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The Highlander Hybrid
The 2012 Highlander hybrid saw some updates in its styling, offering a more edgy look that included tweaked front and rear ends, with a restyled grille, headlights, taillights, and bumpers.
Likewise, the updated Highlander hybrid upgraded from a 3.3 liter V-6 to a 3.5 liter V-6 that achieves 280 hp. Unfortunately, that upgrade also resulted in a $2390 price increase.
Fortunately, however, the 2012 Highlander hybrid shouldn't experience much of a price increase -- not bad for a hybrid SUV that the Union of Concerned Scientists recently named one of the best SUVs based on fuel economy, greenhouse gas emissions and ‘forced’ options.
Top Highlander hybrid stories
-- Hybrid buyers – Toyota hybrid prices set to rise in May
-- Cash back for Toyota hybrid buyers
-- Highlander
hybrid a best new car value according to Consumer
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-- Highlander
hybrid better deal than non-hybrid Highlander -
Intellichoice
Still, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.
Why do consumers like SUVs? Typically, safety is one of the biggest reasons.
So, why buy a hybrid SUV? Fuel economy and safety.
Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) called the Highlander hybrid a Top Safety pick. Check.
However, while the Toyota Highlander hybrid is more fuel efficient than a conventional Highlander, some have not been happy with the Highlander hybrid's fuel economy. (Read more about Highlander hybrid fuel economy in the Highlander
hybrid testimonials.)
The EPA rates the 2012 Highlander hybrid at 28 mpg for both city and highway, despite the increased engine size from the 2011 model. Therefore, while the price of the Highlander did increase recently, so too did fuel economy and engine size.
Still, Toyota has
admitted that the Highlander hybrid was not designed
exclusively for fuel economy. Call Toyota foolish, but
if fuel economy was a buyer's main motivation, Toyota
assumed a Prius or
a Camry hybrid
was a better choice.
Still, Soultek has received testimonials from owners of conventional Highlanders that have switched to Highlander hybrids and they have reported significant increases in average fuel economy.
Regardless, Toyota could have made the Highlander hybrid more fuel efficient, but at the expense of some performance and assuming that Highlander hybrid consumers would desire a certain level of SUV performance seems understandable.
Of course, Toyota might have
underestimated the importance of the third-row of
seating for larger, fuel economy-focused families, as the
Highlander hybrid is the most fuel efficient option for families.
(Both the GMC Yukon
hybrid and the Chevy
Tahoe hybrid achieve less fuel economy than the Highalnder hybrid.)
Fortunately, Toyota will offer a larger Prius soon that will offer a third row of seating, giving hybrid consumers even more choices, especially those needing more passenger space than what a conventional car can offer.
Still,
Toyota has added new features to help control the
fuel economy of the current Highlander hybrid.
EV Mode
allows Highlander hybrid drivers to operate in purely
electric mode at low speeds and in stop-and-go traffic.
An ECON Mode helps control excessive acceleration
via a throttle-control system. Finally, Toyota also
added a Hybrid System Indicator that helps drivers
optimize the hybrid powertrain and, therefore, fuel
economy.
Back to
the Highlander hybrid basics
The 3.5
liter V6 Highlander hybrid comes in two 4WD-i
versions, base and Limited. Additionally, the new hybrid
Highlander is bigger than previous versions of
Toyota's first hybrid SUV - almost 4 inches longer and 3
inches wider.
In
addition, as with all Toyota SUVs, the Highlander hybrid
will include Toyota's STAR(TM) Safety system, which
includes Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management, Vehicle
Stability Control, traction control, electronic
brake-force distribution, and brake assist - in addition
to seven air bags, a driver's knee air bag, and
roll-sensing side curtain air bags.
Both the
base and limited versions of the hybrid Highlander also
offer stand-alone backup cameras, Push Button Start, and
the Smart Key System.
The
Limited Version has also been upgraded with leather
seats, multi-stage heated front seats, rear glass-hatch,
power rear door, AM/FM/six-disc in-dash CD changer,
nineteen-inch alloy wheels, puddle lamps on outside
mirrors, fog lamps and a third-row bench seat with
foldable headrests for a flat rear cargo area.
Back to
today's Highlander hybrid
Lately,
the Highlander hybrid is as available as ever, thanks to
the fact that Toyota has met its quota of hybrid
tax credits and increased hybrid production - sadly
that also means that the clean vehicle tax
credit available for the Highlander hybrid have expired.
Still, a 3.5 liter V-6 28 mpg SUV? Not too bad. Safety and fuel economy.
Not too shabby for a vehicle that will take you more than 600 miles on a single tank of gas, and is rated a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
(SULEV).
All of the options available for the regular Highlander will also be
available for the Hybrid, including a navigation system.
Also,
unlike the Toyota Prius hybrid, the Highlander hybrid
can be outfitted with a sunroof - one of my favorite
features.
If you would like to
receive future information on the Toyota Highlander
Hybrid, please
Click here.
Read
about the Ford Escape
Hybrid, the Highlander hybrid's closest competitor.
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Read more on the Highlander
hybrid on Hybridcarblog.com or Highlander hybrid archives.
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