2009 toyota Highlander Hybrid
By
pusahma2008
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Saturday, April 7, 2018
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2009 Toyota Highlander
2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
The Highlander makes the grade on all matters, though it doesn't master any kind of one area. Given it could maintain its superior resale value as well as integrity, it needs to prove a clever-- if not specifically fascinating-- selection for many years to come.
Edgier Designing
Toyota's The golden state style studios formed the exterior, which is bigger in all significant dimensions compared to the old Highlander. To my eyes, Toyota's smaller RAV4 SUV looks better-proportioned, with just adequate contours to offset the angles. With its creased fronts lights, flashy grille and also characterless bumper, the Highlander appears a bit as well slick-- like a convenience store shopper who won't remove his sunglasses.
The back bumper has lumpy reflectors on each side, as well as a lot of trim levels have a glass hatch that opens up independent of the liftgate. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are typical; the Sporting activity and Limited have 19-inchers that complete the wheel wells perfectly. The Sporting activity 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 and also 75.2 inches large, the Highlander casts approximately the exact same darkness as a Honda Pilot, Subaru Tribeca or Hyundai Veracruz. The Mazda CX-9 and Saturn Outlook are both concerning a foot much longer.
The Within
Toyota has actually spent years building a track record for top quality, as well as absent any type of major competitors, the new Highlander might have preserved that requirement. The competitors is absolutely nothing otherwise major, though, and SUVs like the CX-9 as well as Veracruz boast some impressively high end insides. In comparison, Toyota falls a little bit brief.
The Highlander shares bases with the current Camry, and also the control panel bears a lot of the sedan's taste. The facility controls are the all-natural focal point, with oversized handles for major functions within easy reach. Sporting activity as well as Limited models have a 3.5-inch display atop the stereo. It presents gas mileage, outside temperature level and also more. It additionally reveals settings for the optional automatic climate control system, which could divide the cabin right into as lots of as three temperature level areas-- 2 front and one rear. The environment manages rest below the stereo, and they're terribly cluttered. I counted 13 switches in between the two temperature knobs; that's a lot of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. In contrast, the typical manual air conditioning is straightforward.
Cabin high quality is simply ordinary. The window switches over, turn signals and facility controls could go straight right into a Lexus, and the chrome accents and electroluminescent determines appearance terrific. The majority of locations are cut in difficult plastics, nevertheless, and also the structures do not have the allure of right stuff in a number of rivals. Most severe of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is some of the most affordable computer mouse hair this side of an economic climate vehicle.
Moms and dads will value the storage alternatives. The center console in between the front seats has four cupholders as well as a broad storage space container. Fail to remember laptops; the glove box could fit a small computer. (Possibly not the monitor, though-- let's not get carried away.).
Three common rows of seats accommodate up to seven, though you could drop the third row in order to conserve a little money, lowering sitting ability to 5. The pole positions offer a lot of space, with a trick extender in the Highlander Limited that prolongs the padding under the vehicle driver's thighs. Good touch.
The second row is similarly wide, with reclining backrests as well as seat pillows that change backward and forward. The center seat has Toyota's brand-new Center Stow attribute. It's essentially a jump seat, which passengers could exchange for a plastic center console, transforming the 2nd row right into 2 captain's chairs. The unused part-- either the middle seat or console-- shops in a flooring area between the pole positions. After a few practice runs, I had the ability to make the adjustment in around 25 seconds.
The jump seat is light enough for very easy installment. Its comfort is hit and miss, also for a middle seat; the bottom cushion is significant, but I can quickly really feel the hinges under the backrest extra padding. The plastic console is lighter still, as well as both pieces have sturdy installation hooks that should endure a lot of knocking from overenthusiastic youngsters.
Depending upon where the 2nd row is positioned, the 3rd row can be remarkably adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet high as well as discovered clearance a bit tight, yet with the second row moved forward a few inches-- preserving a lot of legroom for many adults-- the third row's legroom was such that I can endure a short trip.
Bigger Engine, Better Mileage
All Highlanders obtain the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna and numerous other Toyotas. In the Highlander it makes 270 horse power as well as 248 pounds-feet of torque. Both are substantial gains over in 2015's V-6, which made 215 hp as well as 222 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed transmission is basic. In 2015's base four-cylinder engine has been dropped.
Acceleration suffices off the line and stronger as the engine revs. The transmission aids points along, holding gears and hardly ever changing too soon. Hard velocity can prompt some abrupt transitions among reduced gears-- better for acceleration, even worse for comfort-- but most of the moment the changes are smooth enough to pass undiscovered. The drivetrain feels finest on the highway, where it downshifts with very little gear searching. 3rd gear is particularly potent for 50-to-70 mph death.
The optional four-wheel drive is transparent to the motorist. It incorporates a center differential to split power 50/50 in between the front and back wheels all of the moment. Four-wheel-drive versions have a downhill aid function. Press a control panel switch, and it will reduce the SUV to a crawl down steep grades. The function seems a bit insincere: There is no reduced equipment for offroad rock crawling, which means you need to most likely stay clear of anywhere treacherous adequate to call for the downhill help.
