2009 toyota Highlander
By
fardhan alief
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Wednesday, March 28, 2018
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2009 Toyota Highlander
2009 Toyota Highlander
The Highlander makes the grade on all counts, though it doesn't excel in any kind of one location. Given it can maintain its impressive resale worth as well as reliability, it should show a smart-- otherwise specifically exciting-- choice for several years to come.
Edgier Designing
Toyota's The golden state style workshops shaped the outside, which is larger in all major measurements than the old Highlander. To my eyes, Toyota's smaller RAV4 SUV looks better-proportioned, with simply enough curves to offset the angles. With its creased fronts lights, flashy grille and characterless bumper, the Highlander appears a little bit also glossy-- like a corner store customer that won't remove his sunglasses.
The back bumper has lumpy reflectors on each side, and also many trim degrees have a glass hatch that opens up independent of the liftgate. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard; the Sport and also Limited have 19-inchers that complete the wheel wells well. The Sporting activity has a dark silver grille and smoked-out headlights. The Limited has plainer headlights and chrome exterior moldings.
At 188.4 inches long and also 75.2 inches broad, the Highlander casts approximately the same shadow as a Honda Pilot, Subaru Tribeca or Hyundai Veracruz. The Mazda CX-9 as well as Saturn Outlook are both regarding a foot longer.
The Inside
Toyota has spent years developing a credibility for high quality, and absent any type of significant competition, the brand-new Highlander could have kept that standard. The competition is absolutely nothing if not significant, though, and also SUVs like the CX-9 and also Veracruz boast some impressively upscale interiors. In comparison, Toyota drops a bit short.
The Highlander shares underpinnings with the present Camry, and also the dashboard births a lot of the car's taste. The facility controls are the natural centerpiece, with extra-large knobs for major features within simple reach. Sport as well as Limited models have a 3.5-inch display atop the stereo. It shows gas mileage, outside temperature and even more. It likewise reveals setups for the optional automatic environment control system, which can split the cabin into as several as three temperature zones-- two front and one rear. The climate manages rest below the stereo, and they're very messy. I counted 13 switches between the two temperature handles; that's a lot of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. On the other hand, the common hands-on a/c is straightforward.
Cabin quality is simply average. The home window changes, turn signals as well as facility controls might go straight into a Lexus, as well as the chrome accents and also electroluminescent gauges look fantastic. Many areas are trimmed in tough plastics, nonetheless, and the textures do not have the charm of the stuff in numerous rivals. Most awful of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is several of the most affordable mouse hair this side of an economy car.
Parents will certainly appreciate the storage space alternatives. The center console between the front seats has four cupholders and a broad storage container. Neglect laptop computers; the glove box could fit a little desktop. (Probably not the monitor, however-- let's not get carried away.).
Three standard rows of seats suit up to seven, though you could drop the third row in order to conserve a little money, decreasing seating capability to five. The front seats provide a lot of room, with a trick extender in the Highlander Limited that expands the padding under the motorist's upper legs. Good touch.
The 2nd row is similarly wide, with reclining backrests and seat pillows that change backward and forward. The facility seat has Toyota's brand-new Center Stow function. It's primarily a dive seat, which travelers could exchange for a plastic center console, transforming the second row into two captain's chairs. The unused section-- either the center seat or console-- shops in a flooring compartment between the pole positions. After a few practice runs, I had the ability to make the adjustment in around 25 secs.
The dive seat is light sufficient for easy setup. Its comfort is trial and error, also for a middle seat; the bottom pillow is substantial, but I could quickly feel the joints underneath the backrest padding. The plastic console is lighter still, and also both pieces have strong setup hooks that ought to make it through plenty of knocking from overenthusiastic youngsters.
Relying on where the 2nd row is placed, the 3rd row can be remarkably adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet high and located headroom a bit limited, but with the second row moved on a few inches-- maintaining a lot of legroom for the majority of grownups-- the third row's legroom was such that I might endure a brief journey.
Bigger Engine, Better Gas Mileage
All Highlanders get the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna and a number of other Toyotas. In the Highlander it makes 270 horsepower and 248 pounds-feet of torque. Both are considerable gains over last year's V-6, makinged 215 hp and 222 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is conventional. Last year's base four-cylinder engine has actually been gone down.
Velocity suffices off the line and stronger as the engine revs. The transmission helps points along, holding equipments and also hardly ever changing prematurely. Difficult acceleration can trigger some sudden shifts among lower gears-- much better for acceleration, even worse for comfort-- however the majority of the time the shifts are smooth sufficient to pass unnoticed. The drivetrain feels ideal on the freeway, where it downshifts with marginal equipment hunting. 3rd gear is especially potent for 50-to-70 mph passing away.
The optional four-wheel drive is clear to the vehicle driver. It integrates a center differential to split power 50/50 in between the front and also rear wheels all of the time. Four-wheel-drive models have a downhill assist feature. Press a dashboard switch, and also it will slow the SUV to a crawl down steep grades. The feature appears a little bit insincere: There is no low equipment for offroad rock crawling, which means you must possibly prevent anywhere treacherous enough to need the downhill aid.
