Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2021 Toyota Highlander

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

2021 Toyota Highlander 4-door SUV
2020 Toyota Highlander shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Toyota Highlander LE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota Highlander was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on two tests of a Highlander conducted by Toyota. Ratings are based on both tests.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN2003 VTN1915
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 2 6
Footrest (cm) 4 4
Left toepan (cm) 4 4
Brake pedal (cm) 7 3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 3 2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2 5
Upper dash (cm) 5 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 4 6

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN2003 VTN1915
Head
HIC-15 155 102
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8 13
Maximum Nij 0.24 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 18 19
Femur (kN)
Left 3.0 3.5
Right 1.0 1.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 5 5
Right 4 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.65 0.52
Right 0.54 0.40
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.5 1.1
Right 2.1 1.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 93 39
Right 63 34

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Toyota Highlander LE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota Highlander was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2020 Toyota Highlander conducted by Toyota.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1933
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Footrest (cm) 9
Right toepan (cm) 6
Center toepan (cm) 5
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 3
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 6
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 9
Right lower dash (cm) 7

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1933
Head
HIC-15 153
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 20
Femur (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 4.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 4
Right 8
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 3
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.42
Right 0.47
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 61
Right 68

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1933
Head
HIC-15 117
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 4
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 0.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 3
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.21
Right 0.27
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 27
Right 41

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Toyota Highlander LE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota Highlander was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Toyota.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1925
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 4
Left (cm) 5
Center (cm) 5
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 3
Rearward (cm) 1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1925
Head
HIC-15 184
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 20
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.9
Femur force - right (kN) 0.7
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.27
Maximum tibia index - right 0.28
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.4
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 43
Right 51

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota Highlander was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Toyota.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1927
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -23.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1927
Head HIC-15 156
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 22
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 20
Average deflection (mm) 17
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 1.80
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.12
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.4
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.3
Combined force (kN) 2.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.9
L-M moment (Nm) 87
A-P moment (Nm) -20

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1927
Head HIC-15 146
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.1
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 28
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 20
Average deflection (mm) 14
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.50
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.14
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.0
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.7
Combined force (kN) 0.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.2
L-M moment (Nm) 60
A-P moment (Nm) -34

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Toyota Highlander XSE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota Highlander was redesigned for the 2020 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2206
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -20.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2206
Head
HIC-15 71
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 13
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 32
Average deflection (mm) 21
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.55
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.44
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 5.9

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2206
Head
HIC-15 132
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 27
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 28
Average deflection (mm) 22
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.50
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.35
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 0.9

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,340 lbs
Peak force20,077 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.63

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leatherette seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leatherette seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 14
Distance below top of head (mm) 3
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.0
Head contact time (ms) 55
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 156

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Platinum trim
  • Hybrid Platinum trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Platinum trim
  • Hybrid Platinum trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 105.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 50.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 94.1 m 40.4%
250m radius left curve, left edge 57.0 m 21.6%
150m radius right curve, right edge 72.6 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.0 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 153.1 m
Straightaway left edge 149.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 94.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 89.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 70.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 68.3 m

Trim level(s)

  • L trim
  • LE trim
  • Hybrid LE trim
  • XLE trim
  • Hybrid XLE trim
  • XSE trim
  • Limited trim
  • Hybrid Limited trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and fair on the sharp right and both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • L trim
  • LE trim
  • Hybrid LE trim
  • XLE trim
  • Hybrid XLE trim
  • XSE trim
  • Limited trim
  • Hybrid Limited trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 122.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 57.1 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.3 m 3.3%
250m radius left curve, left edge 55.6 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.4 m 11.7%
150m radius left curve, left edge 46.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 153.7 m
Straightaway left edge 146.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 63.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.0 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2021-23 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0/2.5+: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2020-25 models

Superior
Superior

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 22 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph. A warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimXLE
Seat type leatherette

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimXLE
Seat type leatherette
1 2 3 6 4 5
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
5
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 6
Clearance angle (degrees) 92
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 7
Clearance angle (degrees) 88
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 82
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 10
Clearance angle (degrees) 83
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 32

5

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation