  2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Click image to enlarge |
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2009 Toyota Highlander
Inside Story is a review of interior comfort features, cabin controls, storage options, trunk space and under-hood accessibility based on a seven-day evaluation.
Your money or your life?
That phrase normally accompanies the image of a Saturday Night Special in a dark alley, not the showrooms of Dealership Row. Or does it? Consider that money is currently in short supply around the globe, for both vehicle expenses and the fuel it consumes. Your life is actually more about your children’s life, or your grandchildren’s, and whether or not recess for them will one day require a portable respirator. The Here and Now dictates that those kids have to get to school, hockey practice, and science fairs, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited can provide those services with minimal fuel costs, and minimal expulsion of CO2. All it asks of you is a premium of $54,360, instead of the MSRP of $47,885 for a non-hybrid Highlander 4WD V6 Limited. This week, Inside Story digs into the usual marriage of conveniences, as well as the idiosyncrasies of hybrid life that don’t make it into the brochure.
While the Highlander Hybrid is all about saving fuel, there certainly seems to be enough switches intent on sucking power from the batteries. The manual tilt/telescoping column holds the epitome of the multi-function wheel. Audio, Bluetooth phone, temperature, fuel mileage maps, and voice commands can be engaged from the switches, though many hiccups were encountered. The handshake process with Bluetooth-enabled phones was anything but seamless, and continued to present functionality problems while in use, such as providing a Speed-dial screen for outgoing calls when no Speed-dial lists existed. Reading the owner’s manual for proper commands is a must, as the system does not appear to offer an easy-to-find voice-prompt tutorial, nor does it list command options on the eight-inch LCD display. Guessing on prompts will leave you gripping the wheel ever tighter. “New destination” returned “searching for nearest gas station”.
A safety issue presented itself during engagement of reverse, and the rear-view camera function. While the image is crystal-clear, a tap of the phone function key cancels the much-needed image, displaying the Phone function pad on the screen. The Highlander design, be it gas or gas/hybrid, desperately needs the rear camera view to function, due to a high beltline on the rear window, and a limited rear wiper swath.
The Toyota-standard issue cruise control stalk is found at the 4 pm. position. Headlamps are equipped with an Auto on/off setting. The HVAC system can be tailored for driver, front passenger, and the rear passenger compartment, or tied together with the Sync function. The Optitron-style gauge pod provides a variable power meter in place of a tachometer, monitoring the moments of extreme economy and power generation. The Highlander Hybrid seems intent on providing multiple displays of its good works, including the eight-inch LCD display, and the smaller information screen above it. One has to wonder how many global fender-benders have occurred from this incessant onslaught of which power source your vehicle is using. The info screen seems to be the most useful, plotting actual consumption figures over various tank fills.
    2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Click image to enlarge |
There is also a tire pressure display, which includes the spare. Behind the shifter is another bank of economy minders; ECON and EV modes. The ECON mode appears to make the most sense, which translates into an economy-savvy throttle map. The EV (Electric Vehicle) mode is something that the Highlander Hybrid is already doing, as required. Even the owner’s manual warns that leaving the vehicle in EV mode consistently will actually result in increased fuel consumption.
The power exterior mirrors receive their heat as required, when the rear defrost is engaged. Note the heated windshield switch for faster de-icing. The rear power hatch can be operated at the dash, as well as the key fob. The driver’s window is the only pane that operates in Auto mode. The eight-inch display tips outward for loading of up to four compact discs, as well as updates to the DVD-based Navi system. Fit and finish is spot-on, even though Toyota has opted for hard plastics almost exclusively throughout the interior.
Glove compartment? More like storage locker for this locking tub. Even a full complement of owner’s literature does little to make a dent. The compartment also contains a lock-out switch for the rear power hatch operation. Front and rear door pockets are ample, with dedicated bottle holders. The centre stack sides provide additional storage pockets, though their depth and overall size would have trouble concealing the smallest of flip phones. Your hydration and/or caffeine-nation is assured, especially with four cupholders for front seat passengers. A flip-top door reveals the spring-loaded cincher system, which can be removed, should the compartment be preferred as concealed storage. The open cupholders receive removable sizing bladders, which enjoy sticking to your cup, depending on the tightness of the fit. There are two 12-volt DC powerpoints, as well as an auxiliary audio input jack. Strangely absent is a 12-volt powerpoint for the second row passengers. The console lid reveals a simple storage box, with no additional organizers or powerpoints. The rear of the console holds the HVAC controller, a slide-out dual cupholder, and the lower storage compartment, which conceals the second row centre seat insert or convenience tray when not in use, as well as detailed diagrams on installation and removal. Seatbacks include ample storage pockets. Removable bladder cupholders are mounted on the outboard cabin walls for the third row passengers. A third 12-volt DC powerpoint is located on the left side of the cargo area wall.
