Driving the Toyota Highlander Hybrid was like hanging out with a little old lady for a week. In fact, the similarities were sometimes troubling. It’s quiet, doesn’t move too fast, doesn’t make any noise, doesn’t like to spend money and looks ok despite the occasional questionable pairing.
Its style is definitely all-purpose. It doesn’t boast anything to make you call up your mom and gush, other than the wide hips of the rear wheel flares. It even feels like a big Camry perched on four-inch heels. Which is actually not too far from the truth, as they both share the same platform and 3.3-litre V6 engine.
The inside could be a little swankier, especially for the price. The quality of the materials is obvious, but the whole ensemble lacks any proverbial lustre. A little flight of fancy never hurt anyone. The advantage of the interior layout is that it lulls you into believing you’re inside a sedan instead of a stout SUV.
Certain details do spruce things up, such as chrome inserts and ambient lighting. Thankfully, our well-being has been seen to, and the seats are as comfortable as those in your living room without offering more support than your average La-Z-Boy.
Space is generous in the two first rows, however those relegated way back to the third row will find things tight, and it should be used sporadically or never at all. Better to fold it down and benefit from the rather considerable cargo space.
Highlander’s basic setup is chock-full of goodies. It obviously includes electric everything as well as a small display that comes in very handy when parking in reverse. The removable centre console in the second row is practical, especially with kids.
An oversized golf cart
What makes this Highlander interesting is obviously its hybrid system. It combines a 3.3-litre V6 Otto engine and an AC electric engine. The resulting mix produces 270 hp and 212 ft-lb of torque. The engine’s balance is extraordinary. Unfortunately, with everything geared towards maximizing fuel economy performance is significantly reduced.
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| The Highlander is a great vehicle that can teach us some important life lessons, like how to save money. |
Its style is definitely all-purpose. It doesn’t boast anything to make you call up your mom and gush, other than the wide hips of the rear wheel flares. It even feels like a big Camry perched on four-inch heels. Which is actually not too far from the truth, as they both share the same platform and 3.3-litre V6 engine.
The inside could be a little swankier, especially for the price. The quality of the materials is obvious, but the whole ensemble lacks any proverbial lustre. A little flight of fancy never hurt anyone. The advantage of the interior layout is that it lulls you into believing you’re inside a sedan instead of a stout SUV.
Certain details do spruce things up, such as chrome inserts and ambient lighting. Thankfully, our well-being has been seen to, and the seats are as comfortable as those in your living room without offering more support than your average La-Z-Boy.
Space is generous in the two first rows, however those relegated way back to the third row will find things tight, and it should be used sporadically or never at all. Better to fold it down and benefit from the rather considerable cargo space.
Highlander’s basic setup is chock-full of goodies. It obviously includes electric everything as well as a small display that comes in very handy when parking in reverse. The removable centre console in the second row is practical, especially with kids.
An oversized golf cart
What makes this Highlander interesting is obviously its hybrid system. It combines a 3.3-litre V6 Otto engine and an AC electric engine. The resulting mix produces 270 hp and 212 ft-lb of torque. The engine’s balance is extraordinary. Unfortunately, with everything geared towards maximizing fuel economy performance is significantly reduced.
 |
| The Highlander Hybrid combines a 3.3-litre V6 Otto engine and an AC electric engine. |