Toyota Canada has released the MSRPs for its Highlander Hybrid SUV, and it will cost consumers $6,645 or $7,305 for a vehicle that gets only 10 percent better highway fuel economy on Transport Canada's tests than the Highlander with the traditional powertrain.
The Hybrid did do better on the city portion of the test, scoring a 41 percent improvement in fuel economy, but the low highway rating is likely to come as a surprise to people who were expecting big savings from Toyota's much-hyped hybrid technology.
Even if you do nothing but city driving and actually meet or better the ratings of Transport Canada, it's going to take thousands and thousands of km of driving to recover that kind of price premium.
A five-seat Highlander Hybrid will carry an MSRP of $44,205 when the new models start to arrive this summer, while the traditional five-seat model retails for $36,900. That's a difference of $7,305.
A seven-seat Highlander Hybrid's MSRP will be $53,145, versus an MSRP of $46,500 for a traditional seven-seater, making a difference of $6,645.
The non-hybrid prices are for all-wheel-drive models, by the way, since the hybrids all get that useful safety technology.
On Transport Canada's fuel economy test, the Highlander Hybrid needs 7.5 litres of gas to go 100 city km and 8.1 litres to go 100 highway km, for a combined rating of 7.8.
Highlander with the traditional 3-3-liter V-6 scores 12.7 city, 9.0 highway and 10.9 combined on the Transport Canada test.
That translates into only a 10 percent improvement in highway driving but a 41 percent improvement in the city part of the test, for a combined improvement of 28 percent. Of course, it's unlikely that anyone will match the Transport Canada test exactly, so actual fuel economy levels will be higher or lower, depending upon individual driving conditions.
On the performance front, the Highlander Hybrid is said to be capable of going from 0 to 96.6 kmh in 7.3 seconds.
Along with the hybrid engine, the Highlander Hybrid models also get various other features that the regular models don't, such as special 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, a diversity antenna, fog lamps, a chrome accented front grille, a new front bumper, rear LED tail lamps, and chrome license plate trim.
Other standard features include air conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry, power windows and locks, and VDIM. From a safety perspective, the most important item is probably the VDIM, which stands for vehicle dynamics integration management.
VDIM's worthwhile because it's a sophisticated stability control system that ''continuously analyzes driver input (steering, braking, acceleration/deceleration) and compares it to the desired, stable operation. When the computer detects any difference between the two, it instantly calculates what action will correct the deviation and appropriately enhances braking and engine output to maintain stable operation.''
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Even if you do nothing but city driving and actually meet or better the ratings of Transport Canada, it's going to take thousands and thousands of km of driving to recover that kind of price premium.
A five-seat Highlander Hybrid will carry an MSRP of $44,205 when the new models start to arrive this summer, while the traditional five-seat model retails for $36,900. That's a difference of $7,305.
A seven-seat Highlander Hybrid's MSRP will be $53,145, versus an MSRP of $46,500 for a traditional seven-seater, making a difference of $6,645.
The non-hybrid prices are for all-wheel-drive models, by the way, since the hybrids all get that useful safety technology.
On Transport Canada's fuel economy test, the Highlander Hybrid needs 7.5 litres of gas to go 100 city km and 8.1 litres to go 100 highway km, for a combined rating of 7.8.
Highlander with the traditional 3-3-liter V-6 scores 12.7 city, 9.0 highway and 10.9 combined on the Transport Canada test.
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On the performance front, the Highlander Hybrid is said to be capable of going from 0 to 96.6 kmh in 7.3 seconds.
Along with the hybrid engine, the Highlander Hybrid models also get various other features that the regular models don't, such as special 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, a diversity antenna, fog lamps, a chrome accented front grille, a new front bumper, rear LED tail lamps, and chrome license plate trim.
Other standard features include air conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry, power windows and locks, and VDIM. From a safety perspective, the most important item is probably the VDIM, which stands for vehicle dynamics integration management.
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