Toyota has long been a leader in the SUV market, and the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid marks a significant leap forward in the midsize SUV segment. This fourth-generation Highlander, redesigned from the ground up, offers best-in-class fuel economy for a hybrid SUV, achieving an estimated 34 MPG combined. This impressive fuel efficiency, coupled with a bold new design and enhanced driving dynamics, positions the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid as a top choice for families and eco-conscious drivers alike.
The original Highlander revolutionized the midsize SUV category in 2001 by offering a car-like unibody structure and independent suspension, prioritizing comfort and family-friendliness over traditional truck-based SUVs. The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid builds upon this legacy, amplifying its strengths while introducing a more sophisticated and powerful design language. It’s built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA-K) platform, which underpins many of Toyota’s latest models, promising improved handling, comfort, and safety.
The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid stands out with its striking and athletic new design. While maintaining its family-friendly practicality, the new Highlander boasts a sculpted shape with chiseled lines, projecting a more powerful and sophisticated presence. The L, LE, and XLE grades feature a black front grille with silver trim, while the Limited and Platinum grades elevate the aesthetic with a black grille featuring chrome trim, chrome-plated lower rear fascia, premium projector headlamps, and for the first time on a Highlander, 20-inch alloy wheels. The Platinum grade further distinguishes itself with a silver-painted front bumper and rear fascia, along with unique 20-inch wheels, enhancing the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s premium appeal.
The exterior color palette for the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is both vibrant and refined. Carrying over popular colors like Blizzard Pearl, Celestial Silver Metallic, and Midnight Black Metallic from the previous year, Toyota introduces five new options: Magnetic Gray Metallic, Moon Dust (a premium blue), Ruby Flare Pearl (a premium red), Blueprint, and Opulent Amber (a luxurious brown). These new colors further accentuate the bold lines of the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Beyond aesthetics, the design of the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid prioritizes functionality. Improved aerodynamics reduce wind noise and enhance vehicle stability, contributing to a more refined driving experience. Even subtle design elements like the taillights and side mirrors play a role in optimizing aerodynamic efficiency. The fourth-generation Highlander is also 2.36 inches longer, with all of the added length dedicated to the cargo area, providing even more space for luggage and gear, making the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid incredibly practical for families.
The TNGA-K platform, utilizing high-strength steel, results in a stiffer unibody structure for the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. This enhanced rigidity allows for optimized tuning of the front strut and rear multi-link suspension, leading to improved agility, a tighter turning circle, and a smoother, quieter ride compared to previous models. Toyota’s takumi master craftsmen meticulously focused on the smallest technical details to ensure a premium driving experience in all conditions, particularly at everyday speeds, making the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid a pleasure to drive.
Practicality remains a core strength of the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The L and LE grades offer standard second-row bench seating for eight passengers, while the XLE and Limited grades come standard with Captain’s Chairs in the second row, seating seven, with an option for a second-row bench to increase capacity to eight. The Platinum grade features standard Captain’s Chairs, seating seven. Large rear doors ensure easy access to all rows, and versatile seat folding configurations simplify entry to the third row. Standard three-zone climate control ensures comfort for all passengers, even those in the third row of the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Cargo space in the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is generous. With all seats in use, there’s 16.1 cubic feet of space behind the third row. Folding down the 60/40 split fold-flat third-row seats expands the space to 40.6 cubic feet, and folding the second row further increases it to an impressive 73.3 cubic feet. The cargo area is designed for maximum usability, with shaped side surfaces and pockets to optimize space. The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is built to accommodate both passengers and cargo with ease.
The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is powered by a new-generation Toyota Hybrid System, specifically engineered for enhanced efficiency and performance. This system combines a highly efficient 2.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, resulting in a more compact and efficient powertrain than its predecessor. The gas engine features Variable Valve Timing-intelligent system by Electric motor (VVT-iE) on the intake camshaft and VVT-i on the exhaust camshaft, along with a variable cooling system and fully variable oil pump, all contributing to improved engine efficiency within the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
This advanced hybrid system delivers a total system horsepower of 240 and an EPA-estimated 34 MPG combined fuel economy, a remarkable 17 percent improvement over the previous generation Highlander Hybrid. Despite its fuel efficiency, the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid maintains the acceleration, power, and responsiveness expected by SUV buyers. For the first time, the hybrid powertrain is available in both 2WD and AWD configurations, expanding access to hybrid technology to a wider range of customers considering the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s hybrid system operates seamlessly and transparently, optimizing the balance between electric motor assistance and gas engine engagement for smooth and quiet acceleration. Drivers can select from NORMAL, ECO, and SPORT driving modes to tailor the vehicle’s performance to their preferences. ECO mode maximizes fuel efficiency, SPORT mode enhances acceleration, and NORMAL mode provides a balanced driving experience in the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. An EV mode allows for short-distance electric-only driving at low speeds, further enhancing fuel conservation.
The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid also incorporates Predictive Efficient Drive (PED), which analyzes driving habits and anticipates road and traffic conditions to optimize battery charging and discharging. This intelligent system learns from driving data to continuously improve fuel efficiency over time, making the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid even more economical in the long run.
For enhanced traction, the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers an available All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system. This system utilizes a separate rear-mounted electric motor to power the rear wheels when needed, operating independently without a mechanical connection to the transmission. The AWD system proactively distributes driving force to the rear wheels during acceleration to minimize front wheel slip and enhances cornering agility by reducing understeer, providing confident handling in various driving conditions for the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
The interior of the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid provides a new level of comfort and sophistication. Inspired by luxury crafted interiors, the cabin features softer padded surfaces and tailored stitching that extends from the door trim to the instrument panel. The dashboard integrates multimedia and HVAC controls in an elegant and functional manner. Ambient LED lighting (on Limited and Platinum grades) creates a relaxing atmosphere, and inset steering wheel controls add a touch of modern luxury to the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
All 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid grades come standard with Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™, Alexa In-Car compatibility, Waze, SiriusXM®, and Wi-Fi connectivity through AT&T. Higher grades offer larger touchscreen displays, with the Platinum grade featuring a 12.3-inch screen. The available JBL® Premium Audio System, standard on Limited and Platinum grades, delivers powerful and immersive sound through 11 speakers and 1,200 watts of power, enhancing the entertainment experience in the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) is standard on all 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid models, encompassing a suite of active safety technologies, including Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beam, Lane Tracing Assist, and Road Sign Assist. Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) is standard on LE grade and above, further enhancing safety and driver confidence in the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers exceptional value across its trim levels, from the well-equipped L grade to the luxurious Platinum grade. Each grade builds upon the previous one, adding features and amenities to cater to a range of customer preferences and budgets. Toyota’s renowned reliability and comprehensive warranty further solidify the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid as a smart and dependable choice in the midsize SUV market. With its unparalleled fuel efficiency, bold design, advanced technology, and focus on safety and comfort, the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid truly redefines what a family SUV can be.
