2008 toyota Highlander Sport
By
fardhan alief
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Monday, April 9, 2018
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2008 Toyota Highlander
The Highlander makes the grade on all counts, though it does not excel in any one area. Supplied it could maintain its superior resale worth and dependability, it ought to verify a wise-- if not specifically fascinating-- selection for several years to find.
Base, Sport as well as Limited trim degrees have front- or 4x4, and all could seat 5 or 7, relying on the configuration. Prices vary from approximately $27,000 to $40,000 with choices.
I examined all 3 trim levels of the routine Highlander at a Toyota event in Michigan.
2008 Toyota Highlander Sport
Edgier Styling
Toyota's The golden state style studios sculpted the exterior, 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 simply sufficient curves to offset the angles. With its creased headlights, showy grille and characterless bumper, the Highlander appears a bit also slick-- like a corner store shopper who won't remove his sunglasses.
The rear bumper has dimpled reflectors on each side, and a lot of trim degrees have a glass hatch that opens independent of the liftgate. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are basic; the Sporting activity and 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 chrome outside moldings.
At 188.4 inches long as well as 75.2 inches broad, the Highlander casts about the very same darkness as a Honda Pilot, Subaru Tribeca or Hyundai Veracruz. The Mazda CX-9 and also Saturn Expectation are both about a foot much longer.
The Inside
Toyota has invested years developing a track record for top quality, and missing any severe competition, the brand-new Highlander may have kept that criterion. The competition is nothing otherwise major, however, and also SUVs like the CX-9 as well as Veracruz boast some impressively upscale interiors. In contrast, Toyota drops a little bit short.
The Highlander shares bases with the current Camry, and also the control panel births a lot of the sedan's taste. The center controls are the all-natural focal point, with large knobs for major features within simple reach. Sporting activity and also Limited versions have a 3.5-inch screen atop the stereo. It shows gas mileage, outside temperature and even more. It additionally shows settings for the optional automated climate control system, which could separate the cabin into as many as 3 temperature level areas-- two front as well as one back. The climate regulates sit listed below the stereo, as well as they're awfully messy. I counted 13 switches between both temperature handles; that's a lot of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. In contrast, the conventional manual cooling is straightforward.
Cabin quality is just ordinary. The window switches, turn signals and facility controls might go straight into a Lexus, as well as the chrome accents and also electroluminescent determines appearance fantastic. Most locations are trimmed in difficult plastics, nevertheless, and the structures lack the charm of right stuff in a number of rivals. Most severe of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is some of the most inexpensive mouse hair this side of an economic climate auto.
Moms and dads will appreciate the storage choices. The center console in between the pole positions has 4 cupholders and also a broad storage container. Forget laptops; the glove box can fit a small desktop. (Probably not the screen, though-- allow's not obtain carried away.).
3 typical rows of seats accommodate approximately 7, though you can go down the third row in order to save a little money, decreasing seatsing ability to 5. The pole positions offer lots of space, with a method extender in the Highlander Limited that prolongs the pillow under the motorist's thighs. Great touch.
The second row is equally wide, with reclining back-rests as well as seat paddings that adjust backward and forward. The facility seat has Toyota's brand-new Facility Stow feature. It's essentially a dive seat, which travelers could exchange for a plastic center console, turning the 2nd row into two captain's chairs. The extra section-- either the middle seat or console-- stores in a floor area in between the front seats. After a couple of practice runs, I was able to make the adjustment in around 25 secs.
The dive seat is light enough for very easy installation. Its convenience is trial and error, even for a middle seat; the bottom cushion is significant, however I might conveniently feel the hinges underneath the backrest padding. The plastic console is lighter still, and both pieces have tough installment hooks that should make it through lots of thrashing from overenthusiastic kids.
Relying on where the second row is placed, the third row can be remarkably adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet high and located headroom a little bit limited, but with the 2nd row moved on a couple of inches-- maintaining lots of legroom for a lot of adults-- the third row's legroom was such that I can tolerate a brief journey.
Larger Engine, Better Mileage
All Highlanders obtain the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna as well as a number of 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, which made 215 hp and 222 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed transmission is basic. Last year's base four-cylinder engine has actually been dropped.
Velocity is adequate off the line and also stronger as the engine revs. The transmission assists things along, holding gears as well as rarely changing prematurely. Hard acceleration can prompt some abrupt transitions among reduced equipments-- much better for acceleration, worse for convenience-- but the majority of the moment the shifts are smooth adequate to pass undetected. The drivetrain really feels best on the freeway, where it downshifts with minimal gear searching. 3rd gear is specifically powerful for 50-to-70 miles per hour death.
The optional 4x4 is transparent to the chauffeur. It integrates a facility differential to divide power 50/50 in between the front as well as rear wheels all the moment. Four-wheel-drive versions have a downhill help feature. Press a dashboard switch, as well as it will slow down the SUV to a crawl down steep qualities. The function seems a little bit disingenuous: There is no low gear for offroad rock crawling, which means you should possibly prevent anywhere treacherous sufficient to need the downhill help.
