2015 toyota Highlander Limited
By
pusahma2008
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018
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2015 Toyota Highlander
Toyota heard consumers while upgrading the seven/eight-seat 2014 Highlander and reacted to demands for more cabin and cargo area, dynamic designing and costs amenities. Requests for a more vibrant driving experience must have been professionally disregarded, nonetheless, as the 2014's harsher ride is a tradeoff I do not think many midsize SUV purchasers must have to live with in return for sportier handling.
Still, other enhancements will unquestionably appeal to consumers that had actually damaged the previous Highlander off their list or at least to those who don't consider a comfortable ride an essential. The 2014 Highlander's enhanced freight area behind the conventional third-row seat is a much-needed improvement; plus, it's much easier to obtain right into the 3rd row, which now seatses three and bumps conventional seating capacity to eight.
2015 toyota highlander limited
With upgrades that extend the lineup of LE, LE And Also, XLE, Limited as well as Limited Platinum trim degrees, the 2014 Highlander is currently in much better form to take on the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2014 Ford Traveler as well as 2014 Honda Pilot.
I drove four-cylinder, six-cylinder and also Hybrid 2014 Highlanders at a Toyota media event.
Outside & Designing
Toyota returned to the drawing board to upgrade its aging and stylistically empty Highlander. Fast-forward to 2014, as well as you can't call the Highlander boring looking any longer. The 2013's ho-hum appearance changes right into a hulking SUV with a beefier stance, protruding fenders and vibrant front styling. Its existence was big on the 2013 New York International Car Program flooring where it debuted, and also it looks just as good rolling down the street.
How It Drives
The driving experience isn't the automobile's most attractive attribute, even with a selection of promising brand-new framework and also suspension adjustments, so it excels the new SUV does so several various other things well.
Toyota picked curvy canyon and also seaside roads in The golden state to show the Highlander's new handling chops. Driving a 2013 and also 2014 back to back, the 2014 does show greater degrees of road grip and an enhanced guiding response. It's more sports when digging right into an edge, though I would not call the Highlander fun to drive. The 270-horsepower V-6 does not have an immediate punch of velocity in the hefty Highlander. It's a far cry from the lighter, 290-hp Hyundai Santa Fe, which is a "little" round of excitement to name a few similar three-row SUVs. A six-cylinder Highlander LE with front-wheel drive is 4,244 extra pounds, while a V-6, front-wheel-drive Santa Fe GLS is 3,933 pounds.
An unfavorable effect of the Highlander's newly found characteristics is a choppier flight over rough roadways. After driving 2013 as well as 2014 models, I could tell the 2014 transmits even more road imperfections through the chassis as well as right into seats. Hey, Toyota: It's ALRIGHT to have a hostile design and trip like a couch; see the 2014 Chevrolet Impala.
On the benefit, the 2014 Highlander has a more significant sensation over harsh roadways, with fewer rattles, squeals and also framework flex. It's a matured experience with boosted sound insulation, acoustic glass as well as a stiffer chassis helping keep outside noise very little.
I quickly hung out in the four-cylinder Highlander with front-wheel drive, which Toyota anticipates to account for 5 to 10 percent of sales, and also in the brand new Highlander Crossbreed. Both the front-wheel-drive-only four-cylinder (20/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined) as well as all-wheel-drive-only Crossbreed V-6 (27/28/28 mpg) are a little rough around the sides regarding engine sound and resonances. The Hybrid's gas mileage is relatively the same for 2014, down 1 mpg in city scores to 27 mpg but maintains its 28 mpg incorporated ranking. The change from electrical to when the engine fires up is noticeable with raw sounds originating from under the hood, audible from across a parking area. Vibrations from the change are marginal, yet the sounds are loud enough to take notice.
An added 353 extra pounds included in the hybrid from 3 electric motors-- two in the front and one in the back-- and also a nickel steel hydride battery is recognizable in exactly how the Crossbreed drives compared with the Minimal V-6 with all-wheel drive. It's an unwinded experience less excited concerning accelerating as well as taking care of despite having 280-hp combined, as well as it also does not ride any smoother compared to the non-hybrid.
The Crossbreed's abnormally loud engine noises would not be as much of an issue if the Highlander Crossbreed weren't $48,160 with location, $7,130 greater than 2013-- a 2014 Lexus RX 450h is $47,320, though a lot smaller sized on the inside. The Highlander Hybrid's deluxe cars and truck rate doesn't mirror high-end improvement since the feature-loaded Hybrid Limited is the only Hybrid used; the less-expensive variation got the axe for 2014.
The volume-seller V-6 is the most fine-tuned of the number, providing smooth and also predictable acceleration in addition to the most effective handling with all-wheel drive. The V-6-powered Highlander's gas mileage of 19/25/21 mpg with front-wheel drive and also 18/24/20 mpg with four-wheel drive is also a lot more competitive than the outbound 2013 thanks to a new six-speed automatic transmission replacing a five-speed system on V-6 versions. The all-wheel-drive system, which is likewise new, aids include 2 mpg freeway over the 2013 version. All-wheel-drive Highlanders send out torque to the back wheels when slippage is found, versus the previous system that constantly sent out torque to four wheels.
Interior
Part of the 2014's transformation consists of calling up the interior styling with many soft-touch and accent-stitched interior panels that enhance the classiness. The top quality is Toyota-Avalon nice with a sewn control panel, steering wheel and soft-touch, high-quality products in famous places. Plastic areas that aren't textured, stitched or covered are still on the same level for the course. Even the base LE Highlander radiates the almost luxurylike niceness of the higher-optioned Limited trims.
