Crossover SUVs are some of the most versatile vehicles on the market, allowing you to seamlessly transition from driving the family to your favorite sporting event to hitting the trails for an outdoor adventure. The 2020 Toyota RAV4 and the 2020 Toyota Highlander both offer modern updates on classic crossover SUV models that can get you where you need to go. Choose between these two fan favorites by browsing our point-by-point comparison of their style, power, and features.
Trims and Style
Image via Flickr by Jeffrey Beall
The Toyota RAV4 is a punchy compact SUV crossover that comes in six trim levels for 2020: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, Limited, and TRD Off-Road. The 2020 Highlander offers a similar range of options with five trim levels starting at the base L trim and moving up to luxury configurations with the Limited and Platinum models.
As the smaller SUV, the RAV4 still comes packed with features to help you get the most out of your vehicle. It has a strong stance, an unassuming low-slung roof, a stylish exterior silhouette with beveled contouring, flared fenders, and a powerful front fascia that together immediately make a statement. The RAV4's trendy, angular lines become even more rugged and powerful with the upper trims that add features like a skid plate, sporty five-spoke wheels, and upgraded roof rails.
The 2020 Highlander also brings plenty of style to the table, using more subtle side body contouring to complement its larger size. The boosted 20-inch wheels available on upper trims give the Highlander a great presence on the road, with a refined and sophisticated front grille that emphasizes the Highlander's aerodynamic body shape.
Both the Highlander and the RAV4 have interior features that speak to Toyota's commitment to quality and comfort. Inside the RAV4's cabin, you'll discover these subtle touches that add up to a premium driving experience:
- Relaxing blue atmospheric lighting.
- Heated front seats.
- Panoramic moon roof.
- Available orange interior accents.
- Eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat.
The Highlander has an even more sophisticated cabin with a sweeping glass moon roof, ambient lighting, 10-way adjustable ventilated seats, and other convenient features such as:
- Available leather trim.
- In-dash storage.
- Heated front and second-row seats.
Engine and Power
The Toyota RAV4 comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission that pairs with a 2.5-liter I4 engine, generating 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. You can also choose a hybrid model that produces 219 horsepower with a continuously variable transmission. In terms of power, both RAV4 engines fall between the Highlander's 2.5-liter I4 hybrid engine, which has 186 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and its 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces a mighty 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque.
The 2020 RAV4 gets an impressive 35 miles to the gallon when cruising on the highway, and a tidy 28 mpg navigating city streets. The RAV4 hybrid gets the best gas mileage at 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway, followed closely by the Highlander hybrid, which averages 35 mpg on the highway and 36 mpg in the city. The V-6 engine option sacrifices a bit on gas for the increased power, netting 27 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg in the city.
All three capable engine options are able to tow an impressive load for when you need to truly take advantage of your SUV's utility features. The hybrid Highlander and the RAV4 each have a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, while the Highlander V6 engine can pull up to 5,000 pounds of cargo with its trailer hitch. The all-wheel-drive option on both vehicles also comes with multi-terrain select to help you adjust engine output on different surfaces such as mud, sand, rock, and snow.
Space and Storage
The Toyota Highlander has a third row of seats available for up to eight passengers, giving it a leg up on the RAV4 in terms of spaciousness. While the RAV4 seats only five, it has comparable legroom for the front and second row of seats. The second row of the RAV4 conveniently folds down to open up the 37.6-cubic-foot trunk space into a 69.8-cubic-foot cargo hold, giving you the option to drive the family around for daily errands or haul equipment for a move.
The Highlander, on the other hand, starts out with 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row that expands to 48.4 cubic feet with the back seats stowed away and 84.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded down. The versatility of the 2020 Highlander's storage space makes it an ideal vehicle for large families with a taste for adventure.
Both the RAV4 and the Highlander come with a hands-free liftgate that can automatically pop open as you approach, making it easy to load up all of your things before you hit the road.
Available Technology
Both of these powerful, family-friendly SUVs come with an impressive suite of driver assistance technology, safety upgrades, and other convenient tech features. Both vehicles come standard with an 8-inch touch screen, though the Highlander has an optional 12.3-inch touch-screen display that tops its class. The Highlander also has an available wireless smartphone charging port that lights up to notify full charge. It also offers standard USB plugs and convenient power outlets.
The RAV4 and the Highlander both come standard with Toyota's impressive range of Safety Sense features, which include a pre-collision notification system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alerts, steering and lane tracing assistance, road sign assist and more. All RAV4 and Highlander trims also come with enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, brake assist, and Smart Stop technology. Toyota outfits both models with a free one-year subscription to Safety Connect, which comes with emergency assistance, a stolen vehicle locator, and automatic collision alerts.
Which Crossover SUV Is Right for Me?
The RAV4 and the Highlander both make a strong showing in the SUV segment and have only a few thousand dollars difference in price, making it a challenge to decide which SUV is truly perfect for your situation. Ultimately, the biggest difference in the two vehicles is their size, with the three-row Highlander ideal for larger groups and the adventurous RAV4 perfect for smaller families.
When you're ready to test out a Toyota SUV for yourself, come see us at Kings Toyota. Schedule a test drive in one or both of these impressive SUVs, or browse the rest of our inventory to find your next dream car.
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