When it debuted 10 years ago, the Toyota Highlander blazed the trail for midsize crossover SUVs. At the time, we wondered whether people would like this "Camry wagon" (the Highlander typically has had a lot of Camry in its DNA) or continue to stick with truck-based SUVs. Well, the last decade has pretty much proven that refined carlike crossovers have prevailed.
Thanks to a quiet, fairly roomy cabin, a V6 engine that is both smooth and comfortable and a reputation for reliability, the Highlander has remained one of the most popular midsize crossovers. A refresh for the 2011 Highlander brings updated styling and additional standard features. A new third-row seat has a 50/50-split folding design that makes it easier to configure the vehicle for passenger use or cargo hauling.
Otherwise, the 2011 Toyota Highlander stays the course. This means a smooth, quiet ride and comfortable seating for up to seven passengers (though the third row is a bit tight compared with some of the Highlander's competition). The Highlander also boasts a 40/20/40-split second-row seat with a removable center seat that allows walk-through access to the third row, not to mention the comfort of captain's chairs with fold-down armrests in the second row.
While the midsize 2011 Toyota Highlander has a lot going for it, this crossover faces some stiff competition. The larger crossovers from General Motors -- the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia -- offer more cavernous interiors with seating for up to eight passengers. The Ford Flex and Mazda CX-9 also have their own distinct advantages, as do the totally redesigned Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer. We suggest checking out these models, but in general we still believe the Highlander hits the sweet spot between passenger-car comfort and SUV-style utility.
Interior style is well refined and smart, granting a comfortable cabin with many convenient features. Interior materials, as before, remain high quality.
The big news inside is third row seating is now standard and, thankfully, the previous seat has been discarded. Instead of a one-piece design, the new third row seat is split 50/50, allowing four passengers in the vehicle when one half of the second and third seats are folded to accommodate long objects. Access to the third-row is made easy with the walk-in lever placed at an easy to reach position at the bottom of the passenger-side second-row seat.
The Highlander Hybrid offers a wonderful 40/20/40-split second-row bench seat. It reclines, slides fore and aft and the center section can be removed and stowed away, leaving an open center aisle. This configuration results in a pair of second row captain’s chairs with fold-down armrests, much like those found in many minivans.
In terms of cargo, this SUV provides 10.3 cubic feet of space when the third row is in use, just over 42 cubic feet of space behind the second row when the third row is folded. With all rear seats stowed away, the Highlander Hybrid allows for a voluminous 94 cubic feet of storage area.
What’s the driving experience in this new hybrid? In one of the first reviews of the vehicle, Edmunds.com says, “With the same tires and suspension underneath, the 2011 Highlander Hybrid drives about the same as before. We observed the same impeccably smooth and quiet ride, reasonable coordination and modest limits as before.”
The Highlander Hybrid is available in both base and Limited trim levels. Base models come well equipped with seven-passenger seating, air-conditioning with rear climate control, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and eight-way power driver’s seat. The standard CD audio system includes XM Radio, MP3/WMA capabilities along with Ipod connectivity and Bluetooth wireless technology. There’s also a center screen in the dash to display various bits of vehicle information as well as to provide the image captured by the car’s back-up camera. A navigation system is optional for the first time on the base model.
The Limited model adds leather interior with a 10-way power driver’s seat and four-way power front passenger seat that are both heated, power moonroof and three-zone climate control. DVD entertainment and navigation systems are optional.
There is a gaggle of electronic active safety features: electronic stability control, traction control, and four-wheel anti-lock disk brakes with brake force distribution and brake assist. Occupant safety is delivered by seven airbags including dual-front, front side, side curtain, and one at the driver's knee. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not tested the 2011 Highlander.
In terms of design and style, the 2011 Highlander’s updates include an all-new hood, fenders and front fascia. The hybrid model is differentiated from the gasoline model by its own unique grille and bumper design. It shares the new fenders and hood with the gas Highlander but features color-keyed rocker panels with chrome accents, plus vertically stacked fog lamps. The projector beam headlights and redesigned taillights feature blue lens covers.
The hybrid model has about one inch less ground clearance than the standard all-wheel drive Highlander SUV, making entry and exit more like a minivan. Base models are equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Limited trim brings 19-inch alloy wheels and a power rear liftgate.
Even with the styling changes, the Highlander won't turn many heads, but then again, it's not supposed to. But the looks continue to boast a wide appeal that is popular with families, weekend roadtrippers, and diehard urbanites.
The Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain is shared with the much fancier Lexus RX 450h. It’s made up of a 3.5-liter V-6 engine mated to Toyota’s electronic continuously variable transmission, which contains two electric motor-generators. They both recharge the nickel-metal-hydride battery pack and supplement engine torque in powering the front wheels.
Combined output of the engine and motors is a substantial 280 horsepower. The standard all-wheel-drive is provided by a third electric motor driving the rear wheels, though it’s for light-duty use only (unlike the fully mechanical all-wheel-drive in the 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid).
The 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is EPA-rated at 28 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, for a combined overall rating of 28 mpg. That’s good gas mileage for a large crossover like this one, and upwards of 25 percent more fuel-efficient than the 22-mpg combined rating for the four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive gasoline Highlander. And if's a huge improvement on the dismal 19 mpg of the comparable V-6 version with all-wheel-drive.
The improvement from fitting the hybrid system, however, doesn’t seem as great as in smaller Toyota products, because the overall miles per gallon are lower. That simply reflects the fact that it takes more energy to push this large, heavy vehicle through the air.
Other advantages to the Highlander Hybrid include stellar safety ratings and equipment, including a “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). There’s also a substantial list of standard equipment even before you start ticking boxes on the options list. Two trim levels—base and the top-of-the-line Limited—are offered on the Highander Hybrid, plus an options list including various sound systems, a power moonroof, a navigation system, a power tailgate, and various other luxury and convenience items.
The Highlander comes with a long list of standard safety features including antilock disc brakes, stability control and hill-start assist. All-wheel-drive models also come with hill-descent control, which electronically intervenes with the antilock brakes to control speed on steep, slick surfaces like snow-covered driveways.
The Highlander's cabin is fitted with a total of seven airbags, including side-impact airbags for front seat passengers, side curtain airbags that cover all three rows of seats and a driver-side knee airbag. Whiplash-reducing active front head restraints are also standard.
In government crash tests, the Highlander earned five stars (the highest possible) for the driver and four stars for the front passenger in frontal impacts, and five stars for side impacts. In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Highlander received "Good" ratings (the highest possible) in both frontal-offset and side impact tests.
reference:www.greencarreports.com,www.hybridcars.com,www.edmunds.com
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