Used 2020 Toyota Highlander

All new for 2020, the 4th-generation Toyota Highlander arrives with a new look, new features, more interior room, and Toyota’s latest safety and infotainment technology.

In a class that includes the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade, the Highlander remains a best seller. While the 2020 Toyota Highlander doesn’t really revolutionize the family SUV, it does improve on a vehicle that was already pretty close to perfect. Toyota has made a V6 engine standard, improved interior room and comfort, added numerous driver assists via the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 package, and improved both ride and handling.

The shining star of the Highlander fleet is the hybrid model, which is reported to earn 36 miles per gallon in city driving. To keep costs down, the 2020 Highlander Hybrid now offers a front-drive model sold alongside the all-wheel-drive version. As always, both the V6 and hybrid Highlanders promise owners best-in-class resale values and an impeccable repair and reliability record.

With its standard V6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission, the driving experience behind the wheel of the 2020 Toyota Highlander is very much like that of the outgoing model. And we’re just fine with that. For a big SUV, the Highlander is notably stable, with a feeling of solidity and a smooth ride. The Highlander’s V6 is a strong one, with more pull than the V6 engines used to move the Honda Pilot and Volkswagen Atlas, and smoother performance than the Subaru Ascent’s turbocharged 4-cylinder.

In front-wheel-drive form, you’ll need to go easy on the accelerator or risk alarming pedestrians as you squeal the tires. You’ll also experience the slightest hint of torque steer. That one blip aside, be it on the highway or navigating neighborhood streets, the Highlander always remains predictable. Moving to the AWD Highlander offers better grip in all situations and opens the door to two different systems.

In the L, LE, and XLE, the AWD is designed to route up to 50 percent of the V6’s power to rear wheels, but only when slippage is detected. For Limited and Platinum trims, a more sophisticated system employs torque-vectoring to precisely divide power between the rear wheels.

As for the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, last year’s V6 gives way to a slightly less-powerful 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine coupled to the battery-electric powertrain. Compared to the gasoline-only V6 Highlander, the hybrid surrenders the ability to sprint past slow-moving traffic, but it can go further on a tank of gas, a lot further. One other noticeable difference between the two Highlanders is the hybrid’s CVT transmission. It’s not as satisfying as the V6’s 8-speed unit, and it can drone maddeningly under hard acceleration.

The Toyota Highlander continues as a 3-row SUV with seating for up to eight people. Although Toyota claims there’s more room in the way-back seat, it is still only fit for children. The seating chart changes to seven passengers when the optional 2nd-row captain’s chairs are ordered. A 2nd-row bench is standard on the L and LE, optional on the XLE and Limited, and not offered on the Platinum.

Adults will find plenty of room in the first two rows, and cargo space behind the 3rd-row is acceptable at 16 cubic feet. For comparison, the Kia Telluride has 21 cubic feet and the Chevrolet Traverse 23 cubic feet. With the rear seat folded, the Highlander’s cargo space expands to 48 cubic feet and, with both rows down, creates a whopping 84 cubic foot cavern.

From the driver’s seat, controls are all clearly marked and easy to use. Regardless of whether you go with the 8-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen, you’ll find it both logical and intuitive. The same goes for the climate and audio controls.

For 2020, the Highlander grows slightly larger, with a bold new exterior keeping with Toyota’s current design language. A longer wheelbase translates into more interior room as well as a more stable ride.

Up front, the 2020 Highlander wears a new face with a wide grille and elongated LED headlights that almost appear to be pulling the Highlander’s face back in a grin. Around back, a similar fluid design houses the rear liftgate, and on the sides, an unmistakable character line running from the lower front wheel arch, through the rear door, and rising up to fade into the taillight’s edge.

To our eyes, we think it’s a powerful and handsome design that will stand the test of time. 18-inch wheels grace the L, LE, and XLE trims, and for the first time, 20-inch wheels are now standard on Limited and Platinum trims.

HIGHLANDER HYBRID
Toyota probably has more experience building hybrids than any other manufacturer. The Highlander Hybrid uses cutting-edge technology that is also notoriously reliable. Fuel economy of 36 mpg while hauling a full complement of passengers makes this family hauler the economical first choice.

12.3-INCH TOUCHSCREEN
Another best-in-class Highlander bragging right, the huge 12.3-inch touchscreen is optional on the Limited trim and standard on the Platinum. Bright, crisp, and responsive, it sets the standard for how touchscreens should work. It can display info for navigation and climate in a split-screen setup, effectively eliminating the need to toggle between screens.

With five possible trims from which to choose, the 2020 Toyota Highlander offers a price point and feature set for every taste. The entry-level L is the most basic Highlander, offering tri-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, an 8-way power driver seat, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment setup, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Following the L are the LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum. The Hybrid trims start with the LE and follow the same features structure, then add unique hybrid instrumentation.

Standard fare on every Highlander is the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 driver-assist suite. It bundles the latest accident avoidance and driver assists, including full-speed adaptive cruise control with Lane Trace Assist, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign detection and assist.

Each Highlander also comes standard with two years or 25,000 miles complimentary maintenance.

The base L is the easiest way to get into a Highlander, but for just a bit more out of pocket, the LE grade is the better buy. It adds a height-adjustable power liftgate, upgraded audio with HD radio, LED fog lights and a blind-spot monitor, and an engine immobilizer alarm.

The XLE brings more luxury in the form of synthetic leather seating, a 10-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, a power tilt and slide moonroof, a 4-way power passenger seat, digital instrument cluster, and 2nd-row sunshades. The Limited brings real leather, wood trim, a 1,200-watt JBL audio system, wireless charging pad, 20-inch wheels, and heated and ventilated front seats.

The top-of-the-line Platinum gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen, bird’s eye view 360-degree camera, a panoramic moonroof, rearview digital camera, and heated 2nd-row seats. All-wheel drive is available on all trims for both gas and hybrid models.

For 2020, there are two powertrain choices. The first is the standard V6 that replaces last year’s 4-cylinder. With 295 horsepower, the Highlander will never feel winded or under strain. The second choice is the hybrid that marries a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a battery-electric powertrain. The V6 is paired with a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic, while the hybrid is hooked to a CVT.

The Highlander Hybrid sees a slight decrease in power over last year’s model, chiefly because the old version used a V6 engine. At 243 horsepower, the hybrid loses a bit of oomph, but its electric motors are all torque, so it still moves out pretty well. The trade-off in power is rewarded at the pump, where the Highlander Hybrid sees an impressive 36-mpg city fuel economy rating. Unlike the outgoing Highlander Hybrid, the 2020 model offers the choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

The tow rating for the V6 Highlander sits at 5,000 pounds, while the Highlander Hybrid lowers that figure to just 3,500 pounds.

3.5-liter V6
295 horsepower @ 6,600 rpm
263 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/29 (FWD), 20/28 (AWD L, LE, XLE, Limited trims), 20/27 mpg (AWD Platinum model)

2.5-liter inline-4 + electric motor
Total horsepower 243
EPA city/highway fuel economy, estimated: 36/35 mpg (FWD), 35/35 mpg (AWD)