The Toyota Highlander Hybrid Is A Luxurious Bargain
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a bereft three-row SUV that recently entered the hybrid SUV game. With pretty substantial rivals such as the Ford Explorer Hybrid, how does the Toyota Highlander Hybrid compare? Is it worth buying or should avoid it?
Is The Toyota Highlander Hybrid Worth It?
Keep in mind that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a luxury SUV, so don’t let the starting price around $38k shock you. The Ford Explorer Hybrid has a whopping price tag around $48k, so the Highlander Hybrid could be a luxurious bargain.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is part of the fourth generation of Highlanders and has a fresh new redesign and enhanced fuel economy. It gets up to 35 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. This is the best fuel economy out of all 2020 hybrid SUVs.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Power
The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has lost power compared to the 2019 model to improve its fuel economy. It only comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that provides 243 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. It is powerful enough to tow up to 3,500 lb when properly equipped.
The Hybrid Highlander is not a plug-in model, but it does have a 550-mile range before needing a fill-up. It’s also sporty enough to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in only 7.1 seconds.
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You can get the Toyota Highlander Hybrid in front-wheel drive or with all-wheel-drive. Be sure to go with AWD if you need to drive in snow or other slippery conditions. The intelligent AWD senses road conditions to adjust the torque and power sent to each wheel on demand. There are also driving modes such as ECO, trail, and EV to either enhance traction or save fuel.
Plus, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA-K) platform for a smoother ride and enhanced handling. It also has noise dampening materials to provide a quiet, peaceful cabin.
Toyota Hybrid Highlander Features
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes with your choice of either seven or eight large leather seats for your family to enjoy. There are 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, but you can access up to 84 cubic feet of cargo space. The seats have a 40/60 split to fold flat.
Check out the 12.3” infotainment center that can connect to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Alexis. The Hybrid Highlander also has built-in Wi-fi with two 12 volt plugs and four USB ports to keep everyone connected and charged.
The base model includes convenience features such as the power liftgate, LED lighting, mud flaps, privacy glass, tri-zone automatic climate control, leather-trimmed everything, and soft-touch materials.
Several safety features from ToyotaCare are included with the base model as well. You get forward collision prevention, pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane departure assistance, and much more. With ToyotaCare, you will also benefit from 24-hour roadside assistance for the first two years of ownership or until you reach 25k miles.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is one of the most value-packed options on the market that you don’t have to worry about charging. It’s powerful and provides luxury, convenience, and safety for a fraction of the cost. It is 100% worth buying.
