With the rise of at home learning, the slow relaxing of pandemic restrictions and America’s re-found love of the great American Road Trip, it is no surprise that more and more families are looking to vehicles that meet at the intersection of need and want. One great example of this pairing is the 2020 Toyota Highlander Platinum AWD with an all-new design that speaks to the desires of modern family and looks pretty fantastic while at it. For our review of the 2019 visit here.
We took this DSMDrive loaner on a road trip from Texas to Tennessee to visit my sister, her hubby and their two young sons, and the more I drove, the more I realize why people adore Highlanders and are often repeat buyers. The 2020 Toyota Highlander Platinum AWD, priced as seen at $51k, is a V6 on a unibody chassis and bears the hallmarks of generous space, fuel efficiency, world-class safety tech, thoughtful interior details and a sleek new design that feels luxurious, modern, efficient and fun.
On the Outside – Elevated Design Adds a Beauty to Your Day
Choosing from an architecturally inspired palette of neutrals, Toyota delivered on the promise of deftly blending form, beauty and function at a moderate price point {starting at $34K) in the 2020 Highlander. The one that arrived for our review was a gorgeous blue-grey neutral called Moon Dust sitting on nice 20″ alloy wheels. A rich silver with metallic hints that caught the light and drew the eye to highlight the gently curving lines from honeycomb grille to door. The streamlined effect captured the attention of passersby, my neighbors and random travelers at rest stops along the way.
Rolling on pretty 20s. (credit: Teia Collier) 
Round it out from the back (Credit: Teia Collier) 
Clean lines and shape shining in the Texas Sun (Credit: Teia Collier )
An updated and upgraded design that includes a panoramic moon roof with a helpful sunshade that opens up the interior and brings light into the rear, hands-free lift gate {hello groceries} and LED lights with adaptive front lighting that came in so handy on the winding streets of small town Texas and quiet highways in Tennessee.
A peek Inside – Expect Comfort and Ease to Dominate Your Experience
It more than met the task of the everyday mom hustle and that of the 14 hour road trip with my 3 kids, dad and myself. The creature comforts, space for every body and every thing made the 2020 Toyota Highlander Platinum AWD a family favorite.
Easily seating 7 with flexible space, folding, mid-vehicle Captain’s chairs and an easy access, folding 60/40 third row bench that folds flat to give you even more space for all the gear of life. The front and middle seats have buttery, perforated leather as they are heated and cooled {high-five Toyota — the Texas heat is intense and this is such a wonderful addition}. Plenty of cupholders in discreet and easily accessible places for all three rows, 12V plug and USB ports for rear occupants and smart air vent placement means that the passengers in the back will be just as happy as those in the front.
My children loved that the trunk had space for all of their stuff so no riding with stuff underfoot. They also dug the way the moonroof let you watch the clouds and storms pass by and the SiriusXM radio for listening to all their favorite tunes on the way.
Personally, I adored the 12.3″ navigation dash and the safety system in tandem with the driver’s seat that molds to your body. It connected to Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and via Bluetooth to my Audible within seconds. The touchscreen is thoughtfully large enough that I could touch all the buttons with ease, but seamlessly integrated so that it is not a monstrosity sitting up on the dash. The menus are intuitively placed, eliminating the annoying hunt and find process that is inconvenient when you are looking to perform a particular action. That teamed with the rather lovely navigation system that Toyota calls Dynamic Navigation is such a win. It detects landmarks, construction, road signs and highlights your path like an arrow pointing you in the right direction.
I’ve spoken about it before, but the Toyota Safety Sense is probably one of my favorite safety systems in a current OEM. Not just that it comes standard, but that it has parking assist, a bird’s eye view camera, auto-braking, blind-spot monitor, pre-collision and pedestrian detection, but also with lane departure alert, steering assist and automatic high beams. The sound system in this one is quite lovely too. It’s the JBL 11 Speaker set up with a subwoofer and amplifier. It creates an elevated experience and allows sound to flow around the vehicle with no shaking, thumping or buzzing. Almost like a driver’s treat, my playlist and audiobooks sounded crisp, clear and even the subtle effects were audible.
Families that want flexible space, smart tech, fuel efficiency {hovering around 28 mpg highway} and the security of a brilliant driver support safety system, the 2020 Highlander Platinum AWD is an option that is worth a second look.
Find your new Highlander #GoHighlander
Schedule your test drive at your local Toyota dealer. Visit here to learn more about the Highlander and to find your local dealer and let them know that Teia at Dallas Single Mom sent you.
