Toyota
Highlander Hybrid Testimonials and Reviews
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Will said...
We bought our 2WD Toyota highlander in 2007 as a used 2006edition trading in our 4WD Jeep 6cyl which averaged 17mpg. The highlander now has over 60k mi on it and the wife has declared it as her favorite car. Overall mileage has been in 27mpg +/- 2 range with mostly in town driving using old fashioned method of trip odometer and number of gallons at the pump. Last week we averaged just over 30mpg on a highway trip on flat ground with speeds 55-75mph on an equal mix of interstate and secondary roads. On this trip we kept the AC use to a minimum thanks to overcast and rainy conditions and inflated the tires to 35psi cold.
Tire inflation seems to make a difference of 1-2 mpg and AC use does likewise. The higher inflation of course does sacrifice a little comfort of the ride. Check your tire max psi ratings and the recommended inflation levels for the vehicle before attempting. Over or under inflation can cause irregular tire wear and could be hazardous. When we bought new tires this year I did make sure to get the OEM Goodyear tires rather than a different brand. The ultra high psi limit on those is one reason and the other is they are so quiet on the road. I figured Toyota picked them for mileage as well - not for their road grip!
One note to those in cold or wet climates, when you use either of the two defrost air settings the AC comes on automatically even though the light does not light. On a mild wet day, try alternating between the defrost and vent settings and you'll notice the windows fog up on the vent setting and defog quite rapidly on defrost. That's the compressor going to work for you and unfortunately it cannot be manually controlled. It's somewhat of a safety feature though personally I would prefer the manual control.
Tips: Hills and acceleration habits do make a difference, it is a heavy car with a powerfully tempting 6cyl engine. Except when overtaking a car, I keep the watt needle no more than 25% above zero. From a stop I accelerate lightly on battery power until about 15mph then when the engine kicks in on its own give it more gas up to the speed limit. When going down hill I try to use the regenerative braking lightly holding the brake pedal. The "B" setting on the shifter engages the regenerative braking upon lifting the accelerator but is usually too strong except for steep hills or in mountain driving. When coming to a stop I break lightly *very* early (like a whole block or two) keeping an eye on the watt needle and feeling for the regeneration vs. real brakes. Under anything more than light braking the real brakes seem to take over. So I accelerate a little slower than everyone else, I figure I'm setting a good example on how to save gas.
Most of the time the battery stays in 60-80% range. I sometimes play a game and try to get the battery to 100%, that has happened only once or twice :), although 95% is often achievable.
On emissions, it's obviously not Prius level, but compared to a push-rod inline 6 barely removed from carburetors "clunker" that we had in the Jeep I think I can feel pretty good. Our mileage is roughly equivalent to what we get in our 4cyl 1995 Accord. So the Highlander is a 250+HP SUV with equivalent mileage to 4cyl 120HP sedan - that's a great engineering achievement.
Dick said...
Today "Anonymous" wrote:
I bought my Highlander Hybrid in February 2009...
Dear Anonymous, the key to your post is the statement:"On a one mile trip from my driveway to the main road, at speeds of 25 and below, the average mileage will drop 1.5 mpg." DUH! Your engine isn't warm! All the Toyota Hybrid computers warm the engine to operating temperature before engaging the electric. If all you take is trips of less than a few miles, your gas mileage will always be poor.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I bought my Highlander Hybrid in February 2009. I live in Florida. At first I was getting 23 mpg, which I found disappointing, but since then it has gotten much worse. I keep the tires inflated to 40 lbs, drive in economy mode most of the time, do mostly 45-60 mph driving with no stop and go, keep the power guage in the first two bars as much as possible, and now I'm averaging 21 mph. I've been back to the dealer several times. They reset the computer and shrug their shoulders. The general manager told me it is the worst mileage he has encountered on the vehicle. In a word, I am completely unhappy and ready to dump it. If I want 21 mph, I can drive a regular car without all the hybrid complications and have far more driving satisfaction. I literally cannot watch the gas mileage go down. On a one mile trip from my driveway to the main road, at speeds of 25 and below, the average mileage will drop 1.5 mpg. This is with coasting as much as I can. I would never recommend this car to anyone.
Dick said...
I've had my '08 HyHi for almost a year and a half, with 35,000 miles on it now. I consistently get 31 to 32 mpg commuting the 45 miles from my house to downtown D.C., but only when taking the 2-lane roads with 40 and 50 mph limits. If you get above 60 mph, mph drops to about 26 mpg. Over 70 mph, and mpg is about 24. Driving about 85 mph across the Texas panhandle (less than 10,000 on the odometer) got me about 22 mpg. The key is the kilowatt gauge: the more you keep it at 10 kW, the better the mpg. Practice keeping your foot steady on the gas pedal.
