"LJ909" (lj909)
12/19/2019 at 13:04 • Filed to: 2020 Toyota Highlander
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"LJ909" (lj909)
12/19/2019 at 13:04 • Filed to: 2020 Toyota Highlander | 0
| 16 |
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
, here’s all the pricing and option breakdown for the ‘20 Highlander.
The Highlander comes in 5 trims with just one engine this time around with choices of front, AWD or a Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD system. More on that in a bit. No more base I4 though. All Highlander’s get powered by a 3.5 V6 putting out 295 horses and 263 lb/ft of torque. This gets routed through an 8 speed auto.
The base Highlander trim is L. Starting at $34,600, standout standard features include:
Power driver’s seat
Multi terrain select on AWD models
Smart key system
LED headlights and DRL’s
Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
Toyota SafteySense 2.0
There are 6 exterior color choices. One, Blizzard Metallic, is a $425 option. There are only 2 interior color choices either Graphite or Black. Could be my eyes but both don’t look like the colors they say they are. No leather is available on this trim. Base wheels are 18” alloy wheels. There are no options or option packages. There are 31 different accessories however. But with none of those selected, a base Highlander L comes in at $35,720; $36,200 with AWD. Pretty high to be this basic.
Next trim up is the LE which should be the volume model. Starting at $36,800 it builds on the L by coming standard with:
Power liftgate
Blind Spot Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Not much difference over the L. The LE gets 8 exterior color, 3 of which are $425 options, but the same 2 interior cloth choices. With no option packages, a Highlander LE rings in at $36,800; $38,400 with AWD.
Let me take a moment to describe the Highlander’s new Torque Vectoring AWD system and Multi Terrain select system. The Torque Vectoring AWD (TV-AWD) can send up to 50% of power to the rear wheels and also send power to whichever wheel needs it most. The Multi Terrain Select system is pretty much similar to the pioneer of the tech, Land Rovers Terrain Response System. It has 4 terrain settings (Mud&Sand,Rock&Dirt,Snow&Normal) and adjusts the vehicles systems as needed. Pretty impressive for a soccer mom-mobile to have a system like this.
The next trim up is the Highlander XLE. Starting at $39,600, it builds on the LE by coming standard with:
Wireless charging
Moonroof
Heated front seats
Exterior color choices are the same. However on this trim, leatherette seating comes available. Available in 3 colors (Graphite, Black & Harvest Beige) Toyota calls this leatherette seating Softex. You finally get the availability of option packages on the XLE. There are 2. One is a no charge option of a 2nd row bench. The other is a Premium audio system with Dynamic Navigation. What makes it dynamic you ask? Well it comes with things like Amazon Alexa so that’s cool? Other than that its a moot point to try and point out any gains this system has given the existence of both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. But this package is $1,040. All in, a Highlander XLE rings in at $40,640; $41,200 with AWD.
The next Highlander trim is Limited. Starting at $43,650, it builds on the previous trims but coming standard with things like:
20” wheels
TV-AWD on AWD models
Heated and ventilated front seats
Premium JBL audio system
This trim has the same exterior colors as the LE and XLE while interior wise you get actual leather on this trim for no cost. You just choose the color.
There are 3 options. Well one really. The aforementioned 2nd row bench option for no charge is on this trim. The other and only one that makes a difference is a $1,050 12.” touchscreen monitor with Birds Eye View. There are 2 options for this package, with the difference being one package comes with the 2nd row bench option and the other doesn’t. With no other options or accessories, a Highlander Limited rings in at $44,700; $45,600 with AWD.
The final trim and the top of the Highlander line is the $46,850 Platinum trim. It comes standard with things like:
20” wheels
Birds eye view camera
Pano roof
Heated 2nd row seats
LED adaptive headlights
Hands free power liftgate
12.3” touch screen
Exterior colors are the same, and interior leathers are for the most part. This trim gets one extra color called Glazed Carmel which looks nice. This thing is loaded however. With no options or packages to speak of , a Highlander Platinum rings in at $46,850;$48,800 with AWD.
While the Highlander should prove popular as always, especially in this size class for people with families, its high starting price is off putting to me. Also weirdly, its seating options are strange. Not every trim is available with the 3rd row (which from what I’ve read, is only good for kids or small adults). 8 passenger seating is standard on L & LE, optional on XLE. 7 passenger seating is standard on XLE and not offered on L or LE. XLE, Limited and Platinum all have standard 7 passenger seating. 8 passenger seating is optional on XLE and Limited, and not offered at all on Platinum. Its all just kind of too much. If you look at it on the surface its cool that all trims get standard 3 rows, but to have that much differentiation over one seat is kind of redundant. But none of that should matter as this thing will probably outsell the Camry.
davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> LJ909
12/19/2019 at 13:13 |
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Going to get its ass handed to it by the Telluride/Palisade.
