2020 Toyota Highlander | Review & Road Test
Kelley Blue Book Kelley Blue Book
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 Published On Jun 1, 2020

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For tackling the rigors of Suburbia 3-row SUV style, it’s hard to top the Toyota Highlander.
That’s not to say the 4th-generation Highlander is perfect, we’ll get to its shortcomings shortly, but it is a very friendly package for dragging your kids to ballet lessons. Helming that usability is a smartly arranged interior. 8 seats come standard, with 7 passenger cabins offered on higher trims. Note, the fanciest Platinum trim, which of course we’re testing, only comes with 2nd-row captain’s chairs.
2nd-row comfort is excellent for me, the ultimate average human male. If I bravely crawl back one row, the situation looks dimmer. Best save the rearmost seats for the kiddos.
One complicating factor is seat functionality. This release would be hard for a child to use. One of these levers slides the seat and the other allows the seatback to flip forward. Remembering which is which while seated is tricky. And the seatback release doesn’t actually release the seatback. You have to pull it and then pull the upper release meaning two hands. This should be simpler.

Idiosyncratic seat functionality aside, the cargo area’s 16 cu-ft aft of the 3rd row allows for a full load of humanity AND sundries. Plus, this hidden storage area holds the cargo cover, ala Subaru Ascent]. Lovely. In full, drop-seat, cargo mode the Highlander tops out at 84.3 cu-ft. That puts it in league with the Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer, but behind the big ole Chevy Traverse (98.2 cu-ft max).
The seats are comfortable as are most Toyota seats.

Rounding out the interior we find nice materials, especially in this indulgent Platinum trim, a gauge cluster seatbelt indicator to verify your kids’ self-preservation instincts, a rear-seat reminder so you don’t leave anything important behind, 5 USB ports though none are in the 3rd row, handy bins built right into the dash, and this soft rolltop console cover hiding a generous storage area and an optional wireless charging pad.
Lastly, our Platinum trim’s 12.3-inch display is big but I wish the backup camera were higher resolution. Also, the Entune infotainment interface, though functional, could use a slicker aesthetic. On the other hand, the available 360 display is nice and with a single button, you can scan around the entire car ensuring you’re clear for takeoff.

Lower trims use an 8-inch display but simple functionality and standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity make it a fine interface. And now, let’s briefly hit on the superficial. The latest-gen Highlander has a sculpted, styled, muscular quality you might like.
Or you might not. I think this headlight/hood gap is weird and this crossbar looks cribbed from a Subaru Outback.

Alright, let’s skew mechanical. That’s the standard 3.5L V6 (295hp, 263 lb-ft) teamed with an innocuous 8-speed automatic transmission; it’s a pairing that’s happy to blast you up to freeway speed or tow 5,000 pounds. When not towing the V6 returns fuel economy that’s typical for the segment with all-wheel drive inflicting a minor toll at the pump (FWD 21city/29hwy, AWD 20city/27hwy). Interestingly the V6’s all-wheel drive system features torque vectoring abilities.
That means the system can overdrive the outside rear tire, helping the Highlander turn with greater agility.

Snark aside, sophisticated all-wheel drive yields benefits when the roads turn slick. There are also two off-road modes you can activate via this knob plus two on-road modes engaged with this rocker switch.

The Highlander’s nature is well-suited for domestic living. It’s quiet, smooth, has a tight turning circle, and it’s not especially exiting to drive. You’ll want to save that excitement for the bachelorette finale.

Let’s also acknowledge the Highlander hybrid. With 243 total horsepower, a stellar 36 combined MPG (36city/35hwy FWD Hybrid), and a modest $1,400 premium over the V6, it might be the best Highlander of the bunch. Starting a touch under $36k, including destination charges, the Highlander looks pricey among 3row midsize SUVs, landing about $3,000 higher than a base Honda Pilot. However that price disparity is justified by a lengthy standard equipment roster with smart key access, 3-zone climate control, an 8-way power driver seat, and the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assists featuring full-speed dynamic cruise control, lane keep assist, and automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection. Golly that’s a lot of gear. Higher trims offer grander indulgences like a power liftgate, a panoramic roof, leather, and 20-inch wheels to replace the standard 18s. At maximum swank, an all-wheel drive Highlander Platinum trim peaks around $51-grand. Though it faces a panoply of alluring competitors the Toyota Highlander has one big advantage. A cavalcade of enthusiastic buyers who absolutely adore Toyota.

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