I don’t think you can assume that the 2020 cash back incentives apply to the 2021 models. They are usually model-year specific. Looking at the Toyota.com incentives page for all vehicles there are 2020s and 2021s listed separately, with separate incentive amounts, for models like the Corolla. $2000 cash back for 2020s and $1000 cash back for 2021s.

Local Toyota Finance, Lease and Other Specials | Toyota.com

Check out the Toyota local specials to find the perfect offer for your next Toyota car, truck or SUV at a nearby dealership. Learn about available APRs, Toyota lease options, and other available deals.

www.toyota.com

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 was upgraded to 2.5 for the 2021 Highlander.

 

I don’t think you can assume that the 2020 cash back incentives apply to the 2021 models. They are usually model-year specific. Looking at the Toyota.com incentives page for all vehicles there are 2020s and 2021s listed separately, with separate incentive amounts, for models like the Corolla. $2000 cash back for 2020 and $1000 cash back for 2021s.

Local Toyota Finance, Lease and Other Specials | Toyota.com

Check out the Toyota local specials to find the perfect offer for your next Toyota car, truck or SUV at a nearby dealership. Learn about available APRs, Toyota lease options, and other available deals.

www.toyota.com

OK, I would hope there would be a difference, but I don't see the 2021 Highlander listed on the site. Should I call a dealer and see if they know what the incentives will be?

 

I wouldn’t bother calling about future incentives. They never know until the day they kick in at the beginning of each month.

 

That gets back to the question at hand. Am I better waiting until the 1st to see what incentives are on the '21, and hope the same or better incentives are on the '20 or do I go with the $1500 cash back on the '20 this month? I haven't seen the '21s but we're not interested in the XSE and the LED and safety sense upgrades are probably not enough to get us to spend more on the '21. We'd take the best deal on either year we could get.

 

I just got a 2020 highlander hybrid xle and I can’t imagine a 2021 being any better— gas or hybrid. Have 5k miles On it and a true 38/39 mpg.

 

Based on market issues, I would at least expect the incentives to stay the same. I would hope for another $500 cash back on a 2020 and not expect anything on a 2021. I don’t think you have much to lose by waiting until the first of the month.

The factory incentive was nonexistent when I ordered my 2020 Hybrid for the Costco prearranged price, rose gradually to $1500 over the months and changed to $2000 the day before I picked it up on 9/2. Sometimes you get lucky.

 

I'd say go with the 2020 model you can get some really good deals now. Here's a link of a dealer in my area showing the 2021 XLE model.

New Toyota Highlander for Sale in Huntersville, NC

With 3-row seating, the Toyota Highlander gives Huntersville drivers maximum space without sacrificing mid-size SUV handling. Browse our inventory online now!

www.toyotaofnorthcharlotte.com

 

@StatCoder I appreciate your insight. I think we'll wait the little-over-a-week and see what Toyota has for incentives. Dealerships around my region in New England have quite a few 2020 XLE models in stock compared to other trims for whatever reason and I don't think that's likely to shrink much in a week. I do wonder if I'd be able to get the dealership to give a better deal if I negotiate on the 29th or 30th as opposed to waiting until the 1st but I doubt it would vary too much. I have my interest out there via True Car at least, so perhaps some dealers will come calling closer to the end of the month regardless.

Thanks!

 

@StatCoder I appreciate your insight. I think we'll wait the little-over-a-week and see what Toyota has for incentives. Dealerships around my region in New England have quite a few 2020 XLE models in stock compared to other trims for whatever reason and I don't think that's likely to shrink much in a week. I do wonder if I'd be able to get the dealership to give a better deal if I negotiate on the 29th or 30th as opposed to waiting until the 1st but I doubt it would vary too much. I have my interest out there via True Car at least, so perhaps some dealers will come calling closer to the end of the month regardless.

Thanks!

Go look in Autotrader.com and even look at zip codes away from u a ways but close enough to drive to,, You may find as I did, a dealer that has twice the discount as my local dealer.. When I bought my 17 I went to the local dealer and showed him what the other dealer was doing, and he met the price, cause I was willing to walk away and drive to the other guy, made me no difference.

