NEW YORK: Toyota unveiled a revamped model of its Highlander SUV as the race for three-row family vehicles intensifies.
NEW YORK:Toyota unveiled a revamped model of its Highlander SUV as the race for three-row family vehicles intensifies.
The New York Auto Show will mark the debut of the 2020 Highlander. The model with a gas engine will go on sale in December, while the one with a hybrid engine will start showing up in stores in February.
Toyota did not disclose pricing for the redesigned Highlander, but Edmunds, a website that offers car-buying advice, estimates that the 2019 model will cost between $31,330 and $47,010.
The Highlander has grown to be a crucial component of the Toyota lineup as millions of consumers switch from sedans to SUVs and pickups.
However, with the recent entry of the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Subaru Ascent, and Volkswagen Atlas into the three-row SUV market, Toyota will face pressure to retain the support of its family-oriented customers. The Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Traverse are two additional category leaders.
Toyota’s market share was predicted by IHS Markit automotive analysts to fall from 11% in 2018 to 9% in 2023.
The Highlander, which debuted in 2001, has grown to become one of Toyota’s most significant automobiles. It outperformed the Toyota Prius, Avalon, Sienna, and Yaris put together in 2018.
The most recent redesign makes the SUV’s fourth iteration.
With a 3.5-liter, 6-cylinder, 295-horsepower stop-start engine, the gas model achieves an average fuel efficiency of 22 miles per gallon. Using two electric motors, the 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder hybrid achieves 34 mpg and 240 horsepower.
Five trim levels will be available for the Highlander, including a Platinum model with a 12.3-inch touchscreen.
Designers aimed for a “chiseled” aura and a “powerful stance,” Toyota said.
The vehicle is available in 7-seat or 8-seat configurations.
A heavy-duty radiator, trailer sway control, and a 5,000-pound towing capacity are features of a package that is available.
Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of the car are offered.
