Toyota loaned me a Highlander Limited Platinum AWD for one week to drive and review. All opinions are my own.

Since becoming a mom almost 8 years ago, I’ve gone through my fair share of family cars, searching for just the right fit. I recently got to test drive the all-new 2020 Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum AWD for a week, and I think I may have found my SUV soulmate. The Highlander fit our family and our lifestyle perfectly!

Functional… and Fast!

I don’t normally think of SUVs as being especially fast or fun to drive, but the Highlander proved me totally wrong! After a few years of driving SUVs with a slower get-up-and-go, the Highlander was so much fun to zip around town in. It drives like a sporty car while still encompassing all the things I need in an SUV- lots of seating, lots of cargo space, and a tall and comfortable ride.

Favorite Features

The Highlander Platinum really spoiled me with all its functional features. These are a few of my favorites:

Second Row Captain’s Chairs: The Platinum trim level comes with captain’s chairs in the second row. This made it so easy for my kids to access the third row- no climbing over seats, kicking each other (and me) in the process.
Back-Up Camera: Let’s just say I’ve had a few run-ins (literally) where an advanced back-up camera would have been helpful. The cameras on the Highlander are INSANE in the best way. You can see the entire car- 360 degrees- in one view, making parking and backing up practically foolproof. Those cameras really boosted my confidence and even made me feel like parallel parking was no longer just a pipe dream.

Head Up Display (HUD): If you want to feel like you’re living in the future, just drive a 2020 Highlander with a HUD. You never have to take your eyes off the road to check your speed or know which direction you’re driving thanks to the head up speedometer and compass. And the speed limit automatically updates and displays on the HUD so you never have to wonder if you’re driving the right speed. It’s like driving a spaceship and I loved it!

Family-Friendly

During our week with the Highlander, we lived life as we normally would- running lots of errands, eating on the go, and even going on a few adventures. I can honestly say my kids have never gotten along better in a car. The second row captain’s chairs were a lifesaver, keeping them separated enough to talk and play nicely with each other, and no one got kicked in the head climbing over a bench seat. They also had plenty of airflow from the dedicated second and third row A/C vents, which kept them nice, cool, and content in the 100+ degree Texas summer.

Road Trip!

During our week with the Highlander, we took it on a 200-mile road trip from our town of Frisco to Glen Rose, Texas. It was such a comfortable ride! A few weeks previous, my husband made a 1,200 mile road trip in a different SUV. During our drive to Glen Rose, he kept saying how he wished he’d been in the Highlander for that trip as well- it’s just so comfortable, easy to drive, gets great gas mileage, and the Highlander safety features are second-to-none. We’ll always remember our trip to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, not only for the safe and comfortable drive there and back, but for all the fun we had as a family during these strange times we find ourselves in.

We truly loved our time with the Highlander. It’s the perfect family car, full of functional features, safety options, and traditional Toyota reliability. And it’s just a whole lot of low-maintenance fun for moms and dads to drive!