2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review

　　

2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　You have more choices than ever for a three-row midsize SUV. But what if you want one that gets great fuel economy too? Well, the redesigned 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid could very well be just what you're looking for.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$107/mo  for Highlander Hybrid LE

　　Highlander Hybrid LE

　　LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $38,200 MSRPLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $39,800 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $41,000 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $42,600 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $45,050 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $47,000 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $48,250 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $50,200 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　For 2020, the Highlander Hybrid gets a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that replaces last year's V6. While this new four-cylinder hybrid system generates roughly 60 fewer horsepower than the previous Highlander Hybrid, fuel economy improves by 7-8 mpg in mixed driving. A newly available front-wheel-drive configuration adds to the potential fuel savings.

　　Elsewhere, the Highlander Hybrid isn't significantly different from the previous model. While the new Highlander is a couple inches longer, the extra room has all gone to increase cargo capacity. Passenger room is largely unchanged for 2020, meaning there's good legroom in the first and second rows but not so much for the third row.

　　Overall, we're pleased with the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. You can read more of our evaluation in our in-depth Expert Rating.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Highlander Hybrid drive? The three-row Highlander has the same hybrid powertrain as the RAV4 Hybrid, though Toyota juiced it up a bit to handle the added weight. Our test Highlander accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds. That's certainly respectable considering some SUVs with V6s take as much time and are far less fuel-efficient. Emergency braking power is also on par.

　　Around turns, this hybrid is surprisingly composed. The Highlander Hybrid isn't as athletic as the hybrid version of the Ford Explorer, but handling isn't usually a strong selling point for three-row SUVs. What's more important is ease of driving, and the Highlander Hybrid nails it. Power is readily available and smoothly delivered, and the brakes are smooth and don't exhibit the grabbiness found in some other hybrids.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Highlander Hybrid? The Highlander Hybrid's ride quality is plush. It smooths over most road imperfections yet remains controlled without much float at higher speeds. The wide front seats are pretty comfortable even on long drives, and the available second-row captain's chairs deliver nearly the same level of comfort. Alas, the third-row seats remain one of the Highlander's greatest liabilities. Thin padding, a very low seat cushion and limited legroom make them ill-suited for most adults.

　　We like the Highlander's excellent climate control system. It's easy to use and can quickly heat or cool the cabin. At highway speeds, the Highlander is nicely insulated from wind and road noise. The gas engine sounds unrefined when you go full throttle, but otherwise it's noninvasive.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The first and second seating rows provide ample space. Unfortunately, the Highlander's third row is one of the most confining by midsize three-row SUV standards. If you're planning on regularly using the full passenger capacity, be sure it meets your needs first.

　　Adjusting the driver's seat is quick and easy, and there's ample range of adjustment. Tall drivers will likely want the steering wheel to telescope out a little more. Outward visibility, especially for a vehicle this size, is great. The windshield roof pillars are thin, which help you see around turns or in tight parking situations.

　　The Platinum trim, which is what we tested, also comes with some very useful features such as a camera-based rearview mirror that allows you to see out of the back even if you've fully loaded up the rear cargo area. There's also an available surround-view camera system. It has sharp resolution and can be rotated to look around the vehicle.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? In recent years, Toyota has trailed other manufacturers when it comes to tech. This new Highlander Hybrid makes big strides in the right direction, but it still has some minor drawbacks. The optional 12.3-in touchscreen is huge (an 8-inch screen is standard) and it responds quickly to inputs. But its high-gloss surface makes it prone to reflections and smudges. Our Highlander Hybrid Platinum tester had five USB charge ports for the first and second rows but none for the third row.

　　All Highlanders come standard with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver aids. We like the natural operation of the adaptive cruise control, but we found the lane departure warning slightly too sensitive and the lane-centering ineffective at highway speeds.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Cargo space is a bit of a mixed bag with the Highlander Hybrid. Behind the third row, there's only 16 cubic feet of space, which is a bit less than what the Ford Explorer provides. Behind the second row, it expands to a better-than-average 48.4 cubic feet. The liftover height is about average for a midsize SUV.