Seats is comfortable in the initial as well as second rows with soft, large front seats and a highly flexible second row that glides and also reclines with two captain's chairs or the conventional three-seat bench configuration-- captain's chairs are offered on the XLE and also common on the Limited. The remainder of the Highlander may have been redone with dynamism in mind, however the seats speak with its comfort-focused roots. Lots of people on our personnel will certainly miss the 2013's detachable second-row facility seat. I won't, as it was uncomfortable and also large to eliminate and change with the center table that stored under the center console.
In the third row, Toyota boosted size and also added an added seat for an optimum capability of 8 passengers in basic configuration. A brand-new, a lot more small rear suspension released the additional space. The third row still does not fit grownups with as much comfort as the bigger Chevrolet Traverse, but it readies in a pinch. There are likewise new one-touch folding second-row seats on both sides. Formerly, just the curbside seat folded up as well as slid forward via the one-touch lever. Third-row riders also take advantage of the second row's increased seat travel, which permits very easy entrance and leave.
Ergonomics & Electronics
Modern technology is a massive emphasis in the 2014 Highlander and also done extremely well. Toyota's Entune multimedia system works much better compared to ever compared to other Toyota lorries where I've made use of the system. Functioning the Entune system's voice commands is impressive. The versions I checked detected the various voice commands I spoke.
Those with bulky phones or who frequently have their phone attached to the SUV will appreciate a device storage space ledge listed below the environment regulates that offers a pass-through for USB cables. There should disappear Medusa-like dangling of cables the equipment selector.
The standard Entune on base LE designs consists of a 6.1-inch touch-screen with backup video camera, USB port with iPod connection, complementary input, voice acknowledgment, Bluetooth phone connection and Bluetooth streaming sound. LE And also trims have Entune Audio Plus with a higher-resolution 6.1-inch screen, HD Radio and also 90-day satellite radio membership. The following step up is Entune Premium Audio with Navigating and App Suite on XLE designs with an 8-inch touch-screen and also application suite with Pandora, Yelp as well as Facebook assimilation with a smartphone and also going along with Entune downloadable application. A JBL stereo is common on Restricted trim levels.
The substantial center storage space bin between the front seats can feast on anything plus-sized, like a handbag, iPad or Blu-ray collection for the readily available rear-seat Blu-ray player. And when you neglect that Blu-ray at home, an interesting new feature called Easy Speak transmits the flourishing voice of an angry mama or daddy via the back stereo audio speakers by means of the Bluetooth microphone to maintain wild kids in check. Just how much extra family members concentrated can you obtain than supplying a function that enables moms and dads to yell at kids?
Freight, Towing & Storage space
Cargo area behind the third row boosts over the previous Highlander's revealing walk, which struggled bring grocery stores, not to mention a stroller or golf bag. The cargo quantity is now ranked at 13.8 cubic feet, up from 10.3 cubic feet. It's not a massive enhancement, however at least it makes the location functional. It's still little compared to others in the sector: The Traveler has 21 cubic feet and the Pilot has 18 cubic feet behind the 3rd row. Toyota's hoax to raise cargo area included relocating all 3 rows of seats forward, adding length behind the back wheels and making use of an extra compact rear suspension.
The power liftgate is an impressive feature to be common on LE Plus trim levels and above, and has a trick up its sleeve: It adjusts to different heights, not simply a couple of fixed elevation setups. With the liftgate in motion, individuals can quit the liftgate and also program it to open to that established height the next time. The feature will certainly make much shorter motorists and proprietors of reduced garages really delighted. (If eviction goes too high, shorter individuals could struggle to get to the power-close switch on its lower edge.) An additional special feature on the back is an oldie but a reward: On LE Plus versions as well as above, the rear window opens up for very easy gain access to independent of the cargo entrance.
A 5,000-pound tow ranking on XLE and also Limited trim levels has a common towing plan that consists of engine/transmission colders and upgraded radiator and also generator. Crossbreeds could tow 3,500 extra pounds, V-6 LE/LE And also could tow 2,000 extra pounds as well as a four-cylinder LE is rated at 1,500 pounds.
Safety and security
The 2014 Highlander hadn't been crash-tested at the time of this writing.
The 2014 Highlander gives lower anchors and tethers on outboard second-row seats for child-safety seats, however just a tether anchor on the center third-row seat.
Advanced security features are available, though just on the expensive Restricted trim level where a dead spot surveillance system and back auto parking assist are typical, and pre-collision, adaptive cruise control and lane separation warning are optional. Restricted trim degrees are additionally the only models with a backup camera that uses predictive standards to reveal the car's course-- a backup video camera with set lines is basic on all various other trim levels.
Value in Its Class
Toyota states pricing is up around $1,500 usually across the 2014 trim degrees, which include extra functions over the 2013. Base prices begins at $30,075 for a base four-cylinder LE with location, while volume-seller XLE designs with all-wheel drive are $38,360 as well as consist of natural leather seatsing with heated pole positions, navigating, three-zone environment control, clever keyless entrance, second-row sunshades and even more. Pricing for the XLE is extremely competitive to three-row midsize SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Ford Traveler or even the Hyundai Santa Fe.
The 2013 Highlander was absolutely a midpack three-row SUV, lagging behind in crucial locations like indoor high quality, cargo space and technology. Rest assured, if you're a Highlander proprietor wanting to upgrade-- as long as you're unconcerned regarding trip top quality-- the 2014 is not only a compelling upgrade, but also worthy of cross-shopping the section's ideal.