Mid-Size, seven-seat SUVs are taking over our roads, our car parks, and our highways. There's nothing we can do about the invasion of cars like the Palisade, the Telluride, the Explorer, and now the Toyota Highlander. What we can do, however, is ask manufacturers to make them as good as possible. That is why the scheduled introduction of the new 2020 Toyota Highlander at the 2019 New York Motor Show is such a big deal. The new Toyota Highlander should be the best Highlander to date and this is what we know about it.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander Will Ride on Toyota's TNGA Platform (Toyota New Global Architecture)

The TNGA platform is a unification of production only seen before by the Volkswagen MQB modular platform philosophy. To teach you how it works, I share a brief explanation from my colleague Kim Reynolds, from MotorTrend, who was at the factory and saw all of it in happen before his eyes. He said:

"All the key interior components -- steering wheels, shifters, pedals (and airbags) -- will be dictated by five standardized seat heights. Select a seat height and the car's mission (is it a sedan or a crossover, for instance), and this leads to a highly pruned decision tree of accompanying components (say, four shifters five seat frames). Once disguised by unique interiors, this massive simplification becomes invisible. Now project that thinking to everything else in the car."

For the end customer, who don't care about the uniqueness and character, but does care about the reliability, efficiency, and timely delivery, this is a win-win. And not only in those terms. Thanks to the TNGA platform, Toyota managed to construct a far better chassis and employ technologies that significantly increase vital features. As with all other cars based on top of the TNGA platform, the 2020 Highlander will benefit from:

-* A lower center of gravity

-* More rigid body (up to 65 percent stiffer than before)

-* Increased stability and enhanced steering ability

-* Toyota Safety Sense (pre-collision system, Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High-beam)

-* Stronger cabin structure

-* New driving position for better comfort and reduced drivers fatigue

Thanks to all of these solutions, the 2020 Toyota Highlander will be easier to drive, more comfortable to be in, more efficient, safer, and more fun to drive (take this with a grain of salt as not many SUVs are fun to drive, especially those with seven seats).

The 2020 Toyota Highlander Will Continue On With the 3.5-liter V-6 From the Current Model

Updated in 2016, the 2GR-FKS V-6 has a D4-S direct injection fuel system and an on-demand Atkinson cycle system. This is a system that, in its modern iteration, hold the intake valve open for longer actually enabling some of the air to return to the intake manifold. Previously installed in the Prius, the Atkinson cycle does save a bit of fuel and improve efficiency. In the latest versions of the Highlander, the 3.5-liter, V-6 develops 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, and it returns 21/27 mpg (city/highway).

While the base 2019 Highlander has a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder engine, I believe that the new generation will have the same engine as the new RAV4. So, the entry-level 2020 Highlander will have a 2.5-liter engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. That is a comfortable improvement over the 2.7-liter, four-cylinder engine that has 185 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander will be offered as a hybrid system as well. All of the ICE propulsion options should link to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 2020 Highlander Looks A Lot Like The 2019 Toyota RAV4

Spy photos and strange "augmented reality" artwork with 200 individual suspended hand-painted pieces that create the new Highlander shape allows us to see what the new Highlander looks like. However, it would seem that the new SUV is, regardless of its boxiness, quite sleek. A smaller glasshouse, more defined lines, and high shoulder line give the Highlander a sporty, almost athletic note. I believe that almost everyone will like it the same way as nearly everyone loves the new RAV4.

The RAV4's boxy wheel arches are one of the highlights too. More importantly, however, is that I feel that the Highlander will grow a bit. The overhangs do seem to be a tad longer on the camouflaged models compared to the 2019 Highlander. Even if it grows, don't expect a dramatic increase in size.

Will There Be a 2020 Toyota Highlander TRD?

Back in 2018, Toyota officials inferred more than once that many tricked--out TRD Toyotas are coming our way. I can only hope that the TRD performs its magic on the Highlander as well.

“I love the TRD brand, I love what Toyota Racing Development does, and I like learning from our motorsports teams and putting it into our cars,” said Jack Hollis, Group Vice President and General Manager of Toyota Division at Toyota Motor North America, to AutoGuide.com. “And if we can bring it to every car and SUV and every truck, I think we should.”

Toyota, do it!

The 2020 Toyota Highlander's Safety and Technology

It includes:

-* Automatic Emergency Braking

-* Adaptive Cruise Control

-* Active Lane Control

-* Blind-Spot Monitors

-* Trailer Sway Control

-* Rear Cross Traffic Braking

-* Pedestrian Detection

On the other hand, the Entune infotainment system that, honestly, wasn't among the best, will finally support Apple CarPlay. Plus, the system will spoil you with stuff like the Entune 3.0 Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation and cool floating display setup. As for other features, the 2020 Highlander has:

-* Heated and Cooled Front Seats

-* Hands-Free Power Liftgate

-* Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control

-* Blind-Spot Monitors

-* Keyless Ignition

The 2019 Highlander can tow up to 1,500 pounds with the 2.7-liter engine and up to 5,000 pounds with the 3.5-liter V-6 engine. I suspect that the numbers will be the same for the 2020 Highlander with some higher-grade versions possibly having the capability to tow a bit more than 5,000 pounds.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2017 Toyota Highlander.

Read our full review on the 2019 Toyota 4Runner Nightshade Special Edition.