Motortrend: Newcomers - 08' Toyota Highlander

[GMusa]

Newcomers: 2008 Toyota Highlander



Family size: 800-pound gorilla gets a bigger suit

By Kim Reynolds


One of the problems parents encounter when dropping their kids off at school is the obligatory wave. You know, a familiar Sienna or Odyssey minivan drives by, and you wave. Trouble is, there are dozens of Siennasseys in the lot, so you have to wave at each one just to be sure. This country's grade-school parking lots are crying out for something different-and Toyota's got a dandy new candidate in the 2008 Highlander.





"But Highlanders are too small," weary new parents out there yawn. Well, not anymore, Mister and Missus Carpool. It's 3.8 inches longer, 3.3 inches wider, and 2.8 inches taller. It's bigger! Yes!

Grown from the same structural seed that sprouted the Avalon and Camry, the roomier Highlander's interior is highlighted by an extractable (and stowable) center row that provides a unique kid corridor to the aft quarters (also more spacious and fitted almost universally across the lineup). The family-friendly theme continues with an adequate 3.5-inch rear-camera display on all but the base model, plus easy-reach levers that remotely fold down the second-row seats from the rear hatch.





As with the Camry and Avalon, power for the traditional gasoline version is supplied by a 270-horse, 3.5-liter V-6 coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission. No surprise that acceleration is strong nor that the front-drive version's steering suffers momentary vertigo when you give it the stick from a stop. The Sport model's recalibrated steering software and stiffer springs don't cure this, but they nicely focus the handling of front and AWD models, with modest ride degradation.



This isn't a problem with the hybrid version (which is just about all carryover hardware) because it's outfitted just one way-with AWD. Notably, it also offers identical output to the gas Highlander, 270 combined gas-and-electric horsepower, making for a particularly elementary mileage comparison: According to the EPA's all-new, real-world 2008 mileage metric, the hybrid has a 37-percent economy advantage. It also offers an EV-mode button that theoretically instructs (though rarely allows) it to traverse up to three miles at 25 mph without firing the engine. More effective is the "Econ" mode that intelligently smoothes power changes if it deems the driver's accelerator foot is just being fidgety.

So move over, you other grade-school haulers, there's going to be a bright new face you'll need to wave at.

2008 Toyota Highlander Base price $27,300-$34,150
Vehicle layout Front engine, FWD or AWD, 5- or 7-pass, 4-door SUV
Engines 3.5L/270-hp/248-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve V-6; 3.3L/209-hp/212-lb-ft V-6 plus 167-hp/247-lb-ft front and 68-hp/96-lb-ft rear electric motors, 270-hp combined
Transmissions 5-speed auto; cont variable auto
Curb weight 4000-4650 lb (mfr)
Wheelbase 109.8 in
Length x width x height 188.4 x 75.2 x 68.1 in
0-60 mph 7.0-7.7 sec (MT est)
EPA city/hwy fuel econ 17-27/23-25 mpg* (est)
CO2 emissions 0.75-1.02 lb/mile (est)
On sale in U.S. July 2007; October 2007 (hybrid) *2008 EPA test standards

[GMusa]

I still think this thing is ugly!!

The bigger Toyota gets.. the crappier their products are getting (in my opinion!)

[1931Chevy]

Is it me or that think looks like a Suzuki XL7 from the side

[nsap]

It looks....frumpy.

[tama z71]

"But Highlanders are too small," weary new parents out there yawn. Well, not anymore, Mister and Missus Carpool. It's 3.8 inches longer, 3.3 inches wider, and 2.8 inches taller. It's bigger! Yes!

Wow! Super-happy Toyota article is go! Exclamation point!

Come on, compare that thing to an Acadia, as most potential buyers would. It genuinely looks like it spends its last five hours in the factory under a large heat lamp.

[paul8488]

I think Toyota's new game is to make ther ugliest vehicles possible. They all sit in their office tower in Japan and laugh as Americans lap up their hideous wares.

[ChevroletRevived]

This is the only emoticon that expresses how I feel for the looks of this vehicle.. What was Toyota thinking? And..no projectors! These headlights actually do look cheap.

[Koasterking]

Butt ugly exterior, but I do like the inside. What's with only a 5-speed?

[vsd]

EV Mode sounds cool, perfect for that short trip to the supermarket

[Strapping.Young.Lad]

Even though its ugly, and possibly awfully bad of a car, it will sell.

[griswold44]

Originally Posted by FordRules

Even though its ugly, and possibly awfully bad of a car, it will sell.

How the hell did you come to that conclusion?

[BusyBody]

Originally Posted by griswold44

How the hell did you come to that conclusion?

Because its ugly, but people will buy it just because its a Toyota. Thats how Camry's sell, didn't you know?!!

[cdp326]

Originally Posted by BusyBody

Because its ugly, but people will buy it just because its a Toyota. Thats how Camry's sell, didn't you know?!!

And all this time, I though styling was an opinion.
Camrys actually sell because people don't really care about styling too much so long as it's not very daring...they just care about good, simple transportation such as the Camry provides. Ford F-150s and Chevy Impalas don't sell as well as they do for exciting styling, they sell on the basic merits of the cars themselves.
The Camry has always offered reliable, economical, safe, comfortable transportation. You can't fault the precedent it set for itself--it's a successful one.

As for the Highlander...is that third row split? I would have thought it was but that pic appears to show a one piece 3rd row.

[guitarlix]

That is a very ugly SUV......with a very nice interior.

[ElmerMCR]

Originally Posted by FordRules

Even though its ugly, and possibly awfully bad of a car, it will sell.

Ugly does not equal bad.

Can we get a link to the original article please?