The 2024 Toyota Highlander XSE takes the family-SUV formula in a sportier direction without turning it into a different vehicle. Its appeal is the combination of seven-seat practicality, distinctive styling and a suspension package that separates it from the other Highlander grades. Whether those differences are worth paying for depends on what your family actually uses.
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Engine and drivetrain
The Canadian gas Highlander uses a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder with 265 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic. XSE is not a Highlander Hybrid grade. Toyota rates the gas model to tow up to 5,000 lb when properly equipped; actual loading and towing equipment still need to be checked for the individual vehicle. Toyota Canada’s 2024 announcement.
Start by deciding whether the gas powertrain is the right fit rather than choosing on appearance alone. If lower fuel consumption is more important than the XSE-specific package, compare a separately priced Highlander Hybrid. Do not borrow the hybrid’s consumption figure when budgeting for this XSE.
Exterior and the XSE package
Black 20-inch wheels, different bumpers and grille, dark exterior accents and a sport-tuned suspension identify the XSE’s direction. Toyota’s 2024 announcement also lists the 12.3-inch touchscreen and 11-speaker JBL system as new XSE equipment. Canadian XSE changes for 2024.
A sport-tuned specification is not proof that every driver will find the ride preferable. Try the actual wheel-and-tire setup on the roads you use most before deciding. For a used example, check whether the original wheels and tires remain fitted, and budget for a suitable winter setup rather than treating the larger wheels as a purely visual choice.
Interior and family practicality
The XSE has second-row captain’s chairs and seven seats in total. The Canadian equipment summary also distinguishes its regular moonroof from the panoramic roof offered higher in the range. A bigger centre touchscreen should not be confused with a bigger instrument display: XSE retains a 7-inch multi-information display in this specification. Canadian Highlander gas product summary.
Before buying, check access to the third row with your usual child seats installed. Make sure the remaining cargo space suits your stroller, groceries or weekend bags when all seats are occupied. A seven-seat rating tells you how many seating positions are provided, not whether every passenger and every piece of luggage will fit comfortably at once.
Canadian trim comparison
Selected 2024 gas AWD grades, using Toyota Canada’s December 11, 2023 starting MSRPs in CAD, checked October 29, 2026. Freight/PDI, fees and taxes are excluded. These historical launch figures are not current used-car asking prices or the filmed vehicle’s total.
| Gas grade | Starting MSRP | Versus XSE | Main distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| XLE | $49,450 | $3,700 less | Lower-priced comfort-oriented alternative without the XSE styling/suspension package. |
| XSE | $53,150 | Reference | Sport-oriented package; second-row captain’s chairs, seven seats. |
| Limited | $54,790 | $1,640 more | Leather, front-seat ventilation and panoramic roof; eight seats in the 2024 gas version. |
| Platinum | $57,110 | $3,960 more | Head-up display, digital rear-view mirror and heated second-row captain’s chairs; seven seats. |
Toyota Canada’s historical price table supplies the common MSRP basis. Canadian equipment summary details the grade differences. The full family also includes LE and hybrid configurations; this selected chart focuses on the closest gas alternatives to XSE.
Limited is not simply an XSE with more accessories: its comfort equipment and seating configuration serve a different priority. Compare the features you want rather than assuming the next price up preserves every XSE detail. Likewise, check the actual second-row layout before relying on a generic used listing that calls all Highlanders seven-seaters.
Fuel consumption and budgeting
NRCan’s exact 2024 Highlander AWD 2.4-litre automatic row is 11.0 city / 8.4 highway / 9.9 combined L/100 km, using regular gasoline. The row is model-level; it is not specific to XSE. NRCan fuel-consumption data.
At an illustrative 20,000 km annually, 9.9 L/100 km means 1,980 litres. Use your local fuel price to estimate a yearly total, then keep insurance, servicing and tires separate. The standardized figure is a useful comparison tool, but winter trips, idling, passengers and traffic will affect your own result.
Safety and ownership checks
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ is part of the Canadian specification, along with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. These are assistance systems, not permission to stop checking your surroundings. Canadian safety specification.
For a used XSE, verify service history, recall completion and remaining warranty against its VIN. Test the liftgate, seat functions and phone connection in person. If you regularly tow, calculate passenger, cargo and trailer loads together rather than treating the headline towing maximum as a guarantee for any loaded combination.
Final thoughts
The XSE makes sense to consider when its styling, captain’s-chair layout and sport-oriented specification are genuinely what you want. If your priority is extra comfort equipment or a second-row bench, the nearby grades deserve equal attention. Start with your seating and cargo needs, then decide which package justifies the actual price difference.