All Highlanders have a hill-start help that holds the brakes for as much as three seconds from a quit to prevent the SUV from rolling in reverse before you have time to hit the gas.
Making use of the EPA's even more reasonable 2008 score system-- which typically results in lower numbers-- gas mileage is ranked at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive versions as well as 17/23 mpg for those with 4x4. These scores lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They likewise beat the old V-6 Highlander by around 1 mpg (adjusted making use of the EPA's new calculation)-- an outstanding task, provided the brand-new Highlander has more power and also considers some 300 pounds more. (Four-cylinder fans will not miss out on much: The old four-cylinder Highlander obtained just 1 mpg more than the new one does with the V-6.).
Trip & Handling
The unibody building and construction manages a comfortable trip, with none of the underbody vibrating that tormented the previous Highlander (which was also unibody) and lots of body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sporting activity, but I couldn't identify a distinction in ride suppleness amongst the base, Sporting activity and also Limited. All 3 have a little bit more suspension noise over significant bumps compared to I have actually involved expect in a midsize SUV.
Wind sound is minimal. Offered a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are relatively peaceful. The Sporting activity and also Limited's 19-inch wheels and P245/55R19 tires send out a small hum at highway speeds, which I couldn't detect with the base version's 17-inchers and thicker P245/65R19 rubber.
All versions now come with electrical power guiding. These systems conserve a bit on gas usage-- a little bit of low-hanging fruit to fulfill the federal government's fuel economy standards, I suspect-- yet they usually lead to drab, artificial guiding feeling. Expectedly, the Highlander guides with a light touch, never ever providing much in the method of responses or transforming precision. The CX-9 prices better here, but few other competitors stand out. The same holds true for body roll: Like many SUVs, the Highlander leans away in contours, reminding drivers it's not to be cornered quickly.
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are common. The pedal offers mushy action, yet the brakes clamp down hard when required.
Freight & Towing
With all three rows installed as well as raised, cargo room in back is a weak 10.3 cubic feet. The third row folds level into the flooring, as well as the second row folds nearly level. Highlanders without the third row instead consist of a rather big storage space area under the rear flooring.
With all seats folded up, optimal cargo volume is 95.4 cubic feet, which contrasts more favorably with the crowd.
When appropriately furnished, the Highlander could tow as much as 5,000 pounds.
Safety.
In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal collision tests, the 2008 Highlander scored the highest rating, Excellent. IIHS has actually not tested the Highlander for side impacts.
Toyota really did not stint security attributes. All Highlanders come standard with four-wheel-disc anti-skid brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system. The security system currently collaborates with the electrical power guiding, which boosts the power aid when the vehicle driver is steering to correct a skid. It also helps battle guiding pull under hard stopping in order to help the Highlander stop in a straight line. (Toyota claims the system can not guide the SUV by itself, as some advanced systems now do, so if you steer the wrong way in a skid, do not expect any extra power help.).
Seven airbags are basic, consisting of the required dual front airbags, a chauffeur's knee air bag and side-impact air bags for the pole positions. There are likewise roll-sensing side drape airbags for all three rows, which release throughout a rollover to prevent occupant ejection.
All seats have head restraints, as well as in Sport as well as Limited models, the front ones are forward-adjustable for much better whiplash defense. Active head restraints are common on the pole positions 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.
Functions & Pricing
Leaving out the destination fee, the base Highlander with two-wheel drive begins at $27,300. A Highlander Limited with a complete bunch of alternatives runs around $42,000. Four-wheel drive on any trim includes regarding $1,500. All trim levels come with 3 rows of seats, though a third-row remove alternative on specific models could conserve $740.
For $27,300, the base Highlander has 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, a CD stereo with an auxiliary MP3 jack, a/c, cruise control, and also power home windows, mirrors and also door locks.
For $29,950, the Sport adds dark exterior aspects, 19-inch wheels, fog lights, a power driver's seat, a multifunction steering wheel, a back-up cam and also six-CD sound.
For $32,700, the Minimal includes a keyless startup system, automatic environment control, natural leather upholstery and a power traveler seat. Much of these attributes are optional on the Sport. Alternatives on both trim degrees include a navigating system, JBL premium audio, a rear seat DVD gamer, a moonroof, a power tailgate as well as heated pole positions.
Highlander in the marketplace
Rivals from GM, Mazda as well as Hyundai will certainly provide the Highlander a run for its cash. Its biggest competitor, the Honda Pilot, schedules for a redesign in the next year or two, and also Toyota's key resource-- its track record for top quality and also integrity-- has actually been sliding lately. The automaker has actually vowed to redouble its efforts, and its most recent SUV has to prove that.
The new Highlander has lots of textbook sensibilities, like good gas mileage and lots of security attributes, yet there's absolutely nothing extraordinary about it. If it confirms as bulletproof as its precursor, though, reliability will certainly become its defining quality, which is a book attract a great deal of customers can get behind.