If you're in the market for a versatile midsize SUV, the 2025 Toyota Highlander and 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid both offer exceptional comfort, advanced technology, and impressive performance. While they share a similar exterior and interior design, their powertrains cater to different driving preferences. Whether you prioritize fuel efficiency or traditionally powerful performance, this comparison will help you decide which Highlander is the right fit for your lifestyle. The 2025 Highlander comes equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower, offering smooth acceleration and a balanced mix of power and efficiency. In contrast, the Highlander Hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric motors, delivering a combined 243 horsepower while significantly boosting fuel economy. Both models offer ample seating for up to eight passengers, a spacious cabin, and a variety of high-tech features. Toyota has ensured that both versions provide a high-end driving experience, making them ideal choices for families, commuters, and road-trip enthusiasts alike. To help you make the best decision, we'll compare these two SUVs in 6 categories: design, comfort, technology, performance, safety, and overall value. Read on to discover which Highlander aligns with your needs. Then visit Capitol Toyota in Salem, Oregon for a test drive today!
2025 Toyota Highlander vs 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Design & Exterior Features
At first glance, the 2025 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid look nearly identical, featuring a sleek and aerodynamic design. Both models sport a modern front grille, sculpted body lines, and available 20-inch alloy wheels that enhance their commanding road presence. The main distinction in design comes down to badging and available trims. The Highlander Hybrid features unique hybrid badging to signify its fuel-efficient powertrain, while select trims offer exclusive wheel designs. LED headlights, daytime running lights, and an available panoramic sunroof further add to their refined styling. Regardless of which model you choose, both offer a stylish and sophisticated exterior built for modern drivers.
2025 Toyota Highlander vs 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Comfort & Technology
On the inside, both the Highlander and Highlander Hybrid provide a premium cabin experience with soft-touch materials, a spacious layout, and high-end finishes designed to enhance both comfort and functionality. Standard features include a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, ensuring seamless connectivity for drivers and passengers alike. The Hybrid model, designed for eco-conscious buyers, prioritizes efficiency without sacrificing comfort, offering heated and ventilated front seats, a digital rearview mirror, and available second-row captain's chairs for added luxury. Whether you choose the gasoline-powered Highlander or its hybrid counterpart, both SUVs come equipped with Toyota's Smart Key System, an available 11-speaker JBL® premium audio system for an immersive listening experience, and a hands-free power liftgate, making daily commutes, grocery runs, and long road trips more convenient than ever.
2025 Toyota Highlander vs 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Performance
When it comes to performance, the Highlander and the Highlander Hybrid cater to different driving needs. The standard Highlander is powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It delivers strong acceleration and confident highway merging, making it ideal for those drivers who prioritize performance. The Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, is built for efficiency. Combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric motors, it produces 243 horsepower while achieving an impressive 36 mpg combined, far exceeding the fuel economy of the gas model. Additionally, both models offer available all-wheel drive for improved traction in various driving conditions.
2025 Toyota Highlander vs 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Safety
Toyota prioritizes safety, and both the 2025 Highlander and 2025 Highlander Hybrid come standard with Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5, an advanced driver-assistance suite designed to protect you and your passengers on the road. This suite includes pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams, helping drivers navigate with greater confidence. The Highlander Hybrid further enhances safety by offering blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard features on higher trims, providing extra reassurance when changing lanes or reversing in crowded areas. While official NHTSA and IIHS safety ratings for the 2025 models have yet to be released, previous iterations of both SUVs have consistently received top safety marks, reinforcing their reputation as family-friendly and secure vehicles. With Toyota's commitment to innovation, both the Highlander and Highlander Hybrid continue to set the benchmark for midsize SUV safety.
2025 Toyota Highlander vs 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Overall Value
When choosing between the 2025 Toyota Highlander and the 2025 Highlander Hybrid, your decision will depend on your priorities. If you're seeking strong turbocharged performance, a lower initial cost, and responsive handling, the standard Highlander is an excellent choice. But if fuel efficiency, long-term savings, and eco-friendliness are at the top of your list, the Highlander Hybrid is exactly what you've been seeking. With fewer stops at the gas station and tax incentives available, the hybrid model offers an appealing long-term investment. Visit Capitol Toyota in Salem, Oregon to explore both models, take a test drive, and find the Highlander that fits your lifestyle best!
 | 2025 Toyota Highlander | 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Engine | 2.4-liter Turbocharged 4-cylinder | Hybrid 2.5-liter |
| Standard Horsepower | 265 | 265 Combined |
| Standard Torque (lb-ft) | 310 | 310 |
| Standard Fuel Economy (MPG/MPGe)) | 22 City/29 Highway | 35 City/35Highway |
| All-Wheel Drive | Available | Standard |
| Ground Clearance | 8.0 Inches | 8.0 Inches |
| Max Towing Capacity | 5,000 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| Third-Row Seating | Standard | Standard |
| Max Cargo Volume | 84.3 Cubic Feet | 84.3 Cubic Feet |
| Dynamic Radar Cruise Control | Standard | Standard |
