2008 toyota Highlander
By
pusahma2008
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Friday, March 2, 2018
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2008 Toyota Highlander
The Highlander qualifies on all matters, though it does not master any kind of one area. Offered it can preserve its outstanding resale value and also integrity, it needs to show a clever-- if not especially exciting-- selection for several years ahead.
Base, Sport and also Limited trim degrees feature front- or four-wheel drive, and all could seat five or 7, relying on the configuration. Rates range from about $27,000 to $40,000 with choices.
I evaluated all 3 trim degrees of the regular Highlander at a Toyota occasion in Michigan.
2008 Toyota Highlander
Edgier Designing
Toyota's The golden state design studios formed the exterior, which is larger in all significant dimensions compared to the old Highlander. To my eyes, Toyota's smaller sized RAV4 SUV looks better-proportioned, with just enough contours to counter the angles. With its creased headlights, flashy grille as well as amorphous bumper, the Highlander seems a little bit also slick-- like a corner store consumer that will not take off his sunglasses.
The rear bumper has dimpled reflectors on each side, and also many trim degrees have a glass hatch that opens independent of the liftgate. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are typical; the Sporting activity as well as Limited have 19-inchers that fill in the wheel wells perfectly. The Sporting activity has a dark silver grille and also smoked-out headlights. The Limited has plainer fronts lights and chrome outside moldings.
At 188.4 inches long and 75.2 inches vast, the Highlander casts approximately the very same shadow as a Honda Pilot, Subaru Tribeca or Hyundai Veracruz. The Mazda CX-9 as well as Saturn Overview are both about a foot much longer.
The In
Toyota has actually invested years building a credibility for quality, and also absent any type of major competition, the new Highlander may have kept that criterion. The competition is nothing if not significant, though, as well as SUVs like the CX-9 and also Veracruz boast some remarkably high end interiors. In comparison, Toyota falls a little bit short.
The Highlander shares foundations with the present Camry, and also the dashboard births a lot of the car's taste. The center controls are the natural prime focus, with oversized handles for major functions within simple reach. Sport as well as Limited versions have a 3.5-inch display atop the stereo. It shows gas mileage, outside temperature level and more. It additionally shows setups for the optional automated environment control system, which could separate the cabin right into as several as three temperature level areas-- two front as well as one rear. The climate regulates sit below the stereo, and also they're extremely cluttered. I counted 13 buttons between both temperature level handles; that's a great deal of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. In contrast, the standard hands-on air conditioning is basic.
Cabin high quality is merely typical. The window switches over, turn signals and center controls might go straight right into a Lexus, and the chrome accents and electroluminescent determines look fantastic. Many areas are trimmed in difficult plastics, nonetheless, and the textures do not have the allure of the stuff in a number of competitors. Most severe of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is a few of the cheapest mouse fur this side of an economy car.
Moms and dads will value the storage options. The facility console between the pole positions has four cupholders and also a wide storage space bin. Fail to remember laptops; the glove box can fit a tiny computer. (Possibly not the display, however-- let's not get carried away.).
Three common rows of seats suit as much as 7, though you could go down the third row in order to conserve a little cash, reducing seating ability to 5. The pole positions supply a lot of area, with a method extender in the Highlander Limited that prolongs the pillow under the motorist's upper legs. Good touch.
The 2nd row is similarly wide, with reclining back-rests and seat paddings that change backward and forward. The facility seat has Toyota's brand-new Facility Stow function. It's basically a dive seat, which travelers could swap for a plastic facility console, turning the 2nd row right into 2 captain's chairs. The extra portion-- either the middle seat or console-- shops in a flooring compartment in between the pole positions. After a few practice runs, I had the ability to make the change in around 25 secs.
The jump seat is light sufficient for easy installation. Its convenience is hit and miss, even for a middle seat; the bottom cushion is substantial, however I can conveniently really feel the joints underneath the back-rest extra padding. The plastic console is lighter still, as well as both pieces have durable installation hooks that need to make it through plenty of thrashing from overenthusiastic kids.
Depending on where the 2nd row is positioned, the 3rd row can be remarkably adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet tall as well as located clearance a little bit limited, but with the 2nd row progressed a couple of inches-- maintaining lots of legroom for many adults-- the third row's legroom was such that I might tolerate a short trip.
Bigger Engine, Better Mileage
All Highlanders get the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna and also several various other Toyotas. In the Highlander it makes 270 horse power as well as 248 pounds-feet of torque. Both are considerable gains over last year's V-6, makinged 215 hp and also 222 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is typical. In 2015's base four-cylinder engine has actually been dropped.
Velocity suffices off the line and more powerful as the engine revs. The transmission aids things along, holding equipments and rarely moving prematurely. Difficult velocity could motivate some sudden shifts among lower equipments-- better for velocity, even worse for convenience-- yet a lot of the time the shifts are smooth adequate to pass unseen. The drivetrain feels finest on the freeway, where it downshifts with marginal gear hunting. Third gear is particularly powerful for 50-to-70 miles per hour death.
