Japanese automakers have gained a reputation for making reliable vehicles, and that’s still the case in the age of electrification. Thanks to having a head start versus most of the automotive industry, brands like Toyota and Honda have already garnered enough experience to make a reliable hybrid vehicle.
Therefore, it’s unsurprising that the most reliable Japanese hybrid SUV on this list comes from Toyota. However, reliability is also a multipronged approach. The drivetrain may be reliable, but the electronics probably aren’t, and that will affect a vehicle’s reliability score. So, to determine the best Japanese hybrid SUV that’s built for the long haul, we’ve taken a look at what age and/or mileage the vehicle is predicted to last. Without further ado, here is the Japanese hybrid SUV that will probably last longer than your kid’s educational path.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including Toyota and iSeeCars.
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The Toyota Highlander Hybrid Has Nailed The Reliability Aspect To Perfection
The Japanese hybrid SUV that is expected to last far longer than any other hybrid SUV out there is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. A three-row midsize SUV whose significance has been reduced due to the existence of the larger-than-life Grand Highlander, the long-lasting Toyota Highlander may still be worth considering solely based on how long this car is predicted to last.
An SUV That Will Witness Life For Years To Come
iSeeCars has identified that the most reliable hybrid SUV outright is the 2025 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid with a perfect 10 out of 10 score. Following closely behind is the 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, with a score of 9.2 out of 10. However, because the Sequoia Hybrid only came out during the 2022 model year, data about how long the car will actually last is not yet available. The 10 out of 10 score is mostly based on historical data from the previous V-8-powered Sequoia. On the other hand, the 2025 Toyota Highlander, due to it being on the market for six years already, has been determined by iSeeCars to last for 15 years or 193,000 miles. They even say that the Highlander Hybrid has a 46.2 percent chance of reaching 200,000 miles.
2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
The 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a midsize SUV that blends fuel efficiency with family-friendly versatility. Powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with electric motors, it delivers a combined output of 243 horsepower and impressive fuel economy, with up to 36 mpg combined. The Highlander Hybrid offers seating for up to eight passengers, a spacious interior, and a smooth, comfortable ride. Standard features include a modern infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+. With its blend of efficiency, advanced technology, and practicality, it’s a strong choice for eco-conscious families.
Model
Highlander Hybrid
Engine
2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine
Transmission
eCVT
Horsepower
243 HP
Driveline
FWD or AWD
Range
Up to 616 miles
Starting Price (MSRP)
$40,970 – $53,375
Fuel Economy
34-36 MPG
Towing Capacity
3,500 Pounds
Payload Capacity
1,630 Pounds
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While all-new for the 2020 model year, the Highlander already uses a tried-and-tested A25A-FXS 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a fourth-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS IV) that consists of two electric motors. This electrified drivetrain has already been in production since 2017 for the hybrid versions of the Camry and RAV4, and now in 2025, Toyota has already perfected the hybrid system from a reliability perspective.
Why The Toyota Highlander Is So Reliable
Toyota
How has Toyota achieved this? Well, Japanese brands always have a thing for engineering things to be simple and easy to maintain. For instance, the two-motor THS IV is actually more mechanically simple in some ways than a pure internal combustion engine (ICE) car. One of those electric motors is the motor-generator, and since this is capable of cranking the engine apart from just being a generator for the regenerative braking to charge the battery, you don’t have a starter motor to think of. This also eliminates the mechanical air compressor in favor of an electrical one, which doesn’t contain clutches and pulleys.
Lastly, the regenerative braking reduces your use of the disc brakes, which is another consumable part you have to think less about.
2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Specs
Engine
2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid with two electric motors
Horsepower
243 hp
Torque
N/A
Transmission
e-CVT
Layout
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)
35 MPG
EPA Driving Range
595 miles
Base MSRP
$46,320
Fewer parts to deal with also means that the Highlander will last longer than most vehicles. But if something does break, repairs are dead simple, and also, parts are extremely common. Just think of how many Toyota and Lexus vehicles utilize the Highlander’s THS IV system, and how many of these have been sold in the past eight years or so, and you can only imagine how easy it is going to be to look for spare parts for the Highlander Hybrid.
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What Else A Highlander Hybrid Offers
The 2025 Toyota Highlander didn’t remain unchanged throughout those six years. In fact, technological and aesthetic upgrades have kept it relevant over the years. Its only problem, however, as you’ll find out later, is a major case of sibling rivalry.
