Toyota Highlander 2015 Interior
By
Herman Syah
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Wednesday, March 28, 2018
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2015 Toyota Highlander
Toyota heard consumers while upgrading the seven/eight-seat 2014 Highlander and also replied to demands for more cabin and also freight space, dynamic designing as well as premium amenities. Ask for an extra dynamic driving experience needs to have been professionally overlooked, nonetheless, as the 2014's harsher trip is a tradeoff I do not believe numerous midsize SUV customers should have to cope with in return for sportier handling.
Still, other renovations will definitely attract customers who had scraped the previous Highlander off their listing or a minimum of to those who do not think about a comfortable flight an essential. The 2014 Highlander's increased freight area behind the common third-row seat is a much-needed enhancement; plus, it's easier to get into the third row, which currently seats 3 as well as bumps common sitting capacity to eight.
toyota highlander 2015 interior
With upgrades that span the schedule of LE, LE And Also, XLE, Limited and Limited Platinum trim levels, the 2014 Highlander is now in 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 Hybrid 2014 Highlanders at a Toyota media event.
Outside & Designing
Toyota went back to the attracting board to revamp its aging and also stylistically empty Highlander. Fast-forward to 2014, and also you cannot call the Highlander boring looking any type of longer. The 2013's dull appearance changes into a hulking SUV with a beefier stance, bulging fenders as well as strong front styling. Its visibility was big on the 2013 New York City International Auto Show flooring where it debuted, and it looks equally as good rolling down the street.
Just how It Drives
The driving experience isn't really the car's most appealing attribute, despite having a selection of promising new framework and suspension modifications, so it readies the new SUV does so several other points well.
Toyota chose curved canyon and seaside roadways in California to demonstrate the Highlander's new handling chops. Driving a 2013 as well as 2014 back to back, the 2014 does display higher degrees of roadway grasp as well as an enhanced guiding reaction. It's even more athletic when excavating right into an edge, though I wouldn't call the Highlander fun to drive. The 270-horsepower V-6 does not have an instant punch of velocity in the hefty Highlander. It's a far cry from the lighter, 290-hp Hyundai Santa Fe, which is a "little" sphere of exhilaration among other comparable three-row SUVs. A six-cylinder Highlander LE with front-wheel drive is 4,244 pounds, while a V-6, front-wheel-drive Santa Fe GLS is 3,933 pounds.
An adverse effect of the Highlander's newfound dynamics is a choppier flight over rough roads. After driving 2013 and also 2014 models, I could inform the 2014 sends more roadway flaws with the framework and also into seats. Hey, Toyota: It's OK to have a hostile style as well as trip like a couch; see the 2014 Chevrolet Impala.
On the advantage, the 2014 Highlander has an extra substantial sensation over harsh roads, with fewer rattles, squeaks and also framework flex. It's a matured experience with raised noise insulation, acoustic glass and also a stiffer chassis helping keep outside sound marginal.
I quickly hung around in the four-cylinder Highlander with front-wheel drive, which Toyota expects to account for 5 to 10 percent of sales, and also in the all-new Highlander Hybrid. Both the front-wheel-drive-only four-cylinder (20/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined) as well as all-wheel-drive-only Hybrid V-6 (27/28/28 mpg) are a little harsh around the sides as far as engine noise and also resonances. The Hybrid's gas mileage is fairly unchanged for 2014, down 1 mpg in city rankings to 27 mpg but keeps its 28 mpg incorporated score. The change from electrical to when the engine fires up is obvious with raw sounds coming from under the hood, distinct from throughout a parking lot. Resonances from the shift are marginal, but the noises are audible to take notice.
An extra 353 extra pounds added to the hybrid from three electrical motors-- 2 in the front and also one in the back-- as well as a nickel metal hydride battery is visible in just how the Hybrid drives compared to the Limited V-6 with four-wheel drive. It's a loosened up experience much less excited about accelerating as well as handling despite having 280-hp incorporated, and it additionally does not ride any smoother compared to the non-hybrid.
The Hybrid's uncommonly loud engine noises would not be as much of an issue if the Highlander Crossbreed weren't $48,160 with location, $7,130 more than 2013-- a 2014 Lexus RX 450h is $47,320, though a lot smaller sized on the within. The Highlander Crossbreed's high-end auto price doesn't reflect luxury improvement since the feature-loaded Hybrid Limited is the only Hybrid used; the less-expensive version obtained the axe for 2014.
The volume-seller V-6 is one of the most improved of the lot, providing smooth and also foreseeable acceleration as well as the very best 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 all-wheel drive is also extra affordable compared to the outward bound 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 additionally brand-new, assists include 2 mpg highway over the 2013 variation. All-wheel-drive Highlanders send torque to the rear wheels when slippage is detected, versus the previous system that constantly sent torque to 4 wheels.
Interior
Part of the 2014's transformation consists of dialing up the indoor styling with many soft-touch and accent-stitched interior panels that improve the classiness. The high quality is Toyota-Avalon great with a sewn dashboard, steering wheel and soft-touch, top quality materials in noticeable areas. Plastic areas that typically aren't textured, sewed or covered are still on par for the course. Even the base LE Highlander emanates the virtually luxurylike niceness of the higher-optioned Limited trims.