Also, driving technique is crucial. Slow acceleration is terrible for mpg. Fast acceleration TO your cruising speed is crucial, passing it by 10 mph wastes a lot of gasoline. Actually, this is true for any car, but understanding why requires knowing physics, and I lose most folks when I say that word. And hybrids are terrible with lots of short trips. The computer will ALWAYS completely warm up the engine before allowing the electric to be used.
Finally, watch out for the tires. The Toyo's don't last long, and replacements are hard to come by and are expensive.
Anonymous said...
I bought a 2008 highlander hybrid and am very disappointed! I get horrible gas mileage (20 average) and I paid 50 grand for it with taxes and warranties. I am so upset. Of course the dealers in San Antonio can't help. This is completely awful. I feel like I was lied to by the dealership and the government who places the gas mileage estimates.
I bought my 2WD Highlander Hybrid Limited in March of
2006. I drive a LONG way to work and now have 100,000
miles on it. (This post done Oct 2008.)
I get just under 30mpg as long as I use the cruise
control and keep it set at 60mph or less. I also keep
the tires at 35psi.
I love my Highlander and bought it instead of a truck
because I wanted to haul my dogs and camping gear as
well and all the house remodel supplies I am buying. So
even though I am not getting 40mpg I am getting better
than any mid to large sized pickup. And get a better
ride, more comfort and they 'statement' status that the
hybrid tag on the vehicle makes.
I have driven my car on trips over 3000 miles twice and
do get slightly lower mileage on the all freeway
driving. Closer to 26 than 30. I have never come close
to 600 miles on a tank but 450 is no problem.
When getting caught in major traffic jams on I-5 where
the traffic would be stop and go for hours I loved it
since the gas engine didn't come on until the battery
was nearly dead. I could sit in traffic an hour and use
no gas.
I am already looking ahead to when the battery will need
replacing. I hope they have an improved version by then,
even possibly a plug-in version.
Chris
B
Ok, check this one out. I bought an 08 Highlander Hybrid
Limited (smart all wheel drive) just over a month ago.
The first tank of gas we received about 25 mpg driving
from Lewisville (Toyota of Lewisville) back home to
Tulsa, OK. That seemed to be close to the EPA estimates.
Cool, maybe we can improve I thought. The next tank of
gas was used primarily driving around Tulsa, OK. Gas
mileage was worse at 21. I thought you were supposed to
get better gas mileage in the city! Over the next 5 or 6
tanks of gas the gas mileage kept going down and hovered
around 19-21 for both city and hwy driving. I called the
salesman at Lewisville Toyota and he stated that it
takes some time for the hybrid to break in but suggested
that I take the vehicle in to our local Toyota
dealership to make sure everything is ok. So of course
after doing this the service dept in Tulsa cleared the
vehicle with finding no issues at all. Also the electric
motor, when it kicks on always seems to kick back off
instantly and doesn't run with any length of time unless
idoling or in EV mode. I called Toyota of Lewisville
back and spoke to a manager and he asked if I was
calculating the gas mileage or going by the display. I
told him that i had just filled up the tank and the
overall MPG was at 18mpg via the display. The manager
then requested that I calculate the next tank of gas
using old fashion math. After doing this we found out
that the mileage had even gone down more to 16mpg! We
have just over 3000 miles on it and i can't get the
dealership to take the vehicle back or even trade it in
for an equal value vehicle like an Avalon or a Seqouia.
If i was to trade it in the manager stated that there
was an 18,000 price difference we would be stuck with.
Now i am stuck with a vehicle that i paid more than
15-20 thousand dollars more for than a reqular gas
powered highlander for the gas mileage, that doesn't
even get close to in comparison. Oh and we have tried
using "real" gas with no Ethanol and also
Premium gasoline, running on Econ mode vs. not, trying
to stay on EV mode for traffic driving, not accelerating
hard AT ALL, but did not see any differences. Does
anyone have any suggestions or would want to go in with
to start a class action lawsuit? Please tell me what you
would do in my shoes!
We have a 2007 THH, bought new last year. We drive in
Chicago suburban traffic - stop and go, some highway,
mostly in the 20-45 MPH range every day. Summer mileage
is quite good - my current tank, which has 1/8 left, is
on 30.2 by the computer. What I've found is 28-30 mpg in
the summer, and 24-26 mpg in the winter. That needs to
improve, but w have not figured out how to get the
battery to charge sooner in Chicago winters. The mileage
starts to go down when the temp is under 50F and then
dramatically under 40 and then freezing temps.