All Highlanders have a hill-start help that holds the brakes for approximately 3 seconds from a stop to prevent the SUV from rolling backwards before you have time to hit the gas.
Using the EPA's even more reasonable 2008 score system-- which generally leads to reduce numbers-- gas mileage is rated at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive versions and 17/23 mpg for those with 4x4. These scores lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They additionally defeated the old V-6 Highlander by about 1 mpg (readjusted using the EPA's brand-new estimation)-- an excellent feat, offered the new Highlander has more power as well as weighs some 300 extra pounds more. (Four-cylinder followers will not miss much: The old four-cylinder Highlander got simply 1 mpg more than the new one does with the V-6.).
Flight & Handling
The unibody building and construction affords a comfy ride, with none of the underbody vibrating that tormented the previous Highlander (which was also unibody) and also several body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sport, but I could not detect a difference in ride suppleness among the base, Sport and also Limited. All three have a bit a lot more suspension sound over major bumps compared to I have actually involved anticipate in a midsize SUV.
Wind noise is very little. Provided a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are fairly quiet. The Sporting activity as well as Limited's 19-inch wheels and P245/55R19 tires discharge a small hum at freeway rates, which I could not find with the base version's 17-inchers as well as thicker P245/65R19 rubber.
All designs currently feature electric power guiding. These systems conserve a little bit on fuel intake-- a little bit of low-hanging fruit to fulfill the government's fuel economic climate standards, I presume-- however they often lead to lifeless, synthetic steering feeling. Expectedly, the Highlander guides with a light touch, never supplying a lot in the method of responses or transforming accuracy. The CX-9 prices better hereof, but couple of various other rivals attract attention. The exact same holds true for body roll: Like a lot of SUVs, the Highlander leans away in curves, advising chauffeurs it's not to be caught quickly.
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are common. The pedal offers squishy action, however the brakes clamp down hard when required.
Freight & Towing
With all three rows mounted and also raised, freight space in back is a weak 10.3 cubic feet. The 3rd row folds up flat into the flooring, as well as the second row folds almost level. Highlanders without the 3rd row rather consist of a fairly big storage space location under the rear flooring.
With all seats folded, optimal cargo quantity is 95.4 cubic feet, which contrasts extra favorably with the group.
When properly geared up, the Highlander could tow up to 5,000 extra pounds.
Safety.
In Insurance Coverage Institute for Highway Security frontal crash tests, the 2008 Highlander scored the greatest rating, Good. IIHS has not tested the Highlander for side effects.
Toyota really did not skimp on security functions. All Highlanders come basic with four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, grip control and a digital stability system. The stability system currently works with the electrical power guiding, which improves the power assist when the chauffeur is steering to deal with a skid. It likewise helps combat steering pull under tough stopping in order to help the Highlander drop in a straight line. (Toyota says the system could not guide the SUV on its own, as some sophisticated systems now do, so if you guide the upside-down in a skid, do not anticipate any kind of added power aid.).
Seven airbags are typical, consisting of the required double front air bags, a vehicle driver's knee air bag and also side-impact airbags for the pole positions. There are additionally roll-sensing side curtain air bags for all 3 rows, which deploy throughout a rollover to avoid resident ejection.
All seats have head restraints, and also in Sporting activity as well as Limited models, the front ones are forward-adjustable for far better whiplash protection. Active head restrictions are typical on the front seats of all trims. The second row consists of Latch child-seat supports in the outboard seats, with quickly available top-tether anchors midway down the seatback.
Functions & Rates
Leaving out the location cost, the base Highlander with two-wheel drive starts at $27,300. A Highlander Limited with a complete bunch of choices runs around $42,000. Four-wheel drive on any trim adds regarding $1,500. All trim levels have three rows of seats, though a third-row remove alternative on certain models could save $740.
For $27,300, the base Highlander has 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, a CD stereo with a complementary MP3 jack, a/c, cruise control, as well as power windows, mirrors and door locks.
For $29,950, the Sporting activity includes darkened exterior components, 19-inch wheels, fog lights, a power motorist's seat, a multifunction wheel, a back-up camera as well as six-CD sound.
For $32,700, the Limited includes a keyless start-up system, automated environment control, natural leather upholstery and also a power guest seat. Most of these features are optional on the Sport. Options on both trim levels include a navigation system, JBL costs sound, a rear seat DVD player, a moonroof, a power tailgate and warmed pole positions.
Highlander on the market
Competitors from GM, Mazda and also Hyundai will certainly give the Highlander a run for its loan. Its biggest rival, the Honda Pilot, is due for a redesign in the next year or two, as well as Toyota's trump card-- its online reputation for quality as well as reliability-- has actually been slipping lately. The car manufacturer has actually vowed to redouble its initiatives, and its newest SUV must prove that.
The new Highlander has great deals of textbook sensibilities, like suitable gas mileage and also lots of security functions, however there's nothing outstanding concerning it. If it verifies as bulletproof as its predecessor, though, reliability will certainly become its defining attribute, which is a textbook draw a great deal of purchasers can get behind.