Seats fits in the initial and second rows with soft, large pole positions and a highly adjustable second row that slides and reclines with 2 captain's chairs or the standard three-seat bench configuration-- captain's chairs are offered on the XLE and standard on the Limited. The rest of the Highlander might have been redone with dynamism in mind, however the seats speak to its comfort-focused roots. Many individuals on our team will certainly miss out on the 2013's removable second-row center seat. I will not, as it was unpleasant and bulky to remove and change with the center table that stored under the facility console.
In the 3rd row, Toyota increased size as well as included an extra seat for an optimum capability of 8 owners in basic arrangement. A new, a lot more small back suspension freed the extra space. The 3rd row still does not fit grownups with as much comfort as the larger Chevrolet Traverse, but it excels in a pinch. There are additionally brand-new one-touch folding second-row seats on both sides. Formerly, only the curbside seat folded and also glided forward via the one-touch lever. Third-row cyclists likewise take advantage of the second row's increased seat travel, which allows easy access and also departure.
Functional design & Electronics
Innovation is a massive focus in the 2014 Highlander and also done quite possibly. Toyota's Entune multimedia system works much better compared to ever before compared to other Toyota lorries where I've used the system. Functioning the Entune system's voice commands is impressive. The versions I evaluated detected the various voice commands I talked.
Those with large phones or who regularly have their phone linked to the SUV will certainly value a tool storage step below the environment manages that offers a pass-through for USB cords. There must disappear Medusa-like dangling of wires ensnaring the gear selector.
The standard Entune on base LE versions consists of a 6.1-inch touch-screen with backup electronic camera, USB port with iPod connection, auxiliary 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 display screen, HD Radio as well as 90-day satellite radio registration. The next step up is Entune Costs Sound with Navigating and App Collection on XLE models with an 8-inch touch-screen as well as application collection with Pandora, Yelp as well as Facebook combination with a smart device and going along with Entune downloadable application. A JBL stereo is standard on Minimal trim levels.
The substantial center storage container between the pole positions can devour anything plus-sized, like a handbag, iPad or Blu-ray collection for the offered rear-seat Blu-ray player. When you forget that Blu-ray at home, an intriguing brand-new feature called Easy Speak transfers the growing voice of an upset mom or dad via the back stereo audio speakers using the Bluetooth microphone to keep rowdy kids in check. How much a lot more household focused can you obtain than providing a function that allows moms and dads to yell at children?
Cargo, Towing & Storage space
Cargo space behind the 3rd row improves over the previous Highlander's skimpy walk, which battled lugging groceries, let alone an infant stroller or golf bag. The cargo quantity is currently ranked at 13.8 cubic feet, up from 10.3 cubic feet. It's not a substantial improvement, but at least it makes the location functional. It's still little compared with others in the sector: The Traveler has 21 cubic feet and the Pilot has 18 cubic feet behind the third row. Toyota's hoax to increase freight area involved relocating all three rows of seats ahead, adding size behind the back wheels and utilizing a much more small back suspension.
The power liftgate is an impressive function to be typical on LE Plus trim levels and above, as well as has a trick up its sleeve: It gets used to different elevations, not just 1 or 2 predetermined height settings. With the liftgate moving, users could stop the liftgate and also program it to open up to that set elevation the following time. The feature will make shorter vehicle drivers and also owners of reduced garages very delighted. (If the gate goes expensive, shorter folks may struggle to get to the power-close switch on its lower edge.) One more one-of-a-kind feature on the back is an oldie yet a reward: On LE And also models as well as above, the back window opens for very easy access independent of the freight entrance.
A 5,000-pound tow score on XLE and Limited trim levels features a basic towing plan that includes engine/transmission colders and also updated radiator as well as generator. Crossbreeds could tow 3,500 pounds, V-6 LE/LE Plus can tow 2,000 pounds and a four-cylinder LE is rated at 1,500 extra pounds.
Safety
The 2014 Highlander had not been crash-tested at the time of this writing.
The 2014 Highlander provides lower anchors and also tethers on outboard second-row seats for child-safety seats, but only a tether support on the center third-row seat.
Advanced safety and security attributes are available, though only on the pricey Limited trim level where a blind spot surveillance system and also back car parking aid are basic, as well as pre-collision, flexible cruise ship control as well as lane departure caution are optional. Minimal trim levels are additionally the only designs with a back-up cam that makes use of predictive standards to reveal the vehicle's path-- a back-up electronic camera with fixed lines is common on all various other trim degrees.
Value in Its Class
Toyota claims pricing is up around $1,500 generally throughout the 2014 trim degrees, that include additional attributes over the 2013. Base prices starts at $30,075 for a base four-cylinder LE with destination, while volume-seller XLE versions with all-wheel drive are $38,360 and consist of leather seatsing with warmed front seats, navigation, three-zone climate control, wise keyless entry, second-row sunshades and also even more. Rates for the XLE is really affordable to three-row midsize SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Ford Traveler and even the Hyundai Santa Fe.
The 2013 Highlander was really a midpack three-row SUV, hanging back in essential locations like interior top quality, cargo area and also technology. Rest assured, if you're a Highlander owner wanting to update-- as long as you're unconcerned about flight quality-- the 2014 is not just a compelling upgrade, but likewise deserving of cross-shopping the sector's best.