The 2020 Toyota Highlander is the fourth generation of Toyota’s three-row mid-size crossover, known internally as the XU70, and it was an all-new model rather than a refresh. It went into production in November 2019 and reached dealers for the 2020 model year, moving to the GA-K version of Toyota’s TNGA architecture and adding a new base L grade. The XLE is the middle grade in the range, above the L and LE and below the Limited and Platinum. Every 2020 Highlander is built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana in Princeton, Indiana.
What Was New for 2020
The fourth-generation redesign was substantial. Toyota dropped the previous generation’s base four-cylinder engine, so every non-hybrid 2020 Highlander uses a V6, and it introduced a new-generation hybrid system built around a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rather than the old V6 hybrid. The new model also gained a standard L grade, an available 12.3-inch touchscreen on higher trims, and the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite as standard. Dimensionally it is longer and slightly wider than the model it replaced, and it shed weight relative to the third generation.
Powertrains
The standard engine is a 3.5-liter V6 making 295 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 263 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed Direct Shift automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available. The Highlander Hybrid pairs the 2.5-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors for a net system output of 243 horsepower, sent through an eCVT. The hybrid was offered on the LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum grades but not the base L.
Specifications and Fuel Economy
| Version | Engine | EPA combined | Towing |
|---|---|---|---|
| XLE (FWD) | 3.5L V6, 295 hp | 24 mpg | up to 5,000 lb |
| XLE (AWD) | 3.5L V6, 295 hp | 23 mpg | up to 5,000 lb |
| XLE Hybrid (FWD) | 2.5L I4 hybrid, 243 hp | 36 mpg | up to 3,500 lb |
| XLE Hybrid (AWD) | 2.5L I4 hybrid, 243 hp | 35 mpg | up to 3,500 lb |
The V6 Highlander is EPA-rated at 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, for 24 mpg combined in front-wheel drive. The XLE Hybrid is rated 36 mpg city, 35 highway, and 36 combined in front-wheel drive, which Toyota described as best-in-class among three-row SUVs at the time. Towing capacity for the V6 is up to 5,000 lb.
XLE Equipment
The XLE adds meaningful comfort content over the LE. Standard equipment included heated front seats, SofTex-trimmed upholstery, a ten-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support, 18-inch machine-finished alloy wheels, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, wireless smartphone charging, and a 7-inch color multi-information display in the instrument cluster. The XLE also uses an 8-inch center touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, which was standard across the range.
Interior and Seating
The 2020 Highlander seats seven or eight, depending on whether buyers choose the available second-row captain’s chairs or the standard bench. An 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard across the range, and the XLE adds heated front seats, SofTex trim, wireless charging, and a ten-way power driver’s seat. The third row is a 60/40 split-folding bench, and the second row slides and reclines. Cargo space expands significantly when the third row is folded, and a power liftgate is standard from the LE upward.
Hybrid vs. V6
The 2020 Highlander is unusual in offering two very different powertrains. The V6 is the choice for towing and confident highway acceleration, with 295 horsepower and a 5,000-lb rating; its fuel economy, at 24 mpg combined in front-wheel drive, is typical for a three-row V6 crossover. The hybrid gives up about 50 horsepower and most of the towing capability, but it returns 36 mpg combined in front-wheel drive, a roughly 50 percent improvement. Toyota noted that the 2020 hybrid was the most fuel-efficient Highlander yet. For families who rarely tow, the hybrid is the more economical long-term choice; for those who do, the V6 remains the one to have.
Pricing
For 2020 the Highlander XLE started at $39,600 before Toyota’s destination fee of about $1,120, and the Highlander Hybrid XLE at $41,000. For context, the base L started at $34,600, the LE at $36,800, the Limited at $43,650, and the Platinum at $46,850; the Hybrid Limited and Platinum were priced from $45,050 and $48,250. The XLE therefore sits in the middle of the range and is the first grade to add heated seats and wireless charging. A related older model, the 2019 Toyota Highlander SE Review, covers the preceding generation.
Safety
Every 2020 Highlander includes Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which added low-light pedestrian detection and daytime bicyclist detection to the earlier suite, along with full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and automatic high beams. Eight airbags, including side curtains for all three rows, and the Star Safety System are standard. The 2020 Highlander was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS; it missed the higher Top Safety Pick+ tier because the base trim’s LED reflector headlights did not perform well enough in the institute’s testing.
Verdict
The 2020 Highlander XLE is a well-rounded family crossover. It offers three rows, a strong and smooth V6, a genuinely efficient hybrid alternative, and a full set of standard driver-assistance features, all at a mid-range price. The main compromises are the lack of a sporty option in the gas lineup and the fact that the most advanced interior technology, including the 12.3-inch screen and a head-up display, was reserved for the Limited and Platinum grades. Buyers who need maximum space and economy should compare the XLE Hybrid against the V6 before deciding.
