Why did Toyota discontinue the Highlander?
The Highlander has not been discontinued; Toyota continues to sell it in North America and other regions as part of its three-row SUV lineup.
There is more context behind the question. Toyota expanded its three-row SUV family with the Grand Highlander, a larger, more premium variant, which can create confusion about whether the standard Highlander has been culled from the lineup. Additionally, some markets use different nameplates for the same vehicle, which can further blur whether a model has been discontinued.
Current status and context
The Highlander remains in production and is part of Toyota’s ongoing SUV strategy. At the same time, Toyota introduced the Grand Highlander as a distinct, larger sibling designed to offer more interior space and additional features. The two models serve different customer needs rather than one replacing the other.
To help readers understand the situation, here are the key distinctions between the Highlander and the Grand Highlander, and how market naming can affect perception.
Understanding how the two models relate helps distinguish a lineup expansion from a cancellation. The Highlander continues to be updated and sold alongside the Grand Highlander.
- The Grand Highlander is a larger, more premium variant introduced to broaden the lineup; it sits above the standard Highlander in terms of space and often available with more features.
- The standard Highlander remains in production with its own engine options and trims, including hybrid variants, and is not officially discontinued.
- In some markets, the same vehicle is sold under a different name (for example, the Kluger in Australia), which can create confusion about whether a model has been dropped.
Across regions, these factors help explain why rumors might circulate even though Toyota has not announced a discontinuation of the Highlander itself.
Market variations and how the lineup is presented
Here is how the Highlander appears in different regions and why the perception of discontinuation can arise:
- United States and Canada: The Highlander continues to be offered with multiple powertrains, including a hybrid option, and remains a staple in Toyota’s SUV lineup.
- Other markets: Some countries use a different nameplate for the same vehicle (notably Kluger in Australia), which can lead readers to believe the Highlander has been discontinued if they’re not aware of the name change.
- Overall strategy: Toyota’s introduction of the Grand Highlander alongside the standard Highlander reflects a strategy to broaden choice rather than retire a model.
In short, there is no official global discontinuation of the Highlander. Toyota’s approach has been to widen the three-row SUV family by adding the Grand Highlander while keeping the familiar Highlander in production for current markets and customers.
Summary
The Highlander remains a continuing part of Toyota’s lineup, complemented by the Grand Highlander. Rumors of discontinuation are unfounded and largely stem from the new, larger model and regional naming differences. If you’re shopping, you’ll likely find both models available in different configurations to suit different needs, not a single model retirement.
