Toyota Highlander 2008
By
Herman Syah
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Wednesday, March 21, 2018
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2008 Toyota Highlander
The Highlander makes the grade on all counts, though it doesn't excel in any type of one location. Given it could preserve its superior resale worth and reliability, it must confirm a smart-- if not particularly captivating-- option for years to come.
Base, Sport and also Limited trim levels have front- or four-wheel drive, and all can seat five or 7, depending on the setup. Costs vary from roughly $27,000 to $40,000 with alternatives.
I examined all 3 trim degrees of the normal Highlander at a Toyota event in Michigan.
Toyota Highlander 2008
Edgier Styling
Toyota's California style workshops sculpted the outside, which is larger in all major measurements compared to the old Highlander. To my eyes, Toyota's smaller RAV4 SUV looks better-proportioned, with just enough contours to offset the angles. With its creased fronts lights, showy grille and also characterless bumper, the Highlander appears a little bit too glossy-- like a convenience store consumer who won't remove his sunglasses.
The back bumper has lumpy reflectors on each side, and a lot of trim levels have a glass hatch that opens independent of the liftgate. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard; the Sport and also Limited have 19-inchers that fill in the wheel wells perfectly. The Sport has a dark silver grille as well as smoked-out headlights. The Limited has plainer fronts lights and also chrome exterior moldings.
At 188.4 inches long and also 75.2 inches vast, the Highlander casts about the exact same darkness as a Honda Pilot, Subaru Tribeca or Hyundai Veracruz. The Mazda CX-9 as well as Saturn Outlook are both concerning a foot much longer.
The In
Toyota has actually spent years constructing a track record for high quality, as well as lacking any type of serious competition, the new Highlander may have kept that criterion. The competition is absolutely nothing if not serious, however, as well as SUVs like the CX-9 and also Veracruz flaunt some impressively high end insides. In contrast, Toyota drops a bit short.
The Highlander shares bases with the existing Camry, as well as the dashboard births a lot of the car's taste. The facility controls are the natural prime focus, with oversized knobs for major features within simple reach. Sport and Limited versions have a 3.5-inch screen atop the stereo. It displays gas mileage, outside temperature as well as even more. It likewise shows settings for the optional automatic climate control system, which can split the cabin right into as many as three temperature level zones-- 2 front and one rear. The climate regulates sit listed below the stereo, and they're awfully chaotic. I counted 13 buttons between both temperature knobs; that's a great deal of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. In contrast, the conventional manual a/c is basic.
Cabin quality is simply ordinary. The home window switches over, turn signals as well as facility controls could go straight into a Lexus, as well as the chrome accents as well as electroluminescent gauges look excellent. A lot of locations are trimmed in difficult plastics, nonetheless, and the appearances do not have the appeal of right stuff in several rivals. Most awful of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is several of the most affordable computer mouse hair this side of an economic climate cars and truck.
Parents will value the storage space options. The facility console in between the front seats has four cupholders and also a wide storage bin. Fail to remember laptops; the glove box can fit a little desktop computer. (Possibly not the monitor, however-- allow's not get carried away.).
3 standard rows of seats accommodate as much as 7, though you can drop the third row in order to conserve a little cash money, lowering seatsing capability to 5. The front seats use lots of area, with a trick extender in the Highlander Limited that prolongs the padding under the driver's thighs. Nice touch.
The second row is equally wide, with reclining back-rests and also seat cushions that change backward and forward. The center seat has Toyota's new Facility Stow function. It's basically a jump seat, which passengers can swap for a plastic facility console, transforming the second row right into two captain's chairs. The extra part-- either the center seat or console-- shops in a floor area in between the front seats. After a few practice runs, I was able to make the change in around 25 secs.
The jump seat is light sufficient for very easy installment. Its comfort is trial and error, even for a middle seat; the bottom cushion is significant, but I could quickly feel the hinges beneath the back-rest cushioning. The plastic console is lighter still, and also both pieces have sturdy setup hooks that must endure lots of knocking from overenthusiastic children.
Relying on where the 2nd row is placed, the third row can be remarkably adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet tall and found clearance a bit tight, yet with the 2nd row progressed a couple of inches-- preserving plenty of legroom for many adults-- the third row's legroom was such that I can tolerate a brief trip.
Bigger Engine, Better Mileage
All Highlanders obtain the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna and also numerous various other Toyotas. In the Highlander it makes 270 horse power and also 248 pounds-feet of torque. Both are considerable gains over in 2015's V-6, which made 215 hp and 222 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed transmission is basic. In 2015's base four-cylinder engine has actually been gone down.
Velocity is adequate off the line and also stronger as the engine revs. The transmission aids things along, holding equipments and seldom moving prematurely. Difficult velocity can motivate some abrupt changes amongst lower equipments-- better for acceleration, even worse for convenience-- however the majority of the time the changes are smooth adequate to pass undetected. The drivetrain really feels ideal on the highway, where it downshifts with marginal equipment searching. 3rd equipment is specifically potent for 50-to-70 mph death.
The optional 4x4 is clear to the motorist. It incorporates a center differential to split power 50/50 in between the front as well as back wheels all of the time. Four-wheel-drive designs have a downhill help function. Press a dashboard switch, and also it will slow the SUV to a crawl down high grades. The attribute appears a bit disingenuous: There is no reduced gear for offroad rock crawling, which means you ought to possibly stay clear of anywhere treacherous sufficient to call for the downhill aid.
