There are lots of great three-row SUV options out there and this Toyota Highlander is one of them.
This is the all-new 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE, and as you can see it’s now a lot more stylish than it once was. That’s because it was completely redesigned for 2020.
I’m Liz Jeneault with SUVs.com, by the way. Thanks so much for watching and big thanks to Ardmore Toyota for letting me check out their three-row Highlander!
This is the mid-range XLE trim. There’s also the base L, LE, Limited, and range-topping Platinum trims. This vehicle fits either seven or eight passengers, depending on which trim and seating arrangement you opt for.
Again, the Highlander is now more bold and chiseled looking. 18” wheels here, but the first-ever 20” wheels for the Highlander are now available on Limited and Platinum.
Lovely materials are used inside the redesigned Highlander. There’s also available blue ambient lighting.
An 8” infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot come standard. You can add Dynamic Navigation to it. If you opt for the Limited, you also have the choice of significantly increasing the size of your touchscreen. A 12.3” touchscreen is available and comes standard on Platinum. A 10” color head-up display and bird’s eye view camera system are other Platinum perks.
This XLE features a power moonroof and heated front seats. You can also opt for a panoramic moonroof.
This fourth-generation Highlander is slightly larger than the outgoing model. It offers solid space for you and your family. Also, more cargo space in the back than some competitors.
The standard 3.5-liter V6 engine churns out 295 horsepower and is paired to an eight-speed automatic. You can get it in either front- or all-wheel drive. It’s plenty powerful and offers a smooth and controlled ride. Fuel economy figures aren’t that great, but there is the hybrid setup to consider. It produces 240 total system horsepower and gets an EPA-estimated 34 mpg combined.
Rating time! I’m a fan of the updated exterior, 8. Interior is nice, I like how spacious the three rows are. I do wish this XLE had that massive 12.3” touchscreen, though. So, another 7.5. Performance, I’ll rate at an 8.5. I like the V6 engine and it’s nice to have the hybrid option. Fuel economy figures are not that great with the XLE we drove, but much better with the hybrid. So, an 8. And overall value I rate at a 7.5. This Highlander XLE does carry a hefty price tag of around $40,000 and you don’t get as much with it as you do with the three-row Kia Telluride or Hyundai Palisade.
And that results in an SUVs.com deal score of 79 out of 100. What are your thoughts? Let me know!
Read the full 2020 Toyota Highlander Review