Towing experience with current Toyota Highlander

TravelPod

Does anyone have first hand experience towing with the current Toyota Highlander models?  Either the 2.5L 4 cylinder hybrid engine or 2.4L 4 cylinder turbo?  Due to emissions standards, they have discontinued the V6 engines.  I have a Tab 320 and been towing it with a 2011 Toyota Sienna for the past 3 seasons.  But I am starting to look at a new tow vehicle.  Not sure how the new 4 cylinder engines fare or how long will they last.

Horigan

Also consider the Mazda CX-70/90 (90 has third row seating).  Upper levels have 340 hp.  Not really necessary for a 320, but something we'll be looking into when replacing our 2013 Highlander towing our 400.

manyman297

Do the new Tacomas share a powertrain with the Highlander? Might be worth seeing if they do because there are a few towing experience videos of the new Tacoma on YouTube. Different type of vehicle but might lend some insights.

TravelPod

Thanks for the input.  I will check out the Mazda.  They have come a long way, looks really nice, but unsure of the reliability.  How many of the old ones are on the road and soldiering on?

Toyota generally has the dependability reputation.  I think it's the same reason why most of us have picked NuCamp instead of the other options.

My Sienna will be 15 yrs old in a couple of months and it can keep going.  Towed our trailer across the country east/west without breaking a sweat.  Looking at a replacement because I would like something with more ground clearance.  Getting in and out of steeper camp sites or some parking lots would be easier.  I also have a Corolla driven weekly that just past 24 yrs old.

Hopefully these new 4 cylinder engines with/without turbos can last.

I will check out the Tacoma videos.  That's a great idea I didn't think of.  Thanks.

manyman297

Mazda has come a long ways since Ford had their fingers in the pie several years ago. Dependability rankings are up there with Honda and Toyota for the most part…BUT we had a 2015 CX5 that, after 100k miles of issueless ownership, started to show signs of a slow head gasket leak. So they aren’t perfect and our experience is more of an outlier. It still is my favorite vehicle I’ve ever owned.