2008 toyota Highlander Limited
By
Herman Syah
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Thursday, March 15, 2018
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2008 Toyota Highlander
The Highlander makes the grade on all matters, though it does not excel in any kind of one location. Given it could preserve its superior resale value and reliability, it ought to prove a wise-- otherwise especially fascinating-- choice for years ahead.
Base, Sporting activity as well as Limited trim levels include front- or four-wheel drive, and all could seat 5 or 7, relying on the setup. Costs vary from approximately $27,000 to $40,000 with alternatives.
I checked all three trim degrees of the normal Highlander at a Toyota event in Michigan.
2008 Toyota Highlander Limited
Edgier Designing
Toyota's The golden state layout studios sculpted the outside, which is larger in all significant measurements compared to the old Highlander. To my eyes, Toyota's smaller sized RAV4 SUV looks better-proportioned, with just adequate contours to counter the angles. With its creased headlights, flashy grille and characterless bumper, the Highlander appears a little bit as well glossy-- like a corner store shopper who will not take off his sunglasses.
The back bumper has dimpled reflectors on each side, and also the majority of trim levels have a glass hatch that opens up independent of the liftgate. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are common; the Sporting activity as well as Limited have 19-inchers that fill out the wheel wells nicely. The Sporting activity has a dark silver grille and smoked-out fronts lights. The Limited has plainer headlights and chrome exterior moldings.
At 188.4 inches long as well as 75.2 inches large, the Highlander casts approximately the very same darkness as a Honda Pilot, Subaru Tribeca or Hyundai Veracruz. The Mazda CX-9 as well as Saturn Expectation are both concerning a foot longer.
The Within
Toyota has invested years developing a credibility for top quality, and also lacking any serious competition, the brand-new Highlander may have kept that criterion. The competitors is nothing if not serious, though, as well as SUVs like the CX-9 and Veracruz boast some impressively high end insides. In comparison, Toyota drops a little bit brief.
The Highlander shares foundations with the existing Camry, as well as the control panel births much of the sedan's taste. The facility controls are the all-natural prime focus, with oversized knobs for major features within simple reach. Sporting activity as well as Limited designs have a 3.5-inch screen atop the stereo. It displays gas mileage, outside temperature level and more. It additionally reveals setups for the optional automatic environment control system, which could divide the cabin right into as several as 3 temperature level zones-- two front and one rear. The climate regulates sit below the stereo, and they're extremely messy. I counted 13 buttons between the two temperature knobs; that's a lot of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. In contrast, the basic manual air conditioning is simple.
Cabin top quality is simply ordinary. The home window switches, turn signals and center controls might go straight into a Lexus, as well as the chrome accents as well as electroluminescent assesses appearance fantastic. Most locations are trimmed in tough plastics, however, and the textures do not have the allure of right stuff in a number of competitors. Most awful of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is a few of the cheapest mouse fur this side of an economic climate car.
Moms and dads will certainly appreciate the storage alternatives. The center console in between the pole positions has 4 cupholders and also a broad storage bin. Fail to remember laptops; the glove box can fit a tiny computer. (Most likely not the display, though-- allow's not get carried away.).
3 common rows of seats accommodate approximately 7, though you can go down the third row in order to conserve a little cash money, minimizing seatsing capacity to five. The pole positions offer lots of space, with a trick extender in the Highlander Limited that extends the pillow under the motorist's upper legs. Great touch.
The second row is just as commodious, with reclining backrests and seat cushions that change backward and forward. The facility seat has Toyota's new Facility Stow function. It's essentially a jump seat, which travelers can exchange for a plastic center console, turning the second row into two captain's chairs. The extra portion-- either the middle seat or console-- shops in a floor compartment between the pole positions. After a couple of practice runs, I had the ability to make the adjustment in around 25 secs.
The dive seat is light sufficient for simple installment. Its convenience is hit and miss, even for a middle seat; the bottom pillow is considerable, however I could easily feel the joints beneath the back-rest cushioning. The plastic console is lighter still, as well as both pieces have tough installment hooks that need to survive plenty of thrashing from overenthusiastic kids.
Relying on where the 2nd row is positioned, the 3rd row can be surprisingly adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet tall and also found headroom a little bit limited, but with the second row moved on a few inches-- protecting a lot of legroom for a lot of grownups-- the third row's legroom was such that I could endure a brief trip.
Larger Engine, Better Gas Mileage
All Highlanders obtain the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna and also a number of other Toyotas. In the Highlander it makes 270 horsepower and also 248 pounds-feet of torque. Both are considerable gains over in 2015's V-6, that made 215 hp and 222 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is typical. In 2015's base four-cylinder engine has been gone down.
Acceleration suffices off the line as well as stronger as the engine revs. The transmission aids points along, holding equipments as well as seldom moving prematurely. Tough acceleration could prompt some sudden transitions among reduced gears-- better for acceleration, worse for convenience-- yet the majority of the moment the shifts are smooth sufficient to pass unseen. The drivetrain feels best on the freeway, where it downshifts with marginal equipment hunting. 3rd equipment is specifically potent for 50-to-70 mph passing away.
