This is the Present
Over the past few weeks on auto123.com, there has been much talk about how Japanese products may be overrated and that consumers simply buy them because everyone else is. Because of this situation, it has been suggested that North American car makers have had to endure un-warranted sale declines, price slashing and profit losing simply to put their cars on the road. I find it odd that these comments were made by individuals, who have been around long enough to witness the absolute domination of the General Motors, Fords and Chryslers of this Continent up until the late 70s. Back then, the Asian Automakers were only beginning to show what they were made of and knew how large a hurdle conquering this market was going to be. The Big 3 chose to sit on their laurels as they firmly believed that they were untouchable and that those pesky little econoboxes were going to disappear.
Fast forward to the Present and these previous top 3 ranked car builders are screaming bloody blue murder. Why is this? Because of vehicles like the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Companies like Toyota and Honda have dared to innovate, improve, fix and create products that people really want: reliable, economical and intelligently designed cars and even trucks. The issue of rising gas prices has many people crying uncle. Truck owners want to drive their vehicles without feeling the
bite of a $100 fill-up after having travelled 350 km.
The Highlander, first introduced in 2001, has never made a splash in the SUV segment although it has found takers with those that do not want a minivan or a harsh driving truck.
The price range for the Highlander Hybrid is very simple: $44,205 for the 5-passenger and $53,145 for the 7-passenger Limited model.
Styling
It is no secret that the Highlander is basically an oversized Camry station wagon. From close or from far, Toyota's large midsize SUV is banal looking and almost sheepish in its basic form. Those who are looking for a tough-truck should consider the 4Runner. Our tested Hybrid Limited came complete with a black paint job and chromed 17" alloys. These wheels are unique to the Hybrid as are chrome accents on the grille and mouldings and restyled taillights.
The passenger quarters of the Highlander are inviting. The tested Limited was trimmed in leather, simulated woodgrain and metallic dash accents. Altogether, th
e mix is a little busy however it remains very tasteful. The plastics used to bring all the pieces together fares well quality wise, although I found more uneven gaps in the assembly than I would have expected. The seats for both the front and second row provide sufficient support and comfort. The third row, as is always the case, is best left to small children.
A power-meter is located where the tachometer would normally go. It displays the amount of assistance in kilowatts being supplied by the battery. Although interesting to consult, the small display for the source of energy at the bottom of the speedometer is generally sufficient. Perhaps a clearer more complete battery level indicator could have taken its place.
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Fast forward to the Present and these previous top 3 ranked car builders are screaming bloody blue murder. Why is this? Because of vehicles like the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Companies like Toyota and Honda have dared to innovate, improve, fix and create products that people really want: reliable, economical and intelligently designed cars and even trucks. The issue of rising gas prices has many people crying uncle. Truck owners want to drive their vehicles without feeling the
bite of a $100 fill-up after having travelled 350 km.The Highlander, first introduced in 2001, has never made a splash in the SUV segment although it has found takers with those that do not want a minivan or a harsh driving truck.
The price range for the Highlander Hybrid is very simple: $44,205 for the 5-passenger and $53,145 for the 7-passenger Limited model.
Styling
It is no secret that the Highlander is basically an oversized Camry station wagon. From close or from far, Toyota's large midsize SUV is banal looking and almost sheepish in its basic form. Those who are looking for a tough-truck should consider the 4Runner. Our tested Hybrid Limited came complete with a black paint job and chromed 17" alloys. These wheels are unique to the Hybrid as are chrome accents on the grille and mouldings and restyled taillights.
The passenger quarters of the Highlander are inviting. The tested Limited was trimmed in leather, simulated woodgrain and metallic dash accents. Altogether, th
e mix is a little busy however it remains very tasteful. The plastics used to bring all the pieces together fares well quality wise, although I found more uneven gaps in the assembly than I would have expected. The seats for both the front and second row provide sufficient support and comfort. The third row, as is always the case, is best left to small children.A power-meter is located where the tachometer would normally go. It displays the amount of assistance in kilowatts being supplied by the battery. Although interesting to consult, the small display for the source of energy at the bottom of the speedometer is generally sufficient. Perhaps a clearer more complete battery level indicator could have taken its place.