Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2015
By
pupu sahma
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Thursday, April 12, 2018
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2015 Toyota Highlander
Toyota heard customers while revamping the seven/eight-seat 2014 Highlander as well as reacted to needs for even more cabin as well as freight space, dynamic styling and also premium facilities. Requests for a much more vibrant driving experience needs to have been pleasantly disregarded, however, as the 2014's harsher ride is a tradeoff I do not believe many midsize SUV buyers ought to need to deal with in return for sportier handling.
Still, various other renovations will most certainly interest customers who had scraped the previous Highlander off their checklist or a minimum of to those that don't think about a comfy trip a must-have. The 2014 Highlander's boosted cargo area behind the common third-row seat is a much-needed enhancement; plus, it's less complicated to get right into the third row, which now sittings three and bumps typical seating ability to 8.
toyota highlander hybrid 2015
With upgrades that cover the lineup of LE, LE Plus, XLE, Limited as well as Limited Platinum trim levels, the 2014 Highlander is now in far better shape to tackle the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2014 Ford Explorer as well as 2014 Honda Pilot.
I drove four-cylinder, six-cylinder as well as Hybrid 2014 Highlanders at a Toyota media event.
Exterior & Styling
Toyota returned to the drawing board to upgrade its aging as well as stylistically empty Highlander. Fast-forward to 2014, and also you can not call the Highlander boring looking any longer. The 2013's dull appearance changes into a hulking SUV with a beefier stance, protruding fenders as well as bold front designing. Its presence approved the 2013 New York City International Automobile Show floor where it debuted, as well as it looks just as excellent rolling down the street.
Just how It Drives
The driving experience isn't the auto's most attractive quality, despite a selection of encouraging new framework as well as suspension changes, so it excels the new SUV does so numerous various other points well.
Toyota selected curvy canyon and also seaside roads in The golden state to demonstrate the Highlander's new handling chops. Driving a 2013 as well as 2014 back to back, the 2014 does display greater levels of roadway grip and also an enhanced steering feedback. It's more sports when digging right into an edge, though I wouldn't call the Highlander enjoyable to drive. The 270-horsepower V-6 does not have an instant punch of acceleration 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 extra pounds, while a V-6, front-wheel-drive Santa Fe GLS is 3,933 extra pounds.
An adverse impact of the Highlander's newfound dynamics is a choppier trip over rough roads. After driving 2013 and 2014 designs, I might inform the 2014 sends even more road flaws through the chassis and also right into seats. Hey, Toyota: It's OKAY to have a hostile layout and also trip like a sofa; see the 2014 Chevrolet Impala.
On the upside, the 2014 Highlander has a much more substantial feeling over harsh roads, with less rattles, squeaks as well as chassis flex. It's a matured experience with raised noise insulation, acoustic glass and also a stiffer chassis aiding keep outside sound marginal.
I quickly spent time 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 Hybrid. Both the front-wheel-drive-only four-cylinder (20/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined) and all-wheel-drive-only Hybrid V-6 (27/28/28 mpg) are a little rough around the edges as far as engine sound as well as vibrations. The Hybrid's gas mileage is relatively unchanged for 2014, down 1 mpg in city rankings to 27 mpg yet preserves its 28 mpg integrated score. The transition from electrical to when the engine fires up is recognizable with raw noises originating from under the hood, distinct from throughout a parking area. Vibrations from the change are very little, yet the noises are loud enough to take notice.
An added 353 extra pounds added to the crossbreed from three electric motors-- 2 in the front and one in the back-- as well as a nickel steel hydride battery is noticeable in exactly how the Crossbreed drives compared with the Restricted V-6 with four-wheel drive. It's an unwinded experience less thrilled about increasing as well as managing despite having 280-hp integrated, as well as it also doesn't ride any kind of smoother compared to the non-hybrid.
The Hybrid's uncommonly loud engine sounds wouldn't be as much of a problem if the Highlander Hybrid just weren't $48,160 with location, $7,130 more than 2013-- a 2014 Lexus RX 450h is $47,320, though much smaller on the inside. The Highlander Hybrid's luxury car rate does not show deluxe refinement since the feature-loaded Crossbreed Limited is the only Hybrid supplied; the less-expensive variation obtained the axe for 2014.
The volume-seller V-6 is the most fine-tuned of the number, supplying smooth and also predictable velocity along with 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 18/24/20 mpg with all-wheel drive is additionally more competitive than the outward bound 2013 thanks to a brand-new six-speed automatic transmission replacing a five-speed unit on V-6 versions. The all-wheel-drive system, which is also brand-new, aids add 2 mpg freeway over the 2013 variation. All-wheel-drive Highlanders send torque to the back wheels when slippage is discovered, versus the previous system that always sent out torque to 4 wheels.
Inside
Part of the 2014's makeover includes calling up the interior styling with numerous soft-touch and accent-stitched interior panels that enhance the classiness. The quality is Toyota-Avalon great with a stitched dashboard, guiding wheel as well as soft-touch, premium materials in popular places. Plastic locations that aren't textured, stitched or covered are still on the same level for the class. Also the base LE Highlander emanates the practically luxurylike niceness of the higher-optioned Limited trims.