Anybody have any ideas for how to boost summer and
especially winter by a couple of mpgs?
gosail69541
Hi,
We have a 2006 Toyota Highlander 2 Wheel Drive. We live
at 3,500 foot
elevation on the slopes of Haleakala, on Maui. Anytime
we go anywhere, we almost always have to drive down
to sea level and back. By far, most of our
driving is highway driving and we are averaging just over 24 mpg.
I'm curious what others are getting in this vehicle.
Aloha,
Bill
I
bought a 4-wheel drive Highlander Hybrid one week ago. I
have only put 165 miles on it thus far, mostly short
drives (less than 8 miles at a time in town), so I am
still learning how to best maximize the fuel efficiency.
I am being very gentle with the gas pedal and coasting
downhill without my foot on the pedal at all. I am only
getting 22.5 mpg according to the computer, which is
disappointing, and am eager to make the calculation
myself with my first fillup. A major concern is that the
battery has yet to fully charge. It has not charged more
than 6 bars out of the 8 maximum. I am hoping that a
fully charged batter will result in the electric motor
contributing to power more frequently. I am sold on the
electronic power steering and the transmission
combination which allows the vehicle to truly coast when
going downhill without the transmission slowing the
vehicle. The interior, exterior, amenities etc. are all
great, I'm disappointed in the fuel efficiency thus far.
I would gladly give up some power for more fuel
efficiency.
D. P.
Roanoke, Virgnia
We bought our Hybrid Highlander in July 05'. In the
beginning we were getting about 27mpg. These last couple
months it has taken a turn for the worse. My driving
conditions haven't changed (mostly city driving). The
last 5 fill ups we have averaged about 20mpg. I have
noticed the gas comes on almost immediately now, unlike
before when the electricity was used up to about 30mph
(on the flat). We took it into the Toyota dealer and
they insisted there was nothing wrong or the lights
would've come on. There is something wrong when you
spend the extra money to purchase a vehicle that is
supposed to be better for the environment and it ends up
not being the case. We didn't buy this thinking we would
get our money back in the gas money we saved. We bought
this thinking it polluted less and didn't consume as
much gas. It is frustrating being mislead.
By the way Darrell the battery is rarely ever charged
all way. I don't think that makes a difference unless
it's really low. I'm not sure though.
Tricia
I bought my 2006
Highlander 4x4 (base model with package #1) in late
September '05 on eBay from a dealer in Lockport, NY. At
that time I felt like I got a good deal, at $2,000 below
MSRP. I flew from my home (near Burlington, Vermont) to
Buffalo (thanks to Jet Blue's $69 1-way fare) to get the
car and then drove it home. I paid close attention to my
driving technique and stayed on secondary roads,
avoiding interstates. That 500-mile trip in cool, dry
weather yielded almost 31 mpg. I have never been able to
duplicate that economy. Car now has 2,500 miles and has
averaged 23-25 mpg. Vermont is hilly, so I am often
going up and down grades more than long distances on
flat roads. Mileage seems to vary a lot with colder
temps, use of A/C, heat, lights, etc. As others have
remarked, the V-6 seems to run more frequently, no
matter how lightly I use the accelerator. As of today
(2/3/06) we have escaped our normal winter in NW Vermont
this year: little snow and no below-zero temps. Wonder
what effect those would have on economy? Perhaps the
HiHy's mileage will improve in the spring. I am proud to
own and drive such a vehicle, but would not recommend it
to anyone whose budget can't easily afford the premium
price over a gas-only 4-cyl or V-6 Highlander.
G.G.
I am thoroughly enjoying
my car and already have 4,800 miles on it. My average
since I got it is 29.6 mpg, which I consider pretty good.
However, I would like to get it to over 30 on a routine
basis. I am using regular gas and the driving is about 75%
freeway and 25% in town, with a/c on all the time. It
is a whole new driving concept, and to get that mileage
one has to be extremely light footed. I've only been able
to get around 450 miles on a tank of gas, but haven't
really taken any trips more than 100 miles or so. Perhaps
on a long distance trip, with ideal conditions, I might
seek the goal of "600 miles on a tank" as
advertised.
M.S.
We just bought a HH a
week ago, after 250 miles I am getting 27.4mpg, I was very
careful to maximize this by coasting a lot up to redlights
and not accerating up hills, but then I mostly drive that
way except in my Boxster. MY wife and I are amazed at how
quiet the car is going down the highway. I also noticed
the battery is not fully charging, but that probably would
be hard to do with the electric motor coming on as much as
it does going up hills.
