Teresa’s View
At a time when surging gas prices have even guys like my dad asking about hybrid vehicles, Toyota is right there with its second all-new hybrid vehicle and the first seven-passenger SUV on the market.
The big draw is the efficient mileage – an estimated 33-mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway for the two-wheel drive Highlander – and fewer emissions. The numbers aren’t fabulous, but worth that smug, self-righteous face. You know it.
Toyota must have felt they needed to strongly address the power issue because they tackled it with old-fashioned American overkill. The Highlander hybrid is even more powerful than the gas-only version.
A 3.3-liter V-6 gasoline engine shares duty with an electric motor-generator to produce approximately 270 peak system horsepower. Add an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission and electronic controls, and the hybrid sport-ute runs 0-to-60 in 7.3 seconds and generates a maximum speed of 112 mph.
Visually, it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between the conventionally powered and electric-assisted Highlanders. An additional readout on the dash is one of the few cues. Highlanders ordered with the optional DVD navigation system also get a display screen that shows the hybrid drive in action.
What is weird is starting the sport-ute. Turn the key and the gauges light up, but the engine doesn’t appear to turn over. It’s trippy, but you’re ready to roll. Although the hybrid accelerates as quickly and smoothly as a gas-powered vehicle, at a stop, the engine is again silent. To start up, just step on the gas and go, with no more lag time than a traditional vehicle. The synergy hybrid drive seamlessly moves from gas to electric power.
Toyota engineers put that electric energy to work in other areas as well, including the world’s first application of electric four-wheel-drive, electronic air conditioning and power steering and electronically controlled brakes.
To keep it all powered, the batteries automatically recharge during coasting and braking, meaning it never needs to be plugged in — which is nice.
What Is It?: The Highlander Hybrid is an all-new gas-electric midsize SUV, offered in a base trim or upgraded limited edition. Both are available in two-wheel- or electric four-wheel drive. Prices start at $33K. Compared to a traditional Highlander, the difference is about $5K after a partial offset for extra standard equipment, which Toyota values at $2,300 on the base hybrid, $3,200 on the Limited.
Grocery Sack Test: By adding the third-row seating, cargo space suffers. The five passenger Highlander offers 39.7 cubic feet of cargo volume, compared to only 10.5 cubic feet in the seven-passenger version. The good news is the third row folds relatively easily into the floor.
Back to the Future: Toyota plans to offer 10 hybrid models within the next 10 years.