is a near-luxury level family SUV that can moonlight a little as an off-roader in the right conditions. But unless you select one of the packages with optional all-wheel drive and Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select, you’ll want to stick to easy off-roading and over-landing.

The 2021 Highlander comes with a standard 295-horsepower V6 engine and front-wheel drive. The power is suitable, but its low-end torque, standard drive-train, and ground clearance leave the Highlander more suitable for light off-road driving rather than tackling extreme terrain.

If you already own a 2021 Highlander and you’re thinking about taking it off-road, or you want to buy one for occasional off-roading, start with this guide from

Jerry

, car owner’s

super app

. We’ll take a look at the standard-equipped Highlander’s off-road specs and show you a few comparable models to consider, too.

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Can the 2021 Toyota Highlander go off-road?

You can take the 2021 Toyota Highlander off-road with caution. It’s not a particularly rugged SUV—its design is more for family transportation and comfort—and it’s built with unibody construction rather than the body-on-frame build that goes into pickups and more utilitarian SUVs.

However, with the right awareness of its capabilities and limitations, you should be able to take the Highlander out for an occasional adventure on dirt roads, well-established trails, and moderate off-road terrain. Don’t try to scale any mountains or dip into any canyons unless you’ve done some serious aftermarket modifications.

Here are some details on the 2021 Highlander’s specifications to help you choose the right off-road adventure for your car.

Ground clearance

Before you set out for the great outdoors, you’ll want to know your vehicle’s ground clearance. This tells us how much space there is between the lowest part of your car’s unladen chassis and the ground. Knowing this number will let you safely drive over objects—or avoid them if they’re too tall.

The 2021 Highlander has an 8-inch ground clearance. While this is higher than sedans and sports cars, it’s not particularly high for the world of off-roading. An ideal ground clearance range for off-roading should be between 8.8 and 10.8 inches.

The Highlander is nearly an inch shy of this range, but that doesn’t mean you’re only relegated to paved roads. Just watch for stumps, rocks, and other obstacles to avoid scraping the undercarriage.

Torque

Next, you need to understand your vehicle’s low-end torque. Torque is the measure of rotational force that your engine can produce. Different from horsepower, which can tell us speed, torque tells us more about your car’s strength.

Low-end torque is the amount of torque produced in lower gears. Ideally for off-roading, you’ll find this peak between 2000 and 4000 rpm. That’s the kind of slow-crawling power that can pull a vehicle up a steep incline or help it crawl over rocks.

The 2021 Highland produces a decent amount of torque—263 lb-ft—but at 4700 rpm. Compared to the

Jeep Renegade

, which gets 210 lb-ft at 1750 rpm, the Highlander is at a disadvantage. That doesn’t preclude you from off-roading in a 2021 Highlander, but it does limit your options.

Tires

The 2021 Highalder’s 18-inch wheels come clad in standard P235/65VR18 all-season tires. The tires are good for all types of weather you may come across, including wintery conditions as long as you keep a moderate speed. However, if you want to switch them out for something more off-road capable, you could get all-terrain tires.

These can be more expensive, and they also tend to wear out sooner so your cost of ownership may tick up if you switch the all-season tires out.

Drivetrain

Some off-roaders prefer an AWD vehicle for its versatile traction. Others prefer RWD because you get better control and longevity. However, the Highlander is a standard front-wheel drive vehicle, which can seriously limit your off-roading potential. Add the optional AWD package to seriously improve your Highlander’s off-roading capabilities.

Angles

You should also be aware of the Highlander’s approach and departure angles. If you’re not clear on what that means, here’s a brief definition:

Approach angle is the maximum incline that your vehicle can take without interference

Departure angle is the steepest decline that your car can descend without interference

The 2021 Highlander has moderate angles, with an approach angle of 17.9 degrees and a departure angle of 23 degrees. That means you can take on some moderate dips and bumps, but you should leave the most rugged trails to models like the

Ford F-150 Raptor

Toyota 4Runner

Off-road rating: Rough and Ready

We’ve used Jerry’s DIRT rating system (explained in the table below) to grade the 2021 Toyota Highlander’s off-road readiness:

Rating	Meaning	Description
D	Don’t Try It	Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I	In a Pinch	Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R	Rough and Ready	Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T	Trail Boss	True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain

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Despite some limitations, the 2021 Highlander gets an R rating. It can handle some casual, lightweight offroading if you’re careful when you select your trail and terrain. Just know its limitations and abilities before you set out, and stay out of deep ruts and deep mud.

MORE:

Toyota Highlander specs you should know

The best off-road alternatives to the 2021 Toyota Highlander

If you’re still debating whether the 2021 Toyota Highlander is the best pick for you, take a little time to consider some alternatives. Here’s a lineup of models that are comparable to the Highlander, both on and off the road.

Alternative	Model	Price	Description
Best new alternative	2022 Hyundai Palisade	$33,600	The 2022 Hyundai Palisade has a 291-horsepower V6 engine that gets 22 mpg.
Best affordable alternative	2020 Kia Telluride	$31,890	The 2020 Telluride includes a 291-horsepower V6 and gets up to 23 mpg.
Best luxury alternative	2020 Infiniti QX60	$44,350	The 2020 QX60 comes with a 3.8-liter V6 that produces 295 horsepower and gets 22 mpg.

MORE:

Toyota Highlander towing capacity

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

Finding the right off-road vehicle can take a lot of time and effort. And buying one can add up to a lot of expense, even if you find a used 2021 Highlander. However, you can recoup some of that time and money, and do it with very little effort, by shopping for

car insurance

with the

Jerry

app.

Jerry—

a licensed insurance broker

and comparison shopping tool—is fast, easy, and free to use. Just download the app, answer some simple questions about yourself and your car, and pick the policy that’s right for you.

Jerry will use your information to collect a set of competitive car insurance quotes from its network of 55+ top-rated providers. And when you find the policy you like, it’s easy to switch over right in the app. Jerry will even help you cancel your old insurance!

“My policy covers two people and four cars: a truck, SUV, convertible, and muscle car.
Jerry
helped me go from paying $308 a month to $125 a month with the same coverage. I’m loving the savings.” —Jocelyn A.