & ice? Thank you again

Great review and filming Driving Sports! During the Normal vs Trail mode comparison on the snowy climb, did you keep the transmission in standard Drive or you switched to S/Manual mode?

My beautiful car i love it!♥️

Also, I’ve decided to trade in the limited for a 2023 hybrid, instead of a new sequoia- which I REALLY wanted, but not at 24mpg and only a bit larger in interior space, some 6 cubic feet or so.

I would like to see a review on the xse model 😅

Those rims remind me of my Dodge Caravan ES. Pearl white with gold wheels. I thought I was hot stuff hauling the kids!

What's funny is I watch your vids and appreciate your reviews! But...I literally just bought the 2022 Rav4 SE hybrid with premium upgrades and I had to ask if you ever test drove it 🤣🤣🤣!! I would never buy a new vehicle that was used on your review tests lmao!!

You should review a Subaru Ascent onyx edition next Ryan!

Does this model have ECO for the heat/air? I know it's there for the upper models.

I just got highlander hybrid 2023 and i love ❤️ it! I just can not find catalytic converter for it. Does anybody know where i can find one?

Thanks for the awesome. I am looking between hybrids and gas powered. Question - is hybrids has same power as gas powered ? I am thinking about hybrid but wanted to understand if they provide same power as gas ?

Ryan, You noted correctly that it doubled the average mpg of the 4Runner but more importantly, it nearly doubles the city mpg of EVERY V6 CUV competitor. What surprised me most was the highly respectable off-road grip and acceleration. Now we need Toyota to put this 243 hp powertrain in a more nimble RAV4😉

Ryan really got inspired with the soundtrack

The highlander is a perfect suv for my family of 4 (I would say it’s a max of 3 kids type of suv) we use the captain seats in the second row but my 6 year old prefers the 3rd row hands down. I think having 3-4 kids is a bit pushing it. 2 kids to maybe a 3rd would be 100% a comfortable ride

Ryan have you guys been able to get your hands on the CX-50? Looking forward to your review on it

Crappy seats for a "Bronze Edition." I do like the fact that it sends more power/torque to the rear, than the usual Toyota can.

Gf got the 2021 hybrid platinum in the fall before the gas shot up. She has been on the same tank of gas for almost a month. I got the 2022 frontier and go through a tank a week...lol

Forgot about the rear view mirror camera

47k damn

How did it do going up the pass? How do you think it would do with a load of passengers &/ or luggage?

The rear view mirror has a camera when flipped in bronze.

Hi Ryan and Team DST, do you guys have the CX-50 comprehensive review in the pipeline? I"m curious to find out how it performs at your test facility.

Hopefully the new Innova in Indonesia will look like this.

me encanto pero me encantaría ver la nueva Toyota Sienna Woodland edition

9:17 thestraightpipes visor test

A good car like all in Toyota/Lexus. 🏆 The problem in the third row with a good comfort is a big problem in the majority of the suvs. The big models of GM and some Ford make the third row a good place for enjoy with comfort the trips similar to the second row.

10:00 music sounds like its Christmas time or Disney film (not much of fan for background music for reviews, would have preferred cabin noise 🙂)

Great video as usual! So when is the 4Runner Hybrid coming? If I’m going to drop $47k, it has to be for a vehicle with 4Runner capability. We get feet of snow every year here. A hybrid is my holdout because I need the ability and capability of the 4Runner 4x4 system. I want fuel efficiency that hybrids offer.

Weird the grille trim and badging aren’t bronze for a more cohesive look.

I swear the Bronze edition is hard for me to love....I just can't

Voice commands are not primitive- at least not on my HL limited 2020. I can say damn near anything and it does it. Say weather map, and the weather map comes up, say and address and it comes up, say find the nearest gas, food, hotel, and it comes up. I don’t have to say “hey Toyota”. I love voice command as does my wife. She sees it as much safer and is amazed by how easy it is and how good it works, not great but real good

I understand you hustle the car for testing/reviewing but can you share your MPG on this Highlander? 35-mpg sounds so lucrative, especially with out-of-control gas prices these days... Thank you for the review, always enjoyable.

Can you please test adaptive cruise in new 4runner-

Should i get one?

This vs the Subaru Ascent and I still pick the Ascent. Basically the only thing the Highlander Hybrid has that's better than the Ascent is the MPG (offset by higher sale price) and maybe interior styling. But for actual functionality of the vehicles, Ascent has it beat in every category. Cargo room behind 3rd row, Ascent has nearly 2cuft more. More cargo room overall in the Ascent, 57.2 cuft vs highlander hybrid's 48.4cuft. 3rd row leg room, Ascent has about 3" more. Highlander wins slightly in 2nd row legroom, but both have plenty in that regard. Ascent has excellent resale value as well. Highlander hybrid only tows 3,500lbs vs 5,000 in the Ascent. Nearly an extra inch ground clearance in favor of the Ascent. Far more powerful engine in the Ascent (7.0 seconds 0 to 60 or down to 6.2 seconds if you brake boost), but it's 8.4 seconds in the Highlander Hybrid. And of course, Subaru AWD is much better than Highlander's version. And possibly most importantly, Subaru Ascent had better crash test ratings (NHTSA crash test scores) compared to the highlander hybrid.

How does this AWD system compare to a Rav4 AWD system? Thanks!

You mean you tested the 2020 Platinum not the 2019...As Totoya's 4th Gen Highlanders started with the 2020.

