2015 toyota Highlander Xle
By
pusahma2008
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Wednesday, February 28, 2018
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2015 Toyota Highlander
Toyota listened to consumers while redesigning the seven/eight-seat 2014 Highlander as well as responded to needs for even more cabin and freight space, dynamic styling as well as premium facilities. Ask for a much more vibrant driving experience must have been pleasantly overlooked, however, as the 2014's harsher flight is a tradeoff I do not believe several midsize SUV customers should need to deal with in return for sportier handling.
Still, various other renovations will most certainly appeal to shoppers that had scraped the previous Highlander off their listing or a minimum of to those that don't think about a comfy ride a must-have. The 2014 Highlander's increased cargo area behind the typical third-row seat is a much-needed enhancement; plus, it's much easier to obtain into the 3rd row, which now seats 3 as well as bumps typical seatsing ability to 8.
2015 toyota highlander xle
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 better form to take on the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2014 Ford Traveler and 2014 Honda Pilot.
I drove four-cylinder, six-cylinder and also Hybrid 2014 Highlanders at a Toyota media event.
Exterior & Designing
Toyota went back to the attracting board to upgrade its aging and also stylistically devoid Highlander. Fast-forward to 2014, and also you cannot call the Highlander boring looking any kind of longer. The 2013's dull appearance changes into a hulking SUV with a beefier stance, protruding fenders and strong front designing. Its visibility was big on the 2013 New York International Vehicle Show floor where it debuted, and it looks just as excellent rolling down the street.
Just how It Drives
The driving experience isn't really the vehicle's most enticing feature, despite an assortment of appealing new chassis and suspension modifications, so it readies the brand-new SUV does so several other points well.
Toyota chose curvy canyon and coastal 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 display greater levels of roadway grip and an enhanced steering feedback. It's even more athletic when excavating into an edge, though I would not call the Highlander fun to drive. The 270-horsepower V-6 does not have a prompt punch of velocity in the heavy Highlander. It's an unlike the lighter, 290-hp Hyundai Santa Fe, which is a "little" ball of excitement to name a few similar 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 unfavorable result of the Highlander's newly found characteristics is a choppier ride over harsh roads. After driving 2013 and 2014 models, I could inform the 2014 transfers even more road blemishes with the chassis as well as into seats. Hey, Toyota: It's OKAY to have a hostile layout and flight like a sofa; see the 2014 Chevrolet Impala.
On the upside, the 2014 Highlander has a much more substantial sensation over rough roads, with fewer rattles, squeals and also framework flex. It's a matured experience with enhanced audio insulation, acoustic glass and also a stiffer chassis helping keep outside sound marginal.
I briefly spent time in the four-cylinder Highlander with front-wheel drive, which Toyota anticipates to represent 5 to 10 percent of sales, and in the all-new Highlander Crossbreed. Both the front-wheel-drive-only four-cylinder (20/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined) and also all-wheel-drive-only Hybrid V-6 (27/28/28 mpg) are a little harsh around the sides as far as engine sound and vibrations. The Hybrid's gas mileage is fairly unchanged for 2014, down 1 mpg in city rankings to 27 mpg however keeps its 28 mpg integrated rating. The change from electric to when the engine fires up is recognizable with raw sounds coming from under the hood, distinct from throughout a car park. Vibrations from the change are marginal, however the sounds are loud enough to take notice.
An additional 353 pounds included in the crossbreed from three electric motors-- 2 in the front as well as one in the back-- and a nickel steel hydride battery is obvious in exactly how the Hybrid drives as compared to the Minimal V-6 with four-wheel drive. It's an unwinded experience less excited concerning accelerating and dealing with despite 280-hp incorporated, and also it additionally does not ride any smoother compared to the non-hybrid.
The Crossbreed's uncommonly loud engine noises would not be as much of an issue if the Highlander Hybrid just weren't $48,160 with destination, $7,130 greater than 2013-- a 2014 Lexus RX 450h is $47,320, though much smaller on the inside. The Highlander Hybrid's luxury vehicle cost does not show luxury refinement since the feature-loaded Crossbreed Limited is the only Hybrid offered; the less-expensive variation got the axe for 2014.
The volume-seller V-6 is the most fine-tuned of the number, offering smooth and foreseeable velocity along with the best handling with four-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 additionally extra competitive than the outgoing 2013 thanks to a new six-speed transmission replacing a five-speed system on V-6 versions. The all-wheel-drive system, which is additionally brand-new, helps add 2 mpg highway over the 2013 variation. All-wheel-drive Highlanders send torque to the rear wheels when slippage is discovered, versus the previous system that always sent out torque to four wheels.
Inside
Part of the 2014's transformation includes calling up the interior styling with many soft-touch as well as accent-stitched interior panels that enhance the classiness. The top quality is Toyota-Avalon nice with a stitched dashboard, guiding wheel as well as soft-touch, top notch materials in popular areas. Plastic locations that aren't textured, stitched or covered are still on par for the course. Also the base LE Highlander radiates the nearly luxurylike niceness of the higher-optioned Restricted trims.
