Toyota Highlander Reviews 2015
By
fardhan alief
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Thursday, March 8, 2018
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2015 Toyota Highlander
Toyota listened to consumers while upgrading the seven/eight-seat 2014 Highlander and reacted to needs for more cabin and freight area, dynamic styling and also costs amenities. Requests for an extra dynamic driving experience should have been professionally neglected, nevertheless, as the 2014's harsher ride is a tradeoff I do not think many midsize SUV buyers need to need to cope with in return for sportier handling.
Still, various other renovations will unquestionably interest buyers who had actually damaged the previous Highlander off their checklist or at the very least to those who don't think about a comfy trip an essential. The 2014 Highlander's increased freight room behind the standard third-row seat is a much-needed enhancement; plus, it's less complicated to obtain right into the 3rd row, which currently sittings three as well as bumps common seatsing capability to 8.
toyota highlander reviews 2015
With upgrades that span the schedule of LE, LE Plus, XLE, Limited and Limited Platinum trim degrees, the 2014 Highlander is now in better shape to take on the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2014 Ford Explorer and 2014 Honda Pilot.
I drove four-cylinder, six-cylinder and Hybrid 2014 Highlanders at a Toyota media event.
Outside & Styling
Toyota returned to the drawing board to upgrade its aging and stylistically devoid Highlander. Fast-forward to 2014, as well as you can't call the Highlander boring looking any kind of longer. The 2013's ho-hum look transforms right into a hulking SUV with a beefier position, protruding fenders as well as vibrant front designing. Its existence was big on the 2013 New York International Car 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 car's most enticing quality, even with an array of encouraging brand-new framework and also suspension modifications, so it excels the brand-new SUV does so several various other points well.
Toyota picked curvy canyon and also coastal roads in The golden state to demonstrate the Highlander's brand-new handling chops. Driving a 2013 as well as 2014 back to back, the 2014 does display higher levels of road grasp and also a boosted guiding feedback. It's even more athletic when digging into a corner, though I wouldn't call the Highlander enjoyable to drive. The 270-horsepower V-6 doesn't have an immediate punch of velocity in the heavy Highlander. It's an unlike the lighter, 290-hp Hyundai Santa Fe, which is a "little" sphere of exhilaration to name a few comparable three-row SUVs. A six-cylinder Highlander LE with front-wheel drive is 4,244 extra pounds, while a V-6, front-wheel-drive Santa Fe GLS is 3,933 extra pounds.
A damaging result of the Highlander's newly found dynamics is a choppier flight over rough roadways. After driving 2013 and 2014 models, I can tell the 2014 sends more road flaws through the framework and also into seats. Hey, Toyota: It's OKAY to have a hostile layout as well as ride like a sofa; see the 2014 Chevrolet Impala.
On the benefit, the 2014 Highlander has a much more significant sensation over harsh roads, with fewer rattles, squeals and chassis flex. It's a matured experience with enhanced audio insulation, acoustic glass as well as a stiffer framework helping keep outside noise marginal.
I quickly hung out in the four-cylinder Highlander with front-wheel drive, which Toyota expects to account for 5 to 10 percent of sales, and in the brand new Highlander Crossbreed. Both the front-wheel-drive-only four-cylinder (20/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined) and also all-wheel-drive-only Crossbreed V-6 (27/28/28 mpg) are a little rough around the edges regarding engine noise and also vibrations. The Crossbreed's gas mileage is reasonably the same for 2014, down 1 mpg in city rankings to 27 mpg however preserves its 28 mpg combined ranking. The shift from electric to when the engine fires up is recognizable with raw noises coming from under the hood, audible from throughout a car park. Vibrations from the change are marginal, yet the sounds are loud enough to take notice.
An added 353 pounds added to the crossbreed from 3 electrical motors-- 2 in the front and also one in the back-- and a nickel steel hydride battery is obvious in just how the Hybrid drives compared with the Limited V-6 with four-wheel drive. It's a relaxed experience much less thrilled about increasing and also handling even with 280-hp combined, as well as it likewise does not ride any kind of smoother compared to the non-hybrid.
The Crossbreed's abnormally loud engine noises would not be as much of a concern if the Highlander Crossbreed weren't $48,160 with destination, $7,130 more than 2013-- a 2014 Lexus RX 450h is $47,320, though much smaller on the within. The Highlander Crossbreed's deluxe cars and truck rate does not reflect luxury 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 one of the most refined of the lot, supplying smooth and predictable 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 and 18/24/20 mpg with all-wheel drive is also a lot more affordable compared to the outbound 2013 thanks to a new six-speed transmission replacing a five-speed unit on V-6 designs. The all-wheel-drive system, which is also new, assists include 2 mpg freeway over the 2013 version. All-wheel-drive Highlanders send out torque to the rear wheels when slippage is found, versus the previous system that always sent out torque to 4 wheels.
Inside
Part of the 2014's improvement includes dialing up the interior styling with countless soft-touch and also accent-stitched interior panels that enhance the classiness. The high quality is Toyota-Avalon great with a sewn dashboard, guiding wheel and also soft-touch, top notch products in popular places. Plastic areas that aren't textured, sewed or covered are still on par for the course. Even the base LE Highlander exudes the practically luxurylike niceness of the higher-optioned Minimal trims.