The optional four-wheel drive is clear to the driver. It incorporates a facility differential to divide power 50/50 between the front and rear wheels every one of the time. Four-wheel-drive models have a downhill aid function. Press a control panel button, and also it will slow down the SUV to a crawl down high grades. The feature seems a bit insincere: There is no low equipment for offroad rock crawling, which means you should probably stay clear of anywhere treacherous adequate to need the downhill help.
All Highlanders have a hill-start aid that holds the brakes for up to 3 seconds from a stop to prevent the SUV from rolling backwards before you have time to strike the gas.
Utilizing the EPA's even more practical 2008 rating system-- which typically results in lower numbers-- gas mileage is ranked at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive designs and also 17/23 mpg for those with 4x4. These scores lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They additionally beat the old V-6 Highlander by around 1 mpg (readjusted using the EPA's new estimation)-- an outstanding feat, provided the new Highlander has even more power and also considers some 300 extra pounds more. (Four-cylinder followers will not miss much: The old four-cylinder Highlander got simply 1 mpg greater than the new one performs with the V-6.).
Ride & Handling
The unibody building and construction affords a comfortable flight, with none of the underbody vibrating that pestered the previous Highlander (which was also unibody) and several body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sporting activity, yet I couldn't detect a distinction in trip firmness amongst the base, Sporting activity and Limited. All 3 have a bit extra suspension noise over significant bumps compared to I've pertained to expect in a midsize SUV.
Wind noise is minimal. Provided a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are reasonably quiet. The Sporting activity and Limited's 19-inch wheels as well as P245/55R19 tires produce a mild hum at highway speeds, which I couldn't identify with the base design's 17-inchers and also thicker P245/65R19 rubber.
All designs currently have electrical power steering. These systems conserve a bit on gas intake-- a little low-hanging fruit to meet the federal government's gas economy criteria, I presume-- but they typically result in drab, man-made guiding feeling. Expectedly, the Highlander steers with a light touch, never delivering much in the means of feedback or transforming accuracy. The CX-9 fares better in this regard, but few other rivals stand apart. The exact same is true for body roll: Like most SUVs, the Highlander leans away in curves, advising chauffeurs it's not to be caught rapidly.
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are standard. The pedal offers squishy response, but the brakes clamp down hard when needed.
Cargo & Towing
With all three rows installed and also elevated, cargo room in back is a meager 10.3 cubic feet. The third row folds flat right into the flooring, as well as the 2nd row folds almost flat. Highlanders without the 3rd row instead consist of a rather huge storage space location under the rear floor.
With all seats folded, optimal freight quantity is 95.4 cubic feet, which contrasts extra positively with the group.
When correctly equipped, the Highlander can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Safety.
In Insurance Policy Institute for Highway Safety and security frontal collision examinations, the 2008 Highlander scored the greatest rating, Excellent. IIHS has not tested the Highlander for side influences.
Toyota really did not stint safety attributes. All Highlanders come basic with four-wheel-disc anti-skid brakes, grip control as well as an electronic security system. The security system now deals with the electric power guiding, which boosts the power aid when the motorist is steering to fix a skid. It also aids combat steering pull under tough stopping to assist the Highlander drop in a straight line. (Toyota claims the system could not steer the SUV by itself, as some advanced systems currently do, so if you steer the upside-down in a skid, don't expect any kind of additional power assist.).
7 air bags are typical, consisting of the needed twin front airbags, a driver's knee air bag and side-impact air bags for the front seats. There are additionally roll-sensing side curtain air bags for all 3 rows, which deploy during a rollover to prevent passenger ejection.
All seats have head restraints, and also in Sport and also Limited designs, the front ones are forward-adjustable for better whiplash security. Active head restraints are conventional 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 fee, the base Highlander with two-wheel drive begins at $27,300. A Highlander Limited with a full bunch of choices playings around $42,000. Four-wheel drive on any trim includes concerning $1,500. All trim degrees feature 3 rows of seats, though a third-row remove alternative on particular designs can conserve $740.
-For $27,300, the base Highlander has 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entrance, a CD stereo with a complementary MP3 jack, air conditioning, cruise ship control, and power windows, mirrors and also door locks.
-For $29,950, the Sporting activity includes darkened exterior elements, 19-inch wheels, haze lights, a power driver's seat, a multifunction steering wheel, a backup video camera and also six-CD sound.
-For $32,700, the Restricted adds a keyless startup system, automatic environment control, leather upholstery and a power passenger seat. Much of these attributes are optional on the Sport. Choices on both trim levels consist of a navigation system, JBL costs audio, a rear seat DVD gamer, a moonroof, a power tailgate and also warmed pole positions.
Highlander in the Market
Rivals from GM, Mazda and Hyundai will certainly give the Highlander a run for its loan. Its biggest opponent, the Honda Pilot, schedules for a redesign in the following year or 2, and Toyota's ace in the hole-- its reputation for top quality as well as reliability-- has actually been sliding lately. The car manufacturer has actually pledged to redouble its efforts, and its latest SUV must show that.
The brand-new Highlander has great deals of textbook sensibilities, like respectable gas mileage and also lots of security features, however there's nothing phenomenal regarding it. If it shows as bulletproof as its predecessor, though, dependability will become its specifying attribute, which is a textbook draw a lot of customers can get behind.