Seating fits in the initial and also 2nd rows with soft, vast front seats and also a very adjustable 2nd row that slides and reclines with 2 captain's chairs or the standard three-seat bench arrangement-- captain's chairs are available on the XLE and basic on the Limited. The remainder of the Highlander could have been redone with dynamism in mind, yet the seats talk to its comfort-focused roots. Lots of people on our staff will miss out on the 2013's detachable second-row center seat. I will not, as it was unpleasant as well as bulky to get rid of and also change with the facility table that stored under the center console.
In the 3rd row, Toyota enhanced width as well as added an extra seat for an optimum ability of 8 occupants in standard configuration. A brand-new, more small rear suspension released the additional space. The third row still doesn't fit grownups with as much comfort 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 and also moved onward via the one-touch lever. Third-row motorcyclists additionally gain from the 2nd row's raised seat travel, which permits easy entrance and leave.
Comfort design & Electronics
Modern technology is a significant focus in the 2014 Highlander as well as done very well. Toyota's Entune multimedia system functions better than ever before compared with various other Toyota vehicles where I've used the system. Functioning the Entune system's voice commands is impressive. The versions I checked picked up on the different voice commands I spoke.
Those with cumbersome phones or who regularly have their phone attached to the SUV will certainly value a tool storage space ledge below the environment controls that provides a pass-through for USB cords. There must disappear Medusa-like dangling of cables the equipment selector.
The typical Entune on base LE models consists of a 6.1-inch touch-screen with backup camera, USB port with iPod connectivity, complementary input, voice acknowledgment, Bluetooth phone connectivity as well as Bluetooth streaming sound. LE Plus 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 following step up is Entune Costs Sound with Navigation and App Suite on XLE designs with an 8-inch touch-screen as well as app collection with Pandora, Yelp and Facebook assimilation with a mobile phone and going along with Entune downloadable application. A JBL stereo is typical on Limited trim degrees.
The large center storage space container between the pole positions could feast on anything plus-sized, like a bag, iPad or Blu-ray collection for the offered rear-seat Blu-ray gamer. When you forget that Blu-ray in the house, an interesting brand-new function called Easy Speak transfers the booming voice of an angry mom or dad via the rear stereo speakers via the Bluetooth microphone to keep rowdy kids in check. How much a lot more household concentrated can you get compared to giving an attribute that permits moms and dads to chew out children?
Freight, Towing & Storage space
Cargo room behind the 3rd row boosts over the previous Highlander's sexy step, which had a hard time bring grocery stores, not to mention an infant stroller or golf bag. The cargo volume is currently ranked at 13.8 cubic feet, up from 10.3 cubic feet. It's not a massive improvement, however a minimum of it makes the area useful. It's still tiny compared to others in the sector: The Explorer has 21 cubic feet and the Pilot has 18 cubic feet behind the 3rd row. Toyota's trickery to enhance freight space involved relocating all three rows of seats onward, including size behind the back wheels as well as using an extra small back suspension.
The power liftgate is a remarkable function to be conventional on LE Plus trim levels and also above, as well as has a trick up its sleeve: It adjusts to various elevations, not just 1 or 2 established height settings. With the liftgate moving, customers can stop the liftgate as well as program it to open up to that set height the following time. The function will certainly make much shorter drivers as well as proprietors of low garages extremely delighted. (If the gate goes too high, shorter people could have a hard time to reach the power-close switch on its lower edge.) Another one-of-a-kind attribute on the back is an oldie however a goody: On LE Plus versions and above, the back window opens up for simple access independent of the cargo gateway.
A 5,000-pound tow rating on XLE and also Limited trim degrees comes with a basic towing package that consists of engine/transmission coolers as well as upgraded radiator as well as alternator. Hybrids can tow 3,500 pounds, V-6 LE/LE Plus could tow 2,000 pounds as well as a four-cylinder LE is ranked at 1,500 extra pounds.
Security
The 2014 Highlander hadn't been crash-tested at the time of this writing.
The 2014 Highlander supplies lower anchors and tethers on outboard second-row seats for child-safety seats, but only a tether anchor on the middle third-row seat.
Advanced security attributes are readily available, though only on the costly Limited trim level where a dead spot monitoring system as well as rear car park aid are basic, as well as pre-collision, flexible cruise ship control as well as lane departure caution are optional. Limited trim degrees are additionally the only designs with a back-up camera that uses predictive guidelines to reveal the lorry's path-- a back-up cam with fixed lines is conventional on all other trim degrees.
Value in Its Course
Toyota claims prices is up about $1,500 usually across the 2014 trim degrees, that include additional features over the 2013. Base rates begins at $30,075 for a base four-cylinder LE with location, while volume-seller XLE versions with all-wheel drive are $38,360 and also include leather sitting with warmed front seats, navigating, three-zone environment control, wise keyless entrance, second-row sunshades and even more. Pricing for the XLE is very competitive to three-row midsize SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Ford Traveler as well as the Hyundai Santa Fe.
The 2013 Highlander was genuinely a midpack three-row SUV, lagging behind in essential areas like indoor top quality, freight room as well as modern technology. Feel confident, if you're a Highlander owner looking to upgrade-- as long as you're unconcerned regarding flight high quality-- the 2014 is not just a compelling upgrade, yet also worthy of cross-shopping the section's ideal.