2020 Highlander
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From: ON/NY
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
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I like the size of it and wouldn't really want to see it up-sized. We've been happy with the size of the outgoing model, and find it being on the smaller size of the segment to be an attribute, and not a negative. I don't want to drive, park, and maneuver a large vehicle around in the city or have to shoe-horn it into my garage. I do think the compact size takes it out of the running for larger families, but if my family was even one child larger (I have two), I probably would be in a minivan. What we have is a vehicle that is supremely comfortable for my family of 4, and when we need to carry additional people, we have the third row for that. I have spent time in our third row, and despite having long legs (36" inseam), I can easily sit back there. It's not especially comfortable and I wouldn't want to take a long trip in it, but it's totally acceptable for a trip out to dinner or around town. This new one is supposed to be better back there, so I am sure it'll sell like crazy.
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I assume it's like the outgoing model where the (fake) wood trim is used on the Limited/Platinum models. This video shows an XLE, which is probably going to be the volume trim, like the previous version.
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From: WA
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I agree that Highlander likely should have moved a bit bigger, but Highlander has been smallest in the main 3 row segment (outside of like the Sorento and Outlander, etc) for quite some time and still leads in sales. That said, the segment has shifted bigger. Toyota obviously has the Sienna for larger 3 row intenders, with their segment exclusive AWD. So within their portfolio they obviously didn't feel pressured to go Atlas/Ascent size, let alone behemoth Traverse/Enclave.
Like you said, it'll still sell, and they'll likely never know how much more it might have sold had it been that half size larger. As you know, Toyota drags its heels on a lot of things, look at how long it took for a 3 row Lexus to show up, and even then, pretty terrible (since it's Highlander based). This may not bode well for an improved (read: significantly enlarged) RX-L, so maybe they'll have an more dedicated larger 3 row for Lexus, since they don't have Sienna to offer for larger 3 row needs.
Like you said, it'll still sell, and they'll likely never know how much more it might have sold had it been that half size larger. As you know, Toyota drags its heels on a lot of things, look at how long it took for a 3 row Lexus to show up, and even then, pretty terrible (since it's Highlander based). This may not bode well for an improved (read: significantly enlarged) RX-L, so maybe they'll have an more dedicated larger 3 row for Lexus, since they don't have Sienna to offer for larger 3 row needs.
For us in Europe, Highlander is gigantic.
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Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Virginia
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 14
From: Virginia
I like the size of it and wouldn't really want to see it up-sized. We've been happy with the size of the outgoing model, and find it being on the smaller size of the segment to be an attribute, and not a negative. I don't want to drive, park, and maneuver a large vehicle around in the city or have to shoe-horn it into my garage. I do think the compact size takes it out of the running for larger families, but if my family was even one child larger (I have two), I probably would be in a minivan. What we have is a vehicle that is supremely comfortable for my family of 4, and when we need to carry additional people, we have the third row for that. I have spent time in our third row, and despite having long legs (36" inseam), I can easily sit back there. It's not especially comfortable and I wouldn't want to take a long trip in it, but it's totally acceptable for a trip out to dinner or around town. This new one is supposed to be better back there, so I am sure it'll sell like crazy.
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From: WA
I really hope not. My Highlander has way more room than the RX-L, and the new one is supposed to be bigger than mine.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: PA
This could be on our short list to replace our 07 rx. Wife wants a third row to bus around friends of our two kiddos. A small third row fits that bill. We drove the merc GLS and it's just way too big for me.
Also really looking forward to the next gen mdx.
Also really looking forward to the next gen mdx.
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