The optional 4x4 is transparent to the driver. It integrates a center differential to divide power 50/50 between the front and also back wheels every one of the moment. Four-wheel-drive designs have a downhill aid function. Press a dashboard switch, and it will slow the SUV to a crawl down steep grades. The feature appears a little bit disingenuous: There is no reduced gear for offroad rock crawling, which suggests you ought to possibly prevent anywhere treacherous enough to need the downhill help.
All Highlanders have a hill-start aid that holds the brakes for as much as 3 secs from a stop to avoid the SUV from rolling in reverse prior to you have time to strike the gas.
Making use of the EPA's even more sensible 2008 rating system-- which typically brings about lower numbers-- gas mileage is rated at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive models and 17/23 mpg for those with four-wheel drive. These scores lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They likewise beat the old V-6 Highlander by about 1 mpg (adjusted making use of the EPA's new estimation)-- an impressive accomplishment, offered the new Highlander has more power and also evaluates some 300 extra pounds more. (Four-cylinder followers won't miss much: The old four-cylinder Highlander got simply 1 mpg more than the new one does with the V-6.).
Ride & Handling
The unibody building and construction affords a comfy trip, with none of the underbody shimmying that pestered the previous Highlander (which was additionally unibody) and lots of body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sporting activity, however I couldn't find a difference in flight firmness among the base, Sport and Limited. All 3 have a little bit a lot more suspension noise over significant bumps compared to I have actually involved expect in a midsize SUV.
Wind sound is minimal. Provided a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are fairly peaceful. The Sporting activity as well as Limited's 19-inch wheels and P245/55R19 tires send out a mild hum at highway speeds, which I couldn't identify with the base model's 17-inchers and also thicker P245/65R19 rubber.
All designs now come with electrical power guiding. These systems conserve a little bit on gas consumption-- a bit of low-hanging fruit to fulfill the federal government's gas economic situation criteria, I presume-- but they typically lead to drab, man-made guiding feel. Expectedly, the Highlander guides with a light touch, never delivering much in the way of comments or transforming accuracy. The CX-9 fares better here, yet few various other competitors stand apart. The very same holds true for body roll: Like a lot of SUVs, the Highlander leans away in contours, reminding drivers it's not to be caught rapidly.
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are typical. The pedal supplies squishy action, however the brakes clamp down hard when required.
Cargo & Towing
With all three rows installed and raised, freight area in back is a meager 10.3 cubic feet. The third row folds level into the flooring, as well as the 2nd row folds up virtually flat. Highlanders without the third row rather include a rather big storage location under the rear flooring.
With all seats folded up, optimal cargo volume is 95.4 cubic feet, which contrasts much more favorably with the group.
When appropriately geared up, the Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Safety and security.
In Insurance Institute for Freeway Security frontal crash tests, the 2008 Highlander racked up the highest score, Good. IIHS has not checked the Highlander for side influences.
Toyota didn't skimp on safety attributes. All Highlanders come common with four-wheel-disc anti-skid brakes, traction control and also a digital stability system. The security system now deals with the electrical power steering, which enhances the power help when the motorist is guiding to fix a skid. It additionally aids fight guiding pull under difficult stopping to assist the Highlander stop in a straight line. (Toyota claims the system could not guide the SUV by itself, as some advanced systems currently do, so if you steer the wrong way in a skid, don't expect any extra power assist.).
Seven air bags are standard, including the needed double front airbags, a driver's knee air bag and also side-impact airbags for the front seats. There are also roll-sensing side curtain airbags for all three rows, which release during a rollover to prevent passenger ejection.
All seats have head restrictions, as well as in Sporting activity as well as Limited versions, the front ones are forward-adjustable for better whiplash defense. Active head restrictions are basic on the front seats of all trims. The 2nd row includes Latch child-seat supports in the outboard seats, with conveniently obtainable top-tether anchors midway down the seatback.
Features & Pricing
Excluding the location charge, the base Highlander with two-wheel drive begins at $27,300. A Highlander Limited with a complete bunch of alternatives runs around $42,000. 4x4 on any trim adds about $1,500. All trim degrees include 3 rows of seats, though a third-row remove option on particular versions could conserve $740.
-For $27,300, the base Highlander includes 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless access, a CD stereo with a complementary MP3 jack, cooling, cruise ship control, and also power home windows, mirrors as well as door locks.
-For $29,950, the Sport adds dark outside components, 19-inch wheels, fog lights, a power motorist's seat, a multifunction wheel, a back-up electronic camera and also six-CD audio.
-For $32,700, the Limited adds a keyless start-up system, automated climate control, leather furniture and also a power guest seat. A number of these features are optional on the Sporting activity. Choices on both trim degrees consist of a navigating system, JBL premium audio, a rear seat DVD player, a moonroof, a power tailgate as well as heated pole positions.
Highlander in the Market
Competitors from GM, Mazda and also Hyundai will give the Highlander a run for its money. Its biggest rival, the Honda Pilot, schedules for a redesign in the following year or two, as well as Toyota's secret weapon-- its credibility for quality and reliability-- has been slipping lately. The car manufacturer has pledged to enhance its efforts, as well as its most recent SUV should show that.
The new Highlander has lots of book sensibilities, like respectable gas mileage and lots of safety and security functions, however there's absolutely nothing remarkable about it. If it proves as bulletproof as its precursor, however, stability will certainly become its defining characteristic, which is a book draw a lot of customers could support.