Seating fits in the initial as well as second rows with soft, wide pole positions as well as a very flexible second row that slides and also reclines with 2 captain's chairs or the typical three-seat bench arrangement-- captain's chairs are available on the XLE and also basic on the Limited. The rest of the Highlander could have been redone with dynamism in mind, yet the seats talk with its comfort-focused origins. Many people on our staff will certainly miss out on the 2013's removable second-row facility seat. I will not, as it was awkward as well as cumbersome to get rid of as well as change with the center table that saved under the facility console.
In the third row, Toyota boosted size and included an added seat for an optimum capability of eight residents in conventional configuration. A brand-new, much more portable back suspension freed the extra space. The third row still does not fit grownups with as much comfort as the bigger Chevrolet Traverse, yet it excels in a pinch. There are additionally brand-new one-touch folding second-row seats on both sides. Formerly, just the curbside seat folded as well as glided forward via the one-touch bar. Third-row riders likewise take advantage of the second row's increased seat traveling, which permits easy entry as well as leave.
Ergonomics & Electronics
Modern technology is a huge emphasis in the 2014 Highlander and done quite possibly. Toyota's Entune multimedia system works better than ever compared to other Toyota lorries where I've utilized the system. Working the Entune system's voice commands goes over. The models I evaluated detected the numerous voice commands I spoke.
Those with bulky phones or who continuously have their phone attached to the SUV will certainly value a tool storage step below the environment manages that supplies a pass-through for USB cords. There need to be no more Medusa-like dangling of cables the gear selector.
The basic Entune on base LE versions includes a 6.1-inch touch-screen with backup cam, USB port with iPod connection, complementary input, voice acknowledgment, Bluetooth phone connection as well as Bluetooth streaming sound. LE Plus trims have Entune Sound Plus with a higher-resolution 6.1-inch display, HD Radio as well as 90-day satellite radio membership. The next step up is Entune Premium Audio with Navigation as well as Application Collection on XLE versions with an 8-inch touch-screen as well as application suite with Pandora, Yelp and Facebook combination with a smart device as well as accompanying Entune downloadable application. A JBL sound system is typical on Limited trim degrees.
The enormous center storage space bin between the front seats could feed on anything plus-sized, like a handbag, iPad or Blu-ray collection for the available rear-seat Blu-ray player. And when you neglect that Blu-ray in your home, an intriguing brand-new function called Easy Speak sends the thriving voice of a mad mom or father with the rear stereo audio speakers by means of the Bluetooth microphone to keep rowdy kids in check. How much extra household focused can you get than providing an attribute that allows parents to chew out kids?
Freight, Towing & Storage
Freight room behind the third row improves over the previous Highlander's skimpy step, which struggled carrying grocery stores, not to mention a baby stroller or golf bag. The freight volume is now ranked at 13.8 cubic feet, up from 10.3 cubic feet. It's not a substantial renovation, however at the very least it makes the area useful. It's still small compared to others in the segment: The Traveler has 21 cubic feet as well as the Pilot has 18 cubic feet behind the third row. Toyota's hoax to increase cargo room included relocating all 3 rows of seats forward, adding length behind the rear wheels as well as using a much more small back suspension.
The power liftgate is an excellent feature to be typical on LE And also trim degrees and above, as well as has a dress up its sleeve: It gets used to numerous heights, not just 1 or 2 predetermined elevation setups. With the liftgate in motion, customers can stop the liftgate and also program it to open to that set height the following time. The feature will certainly make shorter chauffeurs and also owners of reduced garages really delighted. (If eviction goes too expensive, much shorter folks could struggle to reach the power-close button on its bottom edge.) An additional unique feature on the back is an oldie but a reward: On LE Plus versions as well as above, the back window opens for simple access independent of the cargo gate.
A 5,000-pound tow rating on XLE and Limited trim degrees has a conventional towing bundle that includes engine/transmission colders and also upgraded radiator as well as generator. Crossbreeds can tow 3,500 extra pounds, V-6 LE/LE And also can tow 2,000 extra pounds and also a four-cylinder LE is rated at 1,500 extra pounds.
Safety and security
The 2014 Highlander had not been crash-tested at the time of this writing.
The 2014 Highlander gives reduced anchors and also tethers on outboard second-row seats for child-safety seats, however just a tether anchor on the center third-row seat.
Advanced security attributes are offered, though just on the pricey Limited trim level where an unseen area tracking system and also back parking assist are standard, and pre-collision, flexible cruise ship control and also lane separation caution are optional. Restricted trim levels are additionally the only versions with a back-up camera that utilizes anticipating guidelines to show the lorry's path-- a backup camera with set lines is conventional on all other trim degrees.
Worth in Its Class
Toyota says prices is up around $1,500 on average throughout the 2014 trim degrees, that include added functions over the 2013. Base prices starts at $30,075 for a base four-cylinder LE with location, while volume-seller XLE models with four-wheel drive are $38,360 and also include 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 very affordable to three-row midsize SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Ford Traveler or even the Hyundai Santa Fe.
The 2013 Highlander was absolutely a midpack three-row SUV, hanging back in crucial locations like interior quality, cargo area and modern technology. Feel confident, if you're a Highlander owner planning to upgrade-- as long as you're unconcerned about flight quality-- the 2014 is not just an engaging upgrade, yet also worthwhile of cross-shopping the section's ideal.