Roomy, VERY comfortable, loaded with gizmos and with decent performance at a more than reasonable fuel economy and price. Exterior styling is better that Toyota's average, a little bit on the aggressive side. A typical Toyota product: rational, practical, dependable, easy on the wallet.

I agree about the wheels. The bronze color looks out of place. I would prefer flat black. Too big for me, but an OK vehicle for the intended market. Surprised it has a CVT in this size/price range though.

Looking back on some of the off road tests I have to wonder how these soft suvs would compare with a 4x4 ford 3/4 ton from 1971. With their tall skinny tires we climbed hills that seemed impossible and could push snow over the hood.

I take a shot everyytime he said "actually" in this clip. Improperly. I'm stone drunk!

What happens when the battery is empty?? Do you end up with a front wheel drive only, until battery is charged??

"There can be only one!"

When you fill this highlander hybrid up what kinda miles can you see out of a full tank

Hi from Indonesia!

Test the new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

Very interesting at the highway section. I thought that 2.5L 4cyl would be noisy and feel less power for a bigger vehicle, Looks like that's not the case. Its very nice to see you get 18in wheel option on this and it is sad Toyota using stupid wheel sized on never vehicle like Tundra Capstone. Should educate people to look at tire diameter inches vs wheel diameter inches. As for hybrid tech do you know if hybrid battery is completely dead is rear wheel would get maximum power? I mean the gas motor will run the motor generator in transmission to give full electricity to rear motor without relying charge on battery?

Watched the Highlander with 20" wheels go up a steep hill. Some 4wd's couldn't make it. Check out Sarah N Tuned review.

Toyota is still the king of boring and monotonously reliable. That suits me just fine.

👍

Any idea when you will be reviewing new 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2?

HAD a 4runner!? Did you sell it?

The vanilla feel is deceiving. It just feels so friendly that people end up driving them twice as fast off load than they would a huge lumbering gmc. They drive the heel out of these and don’t even knew it

just got suck in snow today

Bronze wheel don't match the light paint at all, there's not even any bronze finish on the switches or dials. Very little effort was put into this "special" edition.

The back door is still too small - Can't put much but small items in it -

Hello mercedes gls63 video come👍❤️

Rims look like it's from the early 2000's.

CVT-transmission is 👎🏼, e-CVT is ?🤔 and... DCT is 👍🏼😉🙂.

Why has Toyota not improved the fuel economy on this vehicle? In real life it only gets 27.4 miles per gallon. Plus no 360 view cameras. Plus when towing it only gets 14 miles per gallon. Plus you can’t program it to warm up in the morning. Also the stated horsepower includes the rear electric motor which comes on automatic but only comes on below 30 miles per hour. Just so we all understand I have owned many Toyota vehicles and still currently own the Tundra pickup. But I bought this very vehicle the 2022 Highlander bronze edition. It has multiple things to like. But it also lacks several things. If you want 4 wheel drive? Do not get this it only works below 30 miles per hour and you can’t lock it in. Get the 4 runner. Much better vehicle I owned the 2015 4 runner. The 2021 Venza was a better vehicle also but no tow package. But that got 37 miles per gallon. I would still be driving that vehicle but someone else lost control and hit me totaling it. I actually regretted trading in my Tacoma and my Camry when I got rid of them same goes for the Rav 4. The 2019 CHR was ok but glad to be rid of it. Just wanted to make sure you guys understood that I have been a loyal Toyota customer and that my review is honest. If Toyota would produce the rav 4 prime and sell it without huge markups I would have bought that instead of the Highlander. But I was forced to find another plug in hybrid. That is the Ford Escape plugin hybrid I had no idea how many features Toyota was not giving me. First is the lumbar seats are programmed in the seat memory setting so awesome. Second the car has programmed start time’s. So you don’t have to push the start button in the morning to warm up the car. Then it does it with electricity when it’s plugged in. Then if that isn’t enough the dang thing has 360 cameras that warn you before you bump into anything. The only downside is no 4 wheel drive.

The bronze wheels might work with some body colors, but it's crazy ugly with that one. I agree that more sidewall height is better, that car makers are erring much too far on the side of oversized boy-racer wheels with too-low-profile tires. 65 series tires are great all-purpose tires with an effective amount of pothole protection. Yes, I'm a boomer who can remember when 70 series was considered sporty and low profile, and 60 series was almost for racing only.

Why buy a Rav when the Outback can do so much more off road and Subaru is full time AWD.

Looks good except for those wheels. Ugh, I dont mind the color, but that design just looks frumpy.

Nice all-around suv but they can keep the rims they just look dirty lol🤣

Why a 4 cylinder in a Toyota Highlander it's heavy a V6 would be better than a 4 cylinder plus hybrid replacement battery cost 1,000$ USA I would a Toyota Highlander with a V6 no hybrid I mean theToyota Highlander is my dream car but I would like a V6 no hybrid

its Subaru?)

Pretty much same highlander but with gold wheels 🤦‍♂️

Telluride looks so much better.

Yeah for $47K I’m taking an Explorer Timberline

How’s it starting to show it’s age? It hasn’t even been out for a full 2 years. All of its competitors haven’t been redesigned in a a few years.

🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿🏆🏆🏆🏆

These vehicles are getting obscenely huge as a result of people becoming more obese by the day. Particularly endemic in the US.