The Toyota Highlander is coming to the UK

United Kingdom, say hello to the new Toyota Highlander. It’s been available in the US, Japan and so-on since 2000, but this latest version (revealed at last year’s New York Motor Show) will finally go on sale in Europe next year.

How big we talking? Well it’s got seven seats, a little over 1,900 litres of luggage space with the second- and third-rows of seats folded and is roughly as long as a Land Rover Discovery. So yes, quite big. It’s actually longer than the Land Cruiser – the biggest SUV Toyota currently sells here – making it the biggest Toyota you can buy in Britain that isn’t a van.

The Highlander is based on Toyota’s ‘GA-K’ platform, which also underpins the Camry and RAV-4, and will only be available as a hybrid. A 2.5-litre petrol engine is augmented by a couple of electric motors, one of which is mounted on the rear axle for all-wheel drive. Toyota claims 42.8mpg and 146g/km – not half bad for an SUV of this size. With 241bhp it won’t exactly be quick, but it shouldn’t be unbearably slow either.

No prices or specs yet, but tech highlights will include a digital rear-view mirror, wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, MANY USB ports and all the latest active safety tech. How very sensible.