Visors include vanity mirrors backlit by overhead lighting, as well as slide-out sunblockers. The interior rear-view mirror is self-dimming. The centre pod holds the Homelink transmitter, and a combination sunglasses holder/conversation mirror. The power sunroof can tilt, or effect an Auto open/close slide, with a robust spring-loaded metal wind deflector. The roof rails can be easily positioned by hand, with dual twist dials to hold them firmly in place.
     2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Click image to enlarge |
Both front seats receive power positioning, with the driver position adding power lumbar and front cushion height adjustment. Second row comfort for outboard passengers is easily achieved, with fore/aft manual slide and recline. At issue is the second row centre seat insert. It is best used in a pinch, which is exactly what it will do to your spine if you attempt to sit in it for prolonged periods, especially with the inboard armrests in place. Access to the third row can only be achieved on the right-hand side of the vehicle. Comfort is minimal for the third row, especially if you’re over the age of nine. On the plus side is the operation of the third row seat, with no confusing tabs or pulls for engagement.
Becoming somewhat of a rarity, though always appreciated, is the use of a separate glass hatch for quick cargo deposits. The pane is popped by a dedicated touch pad on the chrome appliqué. The second row can be tipped forward with ease, thanks to release levers on the left side of the cargo area wall. At first glance, a cargo area cover appears to have been omitted, until one pokes and prods at the flooring. The cargo area cover handles security measures for the space provided by second or third row use. Even with the third row in position, the cargo area is ample enough for most grocery runs.
Most hybrid systems are pretty sticky about their wheel requirements, so it only makes sense that an identical full-size alloy spare is provided. Road splash will make for a very grimy changeover. Luckily, Toyota will change it for you, during the basic warranty period of 3 years or 60,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.
The Hybrid Synergy Drive-fed 3.3-litre V6 mill effectively provides 270 usable horsepower. Fluid access is commendable. Just make sure which reservoir you’re topping off, as the brake master cylinder is on the right-hand side of the compartment, and the coolant fill seems to be taking the master cylinder’s usual location on the left-hand side. Accessibility to major components appears tight, not that one wants to make unnecessary pokes around a high-voltage vehicle system.
  2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Click image to enlarge |
In addition to 60 months/100,000 kilometres of powertrain warranty protection, the hybrid-related components are covered for 96 months or 160,000 kilometres, whichever comes first. As for the hybrid system itself, the handshakes between electric and engine-driven power continue to be noticeable, more so than the likes of the Ford Escape Hybrid. Lets say you’re pulled off to the side of the road, idling as you fumble through your DayTimer. All is well as the Highlander uses the battery-only power, until the engine senses the need to restart. The feeling is best described as ‘Lurch’, as the engine start causes a noticeable driveline shock which rocks the entire vehicle. It’s enough to make you confirm that the vehicle is truly in ‘Park’, as well as question the $54,360 laid out for the experience. The fuel tank of the Highlander Hybrid is 65 litres (14.3 gallons), versus 72.5 litres (15.9 gallons) for gas-powered models.
While the hybrid way is either firmly entrenched or coming real soon to a showroom near you, it is the real-world experiences that continue to place vehicles like the Highlander Hybrid in the “Maybe” category for the Inside Story “Would I Buy One?” rule. I can still hear the expletive-deleteds from a friend who purchased a Camry Hybrid, on his discovery that winter fuel consumption was nowhere near Transport Canada fuel economy guide projections. Combined urban/highway fuel economy cycles from Toyota state a 7.7 litre/100 km average for the Highlander Hybrid, though real world driving was more in the 12-litre range, according to the economy readouts.
In reality, a gas-powered Highlander returns the best highway mileage, though it is only a four-cylinder front-drive configuration. (Note: this version of Highlander is currently not assessed in the 2009 Transport Canada Fuel Consumption Guide. See toyota.ca for details.) If we remove the powertrain from the equation, the Highlander easily falls into the ‘Yes’ category for purchase. Your social conscience is your own, and the only consideration that Inside Story can put forth to at least consider is the amount of CO2 that your vehicle choice produces. Using that logic, we should all be driving flex-fuel vehicles, filled to the brim with E-85. While less CO2 is produced with flex-fuel vehicles, (even less than most hybrids) the consumption is greater, and it quite simply isn’t available. Add to this the element of global human survival, which has been impacted by farmers switching from food crops to fuel crops to meet growing demand. (Raise your hand if you are now experiencing a brain cramp. Ouch.)
In the interest of sanity, Inside Story proposes this consideration; don’t buy more vehicle than you actually need. For those still heck-bent on gas-electric hybrid sport-utes, here’s three additional choices for your consideration. (All prices shown do not include freight, taxes, or regional incentives.)
2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid Limited 4X4 HEV: Starting at $52,745
2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2WD: Starting at $67,415
2009 Saturn VUE Hybrid FWD: Starting at $31,490
Curious about fuel consumption, and available Eco-rebates for qualifying vehicles? Visit Vehicles.gc.ca.
Next week: 2009 Ford Escape XLT FWD I-4
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