Upgrading From Toyota RAV4 to Highlander May Give Extra Cargo Space and Fewer MPG

Group member Izzy Bella asked a question on Facebook’s Toyota Highlander Owner’s Group asking if anyone had switched from owning a Toyota RAV4 to a Highlander. While we have previously written a lot of articles about the RAV4, especially the RAV4 Prime and Hybrid models, the Toyota Highlander seems to be a pretty popular switch among ex-RAV4 owners. Here are some comments that people wrote.

User Maya Jones wrote, “Yes! Went from a 2020 Rav4 to a 2022 Highlander in Feb and it is so much worth it. Two car seats would’ve been too packed.”

Another user Amy Daily Ellis wrote, “Have a ‘17 limited and if you will have more than 2 children, I will look at Sienna or Sequoia. Love my HL but it can tight quickly.”

Most of the commenters seem to switch because of the extra room that you get in the back. After all the Toyota Highlander is a little bigger than its sister, the RAV4.

However, some people didn’t like really like the extra gas they were spending. These days I would be mad over a few little miles too. User Victor Ng said, “I drive in local city streets, so MPG is noticeably worse than the RAV4. Probably should've gotten the hybrid but I drive less about 5k miles a year.”

With that being said, if you have a RAV4 or are even a prospective buyer, you might want to compare what you are looking for. A compact SUV for a family of 3 and good MPG is probably going to compliment the RAV4. If you have a big family and travel a lot, either save up for the new Sequoia or get a highlander.

I think that if your family, like mine, can all fit into a tiny car and not complain (our family of five drove from Charlotte to Atlanta in a cramped Prius) then the RAV4 is for you. If you prefer the extra row of seating and the bigger trunk, the Toyota Highlander is the car for you.

About 99% of these comments are saying that they traded their Toyota RAV4 in to get a highlander because of trunk space and headroom. One of the commenters said he is 6’7! I guess the highlander is very “tall people friendly.”

All in all, both are great cars. The RAV4 gets great gas mileage while the Highlander is good for traveling and hauling stuff around in the trunk. I personally like the RAV4 but if money wasn’t an issue, I would just wait for the new Sequoia.

By the way, we recently wrote an article about the 2023 GR Corolla Core model's new packages.

What do you think? If you have a Highlander or a RAV4, how do you feel about the trunk and headspace? Do you feel cramped? Let us know in the comment section below.

Harutiun Hareyan is reporting Toyota news at Torque News. His automotive interests and vast experience test-riding new cars give his stories a sense of authenticity and unique insights. Follow Harutiun on Twitter at @HareyanHarutiun for daily Toyota news.