Toyota has shared information on the updated 2023 Highlander today. It doesn’t really make sense to call it a refresh, as design-wise it is identical to the ’22 inside and out. It is a pretty major update, however, as it finally replaces the perennial 3.5L V6 with a 2.4L turbo 4-cylinder. This is the first application of this engine under the hood of a Toyota as Lexus has been offering it in the NX for a bit now. It makes 265 horsepower and 309 lb.-ft. of torque, a 30 horsepower loss but a 46 lb.-ft. gain over the V6. Combined fuel economy, surprisingly, doesn’t improve over that engine (24 mpg), but Toyota defends this by noting that the turbo produces half the amount of NOx and NMOG emissions and has reduced CO2 emissions.
Though the interior does not get any visual updates, the tech does receive a few upgrades. In the instrument cluster on Limited and Platinum trims, there is now a 12.3 inch fully-digital display. The center touchscreen is the same size as before, also at 12.3 inches. However, it now houses the new Toyota Audio Multimedia system first seen in the Tundra. The standard display size on lower trims is eight inches. Both screen sizes support wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You can now use the “Hey Toyota” command to control various aspect of the car.
Read more about the 2023 Toyota Highlander here.