　　There's decent space for your things, with a few useful shelves across the dash. If you have a phone charging on the wireless pad in the center bin, you have to remove it to access the space beneath. We didn't find it that cumbersome, but you might.

　　Got small children? You can easily install a large rear-facing car seat in the second row thanks to the generous amount of fore-and-aft movement of the available captain's chairs. The car seat anchors are also easy to locate and access for all types of seats, though there are no anchors in the third row.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The top trims for the all-wheel-drive Highlander Hybrid get an EPA-estimated 35 mpg combined. Front-wheel-drive versions are a little more efficient at 36 mpg combined.

　　On our relatively traffic-free evaluation route, we traveled 115 miles at an efficiency of 33 mpg. That's really good for a big three-row SUV, though it's obviously slightly below the EPA estimates. It's still significantly more efficient than the Ford Explorer Hybrid we tested (EPA estimate: 25 mpg combined), which returned 23.3 mpg on average.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the Highlander Hybrid a good value? There's only one other non-luxury three-row SUV hybrid currently out: the Ford Explorer. Compared to the Ford, the Highlander's cost of entry is tens of thousands less. Even top trim for top trim, the Platinum Highlander is a better deal, not to mention far more fuel-efficient. The Highlander's interior is solidly put together with soft, padded surfaces where they matter most. Toyota's hybrids have a track record for running long and strong, so odds are high this Highlander will serve you loyally.

　　Toyota's warranty coverage is pretty common for the class with three years/36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and five years/60,000 miles for the powertrain. Hybrid components are covered for eight years/100,000 miles and Toyota has extended its hybrid battery coverage for 2020 model year vehicles to a generous 10 years/150,000 miles. The first two years of scheduled maintenance are also free.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The Highlander Hybrid isn't something we'd choose for a winding road but it's no less composed than the lighter, non-hybrid version of itself. It's something you'd look forward to taking a long trip in, though, and some might consider that fun.

　　The Highlander's new styling gives it a more aggressive vibe overall, but we're not sold on the bold details traveling down the side of the car. To us it looks overdone, but to each their own.

　　

Which Highlander Hybrid does zzdcar recommend?

We are torn between the LE and the Limited. The LE is great because it has a ton of features at a reasonable price. Before you get to the Limited, there's the XLE. It doesn't cost much more than the LE, but it doesn't add many quality-of-life improvements either. If you want a Highlander Hybrid with upgrades, we suggest jumping right to the Limited, which adds leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and parking sensors among other items.

　　

2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid models

The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a three-row midsize SUV offered in four trim levels: LE, XLE, Limited and Platinum. Seating for eight is standard on the base LE model, and optional on all other trim levels except for the Platinum. The other models come standard with second-row captain's chairs, which reduce total seating to seven.

　　The Highlander Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired to electric motors — two motors for front-wheel-drive applications and three for all-wheel-drive models. The total system power of 243 hp is routed to the driven wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Highlighted features of the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid include:

　　LE

　　Starts you off with:

　　18-inch wheels LED headlights Power liftgate Keyless entry and ignition Three-zone climate controlThe LE also gets you:

　　8-inch touchscreen Six-speaker audio system with four USB ports and satellite radio Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa integration Wi-Fi hotspot Collection of advanced driver aids that can help prevent an accident (Toyota Safety Sense 2.0)XLE

　　Adds more upscale features, including:

　　Sunroof Auto-dimming rearview mirror Adjustable lumbar on driver's seat Simulated leather upholstery Wireless phone charger Optional: navigation systemLimited

　　Includes the above, plus:

　　Front and rear parking sensors Hands-free liftgate Heated and ventilated front seats Leather upholstery 11-speaker audio system Navigation system Optional: 12.3-inch touchscreen and 360-degree parking cameraPlatinum

　　The range-topping Highlander Hybrid Platinum further adds:

　　Adaptive headlights Automatic wipers Panoramic sunroof Digital rearview mirror Heated second-row seats Head-up display 12.3-inch touchscreen and 360-degree parking camera

　　zzdcar Latest Toyota Highlander Hybrid News

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2020 Highlander Hybrid Highlights

Trim: LEXLELimitedPlatinumLE

　　

Base MSRP	$38,200
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	36 MPG
Cost to Drive	$107/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles