The Best Year for the Toyota Highlander

Published March 5, 2021
in Best

Determining the best year for the Toyota Highlander is not as easy as one would think. We examined the last five years (2017–2021) of Highlanders, and there were spirited debates and solid arguments as to which year should prevail.

We looked at several factors when comparing these years. Among them: safety ratings, safety features, price, reliability and resale value, drivability, and additional features offered.

We also looked at factors like interior quality and additional features. In the end, we reached a consensus that we stand behind. Why don’t we take a look?

2020 Toyota Highlander

We chose 2020 as the best year for the Toyota Highlander. On top of numerous other factors that this article will explore, in 2020 the Highlander underwent a redesign from the ground up. All of these design changes and new features placed the 2020 model way ahead of the 2017–2019 models.

Since 2021 is only the second year of this generation, only minor updates occurred, such as LED projector lights. While Toyota did introduce a new trim model in 2021 — the XSE — we did not feel that this was enough to place the 2021 model above the 2020.

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Price

With the proper care and maintenance schedule, a Toyota Highlander can run for 300,000 miles or more. A driver in the United States drives an average of 13,500 miles per year. So let’s say your 2020 Highlander runs for 300,000 miles. If you drive 13,500 miles per year, you can expect it to run for 22 years.

The sticker price on the base model of the 2021 Highlander is $34,910, or $1,587 per year when divided by 22 years. Base models of the 2020 Highlander can go for $30,000. After doing the math, it is clear that the 2020 model beats out the 2021 as a better deal, even before considering how the 2021 model only updated a thing or two.

Safety Ratings

The 2020 Highlander received a 5-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In addition to this rating, the NHTSA awarded the 2020 Highlander an overall side star rating of 5 stars.

This rating measures how a vehicle handles an intersection crash between a stationary car and a barrier traveling 38.5 mph, as well as how well the car stands up when crashing into fixed objects like a utility pole or tree.

The 2020 Highlander received a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In order to qualify for this award, a vehicle must earn ratings of “Good” in six evaluations of crashworthiness. Among the assessments in which the 2020 Highlander scored “Good”:

Side
Roof strength
Head restraints and seats
Moderate overlap front
Small overlap front: passenger side
Small overlap front: driver side

The IIHS rated the 2020 Highlander as “Good” for “child seat anchors - LATCH ease of use” and “Superior” for “front crash prevention: vehicle-to-pedestrian” and “front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle.” With ratings like these, you can see why 2020 topped our best year for the Toyota Highlander list.

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Safety Features

Among the safety features standard to the 2020 Highlander:

Eight airbags
A system that alerts you when unknowingly depart a lane
LED headlights and taillights
Adaptive cruise control
A system that warns you of cyclists and pedestrians (under certain conditions)
A system that can read road signs like Yield, Stop, Do Not Enter, Speed Limit and reports them to you

There is also a system that will automatically engage your brakes if a possible collision is detected.

Upgraded models come with a system that alerts you when there is a vehicle (or vehicles) in your blind spots and a system that warns of approaching vehicles while you back up.

Also offered: daytime running lights; a foot-activated power liftgate; a Heads-Up Display that projects info like your speed, warning indicators, and more onto your lower windshield, so you spend less time moving your eyes around the cabin and more time with them on the road; and a bird’s-eye view camera to aid in parking and backing up.

Helping increase outward visibility is a rear view mirror that turns digital by flipping a switch to widen your field of vision and improve clarity. This is possible because the system’s cameras reside behind the rear windshield.

This feature is always helpful, though especially if you have any cargo stacked in back that’s obstructing your view. Combine this feature and the others that act as your eyes with good outward visibility in all directions, and the overall visibility profile of the 2020 model is excellent.

Reliability and Resale

We already know that Highlanders can clock over 300,000 miles with regularly scheduled maintenance. This maintenance will also help keep the number and severity of breakdowns low. J.D. Power awarded the 2020 Highlander “Great” for the following categories:

Quality & Reliability
Driving Experience
Resale
Dealership Experience

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Features

With the 2018 and 2019 models seeing only minor exterior design updates, Highlander fans were thrilled by a full redesign in 2020. Features that come standard with the newly imagined 2020 model are sharp, daring lines, room to seat seven, a touchscreen infotainment system that includes the capability to connect your Apple or Android to the display screen, and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which we covered in the safety features section.

Higher trim levels can seat up to eight passengers, come with a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a leather-trimmed shift knob, leather-trimmed seating, second row captain’s chairs, heated or heated and cooled front seats, heated second row seats, wood interior trim, a power moonroof, metal door scuff plates, larger wheels, roof rails, a larger infotainment screen, windshield wipers that can detect if it’s raining, leather in multiple color options, and more.

Drivability

You can’t fully judge a car without exploring its drivability. The 2020 Toyota Highlander is a responsive and near-silent ride. Drivers of the 2020 year state the drive is smooth, solid, exciting, and enjoyable. This is a spacious ride, with more than enough room for the entire family.

Spacious vehicle families are happy road trip families, which help create a more peaceful driving experience. And this helps us in declaring 2020 as the best year for the Toyota Highlander. Take a test drive today to see for yourself!

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