Jason Tushinski
· 7 min read
The capable Jeep Grand Cherokee, the sporty Mazda CX-9, and the spacious Chevrolet Traverse are just a few of the top Toyota Highlander competitors you should kick the tires on if you’re on the hunt for a mid-size SUV.
If you need an SUV to haul the fam around in, the Toyota Highlander is a compelling choice. It features a ton of standard features—including Toyota’s suite of driver assist technology—and boasts solid acceleration for an SUV this size. But the Highlander is known for a rather stiff ride, unresponsive steering, and a very tight third row of seats.
Depending on your needs, the Highlander might be the perfect fit for you. But if not, fear not—
Jerry
, the top-rated car insurance
app—has the lowdown on eight of the Highlander’s toughest competitors if Toyota’s SUV isn’t checking all of your boxes.1. Kia Telluride
Starting price: $33,090 to $44,890
Selling points: A spacious and comfortable cabin, tons of cargo space, sleek tech offerings
Weak spot: Engine power is meh, no guts when accelerating
The 2022 Kia Telluride is a great mix of value and quality—you get a roomy and comfortable interior that seats up to 8 occupants, including a third row. Even with all that seating, there’s a ton of cargo space—87 cubic feet worth. Of course, with all those people in your Telluride, you’ll need to entertain them, which is easy considering a 10.25-inch touch screen is standard across all trim lines. And automatic climate control keeps everyone comfortable.
In terms of the drive, the Telluride won’t wow you with its power—but you’ll find it brings a smooth and composed driving demeanor, with nimble handling for a vehicle its size. Highway driving-assist mode is handy, as are its top-notch safety and reliability ratings.
2. Jeep Grand Cherokee
Starting price: $38,325 to $60,300
Selling points: Off-the-charts off-road ability, comfortable and luxurious ride, handles well
Weak spot: Not a ton of cargo space, can get expensive
The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee has been redesigned, yet its bread-and-butter remains—unmatched off-road abilities for a midsize SUV. It more than holds its own with a smooth and easily-handled ride courtesy of either a standard 3.6 L V6 engine or the optional 5.7 L V8.
On the interior, the Grand Cherokee is a comfortable, refined, and—at the top trims—downright palatial experience. It boasts lots of user-friendly technology, but you’ll seat no more than five occupants in the Cherokee. And cargo space? There ain’t much of it with just 70 cubic feet.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers3. Hyundai Palisade
Starting price: $34,895 to $48,585
Selling points: A family-friendly, convenient, comfortable, and luxurious ride at a great price
Weak spot: Make no mistake—the Palisade is not made for off-roading
The Hyundai Palisade offers a compelling alternative to an SUV like the Highlander. The Palisade features three rows of comfortable seats, generous driver-assist technology, and well-equipped cabins across all four trim lines.For an SUV not considered a luxury vehicle, it feels pretty fancy—and at a bargain of a price, too.
The Palisade can also move. The standard 3.8 LV6 engine across all trim lines provides 291 horsepower and peppy acceleration. You get 86.4 cubic feet of cargo space, and this pretty midsize can haul up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.
4. Chevrolet Traverse
Starting price: $33,700 to $53,400
Selling points: A spacious interior, intuitive technology
Weak spot: Interior finishings are middling, not easy to park
Even if the
Chevrolet Traverse
looks big (and it does), that doesn’t mean it can’t move—because it can. Clocking a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.5 seconds courtesy of its robust 3.6 L V6 engine, the Traverse rides its 310 horsepower to family-hauling glory. It tows a very respectable 5,000 pounds when properly equipped and features a slew of safety features.The Traverse’s interior, while canyon-esque, isn’t the most inviting. Cabin materials are average at best, so it doesn’t exactly feel like you’re being ferried about in luxury. That said, the Traverse does feature an intuitive infotainment system, seats up to eight occupants, and boasts 98 cubic feet of cargo space.
