Toyota Highlander 2021, the 7-seat SUV that will finally go on sale in Europe

The world of 7-seat SUVs gains new alternatives with the arrival of the Toyota Highlander 2021 in Europe.

On the one hand, we have European models that, thanks to their layout, handling, comfort and value for money, are very good options for families with high occupancy needs or for people who need and enjoy a large boot when the two seats in the third row are folded away. For example, the Skoda Kodiaq Scout, an adventurous SUV with up to 7 seats whose road test left us with a very good impression.

On the other hand, we have Asian options such as the Kia Sorento which, in its new generation, the fourth of this giant of crossovers, completely reinvents its concept and focuses on an increasingly demanding clientele.

It is then that, also Asian but coming from the islands of the Japanese archipelago, they also decide to export to Europe one of the major commercial benchmarks of 7-seat SUVs which, although it had never had the opportunity to be displayed in European, and therefore Spanish, dealerships, will do so with its new version.Thus, the Toyota Highlander 2021 presents itself as a vehicle that takes on the bearing of traditional off-roaders and adapts it to a sustainable and, to a large extent, urban context. This is why this vehicle is one of those built on the Toyota TNGA-K platform, which gives it a structure whose length brings it close to 5 metres. To be more precise, this vehicle measures 4,950 millimetres long, 1,930 wide and 1,730 high.

For this reason, together with a generous wheelbase of 2,850 mm, it will be able to offer interior space suited to a maximum total of 7 occupants, and rear seats with enough room to accommodate two adults, since the middle row can be adjusted longitudinally by 180 mm.

As for its cargo volume, the boot of the Toyota Highlander 2021 offers 658 litres with all seats in use, a capacity that can almost triple to 1,909 when the seats are folded down.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid will rely on AWD-i traction

Regarding the mechanics, although this model is available in some markets with 3.5 V6 engines in two- or four-wheel drive and with a 2.5-litre petrol hybrid engine with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the version for Spain will be marketed as the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

This variant will feature the aforementioned 2.5-litre engine, two electric motors, one on each axle, a battery under the second-row seats and intelligent all-wheel drive. In this way, the Toyota 7-seat hybrid Highlander will have a maximum output of 243 CV combined with an e-CVT gearbox.

This car, one of the best-selling Toyota models in the United States, where it was presented at the end of 2019, reached its peak exposure during the Super Bowl LIV advertisements, the NFL final, with this commercial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnFLfESiPmQ

We now officially know that it will arrive in Europe during the first half of 2021. The price of the Toyota Highlander 2021 has not yet been announced but, as a reference, it is quite likely to be around 40,000 euros.