2020 Toyota Highlander vs. Its Competition

2020 Toyota Highlander
Andrew Ganz Andrew Ganz Senior Editor

The new Ford Explorer may be the Highlander’s biggest rival, especially with its optional hybrid powertrain.

The Honda Pilot is a perennial favorite for its excellent space utilization and comfortable ride.

Don’t look to the Subaru Ascent for refinement, but the automaker’s three-row crossover SUV is spacious, zippy, and well-priced.

The Chevy Traverse is costly with safety tech we consider essential, but is otherwise a strong choice.

It’s showing its age, but the Nissan Pathfinder still has a lot of virtues and it’s often discounted.

2020 Toyota Highlander2020 Toyota Highlander
Get Your Price		2020 Ford Explorer Limited - First Drive - Portland OR, June 20192020 Ford Explorer
#1 in Luxury Mid-Size SUVs
Get Your Price		2019 Chevrolet Traverse2019 Chevrolet Traverse
Get Your Price		2019 Honda Pilot2019 Honda Pilot
Get Your Price		2019 Nissan Pathfinder2019 Nissan Pathfinder
#13 in Crossover SUVs
Get Your Price		2019 Subaru Ascent2019 Subaru Ascent
Get Your Price
Quick Specs
The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s impressive fuel economy may win us over.
6.8
The 2020 Ford Explorer rediscovers its capable, outdoorsy side without becoming trucklike in any other respect.
6.4
The 2019 Chevrolet Traverse is bigger and more butch, but still every bit as good for a bunch.
7.0
Subtle upgrades make the 2019 Honda Pilot a must-see for three-row crossover shoppers.
6.2
The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder has value and interior flexibility as its assets, but this crossover SUV is ripe for a redesign.
6.8
The 2019 Subaru Ascent isn’t another quirky hatchback-wagon-crossover thing—it’s a mainstream hit and Subaru will be better for it.
MSRP From     
N/A$36,675$29,930$31,450$31,530$31,995
Gas Mileage     
17 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy18 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy19 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy20 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy
Engine     
N/AIntercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4Gas V6Regular Unleaded V-6Regular Unleaded V-6Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded H-4
EPA Class     
N/AStandard Sport Utility Vehicles 2WDSport Utility VehiclesSmall Sport Utility Vehicles 2WDSmall Sport Utility Vehicles 2WDN/A
Style Name     
N/AXLT FWDFWD 4-Door L w/1L0LX 2WDFWD S2.4T 8-Passenger
Drivetrain     
N/ARear Wheel DriveFront Wheel DriveFront Wheel DriveFront Wheel DriveAll Wheel Drive
Passenger Capacity     
N/A68878
Passenger Doors     
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Body Style     
N/ASport UtilitySport UtilitySport UtilitySport UtilitySport Utility
Transmission     
N/AAutomatic w/ODAutomaticAutomatic w/ODCVT w/ODCVT w/OD
Detailed Spec Comparison
 2020 Toyota Highlander vs. 2020 Ford Explorer2020 Toyota Highlander vs. 2019 Chevrolet Traverse2020 Toyota Highlander vs. 2019 Honda Pilot2020 Toyota Highlander vs. 2019 Nissan Pathfinder2020 Toyota Highlander vs. 2019 Subaru Ascent