Hybrid Get Refined Redesign

Highlander stands out thanks to its active safety and increased efficiency.

With new vehicles coming from both Ford and Hyundai , the three row crossover segment’s arms race is not slowing down. The 2020 Toyota Highlander will be your best choice if you are concerned about the possibility of a rear-drive platform or prefer a large, family-friendly hauler.

Compare and Reviewed Highlander:

The fourth-generation Toyota Highlander will be unveiled at the 2019 New York International Auto Show. It is a combination of everything we have seen from the Japanese giant in the past few decades.

It is supported by another member of the Toyota New Global Architecture family, TNGAK. The Highlander shares many of the basic elements of this modular platform, including the compact Corolla sedan and the newly redesigned Camry and Avalon. Toyota designed the platform to be able to accept both the twin powertrain configurations of the current Highlander. This means that the new Highlander will continue to allow drivers to choose between a naturally-aspirated V6 engine or a gas/electric hybrid. The Highlander won’t make the leap to plug-in electric yet.

Standard 3.5-liter V6 delivers 295 horsepower and 263 pound feet of torque. It’s nothing to be surprised about, or the available 5,000-pound rating for towing. All numbers match the 2019 Highlander.

The Highlander Hybrid is a familiar pairing… with a Camry and Avalon. The Highlander Hybrid’s outgoing model featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine and two electric motors. However, the 2020 model features a 2.5-liter, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder. This reduces the total system output from 306 horsepower to just 240 horsepower. Although the upside to the 2020 model’s improved efficiency is greater, the 22% decrease in horsepower can’t be outweighed by the 17 percent increase in fuel consumption (from 28 to 34 MPG combined). Toyota has found a way to offer the Highlander Hybrid both front- and all-wheel drive. This should reduce the price of the electrified CUV a little.

The powertrain modifications are hidden beneath a new body which softens the RAV4’s aggressive lines and incorporates more of Avalon’s cleaner styling. Despite this, the overall design is much more modern than any other Toyota redesigns. Although the original Highlander’s grille was removed by designers, it’s unlikely that you’ll be a fan of the new design. The interior is the same, but it’s more in line with the current crossover’s design. However, we like that decision better – the current Highlander’s cabin has plenty of charm.

Looking back at The Last Highlander

The cabin has seen a major upgrade with the expanded infotainment display. Toyota claims that the optional multimedia system now has 12.3 inches of screen real estate. It’s not available on the Platinum trim. Customers with lower models will be able to use a smaller display of eight inches. Although the Highlander’s larger display is not standard, it follows the trend of other new Toyota products by adding a comprehensive active safety suite.

The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 system replaces outgoing model’s Toyota Safety Sense P. It also retains the TSS-P suite (lane deviation warning with steering assistance, full-speed adaptive cruise controller, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and forward collision warning), and adds road sign recognition as well as lane keeping aid. The Highlander’s active safety gear is standard on all trims, just like other new Toyota products.

The Highlander will be offered in five trims (L, LE and XLE), for the gasoline-powered model, and four trims (LE, XLE and Limited) for the Hybrid variant. The company has not yet announced the pricing. The V6 will be available for purchase in December 2019. The Highlander Hybrid will arrive in dealers by February 2020.

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