2020 Toyota Highlander
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2020 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. with gasoline and hybrid power. The EPA lists 6 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 23 to 36 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,800 to $2,800 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline, Hybrid |
| Combined economy | 23-36 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 36 / 23 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,800-$2,800 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 245-387 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 5-7 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2020 Highlander costs about $1,800 to $2,800 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,300. Over five years that is about $11,500 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient Highlander configuration saves about $2,500 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of small sport utility vehicle 2wd in this dataset is about 26 MPG. The Highlander sits roughly 4 MPG above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander Hybrid | 2.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Hybrid | 36 MPG | $1,800 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel | Automatic | Hybrid | 35 MPG | $1,850 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel | Automatic | Hybrid | 35 MPG | $1,850 |
| Highlander | 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 24 MPG | $2,700 |
| Highlander AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 23 MPG | $2,800 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2020 Highlander records tailpipe CO₂ of 245-387 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 5-7 out of 10, a 5-star NHTSA overall crash rating. The EPA classifies it as small sport utility vehicle 2wd.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2020 Highlander up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2020 Toyota Highlander overview.
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.