 

Just wait for the 2022 model

 

Yeah, check at the end of every month, and if you can wait, 'til Thanskgiving. But by that time the inventory of '20s might become low. Do some searches on wind noise issues as Toyota seems to be cutting some sound insulation corners here.

Since you came from a Subaru, have you looked at the Ascent?

 

Yeah, check at the end of every month, and if you can wait, 'til Thanskgiving. But by that time the inventory of '20s might become low. Do some searches on wind noise issues as Toyota seems to be cutting some sound insulation corners here.

Since you came from a Subaru, have you looked at the Ascent?

I test drove one, and I know I can get a Limited cheaper than an XLE; however, the 4 cylinder turbocharged engine makes me nervous for a mid-size SUV (without the hybrid electric motors to help out). It consistently came in under the EPA gas mileage estimates after 8 months of use and I was always burning through oil between scheduled fully synthetic oil changes. I like the reliability in general of Toyota and the Toyota Care package.

 

Someone on Facebook just got their 2021 hybrid platinum. They are coming into dealers now.

 

here's what I did... made a deal around the 21st of the month (Aug) when the rebates were $1k. Car was in-transit. part of my deal was that if the rebate went down, I got my deposit back. I delayed until the 1st to see what would happen... rebate went up to $1500 so I got that. Had it gone down I'm sure the dealer would have done something but I was willing to "walk" if they didn't

 

I live in Toronto, Canada. According to my dealer we don't have a single 2021 in the country as of now. But he said they will be arriving in the next 2 weeks or so. I got a better deal on 2021 than the 2020 Platinum sitting on the lot. Also, it had my choice of color and interior because its a ordered vehicle (Midnight Black/Glazed Caramel Interior). Only issue is I have to wait for 3 weeks. Toyota Canada's website just update their Build & Price as well so the 2021 pricing can be reflected. Also the American website has the 2021 up now fyi.
2021 Toyota Highlander | Explore every possibility.

 

Hey Canadian neighbour - I live in Vancouver (area). I’m in the same boat. I actually ordered a 2020 plat hy...and it still hasn’t come. What kind of deal did you get on your 2021? That’s awesome it was better than the 2020!

I live in Toronto, Canada. According to my dealer we don't have a single 2021 in the country as of now. But he said they will be arriving in the next 2 weeks or so. I got a better deal on 2021 than the 2020 Platinum sitting on the lot. Also, it had my choice of color and interior because its a ordered vehicle (Midnight Black/Glazed Caramel Interior). Only issue is I have to wait for 3 weeks. Toyota Canada's website just update their Build & Price as well so the 2021 pricing can be reflected. Also the American website has the 2021 up now fyi.
2021 Toyota Highlander | Explore every possibility.

 

Some great advice in this forum. I am in the same boat too. Do I buy now or wait? The 2021s are right around the corner and while we don't expect any big changes, I'd like to hope maybe they changed a few minor complaints other than just the safety suite. My design would already be made if the 2021 Highlander XSE was available as a Hybrid. I've been burned more than once on the first year model redesign when it had some quark's that needed flushed out first.

2003 Honda Accord
2007 Toyota Camry
2016 Honda Pilot
202? Toyota Highlander ???

In looking at the 2021 Venza, while maybe too small for my taste, they really seem to have knocked it out of the park like they did with the 2020 Highlander redesign. Who doesn't want a stargazer glass roof?

 

Who doesn't want a stargazer glass roof?

Never use it. Gets too hot in the daytime. You can not tip the back up without it pulling open the cover. I do not care at night. An impractical feature in sunnier areas.

 

I have a completely unsubstantiated theory that TSS 2.0 will be upgraded to TSS 2.5 via firmware. Otherwise, why call it 2.5 rather than 3.0? The changes seem incremental and software-based.

Toyota has a track record of putting the same safety systems on all of the trims so I’m hoping that they will upgrade the 2020 Highlanders, the only abbreviated year to get 2.0, to TSS 2.5 in a few months when the 2020s are all sold via a TSB.

