2015 toyota Highlander
By
Herman Syah
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Friday, March 30, 2018
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2015 Toyota Highlander
Toyota heard consumers while upgrading the seven/eight-seat 2014 Highlander and also replied to needs for more cabin as well as cargo space, vibrant styling and also costs amenities. Ask for a much more vibrant driving experience ought to have been professionally disregarded, however, as the 2014's harsher flight is a tradeoff I don't think lots of midsize SUV buyers need to need to live with in return for sportier handling.
Still, various other renovations will unquestionably attract consumers that had scratched the previous Highlander off their listing or at least to those that don't take into consideration a comfy flight a must-have. The 2014 Highlander's enhanced freight room behind the standard third-row seat is a much-needed enhancement; plus, it's easier to get right into the third row, which now seatses three and bumps basic seatsing ability to eight.
2015 toyota highlander
With upgrades that extend the lineup of LE, LE And Also, XLE, Limited and Limited Platinum trim degrees, the 2014 Highlander is currently in better form to take on the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2014 Ford Explorer 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 redesign its aging as well as stylistically empty Highlander. Fast-forward to 2014, as well as you can't call the Highlander boring looking any longer. The 2013's ho-hum appearance changes into a hulking SUV with a beefier stance, bulging fenders and bold front designing. Its presence approved the 2013 New York City International Vehicle Show floor where it debuted, and also it looks equally as good rolling down the street.
How It Drives
The driving experience isn't really the automobile's most attractive feature, even with an assortment of promising brand-new framework as well as suspension modifications, so it excels the new SUV does so many various other things well.
Toyota selected curvy canyon as well as seaside roads in The golden state to show the Highlander's brand-new handling chops. Driving a 2013 and also 2014 back to back, the 2014 does exhibit higher levels of road grip as well as an enhanced steering feedback. It's even more sports when excavating into an edge, though I would not call the Highlander fun to drive. The 270-horsepower V-6 doesn't have an instant strike of acceleration in the heavy Highlander. It's a far cry from the lighter, 290-hp Hyundai Santa Fe, which is a "little" round 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 extra pounds.
A negative result of the Highlander's newfound characteristics is a choppier flight over harsh roadways. After driving 2013 and 2014 designs, I could tell the 2014 sends even more road flaws via the chassis as well as into seats. Hey, Toyota: It's OKAY to have an aggressive design and also flight like a couch; see the 2014 Chevrolet Impala.
On the advantage, the 2014 Highlander has a much more considerable sensation over harsh roadways, with less rattles, squeaks as well as chassis flex. It's a matured experience with boosted audio insulation, acoustic glass as well as a stiffer framework aiding keep outside sound marginal.
I briefly hung out in the four-cylinder Highlander with front-wheel drive, which Toyota expects to make up 5 to 10 percent of sales, as well as 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 harsh around the edges as for engine noise and also vibrations. The Hybrid's gas mileage is fairly the same for 2014, down 1 mpg in city scores to 27 mpg yet preserves its 28 mpg integrated ranking. The change from electric to when the engine fires up is visible with raw noises coming from under the hood, distinct from throughout a car park. Resonances from the transition are minimal, however the sounds are audible to take notice.
An additional 353 extra pounds included in the crossbreed from 3 electrical motors-- two in the front and also one in the back-- and also a nickel steel hydride battery is recognizable in how the Hybrid drives compared with the Restricted V-6 with four-wheel drive. It's a loosened up experience less excited about increasing as well as dealing with even with 280-hp combined, and also it additionally does not ride any type of smoother compared to the non-hybrid.
The Hybrid's uncommonly loud engine sounds would not be as much of an issue if the Highlander Crossbreed just weren't $48,160 with destination, $7,130 greater than 2013-- a 2014 Lexus RX 450h is $47,320, however much smaller on the in. The Highlander Hybrid's luxury car rate doesn't show high-end refinement now that the feature-loaded Hybrid Limited is the only Hybrid supplied; the less-expensive version obtained the axe for 2014.
The volume-seller V-6 is the most improved of the lot, using smooth and also foreseeable velocity in addition to the most effective handling with four-wheel drive. The V-6-powered Highlander's gas mileage of 19/25/21 mpg with front-wheel drive as well as 18/24/20 mpg with four-wheel drive is also more competitive than the outgoing 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 likewise brand-new, aids add 2 mpg freeway over the 2013 version. All-wheel-drive Highlanders send torque to the rear wheels when slippage is found, versus the previous system that always sent torque to four wheels.
Interior
Part of the 2014's transformation consists of dialing up the indoor styling with countless soft-touch as well as accent-stitched interior panels that enhance the classiness. The top quality is Toyota-Avalon nice with a sewn dashboard, guiding wheel as well as soft-touch, premium products in noticeable places. Plastic areas that aren't textured, sewed or covered are still on par for the course. Also the base LE Highlander shows the virtually luxurylike niceness of the higher-optioned Minimal trims.
