Family vehicles need to adapt to your specific needs, and the 2025 Toyota Highlander offers flexible seating options that accommodate different family sizes and lifestyles. Available in both seven and eight-passenger configurations, the Highlander gives you choices that impact daily convenience, passenger comfort, and cargo versatility.

Understanding the practical differences between these seating arrangements helps you select the configuration that will serve your family best for years to come. Here's what you need to know about each option to make the right choice.

The Eight-Passenger Layout: Maximizing Capacity

The eight-passenger configuration features a 60/40 split folding bench seat in the second row. This setup provides three positions across, making it ideal for families with multiple children or those who frequently carpool.

You'll find this configuration standard on the Highlander XLE gas model and the Hybrid LE and XLE trims. The main advantage is obvious—space for one additional passenger compared to the seven-seat layout. This extra seat proves valuable for growing families or situations where you regularly transport your children's friends or additional family members.

The second-row bench includes LATCH anchors for child seats in the outboard positions, allowing you to secure two car seats while still maintaining the middle position for another passenger. For families with young children, this flexibility proves particularly useful.

The bench seat design also creates a different fold-flat pattern when maximizing cargo space. When fully folded, the 60/40 split creates a slightly different cargo floor configuration than captain's chairs, which some owners find more practical for certain types of cargo.

The Seven-Passenger Layout: Enhanced Comfort and Access

Seven-passenger Highlander models replace the second-row bench with two captain's chairs, creating an open walkway between them. This configuration comes standard on the sporty XSE, the premium Limited and Platinum trims, and the distinctive Nightshade Edition.

The primary benefit of captain's chairs is significantly easier access to the third row. Instead of folding and sliding the second-row seat forward, passengers can simply walk between the chairs to reach the back seats. This proves especially valuable for families with older children or teens who regularly use the third row.

Captain's chairs also provide a more premium passenger experience, with increased comfort, dedicated armrests, and more personal space. Second-row passengers enjoy a first-class feeling with improved shoulder room and the elimination of the "middle seat squeeze."

The center aisle between chairs creates useful versatility beyond just third-row access. Parents of young children find this space invaluable for reaching the third row to assist with seatbelts or attending to children while parked, without having to exit and re-enter the vehicle.

Space and Storage Considerations

Both seating configurations offer different advantages when it comes to interior space utilization.

With eight seats, you gain:

• Maximum passenger capacity for large families
• A middle seat that can fold down independently as an armrest with cupholders
• Slightly more total cargo volume when the second row is folded completely flat

With seven seats, you benefit from:

• A permanent center walkway for third-row access
• Individual comfort for second-row passengers
• The ability to keep car seats installed while accessing the third row
• A center floor space that works well for certain types of cargo when needed

Both configurations feature the same third-row 60/40 split folding bench seat, which accommodates three passengers for short trips or two passengers more comfortably for longer journeys. When folded flat, all Highlander models offer up to 2,387 litres of cargo space behind the first row.

Practical Differences for Daily Use

Your day-to-day family activities should heavily influence your seating configuration choice.

The eight-passenger setup works best if you:

• Have three or more children
• Regularly drive your children's friends
• Need maximum versatility between passenger capacity and cargo space
• Prefer a traditional SUV interior layout
• Want to keep your options open for future family growth

The seven-passenger configuration is superior if you:

• Have two children or fewer
• Prioritize easy third-row access
• Value second-row passenger comfort
• Have teenagers who prefer personal space
• Use car seats but still need third-row access
• Want a more premium, spacious feeling interior

Many families find that the conventional wisdom of "more seats is better" doesn't always hold true. The enhanced functionality of captain's chairs often provides more practical benefits than an extra seat that might rarely be used.

Trim Level Availability and Considerations

Your seating preference may influence which Highlander trim level makes the most sense for your family.

If the eight-passenger layout is essential for your needs, the XLE grade offers an excellent balance of features and value, with standard amenities including heated front seats, a power moonroof, and a power liftgate with hands-free operation.

For families preferring captain's chairs, more options exist across the lineup. The sporty XSE grade adds a sport-tuned suspension and distinctive styling elements, while the Limited and Platinum grades include luxury features like leather seating, JBL premium audio, and enhanced safety technologies.

The special Nightshade Edition offers a custom-looking appearance package with black exterior accents and unique interior stitching, exclusively in the seven-passenger configuration.

Both seating configurations are available with either the efficient hybrid powertrain (achieving 6.7L/100 km combined) or the powerful turbocharged gas engine (with 265 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque).

Making Your Decision

To determine the right configuration, consider your:

• Current family size and future growth plans
• Frequency of transporting extra passengers
• Children's ages and car seat requirements
• Preference for third-row accessibility
• Balance between passenger space and cargo needs

The best approach is experiencing both configurations firsthand. Bring your family to test out the different seating arrangements, including testing third-row access, installing any car seats you use, and evaluating how each configuration would work with your typical passenger and cargo scenarios.

The 2025 Toyota Highlander's flexible interior ensures you don't have to compromise between space, comfort, and functionality. Whether you choose seven or eight seats, you'll enjoy an SUV designed around real family needs.

Visit Whitby Toyota today and sit in both Highlander configurations with your family. Our team will help you evaluate how each seating arrangement fits your specific needs—and you might discover that the configuration you hadn't considered initially turns out to be perfect for your lifestyle.