Modern Looks Celebrating Its 25th Birthday
Toyota
The current generation of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid came onto the market in 2020, but while it may not be a groundbreaking design when it debuted, it’s still a reasonably modern and sleek crossover SUV that will be appreciated by a wide range of buyers. LED headlights and taillights, a hands-free powered liftgate, and a sunroof are standard, but you have to step up to the Limited to get LED daytime running lights, nicer 20-inch wheels, and LED foglights. New paint choices are also introduced, one of which is Heavy Metal that debuts in the 25th Edition model.
Yes, you heard that right. The Highlander celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and the 25th Edition model is based on the Limited model, the second-highest Highlander Hybrid trim. There’s the obligatory 25th Edition tailgate badge, as well as various 25th Edition logos all across the interior, as you’ll see later.
A Practical Space For Families
Toyota
The interior of the Highlander Hybrid combines practicality with a reasonable amount of style and plushness that families will appreciate. Standard features include:
Leatherette upholstery
Second-row captain’s chairs
Power-adjustable front seats
Limited variants and up get genuine leather upholstery, ambient LED lighting, and a JBL sound system. The range-topping Platinum gets a panoramic sunroof and a digital rearview mirror, while the 25th Edition model gets a host of 25th Edition logos on the seats, interior trims, and metal door sill plates.
Over the past five model years, the Highlander Hybrid has also received various tech upgrades to keep the car relevant in the market. The XLE gets a seven-inch digital gauge cluster, wireless charging, and an eight-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment that’s upgradable to 12.3 inches. Limited variants and above get a larger 12.3-inch fully-digital gauge cluster, while the range-topping Platinum gets a 10-inch windshield-projected head-up display. Of course, the full Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced driver-assistance systems is fitted as standard on all variants, but the Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) is only fitted to the range-topping Platinum.
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But, The Highlander Has An Existential Crisis
Toyota
The 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid remains a very compelling and competitive three-row midsize hybrid SUV. The only problem is, as mentioned in this article numerous times, this vehicle is also dealing with other excellent hybrid SUVs within the Toyota (and even Lexus) family. Is Toyota spreading the crossover and SUV buying demographic too thinly, as large as its audience may be?
Sales Getting Eaten By The Grand Highlander
Toyota
America continues to demand larger crossover SUVs than ever before, and that’s reflected by the sales of the Grand Highlander Hybrid. Though incrementally larger, incrementally more luxurious, and incrementally more tech-laden, its grander-than-grand sibling is already outselling the Highlander Hybrid as time passes by. In 2024, the Grand Highlander Hybrid’s first full year, 29,116 units were sold, a 117.9 percent increase. The Grand Highlander Hybrid only entered the North American market in the second half of 2023.
As expected, ever since the Grand Highlander Hybrid’s debut, a significant portion of Highlander buyers have gravitated towards the larger vehicle. During the Grand Highlander Hybrid’s first full year, Highlander Hybrid sales were cut by half (50.1 percent, to be precise) to just 24,777 units. Thankfully, in the first quarter of 2025, Highlander Hybrid’s sales increased by 8.7 percent to 6,641 units, but its sales continue to trail the Grand Highlander’s sales at 10,984 units, a more sizable 23.4 percent increase from the first quarter of 2024.
Toyota Has Eight Other Crossovers And SUVs
Toyota
Toyota may be the biggest automaker in the United States by sales (though as an automotive group, General Motors is the biggest automaker), which means that it has room to expand its product portfolio to satisfy the nearly 2 million Americans who buy a Toyota every year. However, with its current lineup of nine (yes, nine) crossovers and SUVs, is Toyota spreading its buyer demographic, as large as it may be, too thinly?
For those looking for affordability, the Corolla Cross will suit their needs. The RAV4 is perhaps its most “right-sized” offering, as evidenced by its sheer popularity, while the bZ4X is for those who want a RAV4-sized Toyota electric crossover SUV. Those looking for a three-row crossover unibody SUV have two options, the Highlander and Grand Highlander, yet a body-on-frame three-row off-roader called the 4Runner also exists. The 4Runner also competes side-by-side with the Land Cruiser, while those looking for the ultimate Toyota SUV will gravitate towards the Sequoia Hybrid. Lastly, the wagon-like Crown Signia fills the position that the Venza used to occupy.
Nine offerings, with all of these having intersecting traits, but it’s the Grand Highlander and Highlander that may be too closely related to each other for their sales to be affected. It’s a similar case with Hyundai, which has both the Santa Fe and Palisade, and Kia with the Sorento and Telluride. Overall, however, Toyota’s sales continue to incrementally grow, and that’s probably enough motivation for them to offer such a diverse lineup of vehicles in the first place.
AloJapan.com