2020 Toyota Highlander XLE SUV Introduce

The 2020 Toyota Highlander may not have the suave good looks of other three-row crossover SUVs, or their spacious third-row seats. It has its own cards to play: excellent hybrid fuel economy and handling that rises above the usual placid ride and distant steering.

The redesigned Highlander comes in L, LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum trim levels, with hybrid versions of those trims from LE and higher.
Performance from the 295-horsepower V-6 comes off as slick and effortless through a responsive 8-speed automatic. With the 243-hp hybrid system, there’s some grumbling to forgive until you read the print-out from the gas pump. The Highlander Hybrid can gut out up to 36 mpg combined, a remarkable number for a big family vehicle without a plug. Either Highlander’s ride and handling stacks up higher than rivals. The steering’s weighted well and offers useful road information while the struts and links in the suspension quell the ride without resorting to expensive adaptive dampers.

The 2020 Highlander’s larger footprint and more spacious interior pay off with vast space in the first and second rows, and comfortable seats await all four or five people who sit there. Toyota’s front-right seat can’t tilt its bottom cushion, which cuts a little into comfort. The third-row Highlander seats aren’t as good as those in the Pilot—or in a Pacifica, for that matter—but they’re fine for the small, and the small at heart. Cargo space hits the benchmarks at more than 84 cubic feet behind the front seats.

Every 2020 Highlander has automatic emergency braking, touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, power features, a power tailgate, and a power driver seat. We like the Highlander LE and Hybrid LE for their strong value; both come in below $40,000. Opt into a loaded Highlander Hybrid Platinum and you’ll get a panoramic roof, leather upholstery, navigation, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, JBL audio, and a hands-free tailgate, but you’ll pay more than $50,000.