Toyota Highlander vs RAV4
You have a lot of models to consider when shopping for a Toyota SUV around Shrewsbury, Auburn, or Worcester, MA. So, how do you know which one is the right option? Test driving these models is the best form of research. At Harr Toyota, we also create comparisons to provide further insight. This particular 2021 Toyota Highlander vs. RAV4 comparison pits two of the brand’s most popular SUVs against one another.
Each comes with hybrid options, stellar interior space, and robust trim levels. So, if you’re curious, here’s a look at the RAV4 and the Highlander!
Highlander vs RAV4: Trim Options
The reason you might see a pair of RAV4 or Highlander SUVs drive by that look totally different is because each model comes in a variety of trim levels. These trims alter styling, features, specifications, and much more. So, whether you choose the RAV4 or the Highlander, you’ll be able to personalize it to your liking.
The RAV4 list, like that of the Highlander, is divided between hybrid and non-hybrid options. It starts with the LE and moves to the LE Hybrid, XLE, XLE Hybrid, XLE Premium, and XLE Premium Hybrid. You then have the Adventure trim sporting Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive. The TRD Off-Road is an even more hardcore adventurer touting a TRD-tuned independent front suspension.
The RAV4 trims round out with the:
- XSE Hybrid
- Limited
- Limited Hybrid
The Highlander’s list looks similar. It starts with the L and is followed by the LE, Hybrid LE, XLE, Hybrid XLE, and XSE. The most luxurious trims include the:
- Limited
- Hybrid Limited
- Platinum
- Hybrid Platinum
Highlander vs RAV4: Interior Space
The biggest difference between the cabin sizes of the Highlander and the RAV4 is that the Highlander offers three rows, while the RAV4 is a 2-row SUV. So, if you really need that extra seating capacity, the Highlander can fit eight passengers vs. five passengers in the RAV4.
Here’s how the legroom for each Highlander row measures:
- 42 inches of front legroom
- 41 inches of middle legroom
- 27.7 inches of rear legroom
As for cargo, the Highlander supports 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row, and 84.3 cubic feet behind the first row.
Here’s how each of those figures measure for the 2-row Toyota RAV4:
- 41 inches of front legroom
- 37.8 inches of rear legroom
- 37.6 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row
Toyota Highlander vs Toyota RAV4: How Much Space Do You Need?
With so many great over-lapping features, the Toyota Highlander and the RAV4 both make sense for drivers near Shrewsbury, Auburn, and Worcester. Perhaps the best way to determine which SUV you want is to base it on size. Need more seating than what’s found in a 2-row SUV? If so, then the Highlander is likely the better choice for you.
You can test drive these two Toyota SUVs back to back if you want—just come by Harr Toyota!