Toyota Highlander Third Row Seating Review
The Toyota Highlander’s third row seating doesn’t measure up to competitors, but its safety features and overall size make it a decent choice for families.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
With just 27.7 inches of legroom in the third row, the
Toyota Highlander
isn’t as generous with its rear seating space as other three-row SUVs—but an impressive bevy of standard safety tech and an affordable hybrid option keep it competitive in the family SUV class. If you’ve got a family of more than five people, you know the struggle of finding a vehicle big enough to transport the whole crew—especially if you’re trying to avoid the minivan life. Three-row SUVs could be the answer to your dreams of spacious style, but they’re not all created equal: that’s why we're reviewing third row seating lineups from all the big players.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at the Toyota Highlander’s third row. We’ll give you exact measurements for legroom and cargo capacity, but we’ll also look at the vehicle as a whole and consider its pros and cons versus other three-row SUVs.
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What is the Toyota Highlander’s third row like?
The mid-size Toyota Highlander can seat up to eight passengers, thanks to a third row with space for three. While its third row isn’t as roomy as many of its competitors, it’s suitable for kids, making the HIghlander a great choice for families.
The Highlander’s third row is standard on all six trim levels. In the base L and LE trims, the third row sits behind a bench seat big enough for three passengers, but the upper trims swap out that second-row bench for captain’s chairs, bringing the total seating capacity down to seven.
Space and comfort
The big question when it comes to third row seating is: is it comfortable? Just having a third row of seats isn’t enough—those seats need to be comfortable for most riders to use.
Of course, comfort can be subjective. What isn’t? Legroom, headroom, and passenger volume measurements. Here’s what those look like for the Toyota Highlander:
- Third row: 27.7 inches of legroom, 36.1 inches of headroom
- Second row: 41 inches of legroom, 39.4 inches of headroom
- First row: 42 inches of legroom, 41.2 inches of headroom
- Total passenger volume: 141.3 cubic feet
As you can see from those numbers, space in the Highlander’s third row is a bit cramped, particularly in comparison to its gloriously roomy second row. If you’re looking for extra space to fit young children, the loss of a few inches of headroom and legroom might not matter, but for adults that back row is undeniably a tight squeeze—especially if you’re planning any long trips.
For more headroom and legroom, look to competitors like the
Volkswagen Atlas
or the Kia Telluride
. You can compare passenger volume measurements for the Highlander’s competitors in the table below.
Model | Starting price | Third row legroom | Third row headroom | Total passenger volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$37,070 | 27.7 inches | 36.1 inches | 141.3 cubic feet | |
$35,530 | 33.7 inches | 38.3 inches | 154 cubic feet | |
$34,895 | 33.48 inches | 38.21 inches | 157.3 cubic feet | |
$43,895 | 33.5 inches | 37.62 inches | 157.3 cubic feet | |
$34,685 | 31.4 inches | 38.1 inches | 157.1 cubic feet | |
$35,240 | 32.2 inches | 38.9 inches | 152.7 cubic feet | |
$43,520 | 30.3 inches | 37.3 inches | 151.9 cubic feet | |
$38,590 | 33.5 inches | 37.8 inches | 141 cubic feet |
Cargo space
Another big concern for large families is cargo capacity—another area where the Highlander falls a step behind its competitors. The SUV’s max cargo volume (i.e., the cargo space you’ll achieve by folding all the rear seats down) is 84.3 cubic feet, which isn’t bad.
But unless you’re flattening every row of rear seating, the Highlander’s cargo capacity is nothing to write home about. With that slim third row folded down, you’ll have 48.4 cubic feet to work with, but with all the seats in an upright position, the Highlander’s cargo space amounts to just 16 cubic feet. For context, that’s less than a Honda Accord, which has 16.7 cubes of trunk space.
Which three-row SUV has the most cargo space? The
Chevrolet Traverse
leads the mid-size segment, with the Buick Enclave
following close behind.
