2020 Toyota Highlander

Drivers can choose from five different trim levels with the 2020 Highlander. The L, LE, and the XLE will all have a black front grille and silver trim elements. The Limited and the Platinum will also have a black front grille, but they'll get chrome trim and a chrome-plated rear fascia. The two top trims will come standard with Toyota's first 20-inch alloy wheels and projector headlights, and the Platinum will have a silver-painted front bumper and a unique 20-inch wheel. All the Highlander models are over two inches longer than before and have a more aerodynamic exterior design.

There are two powertrains available for the 2020 Highlander. The first is a 3.5-liter V-6 gas engine that delivers 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Toyota pairs this with a Direct Shift 8-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid version of the Highlander will come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors.

The new Highlander can tow up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with the tow package. This latest model also offers two different all-wheel-drive systems. The L, LE, and XLE all get an on-demand system that will direct up to 50 percent of the torque back to the rear axle. The Limited and the Platinum have a dynamic torque vectoring system and a driveline disconnect to increase fuel economy. These top trims also have selectable multi-terrain drive modes that assist in driving through mud, sand, rock, and dirt.

The cabin of the 2020 Highlander offers even more plush accommodations than before. Inside, you'll find soft, padded surfaces, new stitching to give it a tailored look, and modern design elements designed to make the cabin more functional. The center console now offers Qi wireless charging, a large storage area, and USB charging ports. The Limited and Platinum models add ambient lighting, and all trims have steering wheel controls.

Most of the trims come standard with an 8-inch touch screen. New for 2020, all models will have both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All trims also come standard with Waze and Amazon Alexa. One of the new features for 2020 is the 12.3-inch touch screen in the Platinum model, which is included as part of an integrated navigation system.

All the Highlanders get Toyota's new Safety Sense 2.0 system. This group of features includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with a steering assist system, full-range smart cruise control, automatic high beams, lane tracing assist, and road sign assist. The LE and higher trims add blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic braking. The Limited adds the option for a 360-degree surround view camera, and the Platinum trim has the camera standard.