Toyota has redesigned the 2020 Highlander Hybrid, making bold statements in look, power, and performance. Perhaps most impressive is how the new hybrid has improved mileage significantly. Here’s a look at what’s new and improved on one of the most popular SUVs on the market.
Style and Comfort
The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid will come in four trim levels: LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum. The differences in the exterior from the previous year are subtle, but a close inspection reveals a sleeker, trimmer design. The result is a sportier, more sophisticated shape. The 2020 is also 2.36 inches longer, allowing for more cargo space and legroom for the third-row passengers.
The 2020 Highlander Hybrid is now on the Toyota New Global Architecture platform as well, allowing greater safety, capability, and comfort. This platform also road noise and, combined with new soundproofing materials, makes for an exceptionally quiet ride.
The cabin is functional yet luxurious, sporting softer materials and sleeker interior design. Ambient LED lighting and perforated leather upholstery options are available on the Limited and Platinum models. The LE comes standard with second-row captain’s chairs, but the bench seat configuration is available to gain the extra seat.
Cargo space has improved by over two cubic feet when all three rows are in use. That means you can haul everyone and everything you need. No more sacrificing one for the other.
The Highlander comes standard with an 8-inch touch-screen interface with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Waze navigation, and a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot. The Platinum trim upgrades to a 12.3-inch touch screen with Dynamic Navigation and an 11-speaker JBL audio surround sound system.
Performance
The 2020 Highlander Hybrid comes standard with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that works in conjunction with the two electric motors mounted under the third-row seating. Testing results are not published yet, but Toyota claims the miles per gallon could be as high as 34 while still putting out 240 horsepower.
The new Highlander comes standard with all-wheel drive, but a front-wheel-drive configuration is available for the first time this year. It also has four drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, and EV. Use the Eco mode for better fuel efficiency, Sport mode for acceleration, and EV mode for short distance, electric-only driving.
Safety
The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes standard with Toyota’s suite of safety features. Adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, pedestrian detection, automatic braking, and forward collision warning are some of the safety features that have received upgrades from the 2019 model. Two new additions are Lane Tracing Assist and Road Sign Assist.
The Limited and Platinum trims come standard with the new Rear Cross Traffic Braking system and Rear Cross Traffic Alert system. Platinum models also come standard with a 360-degree camera giving you a bird’s-eye view of your vehicle. The 360-degree camera is available on the Limited trim but not on the LE and XLE trims.
There’s a lot to like about the new 2020 Highlander Hybrid. If you want to learn more, schedule a test drive at Smart Motors Toyota today.
Image used with permission form toyota.com / cropped from original
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