Seats fits in the first and 2nd rows with soft, vast pole positions as well as a very flexible 2nd row that slides and reclines with 2 captain's chairs or the typical three-seat bench setup-- captain's chairs are available on the XLE and typical on the Limited. The remainder of the Highlander might have been redone with dynamism in mind, yet the seats talk with its comfort-focused origins. Many people on our team will miss out on the 2013's detachable second-row facility seat. I will not, as it was awkward and large to get rid of and change with the center table that kept under the facility console.
In the third row, Toyota raised size and also included an additional seat for a maximum capacity of 8 owners in basic configuration. A new, more portable rear suspension freed the added space. The 3rd row still doesn't fit adults with as much convenience as the larger Chevrolet Traverse, however it readies in a pinch. There are also new one-touch folding second-row seats on both sides. Formerly, only the curbside seat folded as well as slid ahead using the one-touch lever. Third-row cyclists also gain from the 2nd row's increased seat traveling, which enables easy entry as well as exit.
Comfort design & Electronics
Innovation is a massive focus in the 2014 Highlander and also done extremely well. Toyota's Entune multimedia system works much better compared to ever compared with other Toyota vehicles in which I've made use of the system. Functioning the Entune system's voice commands goes over. The designs I evaluated noticed the various voice commands I spoke.
Those with bulky phones or that frequently have their phone linked to the SUV will certainly value a device storage walk below the environment controls that provides a pass-through for USB cables. There ought to disappear Medusa-like dangling of wires ensnaring the equipment selector.
The common Entune on base LE designs consists of a 6.1-inch touch-screen with backup camera, USB port with iPod connectivity, auxiliary input, voice acknowledgment, Bluetooth phone connection and also Bluetooth streaming sound. LE And also trims have Entune Sound And also with a higher-resolution 6.1-inch display, HD Radio and also 90-day satellite radio registration. The next step up is Entune Costs Sound with Navigating and also App Collection on XLE designs with an 8-inch touch-screen and app collection with Pandora, Yelp and also Facebook integration with a mobile phone and also going along with Entune downloadable application. A JBL stereo is common on Limited trim degrees.
The huge center storage container in between the front seats could feed on anything plus-sized, like a purse, iPad or Blu-ray collection for the available rear-seat Blu-ray player. And when you fail to remember that Blu-ray in your home, a fascinating brand-new feature called Easy Speak transmits the thriving voice of a mad mommy or father with the back stereo audio speakers using the Bluetooth microphone to maintain rowdy children in check. What does it cost? more family members focused can you obtain compared to providing a feature that allows moms and dads to yell at kids?
Cargo, Towing & Storage space
Cargo space behind the 3rd row boosts over the previous Highlander's sexy ledge, which had a hard time bring grocery stores, let alone a baby 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 substantial enhancement, but at least it makes the location functional. It's still tiny compared with others in the section: The Explorer has 21 cubic feet and also the Pilot has 18 cubic feet behind the 3rd row. Toyota's hoax to boost cargo space entailed moving all 3 rows of seats onward, including length behind the rear wheels as well as making use of a much more small back suspension.
The power liftgate is a remarkable attribute to be basic on LE And also trim levels and above, and also has a trick up its sleeve: It gets used to numerous elevations, not simply one or two established elevation setups. With the liftgate in motion, customers can stop the liftgate and program it to available to that set height the next time. The function will certainly make shorter chauffeurs as well as proprietors of reduced garages very happy. (If the gate goes too expensive, much shorter people might struggle to get to the power-close switch on its bottom side.) An additional distinct function on the back is an oldie yet a reward: On LE Plus versions and above, the rear window opens up for very easy access independent of the freight gateway.
A 5,000-pound tow ranking on XLE and Limited trim degrees has a standard towing package that consists of engine/transmission colders and also updated radiator as well as alternator. Crossbreeds can tow 3,500 pounds, V-6 LE/LE Plus could tow 2,000 extra pounds and also a four-cylinder LE is ranked at 1,500 extra pounds.
Safety and security
The 2014 Highlander hadn't been crash-tested at the time of this writing.
The 2014 Highlander provides reduced anchors and also tethers on outboard second-row seats for child-safety seats, but only a tether anchor on the middle third-row seat.
Advanced security functions are available, though only on the costly Minimal trim degree where a dead spot monitoring system as well as back parking assist are basic, and also pre-collision, flexible cruise control and lane departure warning are optional. Restricted trim levels are also the only models with a backup cam that utilizes anticipating guidelines to reveal the vehicle's course-- a backup camera with fixed lines is typical on all other trim degrees.
Worth in Its Course
Toyota says rates is up about $1,500 usually throughout the 2014 trim levels, which include additional attributes over the 2013. Base pricing begins at $30,075 for a base four-cylinder LE with location, while volume-seller XLE models with four-wheel drive are $38,360 and include natural leather sitting with heated pole positions, navigating, three-zone climate control, clever keyless entrance, second-row sunshades as well as more. Pricing for the XLE is very affordable to three-row midsize SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer as well as the Hyundai Santa Fe.
The 2013 Highlander was truly a midpack three-row SUV, lagging behind in crucial areas like indoor high quality, freight room and innovation. Feel confident, if you're a Highlander owner wanting to update-- as long as you're unconcerned regarding trip high quality-- the 2014 is not only an engaging upgrade, but also worthwhile of cross-shopping the sector's finest.