All Highlanders have a hill-start aid that holds the brakes for up to 3 seconds from a quit to avoid the SUV from rolling backward before you have time to strike the gas.
Using the EPA's even more reasonable 2008 ranking system-- which normally brings about decrease numbers-- gas mileage is ranked at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive designs as well as 17/23 mpg for those with 4x4. These scores lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They likewise defeated the old V-6 Highlander by about 1 mpg (readjusted using the EPA's brand-new computation)-- an excellent accomplishment, provided the new Highlander has more power and also evaluates some 300 pounds a lot more. (Four-cylinder followers won't miss much: The old four-cylinder Highlander got simply 1 mpg more than the brand-new one performs with the V-6.).
Flight & Handling
The unibody construction affords a comfy ride, with none of the underbody shimmying that plagued the previous Highlander (which was additionally unibody) and also lots of body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sport, yet I could not identify a distinction in trip suppleness amongst the base, Sport as well as Limited. All 3 have a bit a lot more suspension noise over significant bumps than I've concerned expect in a midsize SUV.
Wind noise is very little. Given a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are relatively peaceful. The Sporting activity and Limited's 19-inch wheels and P245/55R19 tires produce a slight hum at freeway speeds, which I could not identify with the base model's 17-inchers as well as thicker P245/65R19 rubber.
All versions now come with electrical power steering. These systems conserve a bit on gas intake-- a little low-hanging fruit to meet the federal government's gas economic climate criteria, I think-- yet they often result in lifeless, man-made steering feeling. Expectedly, the Highlander guides with a light touch, never ever delivering a lot in the means of feedback or transforming precision. The CX-9 fares better here, yet few various other competitors attract attention. The very same is true for body roll: Like a lot of SUVs, the Highlander leans away in curves, reminding motorists it's not to be collared promptly.
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are common. The pedal supplies spongy reaction, however the brakes clamp down hard when needed.
Cargo & Towing
With all three rows installed as well as raised, cargo space in back is a meager 10.3 cubic feet. The third row folds up flat into the flooring, and also the 2nd row folds virtually flat. Highlanders without the 3rd row rather consist of a fairly large storage space area under the back flooring.
With all seats folded, maximum cargo quantity is 95.4 cubic feet, which contrasts more positively with the crowd.
When properly furnished, the Highlander could tow as much as 5,000 extra pounds.
Safety and security.
In Insurance Coverage Institute for Highway Safety frontal collision examinations, the 2008 Highlander racked up the greatest rating, Good. IIHS has actually not examined the Highlander for side impacts.
Toyota really did not skimp on safety and security functions. All Highlanders come standard with four-wheel-disc anti-skid brakes, traction control and an electronic security system. The stability system now collaborates with the electric power steering, which increases the power aid when the chauffeur is guiding to fix a skid. It additionally assists fight guiding pull under difficult stopping in order to help the Highlander drop in a straight line. (Toyota says the system can not steer the SUV by itself, as some advanced systems now do, so if you steer the upside-down in a skid, do not anticipate any added power assist.).
Seven air bags are conventional, consisting of the called for dual front airbags, a driver's knee airbag and side-impact airbags for the front seats. There are additionally roll-sensing side drape air bags for all 3 rows, which release throughout a rollover to prevent owner ejection.
All seats have head restraints, as well as in Sporting activity and Limited versions, the front ones are forward-adjustable for better whiplash security. Energetic head restrictions are typical on the pole positions of all trims. The 2nd row consists of Latch child-seat anchors in the outboard seats, with quickly obtainable top-tether supports midway down the seatback.
Functions & Rates
Leaving out the destination cost, the base Highlander with two-wheel drive starts at $27,300. A Highlander Limited with a full bevy of alternatives playings around $42,000. 4x4 on any trim adds regarding $1,500. All trim levels feature 3 rows of seats, though a third-row delete option on particular models could conserve $740.
-For $27,300, the base Highlander has 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entrance, a CD stereo with a supporting MP3 jack, a/c, cruise ship control, as well as power windows, mirrors and door locks.
-For $29,950, the Sporting activity includes dark outside elements, 19-inch wheels, haze lights, a power vehicle driver's seat, a multifunction wheel, a backup cam and six-CD audio.
-For $32,700, the Limited includes a keyless startup system, automatic climate control, leather furniture and a power traveler seat. Many of these attributes are optional on the Sport. Choices on both trim degrees include a navigation system, JBL premium audio, a rear seat DVD player, a moonroof, a power tailgate and also warmed pole positions.
Highlander out there
Competitors from GM, Mazda as well as Hyundai will certainly offer the Highlander a run for its loan. Its biggest opponent, the Honda Pilot, schedules for a redesign in the next year or more, and Toyota's trump card-- its track record for top quality as well as reliability-- has been sliding recently. The automaker has promised to enhance its initiatives, and its newest SUV has to prove that.
The brand-new Highlander has lots of book perceptiveness, like decent gas mileage and tons of security attributes, but there's nothing outstanding about it. If it verifies as bulletproof as its predecessor, however, stability will certainly become its specifying quality, which is a book attract a great deal of customers could get behind.