If you're hunting for a family SUV that prioritizes children's safety while giving you room to grow, be sure to check out the 2025 Toyota Highlander. This three-row SUV blends practical family requirements with Toyota's solid track record for quality and reliability, making it a smart buy for families who want a vehicle they can count on from the messy toddler years to the days of teen driving lessons.
Why the 2025 Toyota Highlander Appeals to Families
Families choose the Highlander because it's reliable and affordable. J.D. Power gave it a reliability score of 81/100, placing it in the Great category, compared to the Honda Pilot's average reliability of 80/100. Pricing starts at $40,320, comparable to the Pilot's $40,200, but fuel economy is where you'll find significant savings. The Highlander gets 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, beating the Pilot's 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
Hybrid versions of the Highlander achieve 35 mpg in both city and highway driving,.
Toyota's strong resale value means more money back when you trade in. The Highlander handles daily family life with ease — starting reliably on cold Kirksville mornings, hauling hockey gear to tournaments, and keeping everyone comfortable on trips to St. Louis.
3-Row Seating and Flexible Cabin Space
Seating up to eight people, the Highlander fits plenty of kids for carpool duty. Second-row legroom measures 38.7 inches, while the third row offers 28 inches of legroom and 36.1 inches of headroom. Choose between captain's chairs or a bench seat in the middle row. The captain's chairs create a center aisle for easier access, and they slide back for rear-facing car seats. Bench seats add one middle spot, but they're harder to find on higher trims. Both work with car seats, but captain's chairs are more user-friendly if you have little ones.
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 and Crash Prevention Features
Every 2025 Highlander includes Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. The precollision system spots pedestrians and cyclists with radar that sees farther and wider, catching cars from the side or turning into your path. Lane departure alert warns you with sounds and visuals if you start drifting at over 30 mph and then nudges the steering back. Dynamic radar cruise control maintains distance from cars ahead, with four following distance settings. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert help during school pickup chaos or in crowded parking lots.
Additional features include automatic high beams, road-sign assist that displays highway information on your dashboard, proactive driving assist for help with steering and braking, and lane-tracing assist that works with cruise control. For more details, check out our 2025 Toyota Camry safety features guide. The 2025 Highlander earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Rear-Seat Comfort and Child-Friendly Amenities
Back rows focus on comfort, with five USB ports to keep devices charged. Three-zone climate control with second- and third-row vents keeps everyone cool or warm, and the LATCH system simplifies car seat installation. Window shades protect sensitive skin, easy-to-clean materials handle spills and stains, and abundant cup holders keep you hydrated on hot summer days.
Infotainment and Connectivity to Keep Everyone Entertained
The standard 8-inch touch screen (or the 12.3-inch screen on higher trims) keeps everyone happy on the road. The setup includes six speakers, a USB media port, four USB charging ports, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Bluetooth for calls and music, and a three-month SiriusXM trial. On higher trims, you can get a JBL premium audio system with 11 speakers, wireless phone charging on the XLE and above via Qi charging, Wi-Fi hot spot capability, and a Digital Key on some models that lets you use your phone to access your vehicle instead of the key fob.
Smart Storage Options and Cargo Capacity
The Toyota Highlander's cargo space is a mixed bag. Behind the third row, you get just 16 cubic feet of storage capacity, which will hold groceries or school backpacks. For better storage capacity, fold down the third row to unlock 48.4 cubic feet, which can accommodate suitcases for weekend trips or sports gear for the whole team. Drop all the seats down, and you'll have 84.3 cubic feet available. If you regularly need third-row seating and abundant cargo space, consider the Grand Highlander, which offers up to 97.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
Inside the cabin, you'll find clever door pockets and a spacious center console. The hands-free power liftgate is a blessing when your arms are full of bags and you're trying to keep a toddler from running into the parking lot.
The Toyota Highlander Is A Great Family Vehicle
The 2025 Toyota Highlander should hit all the right notes if your family needs a reliable three-row SUV in Missouri. From the high-tech safety systems that help prevent fender benders on slick winter roads to flexible seating that adapts as your kids grow, this vehicle solves real-world problems that parents face daily. If you have safety concerns, budget limitations, and the need for space, the Highlander makes perfect sense — whether you're running daily errands around Kirksville or taking the whole crew to Table Rock Lake for summer vacation.
Your Perfect Family SUV Awaits You in Kirksville
If you're ready to see if the 2025 Highlander is the right fit for your family, stop by our dealership and bring the kids along. Our staff members (many of whom are parents themselves) understand what families need in a vehicle. We'll help you figure out if your car seats fit correctly, show you how your safety systems work, and find a model that fits your budget. Your family's next favorite road-trip vehicle is waiting — come take it for a spin.