Or not.

 

Not sure why it wasnt put on the 2021s to begin with, ALL CARS.. Doesnt the .5 have to with lights?

 

If any part of TSS 2.5 requires different hardware, then there won't be any upgrade for the 2020's. I've found several inconsistent stories about the differences between 2.0 and 2.5 out there, but what I have found suggests they might be using a different forward camera with better low-light capability.

TSS 2.5 doesn't introduce any new features from what I can see. Rather, it's enhancements to the existing features such as better sensitivity in the dark and around curves.

BTW, the Toyota U.S. Web site now shows 2021 Highlander. No brochure yet, though.

 

TSS 2.5 doesn't introduce any new features from what I can see. Rather, it's enhancements to the existing features such as better sensitivity in the dark and around curves.

The TSS section of the owners manual in 2021 vs 2020 is pretty much the same (albeit with with some of the feature descriptions shuffled around in a new order for some reason). However, there is now a section in there devoted to detecting oncoming traffic when turning left, which I think qualifies as a new feature?

 

My thought is that these computer-aided safety features require a lot of road-testing before they are released. Software like this is never really tested as fully as you want it to be by deadline so I’m not surprised that a TSS 2.5 update exists. Most consumer electronic devices have upgradeable firmware, now, so I’m hoping that auto manufacturers are considering this as they rely much more on technology to market their vehicles. Of course, it never hurts to let the sales people tout the newest version of TSS that comes with the 2021s as long as the 2020s are still on the lots.

 

Yes, when did you placed your order and did they tell you the expected delivery time frame? Unless the dealer has one pre-ordered expect 2 to 3 months for delivery. I put in my order on Jan 8 this year (2nd day after Canadian price posted) and my broker said it should arrive in 3 to 5 months. First delivery for hybrids was March for Canada but with the 6 week pandemic plant shutdown I didn't get my HiHy till July 10. And this is for Vancouver, too.

 

Wow. I had a similar situation with my Jeep Wrangler, took almost 4 months after ordering to arrive. However the dealer told me it should be only about a month or so before the car arrives because everything is back up and running with limited restrictions. Your order was placed before the car even started production and then they got the pandemic back up. So a month sounds more normal now they they are back on schedule. We will see though, fingers crossed haha.

 

Best time to buy a car in-stock on a dealer's lot is right after the Christmas holiday but before the end of the year because most people don't have the extra $ to spend and that extra sale might help meet the month-end and-year end quota.

 

4 cyl Turbocharged?

 

Yes, someone asked me if I had looked at an Ascent and it's a 4 cylinder. We owned a Forester prior to it getting totaled in an accident last month.

 

Gotcha.. I dont know which one u were talking about. I cant do a 4 cyl anything

 

Appreciate the feedback. Surprised to hear you can even tip them back up.

 

For those on the fence about buying a 2020 and snatching up a year end model or considering waiting for the 2021s, I found this 2021 Highlander trim brochure

 

Just so everyone knows, this is the Canadian brochure. 🇨🇦

 

I’d get the 2020 as a mechanic the older the better in my opinion so that’s my opinion.

 

I cant decide if I want a Hybrid or not.. I hate start stop anyway and thats how a hybrid acts. Ive had hybrids before just not a HL one. Now its a 4 cyl no less.

 

Starting and stopping is where the Hybrid is a better experience. There is instant torque with the electric motors (2 in front, and 1 in back for AWD) whenever you even slightly push accelerator. It feels very different than gas engines. The engine isn’t using a starter to start up, rather, it is started by one of the motors while the vehicle is moving. You often can’t tell when it starts or stops. Much smoother in parking lots and traffic jams.

 

Have you considered making a list of Pro's vs Con's between buying now and waiting? Have you considered what you really want and listing those things that are deal maker's and deal breaker's? Their is a strong probability that the car market will crash soon but no guarantee. A lot is going on in many markets around the world. So trying to predict it with certainty is not likely! Have you decided on what price your willing to pay before financing or are you already hooked and just waiting to be told what you will pay?