The legal Highlander Hybrid handles lovely a lot the approach you would be expecting
a midsize crossover/SUV to perform something positive concerning, which means it looks tuned added for
comfort and utility compared to performance. The hybrid powertrain could be
pretty transparent in make use from - apart up of the silence that greets you
after you press the beginning button, readily available have a tendency to be solely a number of clues after you are
beneath way that you're driving a hybrid vehicle. Acceleration, whereas
now not blazingly speedy, is excellent for a vehicle of the current eightvo and
weight, and the final ability is delivered awfully smoothly numerous thanks to the CVT
transmission.
What to me appears the the majority of prohibitive about the hybrid
Highlander is its value premium (about $7000) over the non-hybrid
version, which brings it back into luxury-brand territory less than while not
the cachet of a luxury complete. Continue to, while the hybrid might not build
lots of sense economically, there are probably many individuals for
whom the satisfaction of driving an environmentally friendly
vehicle is more important than the direct effect on his or him or her
wallets.
Amy Skogstrom, Managing Editor
One of my gripes about hybrids is that you've got to be very
light-weight on the throttle to keep the vehicle in EV mode, but Toyota's
system for the Highlander Hybrid -- in addition to the recent 2010
Prius -- brands it a little simpler. Punch the "ECON" button, and the
accelerator pedal grows a little more proof against your right foot.
The "EV" button seems to really crank up the resistance, constructing it
easier to keep the Highlander silently rolling together.
Unfortunately, these buttons carry out not modification the undeniable proven reality that during order to
run the Highlander though an EV, you absolutely suffer from to crawl away from
stoplights. Dependent on your locale, about that would aggravate your fellow
drivers, as I witnessed on three separate occasions. High speed inch
electric-only mode is barely Twenty-five mph, therefore the ones stretches of road close to
my apartment -- posted at Thirty mph and frequently driven at Thirty-five mph by
the locals - are not potential to traverse in an eco-friendly
fashion.
Evan McCausland, Internet Producer
It possesses troublesome on behalf of me to understand why the Highlander Hybrid desires
a V-6 engine as a phase of its gas/electric powertrain. Toyota says
two electrical motors and the V-6 are sensible for a combined rating of
270 hp, but the Highlander Hybrid features a tricky previous point convincing you
it's fast. So why not trimmed your losses and stick in an exceedingly bigger
four-cylinder (in the arena of two.4 liters) for a couple more mpg?
It additionally looks as if a more economical, front-wheel-drive model is the legal
no-brainer. A minimum of it might facilitate lessen this "efficient"
vehicle's unacceptable 4600-pound weight.
Prefer Evan, I noted that it's specifically hard to keep the
Highlander Hybrid in electric mode, especially in comparison allowing for the
Prius and the Ford Fusion Hybrid. And, frustratingly, I utilized to be never
ready to activate the electric-vehicle mode. Also after i switched
off each and every accessory during the vehicle, hitting the EV button brought about
the display to demonstrate "EV Mode not on the market at this period." I attempted
on lots of alternative journeys; after long and short drives; while
rolling, stopped, and parked; and was once never a good fortune. I am certain it
needs to do with the battery state of charge, but that does not
explain why the battery was never at the essential level.
What did I like? The transition when the engine activates and
off is excellent and virtually imperceptible. A handful of people might also
am keen on the Highlander Hybrid's 3500-pound towing capability (this
is the justification for the V-6, I suppose). The yellowy blonde
picket in our tester, however, was rather unattractive, reminding me
of a decade sometime previous to my birth.
Eric Tingwall, Associate
Editor
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is simply not a nasty decision if you
absolutely desire a vehicle that seats more than only five and wish to have to be
green. After every one, it stands alone in the family-sized hybrid SUV
category, unless after all you've got a more in-depth $10,000 to $15,000 to
step up to the massive GM hybrid SUVs. The V-6 does seem somewhat
pointless especially because, as Eric discussed, it does not move this
car with all or any urgency. But if the auto is loaded with seven people
and their gear, it probably needs all the horses it can locate.
It's too unhealthy, though, that in the Highlander Hybrid, amusing and
frugality are mutually exclusive. The direction, regardless of ending up as
nicely weighted, provides little feedback, and the brake pedal
response is similarly unsatisfying. The shortcoming of feel combined together with a
pedal travel distance of what feels like fewer than two inches,
makes slowing gradually to a prevent attention-grabbing. The brakes match
fine, but I loathe the way the pedal response.
It should not be pretty or exciting but what Toyota does neatly in
the Highlander Hybrid is cram lots of safety and hybrid technology
into purposeful, user-friendly package.
Jennifer Misaros, Production
Editor
I agree with Eric that Toyota ought to just slip a four-cylinder
in these and opt for an enormous fuel economy number. That would supply
some much-needed price and performance differentiation with the
Lexus RX450h. In fact, I'm intending to create your mind up right currently and
say that each one Toyota hybrids should maximize efficiency while all
Lexus hybrids should maximize performance.
Because it is, I might have a tough time justifying $45,000 on the
Toyota over the nicer-looking, better-performing Lexus unless I
really needed that third row. It is also value noting that this
particular model is taking part in dangerously close to Audi Q7 TDI price
territory. Granted, take a look at automobiles mostly return loaded with an absurd
quantity of optional apparatus, but no Highlander should even sniff
$50,000.
Having said all that, there is still nada wrong with the
Highlander itself. As necessarily, it is a supremely quiet, solid vehicle
with a fine searching interior. As others have noted, the hybrid
powertrain rarely is going into EV mode - I experienced it only when
pulling of the a parking spot - but it's worth remembering we're
driving in arctic temperatures with the warmth cranked on high.
David Zenlea, Assistant Editor
2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LTD
Base price (with destination): $41,820
Price as tested: $48,385
Customary Equipment:
3.3L V-6 engine
Hybrid synergy drive technology
Continuously variable transmission
Electric power steering
Four-wheel drive
Vehicle stability control
Rear backup camera
AM/FM in-dash 6 CD changer
XM satellite radio
Leather seating surfaces
Heated front seats
Hill begin assist
Tow prep package
19-inch alloy wheels
Features on this vehicle:
Voice activated touch screen - $2775
Rear-seat DVD entertainment system - $1780
Power tilt/slide moonroof - $850
CFC-free auto rear air con system - $785
Front auto dual zone climate management - $375
Key options not on vehicle:
None
Fuel economy:
(city/hwy/combined)
Twenty-seven / 25 / 26 mpg
Engine:
Size: 3.3L V-6 with EV mode
Horsepower: 208 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 212 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm
Battery power: Sixty-eight hp
Hybrid system internet power: 270 hp
Drive:
All-wheel
Transmission:
CVT automatic
Weight: 4640 lbs
Wheels/tires:
19-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels
P245/55R19 Toyo A20 Open Country all-season tires
Competitors: Mercedes-Benz ML450 hybrid,
Lexus RX450h, Volkswagen Touareg TDI
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