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By Steven Cole SmithOrlando Sentinel
January 12, 2008
Targeted directly at soccer moms who balked at the stereotypical minivan, the 2001 Toyota Highlander was a direct and immediate hit, despite styling that was so anonymous that people seemed to buy them in spite of, and seldom because of, the way they looked. That was fine with Toyota: Any midsize, car-based SUV crossover with a Toyota badge came with the company's deserved reputation for long, reliable service and high resale value, and was thus guaranteed success in the marketplace. For the second-generation Highlander, though, Toyota designers added some style. The 2008 model is larger -- about 4 inches longer, 3 inches wider than the model it replaces -- and a lot better-looking. Regular Highlanders come with a 3.5-liter, 270-horsepower V-6 engine, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel-drive models are EPA-rated at 18 miles per gallon city, 24 mpg highway. All-wheel-drive models are rated at 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway. And if that isn't good enough, there's the remarkable gasoline-electric all-wheel-drive Highlander Hybrid, tested here. The EPA rates it at 27 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway. Unlike conventional cars, many hybrids get better city mileage than highway mileage, because at low speeds, they can operate on electric power alone. And at stoplights, the gas engine shuts off entirely. The EPA says that in combined city and highway driving, the Highlander Hybrid should average 26 mpg. Ours did even better than that, at 27.1 mpg. That certainly isn't a Toyota Prius performance, but it isn't bad for an AWD sport-ute that seats seven. And the beauty is that, aside from the higher initial sticker price, you give up nothing. The Highlander Hybrid is powered by a 3.3-liter gasoline V-6 engine that, combined with the electric motor, gives you 270 horsepower -- exactly the same as the gas-powered 3.5-liter V-6 in the regular Highlander. Unlike the regular model's five-speed automatic transmission, the Hybrid has a CVT, or continuously variable transmission. It operates like an automatic, but rather than use a set number of gears such as four, five or six, a CVT has an infinite number of gear ratios. Several manufacturers have CVTs -- Nissan and Dodge seem to be pushing them harder than anyone else -- and while I'm not entirely sold on the technology, the one in the Highlander Hybrid works very well. The test Highlander Hybrid was the loaded Limited model, with a starting price of $39,950 that rose to $41,793 with shipping and options that included a navigation system with an upgraded JBL sound system, a security system and three-row seating. The Limited is already loaded, with features that range from handsome leather upholstery and wood interior trim to a rear back-up camera. There's a long list of safety equipment, including stability control, side curtain air bags for all three rows, antilock brakes with brake assist and brake distribution, and even a driver's side knee air bag. Inside, the Hybrid Limited is as well-appointed as any luxury car. There's plenty of room in the front and middle seats, but the flat-folding third-row seat is best left to the kids. On the road, the ride is smooth and quiet. The electric power steering has above-average feel, and while the Highlander is no sports car, handling is better than you'd expect. Base Highlanders start at about $28,000, and as nice as the Highlander Hybrid is, there's no arguing that you'd have to drive even the least-expensive Hybrid model, priced at more than $34,000, for quite a while to amortize the extra cost. But people do seem to hang onto their Highlanders for quite a while, and with the styling of the 2008, I wouldn't blame them a bit. Sentinel Automotive Editor Steven Cole Smith can be reached at scsmith@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5699.
Find a USED 2008 Highlander Hybrid for SaleFind used car inventory in your area.
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