My wife and I are expecting our second child, and we’re looking to upgrade to a Highlander hybrid soon. We’d be trading in our 2020 Corolla SE, which has under 50k miles.
We found a 2020 Hybrid LE AWD with 84k miles for a decent price. Are there any known issues with the 2020 hybrid models? Should we aim for something with fewer miles? Are we missing any features by not going for a newer model?
I got my 2020 in May 2023 with 72k km, and now it’s at 123k km. Very happy with the mileage and low maintenance.
Mia said:
I got my 2020 in May 2023 with 72k km, and now it’s at 123k km. Very happy with the mileage and low maintenance.
Wow, you drive a lot! Do you go to the dealership for maintenance? How much is an oil change?
@Ameliascarlet
Sorry, I meant kilometers, not miles. I do oil changes at the dealership, but a buddy does most other stuff. Anything battery-related, though, I go to the dealership. So far, all good!
@Ameliascarlet
Personally, I avoid hybrids because I prefer only having one engine to worry about.
$28k for a Hybrid LE AWD with 84k miles is a bit below average for the market (source). 2020 was a solid year with fewer recalls and complaints compared to other years. Good find!
@Ripley
Great link! I’m hoping the car is in as good shape as it seems when I check it out on Friday.
@Ripley
Any issues with the '21 hybrids? Only complaint I’ve heard about is the wind noise.
Axelle said:
@Ripley
Any issues with the '21 hybrids? Only complaint I’ve heard about is the wind noise.
I was looking at general complaints for Highlanders (both hybrid and gas models) on the NHTSA. The most common ones for 2021 are related to brakes (link).
It depends on the price and your budget. Highlander hybrids tend to last long, and people generally praise their durability. I recently bought a '21 Hybrid Limited and love it, especially for our growing family. I don’t think you’d miss much feature-wise by going with a 2020 LE.
How much is it listed for?
@Marlow
They’re asking $28k, which keeps the payments affordable. Our budget is around $32k, so saving is nice, but 84k miles seems a bit high for a 2020. We’re planning to check it out on Friday.
We’re not too concerned about trim level, since we’d rather avoid leather seats (we’re in Nevada, so leather gets hot fast). Mainly looking for a hybrid with AWD.
@Ameliascarlet
Is that $28k after trading in your Corolla? We got a '21 Highlander Hybrid AWD XLE with 26k miles, and our final price was $31k after trading in our old Camry Hybrid.
Axelle said:
@Ameliascarlet
Is that $28k after trading in your Corolla? We got a '21 Highlander Hybrid AWD XLE with 26k miles, and our final price was $31k after trading in our old Camry Hybrid.
That’s a great price! Was there anything wrong with it?
We haven’t bought the car yet, but if we do, we’ll be trading in the Corolla. We still owe on it, so the final amount might go over $28k, but hopefully not by much.
@Ameliascarlet
Nope, it was Toyota Gold Certified with a 2-year maintenance plan. Close to new, and we got a good trade-in value since we paid cash.
The 2020 Hybrid is a 4-cylinder, not a V6, if that makes a difference to you.
Make sure to check the VIN for any recalls on 2020 models.
We have a '21 hybrid, and while I like it, I sometimes wish it was a V6 for the extra power. Went with the Limited for the bigger screen and bird’s-eye camera. Paid $38k with less than 50k miles.
No major issues with the hybrid, unlike the V6, which has known problems with brake wear and transmission.