All Highlanders have a hill-start help that holds the brakes for as much as three seconds from a stop to prevent the SUV from rolling backwards before you have time to strike the gas.
Making use of the EPA's even more practical 2008 rating system-- which usually brings about reduce numbers-- gas mileage is rated at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive designs and also 17/23 mpg for those with four-wheel drive. These rankings lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They also defeated the old V-6 Highlander by about 1 mpg (changed using the EPA's brand-new estimation)-- an excellent feat, given the brand-new Highlander has even more power as well as considers some 300 pounds more. (Four-cylinder followers won't miss out on much: The old four-cylinder Highlander obtained just 1 mpg greater than the brand-new one makes with the V-6.).
Trip & Handling
The unibody building and construction manages a comfy ride, with none of the underbody shimmying that plagued the previous Highlander (which was additionally unibody) and also several body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sporting activity, yet I could not discover a distinction in trip suppleness amongst the base, Sport as well as Limited. All three have a bit extra suspension noise over significant bumps compared to I've concerned expect in a midsize SUV.
Wind noise is minimal. Offered a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are relatively peaceful. The Sport and Limited's 19-inch wheels as well as P245/55R19 tires discharge a small hum at highway rates, which I couldn't discover with the base version's 17-inchers as well as thicker P245/65R19 rubber.
All models now have electric power guiding. These systems save a bit on fuel usage-- a bit of low-hanging fruit to meet the federal government's fuel economic situation requirements, I think-- yet they usually lead to drab, artificial guiding feel. Expectedly, the Highlander steers with a light touch, never ever delivering a lot in the method of comments or turning accuracy. The CX-9 fares much better hereof, but few various other rivals stick out. The exact same holds true for body roll: Like most SUVs, the Highlander leans away in curves, advising chauffeurs it's not to be caught promptly.
Four-wheel-disc anti-skid brakes are typical. The pedal provides mushy response, yet the brakes clamp down hard when needed.
Cargo & Towing
With all 3 rows mounted as well as raised, freight space in back is a weak 10.3 cubic feet. The third row folds level into the flooring, and also the 2nd row folds up virtually flat. Highlanders without the third row instead include a relatively huge storage space location under the rear flooring.
With all seats folded up, maximum freight quantity is 95.4 cubic feet, which contrasts a lot more positively with the crowd.
When appropriately equipped, the Highlander could tow approximately 5,000 pounds.
Safety and security.
In Insurance Coverage Institute for Highway Safety and security frontal crash tests, the 2008 Highlander scored the highest possible rating, Excellent. IIHS has actually not tested the Highlander for side impacts.
Toyota really did not skimp on safety and security functions. All Highlanders come basic with four-wheel-disc anti-skid brakes, traction control and also a digital stability system. The stability system currently works with the electrical power guiding, which enhances the power assist when the driver is guiding to deal with a skid. It additionally assists battle guiding pull under tough braking to help the Highlander drop in a straight line. (Toyota says the system could not guide the SUV by itself, as some advanced systems currently do, so if you guide the upside-down in a skid, do not expect any kind of added power aid.).
7 airbags are common, including the needed double front airbags, a chauffeur's knee airbag and side-impact air bags for the pole positions. There are likewise roll-sensing side curtain airbags for all 3 rows, which deploy throughout a rollover to avoid passenger ejection.
All seats have head restraints, as well as in Sport as well as Limited models, the front ones are forward-adjustable for far better whiplash defense. Energetic head restraints are typical on the front seats of all trims. The second row includes Latch child-seat anchors in the outboard seats, with conveniently obtainable top-tether supports midway down the seatback.
Attributes & Prices
Omitting the location fee, the base Highlander with two-wheel drive starts at $27,300. A Highlander Limited with a full bunch of choices runs around $42,000. Four-wheel drive on any type of trim adds regarding $1,500. All trim degrees feature three rows of seats, though a third-row erase option on particular models could save $740.
-For $27,300, the base Highlander includes 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless access, a CD stereo with a supporting MP3 jack, air conditioning, cruise ship control, as well as power home windows, mirrors and door locks.
-For $29,950, the Sport adds dark outside elements, 19-inch wheels, haze lights, a power chauffeur's seat, a multifunction wheel, a backup video camera as well as six-CD audio.
-For $32,700, the Limited adds a keyless start-up system, automated climate control, leather upholstery and a power traveler seat. A lot of these features are optional on the Sport. Alternatives on both trim degrees include a navigating system, JBL costs sound, a rear seat DVD gamer, a moonroof, a power tailgate and also warmed front seats.
Highlander out there
Rivals from GM, Mazda and also Hyundai will offer the Highlander a run for its money. Its largest opponent, the Honda Pilot, is due for a redesign in the following year or two, and also Toyota's key resource-- its online reputation for quality and also integrity-- has been sliding recently. The car manufacturer has actually promised to enhance its initiatives, and its newest SUV should confirm that.
The brand-new Highlander has lots of book sensibilities, like suitable gas mileage and also loads of security attributes, but there's absolutely nothing outstanding regarding it. If it proves as bulletproof as its precursor, however, reliability will become its specifying attribute, which is a textbook draw a great deal of buyers could get behind.