Seating is comfortable in the first and also 2nd rows with soft, large front seats and a very adjustable second row that glides as well as reclines with 2 captain's chairs or the conventional three-seat bench setup-- captain's chairs are offered on the XLE as well as basic on the Limited. The rest of the Highlander might have been redone with dynamism in mind, but the seats speak with its comfort-focused roots. Many people on our staff will miss out on the 2013's removable second-row center seat. I will not, as it was uneasy and also large to get rid of as well as change with the facility table that saved under the center console.
In the third row, Toyota enhanced width as well as added an added seat for a maximum capacity of 8 residents in basic setup. A brand-new, a lot more small back suspension freed the additional room. The 3rd row still doesn't fit adults with as much convenience as the bigger Chevrolet Traverse, however it excels in a pinch. There are additionally new one-touch folding second-row seats on both sides. Previously, only the curbside seat folded up as well as slid onward through the one-touch lever. Third-row bikers also benefit from the second row's increased seat travel, which permits simple access and departure.
Comfort design & Electronics
Technology is a big emphasis in the 2014 Highlander as well as done quite possibly. Toyota's Entune multimedia system functions far better compared to ever compared with other Toyota lorries where I've used the system. Working the Entune system's voice commands is impressive. The versions I tested detected the various voice commands I spoke.
Those with large phones or that constantly have their phone linked to the SUV will appreciate a device storage space ledge below the climate manages that offers a pass-through for USB cables. There ought to be no more Medusa-like dangling of cables the equipment selector.
The conventional Entune on base LE models consists of a 6.1-inch touch-screen with backup electronic camera, USB port with iPod connection, complementary input, voice acknowledgment, Bluetooth phone connectivity 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 as well as App Collection on XLE versions with an 8-inch touch-screen and also application collection with Pandora, Yelp as well as Facebook assimilation with a smartphone as well as accompanying Entune downloadable application. A JBL stereo is conventional on Restricted trim degrees.
The large center storage space bin in between the pole positions 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 forget that Blu-ray at home, an interesting brand-new feature called Easy Speak sends the flourishing voice of a mad mommy or father via the back stereo audio speakers via the Bluetooth microphone to keep wild children in check. What does it cost? more family members focused can you obtain compared to offering a feature that allows parents to yell at youngsters?
Freight, Towing & Storage
Cargo room behind the third row improves over the previous Highlander's revealing ledge, which had a hard time carrying groceries, not to mention an infant stroller or golf bag. The cargo volume is currently rated at 13.8 cubic feet, up from 10.3 cubic feet. It's not a huge renovation, yet a minimum of it makes the location useful. It's still small 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 raise cargo area included relocating all three rows of seats forward, adding length behind the rear wheels and also using a more compact back suspension.
The power liftgate is an excellent function to be conventional on LE And also trim levels and also above, and has a dress up its sleeve: It adjusts to different elevations, not just a couple of predetermined elevation settings. With the liftgate in motion, customers could stop the liftgate and also program it to open to that established elevation the next time. The function will make shorter vehicle drivers as well as owners of reduced garages very happy. (If the gate goes too expensive, shorter people may battle to get to the power-close button on its lower side.) Another one-of-a-kind function on the back is an oldie however a goody: On LE And also versions and also above, the back home window opens up for very easy accessibility independent of the freight entrance.
A 5,000-pound tow score on XLE as well as Limited trim levels has a basic towing bundle that consists of engine/transmission coolers as well as updated radiator as well as alternator. Crossbreeds can tow 3,500 extra pounds, V-6 LE/LE Plus could tow 2,000 pounds as well as a four-cylinder LE is rated at 1,500 pounds.
Security
The 2014 Highlander had not been crash-tested at the time of this writing.
The 2014 Highlander gives reduced supports and tethers on outboard second-row seats for child-safety seats, however just a secure support on the middle third-row seat.
Advanced security attributes are offered, though only on the costly Restricted trim degree where a blind spot surveillance system and rear auto parking aid are common, and pre-collision, adaptive cruise control as well as lane departure caution are optional. Limited trim levels are also the only models with a back-up cam that makes use of predictive guidelines to reveal the automobile's path-- a back-up electronic camera with set lines is typical on all various other trim degrees.
Worth in Its Class
Toyota claims pricing is up around $1,500 typically throughout the 2014 trim levels, which include additional functions over the 2013. Base prices starts at $30,075 for a base four-cylinder LE with destination, while volume-seller XLE models with four-wheel drive are $38,360 and consist of leather seating with warmed front seats, navigation, three-zone environment control, smart keyless access, second-row sunshades and also even more. Pricing for the XLE is extremely affordable to three-row midsize SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Ford Traveler or even the Hyundai Santa Fe.
The 2013 Highlander was really a midpack three-row SUV, lagging behind in crucial areas like indoor quality, cargo space and innovation. Feel confident, if you're a Highlander proprietor seeking to upgrade-- as long as you're unconcerned concerning ride top quality-- the 2014 is not just an engaging upgrade, but also worthy of cross-shopping the sector's ideal.