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LJ909
> davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/19/2019 at 13:15 |
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I wouldn’ t be surprised . Just looking at the base trims of each shows where the value is.
fintail
> LJ909
12/19/2019 at 13:17 |
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Lower body bulge is weird.
Local ad spots have been calling this model “aggressively sophisticated” for a few years now.
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LJ909
> fintail
12/19/2019 at 13:21 |
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Yea it is. From afar, it almost looks like its been dented or something.
“aggressively sophisticated” is hilarious way of describing the Highlander. This thing is pretty much a tall Camry. Its a snoozefest. People buy it for the things it does best: hauling peoples families and their shit and being reliable.
farscythe - makin da cawfee!
> LJ909
12/19/2019 at 13:24 |
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5 trims
starting at out of my price range
all the way up to out of my price range with more stuff
*sigh*
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LJ909
> farscythe - makin da cawfee!
12/19/2019 at 13:29 |
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A Telluride would be cheaper and roomier.
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farscythe - makin da cawfee!
> LJ909
12/19/2019 at 13:33 |
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tbh...every new car is out of my price range
i need mo money :p
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> LJ909
12/19/2019 at 14:17 |
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It will have more engine options in February when the Hybrid version comes out, but that is dropping from the V6 with a CVT to an I4 with a CVT, losing a substantial amount of power and torque (the old Hybrid was the most powerful version). That said, I recall that they were expecting the 2020 to be a plug-in hybrid with decent range, which I haven’t seen mentioned lately. That alone might be worth the increase in price.
The 2019s with similar specs were not much less than the 2020s, except in the base trim, which has jumped substantially.
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LJ909
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
12/19/2019 at 14:23 |
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I think that’ s what might get it some sales over the competition like before, its hybrid and possible plug in versions. If I recall the last gens got pretty go mpgs in hybrid guise.
But yea the base prices on these things jumped substantially . I think its almost a $4k difference in base price over the previous gen? I could be wrong.
Textured Soy Protein
> LJ909
12/19/2019 at 15:16 |
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A couple early reviews have said it has the smallest 3rd row in the class, noticeably less roomy than even the CX-9.
The torque vectoring awd was introduced on at least some trims of the new RAV4. It’s got a true torque vectoring rear diff and rear axle disconnect. Pretty trick stuff although the Pilot also has true torque vectoring without rear axle disconnect. It’s called i-VTM4 but it’s basically identical to Acura SH-AWD.
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fintail
> LJ909
12/19/2019 at 16:05 |
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Exactly. It’s not especially sophisticated, and the demographic who seeks this supersized Camry are not the ones we want behaving with aggression on the roads - they’ll be in over their heads instantly. It’s a minivan without sliding doors.
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LJ909
> Textured Soy Protein
12/19/2019 at 16:24 |
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Yea I’ve seen that as well. It’s mostly a 3 row to say they have a 3rd row and is useless once kids grow bigger.
But yea pretty trick stuff for this segment to have tech like that. Would be even more helpful if any of them had any actual sport trims.
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Textured Soy Protein
> LJ909
12/19/2019 at 16:30 |
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The torque vectoring & rear axle disconnect are becoming more common. Jeep has rear axle disconnect and varying degrees of torque vectoring on the Renegade, Compass & Cherokee, for example. GKN is good at making this kind of system and it seems like more companies are picking it up. Not sure if Toyota’s system is from GKN or their own.
https://www.gknautomotive.com/en/insights/Jeep-Renegade-AWD/
gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> LJ909
12/19/2019 at 21:22 |
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I’m always curious what the load rating of the glass roofs are.
over the weekend I was about to
tie
a christmas tree on a guys roof, when he remembered he had the full glass roof
. Forget which suv it was. Guy then realizes he has him, wife and 4 kids, and not a chance in hell of putting the tree in the back. has to drive home, drop wife and kids off, and return.
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LJ909
> gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
12/19/2019 at 22:02 |
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I’ve been curious about that too. I would assume a tree is ok. But I dont even think automakers publish that kind of information. I’ve never seen it nor can I think of any instance of where it would come up.
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gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> LJ909
12/19/2019 at 22:23 |
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often you’ll see 100-200lbs given, but i don’t think it specified if that is on the metal or side racks. I’ve noticed how they’re using thinner metal, by how much some bow.
Oh we’ve fucked up some roofs. This guy bought a 10.5 to 11 foot tree, It took 4 of us to lift, that roof was sagging.