Model | Starting price | Cargo space behind front row | Cargo space behind 2nd row | Cargo space behind 3rd row |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Toyota Highlander | $37,070 | 84.3 cubic feet | 48.4 cubic feet | 16 cubic feet |
Chevrolet Traverse | $34,895 | 98.2 cubic feet | 57.8 cubic feet | 23 cubic feet |
Buick Enclave | $43,895 | 97.4 cubic feet | 57.7 cubic feet | 23.6 cubic feet |
Kia Telluride | $34,685 | 87 cubic feet | 46 cubic feet | 21 cubic feet |
Volkswagen Atlas | $35,530 | 96.8 cubic feet | 55.5 cubic feet | 20.6 cubic feet |
Ford Explorer | $35,240 | 87.8 cubic feet | 47.9 cubic feet | 18.2 cubic feet |
Jeep Grand Cherokee L | $43,520 | 84.6 cubic feet | 46.9 cubic feet | 17.2 cubic feet |
Dodge Durango | $38,590 | 85.1 cubic feet | 43.3 cubic feet | 17.2 cubic feet |
Towing capacity
The
Highlander's towing capacity
varies based on the powertrain. If you stick to the basic gas-powered engine, the Highlander can tow a maximum weight of 5,000 lbs, which is decent for an SUV of its size. With that towing capacity, you’d be able to haul: - A small utility trailer
- A pop-up camper
- Jet skis and snowmobiles
- A fishing boat
The hybrid powertrain, on the other hand, has a maximum towing capacity of just 3,500 lbs. That’s enough to tow a teardrop camper or certain light fishing boats, but if you’re looking for an SUV capable of hauling heavy loads, the hybrid Highlander probably isn’t for you.
The three-row
Dodge Durango
, on the other hand, has a maximum towing capacity
from 6,200 to 8,700 lbs—enough to handle livestock trailers and pontoon boats!
Model | Starting price | Maximum towing capacity |
|---|---|---|
Toyota Highlander | $37,070 | 3,500 to 5,000 lbs |
Dodge Durango | $38,590 | 6,200 to 8,700 lbs |
$43,520 | 6,200 lbs | |
$35,240 | 5,000 to 5,600 lbs | |
Volkswagen Atlas | $35,530 | 2,000 to 5,000 lbs |
Kia Telluride | $34,685 | 5,000 lbs |
Chevrolet Traverse | $34,895 | 1,500 to 5,000 lbs |
$43,895 | 1,500 to 5,000 lbs |
MORE: Toyota Highlander V6
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Start earning nowIs the Toyota Highlander good for big families and long trips?
The Toyota Highlander’s third row is ideal for big families with small children, but it might not be the best choice for anyone looking to make long trips or stow a lot of cargo.
By the numbers alone, the Highlander’s third row is smaller than others in the mid-size SUV class. That’s not great for adults, tall children, or any road trip that lasts longer than a couple hours—and you can find more legroom at a lower price point. However, the Highlander still has a few features that make it competitive for families whose composition fits that snug third row:
- Best-in-class safety features: The Highlander is a 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and gets a perfect five-star rating fromNHTSA, thanks to Toyota’s unbeatable Safety Sense™ 2.5+ technology.
- Available hybrid powertrain: If saving on fuel costs (and saving the environment) is a priority, this is one of the best hybrid family cars you can buy.
- Minivan space with SUV style: If you want the functionality of a minivan without the stodgy vibes, the Highlander is a perfect compromise.
Ultimately, your family’s needs will determine whether the Toyota Highlander’s third row is a perfect fit—or a dealbreaker.
How the Toyota Highlander compares to other three-row SUVs
What do the experts have to say about the Highlander’s third row features—and how does it compare to the rest of the class? Forbes puts the Highlander at #10 in its ranking of three-row SUVs, while Car and Driver ranks it at #7. In a ranking by U.S. News, the Highlander tied with the Chevrolet Suburban for 10th place.
In other words, the Highlander is competitive—but it’s not leading the class. That honor goes to the
Kia Telluride
, Volkswagen Atlas
, and Chevrolet Traverse
, all three of which offer roomier third row seating. In terms of sheer space, the Atlas wins the prize with 33.7 inches of legroom in the third row, but the Telluride’s far and away the best value for a three-row SUV—and its cargo space is impressive.
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Every Toyota model with third row seating
Want to take a closer look at these four models? The table below compares the key specs and stats for every three-row Toyota.
Model | Vehicle type | Starting price | Standard third row? | Third row legroom | Third row headroom | Cargo space behind 1st/2nd/3rd row | Maximum towing capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toyota Highlander | Mid-size SUV | $37,070 | Yes | 27.7 inches | 36.1 inches | 84.3/48.4/16 cubic feet | 3,500 to 5,000 lbs |
Full-size SUV | $51,995 | Yes | 35.3 inches | 34.5 inches | 120.1/66.6/18.9 cubic feet | 7,400 lbs | |
Mid-size SUV | $38,820 | No | 29.3 inches | 34.3 inches | 89.7/47.2/47.2 cubic feet | 5,000 lbs | |
Minivan | $36,500 | Yes | 38.7 inches | 37.4 inches | 101/73.2/33.5 cubic feet | 3,500 lbs |
How to find affordable car insurance for your Toyota
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