2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid consumer reviews

Top vehicle on the road. Comfort, style, economical, safety. Feels like I'm gliding not driving. Why would anyone not buy a Toyota hybrid to own?

It has plenty of space inside, and a good amount of leg room. The car gets good mileage, and hugs the road. It also does well in winter weather.

Great SUV that replaced my last Highlander Hybrid without even finding another SUV that would compare! Would replace with another when the time comes without question.

It exceeds in performance and life long value compared to most other brands. I’ve had Toyota hybrids now since 2005. I think the Highlander hybrid is great for in city driving, mountain climbing in all weather situations, and im getting the average of 31 mpg for this weight as I’m driving from Cottonwood to Sedona to Phoenix and Prescott. I’ve even had a bit of MN winter weather and it plows right through icey roads and snow easily. This is the true adventure vehicle!!!

My purchasing criteria were: easy access in-&-out, comfortable to drive and ride in (especially for anticipated long trips), fuel economy, overall reliability (no, Exterior Styling was NOT a priority!). My Highlander-Hybrid continues to meet my expectations!

Nicely styled inside and out; the baseball mit leather interior is Lexus quality. Better in the snow than the previous iteration. We owned a 2013 Limited that was less capable in the Vermont weather. Gas mileage is spot on with Manufacturer specs. 2016 RAV4 Limited Hybrid more fun to drive (and came equipped with LED headlights), but can’t beat the room and comfortable suspension of the Highlander. Best in class.

I've owned the 2017 Highlander Hybrid for a year and have driven it 40,000 miles. While it's a very comfortable and remarkably efficient SUV, I don't believe its high price tag is justified. First, the good: - Obviously, as a hybrid vehicle, the Highlander gets phenomenal MPG for a 5,000 pound SUV. On average I get roughly 31 mpg in 50/50 city/highway driving. But, when I try to maximize fuel economy (by driving slowly in "Eco Mode" without the A/C on), I can get reach an incredible 35 mpg. - The vehicle is exceptionally comfortable for both driver and passengers. The seats provide a good balance of support and cushion. I opted for the heated and cooled front seats. The cooling system pumps conditioned air through the seat vents, which is a nice benefit during the summer. The heated seats do not work well though...even at the highest setting, I can barely feel any heat. - The battery/engine combo provides quick acceleration. However, there is a noticeable engine lag in pedal response...in other words, when you kick down the accelerator pedal, it takes a second or two before the engine responds. - Toyota apparently put some effort into sound insulation for the Highlander...it's Lexus-like quiet. - This SUV is loaded with automatic stability control features. I've driven it several times in the snow, and even when I purposefully try to fishtail or induce a skid, the system instantly kicks in and stabilizes the vehicle. OK, now the not-so-good: - If you drive the car conservatively and casually, the Highlander is a stable and safe vehicle. However, if you attempt any sort of spirited driving, it generally handles the road like a 1986 Yugo with an elephant tied to the roof. The electric steering provides no feel for the road, the SUV will slop around corners with significant roll, and the front-wheel drive induces severe oversteering if you accelerate aggressively through a corner (in other words, if you step on the gas through a corner, the car will yank hard to the inside). At highway speeds, the brakes are spongy and inconsistent (a typical characteristic of regenerative braking systems). The added weight of the hybrid system (batteries + electric motors) clearly puts a strain on the handling traits of the vehicle. I test drove a non-hybrid highlander, and it handled noticeably better. - The all-wheel drive system is very limited in its effectiveness. The rear wheels are driven by an independent 68 horsepower electric motor which only kicks in when the front wheels begin to slip, and quickly disengages after the front wheels regain traction. In other words, this is essentially a front-wheel drive car most of the time. - For an SUV which costs almost $50,000, the overall quality of the interior is kinda cheap and unrefined. The interior looks and feels almost exactly like a Corolla, when it should more closely resemble a Lexus. Some minor things to mention: - The navigation system, while reliable, is outdated (it's the same system I had in my 2008 4 Runner). - LED headlights are not available. Not a big deal, but you'd think a hybrid would offer LED lights. - As is the case with all CVT transmissions, when you accelerate aggressively, the engine revs like it's about to explode. In sum, the Highlander Hybrid is a phenomenally efficient and comfortable SUV. If you're looking for a safe and reliable family car, and don't care about sporty performance, you'll enjoy this car. But, for the price, you can find more refined SUVs.

The best car I ever have . Driving smoothly and quiet . Excellent safety features and very roomy . It?s very easy to navigate all the features . Have sunroof and loving it .

One month owned. It is very quiet, as quiet as any comparable Lexus we drove. Just paid $1400 extra for the leather. Plenty of power, the most comfortable seats. Just finished 1300 mile trip with much less fatigue. Radar cruise control is awesome, but takes some learning. You cannot tailgate with this function on, so lane planning is critical to maintain constant speed. Lane departure is spooky at first, but very honest. Don't use it on curvy roads. Honest 27.5 mpg at 72 mph, 29-30 in town, but not with a heavy foot and lots of quick stops. 2012 Prius was the best teacher. Because this engine is not directly connected to the power train, it often is turning under 1500 rpm at 60 mph, and not turning in EV mode, much longer engine life will result.

This is the second Highlander Hybrid I have owned. I love the fact it has the third row of seats when we have family visiting and that the car is roomy enough for my 6?2? husband. Leg room, even in the 3rd row is good enough for an adult. I also have two large dogs so the fact I can fold down the seats to give them lots of room on long trips is wonderful.