Toyota Highlander Hybrid Priced at $33,595

[Ming]

Toyota Continues its Promise of Cleaning Up the World One Vehicle at a Time
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Priced at $33,595
April 6, 2005
by Trevor Hofmann / American Auto Press



Could it be that you would rather have a fuel conscious, clean burning gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle than a gas-guzzling SUV, but the reality of kids and an active lifestyle make it so that the compact models now available wont do?

You're hardly alone, which is why Toyota's Lexus division is in the process of launching its new RX 400h SUV, featuring a gasoline-powered 3.3-liter V6 and a high-torque electric drive motor-generator drivetrain that results in an overall output of 268-horsepower for the performance of a V8 with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder compact car.

But not everyone can afford a Lexus, which is why Toyota is fitting the Hybrid Synergy Drive system to the Highlander crossover SUV, which shares its general architecture with the RX.

The Highlander Hybrid will become the automaker's first 7-occupant HEV when it arrives in June, joining the Prius 5-door liftback under the Toyota nameplate, and in so doing give Toyota the distinction of the only brand to offer both car and SUV hybrids.

The new model will be priced at $33,595, including destination charges, which is $6,840 more than the standard V6 gasoline version with three rows of seats. All-wheel drive will be $34,995, including freight, which is $6,840 more than the AWD gasoline version. While the Highlander Hybrid will be available with front-wheel drive in base trim, a unique all-wheel drive system incorporates a separate 50 kw electric motor in the rear producing an additional 96 lb-ft of torque on demand.

The Highlander Hybrid will become the automakers first 7-occupant HEV when it arrives in June, joining the Prius 5-door liftback under the Toyota nameplate, and in so doing give Toyota the distinction of the only brand to offer both car and SUV hybrids.

Article Source: http://car-reviews.automobile.com/news/toyota-highlander-hybrid-priced-at-$33,595/1135/

[jbartley]

ugly hybrids, just what the world needs.

i think toyota is willing forgo any kind of profit, as long as it takes any kind of sales from the domestics.

[xioix]

Originally Posted by jbartley

ugly hybrids, just what the world needs.

i think toyota is willing forgo any kind of profit, as long as it takes any kind of sales from the domestics.

isnt that what every car compnay is out there to do, make a profit

GM is helping with losing sales with its un-attractive vehicle line-ups

[goblue]

So whats pricing on the Ford? I hope its significantly less...as this thing may get very similar mileage with a whole lot more performance. Isn't Ford's system based off the 4 banger? If the mileage and price is similar - with much better performance - they will have whipped Ford. GM should take a look at this while there is time to adjust the Vue's system. It needs to make better mileage and similar performance - the 2.8HF coupled with a hybrid system could work...Split the difference...

GM needs to leapfrog Toyota and build plug in hybrids based on their EV1 experience. All electric drivetrain, small Eco optimized for 1 speed operation as a generator, stuff it in a Cobalt and show the Prius up big.

[macphisto]

Today I paid $2.21 a gallon for regular gas. So the Highlander's price difference from the "gas guzzler" is $6840. That's 3095 gallons of gas or approx. 62000 miles at 20mpg. These hybrids are far from a great value in my eyes - and they don't always deliver. A good friend of mine has the new Prius and is getting 32mpg in the city and worse than that on the highway - and this is after 5000 miles. He's written Toyota and they've repeatedly told him that the Prius is the greatest thing on four wheels and that he should feel privileged just to drive one, even if it can't quite meet the promises.

I paid $12,500 for my brand new 2004 Hyundai Elantra with a better warranty than anything Toyota offers and a build quality that is better than the Corolla I traded in. I'd pay a heck of a lot more for a Prius and the gas savings if worthless because of the cost.

[griswold44]

Originally Posted by macphisto

Today I paid $2.21 a gallon for regular gas. So the Highlander's price difference from the "gas guzzler" is $6840. That's 3095 gallons of gas or approx. 62000 miles at 20mpg. These hybrids are far from a great value in my eyes - and they don't always deliver. A good friend of mine has the new Prius and is getting 32mpg in the city and worse than that on the highway - and this is after 5000 miles. He's written Toyota and they've repeatedly told him that the Prius is the greatest thing on four wheels and that he should feel privileged just to drive one, even if it can't quite meet the promises.

I paid $12,500 for my brand new 2004 Hyundai Elantra with a better warranty than anything Toyota offers and a build quality that is better than the Corolla I traded in. I'd pay a heck of a lot more for a Prius and the gas savings if worthless because of the cost.

A lousy Hyundai is not better than a Toyota.

[Ming]

Apparently they are...

http://www.aiada.org/article.asp?id=26326

[griswold44]

Yeah they're still crappy Korean cars with horrible resale values. The only reason no one complains about them is because they got that warranty. People know they can get there crappy car fixed for free because of that warranty. South Korean cars are crap.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by griswold44

Yeah they're still crappy Korean cars with horrible resale values. The only reason no one complains about them is because they got that warranty. People know they can get there crappy car fixed for free because of that warranty. South Korean cars are crap.

You're a little out of touch.


Anyway, that's a HUGE premium for the Hybrid. Those looking to save gas money are barking up the wrong tree.

Techno-geeks will like it, though.

[AdmiralViscen]

Originally Posted by griswold44

A lousy Hyundai is not better than a Toyota.

Sorry, brainwashed one, but GM and Hyundai can both whoop Toyota's ass in quality.

[ElmerMCR]

Originally Posted by griswold44

Yeah they're still crappy Korean cars with horrible resale values. The only reason no one complains about them is because they got that warranty. People know they can get there crappy car fixed for free because of that warranty. South Korean cars are crap.

I wish people would stop thinking in that manner towards Korean cars. It gets me very annoyed, when they deserve so much more than that. Don't be so narrow minded and unseeing as to how good the Korean cars have actually become, gris.

[xioix]

Originally Posted by Buick61

You're a little out of touch.


Anyway, that's a HUGE premium for the Hybrid. Those looking to save gas money are barking up the wrong tree.

Techno-geeks will like it, though.

if you just look at the hybird as gas saving and dont include the new standard features and more power, then it does look like a huge premium, when you look at it as a v8 with good mileage, it dont look like a huge premium does it

[magneto112]

True indeed. These new Hybrids by Toyota are more performance biased than fuel economy biased. If yall are worried about fuel economy, then buy the Pruis.

Toyota said that they want to show consumers that Hybrid tech is not all about saving gas. They want to show that you can get a considerable amount of power with the Hybrid set up, while at the same time still save gas. They are marketing them as higher performance vehicles, not just vehicles that get better gas mileage(a la Pruis, Civic, etc)

[Boost]

Say what you want it will sell good and be all over the news, FREE Ads.

[magneto112]

Oh I think the top of the like Highlander Hybrid Limited 4WD tops out at around 39K. I think these prices are pretty reasonable. Think about the trucks that actually do have V8's as an option. They are similarly priced.