Toyota Highlander

Toyota Highlander
2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Overview
ManufacturerToyota
Also called
  • Toyota Kluger (Japan, 2000–2007; Australia, 2000–present)
  • Toyota Crown Kluger (China, 2021–present)
Production2000–present
Model years2001–present
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size crossover SUV
Body style5-door SUV
Layout

The Toyota Highlander, also known as the Toyota Kluger (Japanese: トヨタ・クルーガー, Hepburn: Toyota Kurūgā), is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by Toyota since 2000.

Announced in April 2000 at the New York International Auto Show and arriving in late 2000 in Japan and January 2001 in North America, the Highlander became one of the first car-based mid-size SUV or mid-size crossovers.[1] The Highlander is the crossover counterpart to the more rugged, truck-based mid-size 4Runner and became Toyota's best-selling SUV before being surpassed by the smaller RAV4 in 2006.

The first-generation model was sold in Japan as the Kluger, which was exclusive to a dealership network called Toyota Netz as a larger alternative to the RAV4. The Kluger nameplate is also used in Australia because "Highlander" is a trademarked trim line name owned by Hyundai. The name is derived from the German word klug, which means smart or clever (Klüger – with diacritics – means "someone who is smarter than another" in German).[2]

  1. ^ "2015 Toyota Highlander release date" (Press release). US: Toyota. 19 April 2000. Archived from the original on 7 August 2014.
  2. ^ Butler, Glenn (1 October 2003). "Toyota Kluger (2003–)". Carpoint.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2012.