The 2022 Toyota Highlander is one of the best new SUVs you can buy thanks to its combination of style, comfort, and safety. It’s also on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) list of the best new SUVs for teens. Buying one is a great decision, though you may be torn about which Highlander trim level to buy. Here are the different trim levels available and which safety equipment comes in each. 

The 2022 Toyota Highlander L comes with a lot of safety features

The 2022 Toyota Highlander L price starts at $36,420 and it comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that can make 295 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque. That’s matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission and has optional all-wheel drive. It also has Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5 features, which include:

Frontal collision mitigation
Adaptive cruise control
Automatic high beams
Lane keeping assist
Traffic sign reader

The Toyota Highlander L also has Emergency Communications, which is Toyota’s Safety Connect. In addition, it comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and heated mirrors, according to Edmunds.

The Toyota Highlander LE adds some safety features

Upgrade to the 2022 Toyota Highlander LE at $39,270 to get some additional safety features. These include fog lamps and blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. This safety system will tell you if there’s a vehicle in your blind spot when you’re changing lanes or reversing.

The Highlander XLE and XSE add nice features, but nothing safety-related

There are plenty of good reasons to buy the 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE and XSE, but none of them are safety related. The XLE will cost you $42,270 and the XSE $43,865. The XLE makes the Highlander nice to drive and the XSE gives it a sporty edge, but if you’re shopping for your teen, there’s nothing in these trim levels that will make the SUV safer for your kid.

The Limited trim level makes parking easier

If you pay a little more for the 2022 Toyota Highlander Limited, you’ll get front and rear parking sensors. These will alert your teen to any obstacles in the way when they’re both in front of and behind the SUV while parking. This costs $46,225 and in addition to this safety feature, there’s enough niceties to make this Highlander feel like a luxury SUV.

In addition, the Highlander Limited has a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 360-degree camera that gives an overhead view of the SUV while parking.

The Platinum costs the most but offers the most

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Platinum is certainly the most expensive Highlander trim, at $49,225. Yet as is often the case, you get what you pay for. The Toyota Highlander Platinum includes everything in the trim levels before it. It also adds on adaptive headlights, which illuminate curves in a way that make it easier to drive at night. It also has a head-up display and a digital rearview mirror.

Overall, the 2022 Toyota Highlander is one of the best SUVs you can buy for your teen. It’s super safe, is on the IIHS and Consumer Reports list of the best new SUVs for teens, and it is loaded with safety features.