SAN ANTONIO — The redesigned 2020 Highlander arriving at Toyota dealers this month will house a raft of interior refinements, more standard safety equipment, an improved suspension and a big infotainment upgrade to take on competitors such as the Ford Explorer in a very crowded segment.
But the biggest generational leap for the three-row crossover will come in February, when a new hybrid version will arrive, boasting an estimated 24 percent increase in top fuel economy.
The fourth-generation Highlander, just more than 2 inches longer than the outgoing model, rides on a version of the Toyota New Global Architecture called TNGA-K. The crossover will come standard with a 295-hp, 3.5-liter, V-6 gasoline engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and it’s rated to get 23 or 24 mpg in combined city and highway driving.
The optional hybrid powertrain uses a 2.5-liter inline-four paired with two electric motors, delivering 240 hp and estimated combined fuel economy of 36 mpg, 24 percent better than the best current hybrid Highlander.
While all previous hybrid versions had been all-wheel drive, Toyota will soon offer one with front-wheel drive.
Most trims will come standard with an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system, while an optional 12.3-inch touch-screen system will be in the top-end Platinum trim level.
All models come standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver-assistance and safety technologies, with features such as rear cross-traffic braking and adaptive self-leveling headlamps available in upper trims.
The 2020 Highlander will start at $35,720 for the base model fwd L trim, including delivery; the optional hybrid powertrain adds $1,400 to the prices of the LE, XLE, Limited and Platinum trims in which it’s available.