5. Honda Passport
Starting price: $37,870 to $45,430
Selling points: Practical and well-equipped, surprising power
Weak spot: Pricier than the average midsize SUV, not an off-roader
Featuring a peppy 3.5 L V6 engine, the
Honda Passport
roars to a 0 to 60 miles per hour time of just 6 seconds.That’s quite the dash for this smooth-handling family hauler, though it does only seat five passengers. But there’s lots to like in the Passport. It boasts Honda’s generous suite of driver-assist technology, and is spacious, comfortable, and very practical. It also boasts excellent safety and reliability ratings.
You won’t want to take the Passport off-road as it's purely a city driver. It’s also more expensive on average than many other midsize SUVs.
6. Mazda CX-9
Starting price: $35,280 to $47,210
Selling points: Sporty and handsome ride, fuel efficient
Weak spot: Tight third row, not much cargo space
If you’re someone who loves to drive but needs a family SUV, take a look at the
Mazda CX-9
. This sporty, and daring SUV boasts athletic looks and handling, a fuel-efficient 2.5 L 4-cylinder engine, and a firm suspension for oodles of cornering fun.The CX-9’s interior is high-quality with lots of standard features, and while it seats 7 occupants, its third row is tight—only the kids should be riding back there.It’s also tight on cargo space, featuring just 71.2 cubic feet of it. Tell the kids to pack light.
7. Honda Pilot
Starting price: $37,580 to $51,370
Selling points: Powerful and quick, handles well for its size
Weak spot: Lower-than-expected safety and reliability ratings
For drivers too embarrassed to drive a minivan but who still need the space of one, the
Honda Pilot
delivers. The Pilot boasts three rows of seats for eight occupants.There is a solid 83.8 cubic feet of cargo space, including an underfloor cargo area that is pretty darn cool. The Pilot’s 3.5 L V6 sports 280 horsepower and provides plenty of power for this extended-family hauler. It’s surprisingly quick, as well, going from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 6.2 seconds with solid handling.
The negatives are a slightly top-heavy driving feel, a fussy infotainment system, and surprisingly average safety and reliability ratings.
MORE: Are Hondas expensive to maintain?
8. Hyundai Santa Fe
Starting price: $27,200 to $43,110
Selling points: Upscale yet affordable, athletic handling
Weak spot: Powertrain isn’t muscular, ride is a bit stiff
The most affordable midsize competitor on this list, the
Hyundai Santa Fe
offers plenty of bang for your buck. A comfortable, spacious, and well-designed and appointed cabin offers plenty of standard features, including Hyundai’s top-notch suite of driver-assist technology.Even though the Santa Fe seats just five occupants, it doesn’t feel tight. You also get 72.1 cubic feet of storage space.Performance-wise, the Santa Fe doesn’t offer a powerful ride with the optional turbocharged 2.5 L 4-cylinder engine boasting 277 horsepower.The Santa Fe is also better as a city driver than on the freeway, though it gets good fuel economy at 24 mpg.
Toyota Highlander vs. the competition
To get the lowdown on the Highlander vs. its competition, here are all the stats you’ll need to decide which midsize SUV is best for you.
Model | Starting price range | Engine options | Maximum seating capacity | Maximum cargo volume | Maximum towing capacity | Fuel economy (city/highway/combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$37,190 to $50,845 | V6, V8, or plug-in hybrid | 8 seats | 84.3 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 21/29/24 mpg | |
$40,120 to $76,095 | V6, V8, or plug-in hybrid 4xe | 5 seats | 70.8 cubic ft | 6200 lb | 19/26/21 mpg | |
$33,090 to $44,890 | V6 | 8 seats | 87 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 19/24/21.5 mpg | |
$34,895 to $48,585 | V6 | 8 seats | 86.4 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 19/26/22 mpg | |
$33,700 to $53,400 | V6 | 8 seats | 98 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 17/25/20 mpg | |
$37,870 to $45,430 | V6 | 5 seats | 100.8 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 19/24/21 mpg | |
$35,280 to $47,210 | 4-cylinder | 7 seats | 71.2 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 20/26/23 mpg | |
$37,580 to $51,370 | V6 | 8 seats | 83.8 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 19/26/22 mpg | |
$27,200 to $43,110 | 4-cylinder, hybrid | 5 seats | 72.1 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 21/28/24 mpg |
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