Tom
I, too, am disappointed
with my Highlander mileage (24), mostly because the
sticker said 28-32. QUESTION: Does anyone know how to get
the maint. required light to go off? Last oil change, the
mechanic showed me and I can't remember or get it to do
it. Hold in the button on odo. while starting? thanks.
lcb
Am seeing decreased MPG
in my Highlander - from 30 mpg when new to 28Mpg, now
down to 26-27 mpg (9,000 miles). Wonder if anyone else
has had this situation?
P.W.
Are
you the owner of a Toyota Highlander hybrid? Tell us about
your experiences with the Highlander hybrid. What kind of
gas mileage do you get in your hybrid Highlander and in what
kind of driving?
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We just bought a HH a week ago, after 250 miles I am getting 27.4mpg, I was very careful to maximize this by coasting a lot up to redlights and not accerating up hills, but then I mostly drive that way except in my Boxster. MY wife and I are amazed at how quiet the car is going down the highway. I also noticed the battery is not fully charging, but that probably would be hard to do with the electric motor coming on as much as it does going up hills.
I purchased one about 2 months ago.. I now have 4000 miles on it.
I got about 28-30 on the atlanta highways in rush hour traffic in bumper to bumper traffic. I go on electric alot of the time by being easy on the gas.
I found out 60 is the sweet spot for highway mileage. Above 60 I found that it did not use the electric at all. I had to go on a trip 800 miles each way and I got about 25 MPG going 70 most of the time.
If you drive under 60 using the cruise control and do not have a hilly road you will use the electric occasionally while on the cruise control only. I was rarely able to get the electric at highway speeds except at cruise.
Whenever you start it the motor has to run to warm up the engine to operating temperature. so if you do alot of short trips it will constantly use the gas motor.
I am pretty happy since atlanta traffic is pretty bad. It is a roomy car that gets 4 cylinder mileage with a v6 with lots of power.
We bought our HH Ltd. in September. I am disappointed in the mpg. On average we get 25 mpg or less. On the highway it averages about 26 mpg but in the city we get only about 20 mpg. When I took it in to see if something was wrong with the HH, the service manager said,"It may take 10,000 miles for the HH to break in." This seems a bit high since many people do not drive 10,000 in 2 years. When I talked to the mechanic, he said that the HH are still in experimental mode, and really don't know how many mpg it will get due to the higher power. He said he has only seen 2 HH so far.
I also do not see the battery mode kick in very often in city driving. If it does, it stays on for only a few seconds.
It is true that the Highlander hybrid was not built specifically for fuel efficiency. Toyota has stated that this might be an option in the future: either more performance or better fuel efficiency.
Still, you are achieving v6 performance without v6 fuel economy.
If you drive a 4 wd standard highlander, you'd achieve well under 20 mpg.
If a standard Highlander averages 18 mpg in combined city/highway real world driving and a Highlander hybrid achieves 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving - that's more than a 20 percent gain in fuel efficiency.
SUVs are typically heavy and therefore fuel inefficient. Hybrid technology can only help so much until manufacturers start making lighter SUVs and plug-in hybrids.
As for the 10,000 mile break in period - don't expect any real change. That 'break-in' period is just the amount of time it takes drivers to learn how to maximize the fuel efficiency of their hybrid by their driving style.
I have about 7000 miles on my 4WD-i HH (Highlander Hybrid) and, using regular gas, average between 25 and 26 mpg. That's about 430 miles of driving with the 17.2 gallon tank. It's supposed to average 26-36 mpg for city and 22-32 mpg for highway driving.
There's an interesting note in the Toyota owner's manual: "For improved vehicle performance, the use of premium unleaded gasoline with an octane Rating of 91 or higher is recommended." I plan to fill up with the higher octane and check the mileage.
I like our Highlander Hybrid but we too get about 22 mpg overall in the Portland & Vancouver area. I have found that Consumer Reports offers an honest assessment of real gas mileage on most models. I hope Toyota is paying attention to these comments, both these blogs and other sources. I have checked with Toyota several times and, just like the other comments I have read, they offer no solution or reasonable solution that I have not already tried. I drive our Highlander very carefully to conserve as much fuel as possible. I am aware that some loss in mileage has to do with the winter gas fuel formulation that is added in OR and WA. We have also had a Toyota Prius nearly two years now. We are all hybrid and we certainly did not buy them with the idea that it was going to be a money saver but we do want to lower our overall CO2 emissions. I hope car manufactures and the EPA can get together to offer us an honest assessment of performance. There are many of us that do want to make a difference.
Barry and Denise