2008 toyota Highlander
By
Pusahma satu
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Saturday, May 12, 2018
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2008 Toyota Highlander
The Highlander qualifies on all matters, though it does not master any kind of one location. Offered it could keep its superior resale value as well as integrity, it should prove a clever-- if not specifically fascinating-- option for years to come.
Base, Sporting activity and Limited trim levels have front- or 4x4, and all could seat 5 or seven, relying on the configuration. Costs range from roughly $27,000 to $40,000 with options.
I examined all three trim degrees of the routine Highlander at a Toyota occasion in Michigan.
2008 Toyota Highlander
Edgier Designing
Toyota's The golden state layout studios shaped the outside, which is larger in all significant measurements compared to the old Highlander. To my eyes, Toyota's smaller sized RAV4 SUV looks better-proportioned, with simply sufficient contours to counter the angles. With its creased fronts lights, flashy grille and also characterless bumper, the Highlander seems a little bit as well slick-- like a convenience store buyer that won't take off his sunglasses.
The back bumper has dimpled reflectors on each side, and many trim levels have a glass hatch that opens independent of the liftgate. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are conventional; the Sporting activity and also Limited have 19-inchers that submit the wheel wells nicely. The Sporting activity has a dark silver grille as well as smoked-out headlights. The Limited has plainer headlights and also chrome outside moldings.
At 188.4 inches long and 75.2 inches large, the Highlander casts about the exact same shadow as a Honda Pilot, Subaru Tribeca or Hyundai Veracruz. The Mazda CX-9 as well as Saturn Outlook are both regarding a foot much longer.
The Inside
Toyota has spent years building an online reputation for high quality, as well as absent any significant competitors, the brand-new Highlander might have maintained that requirement. The competition is nothing otherwise significant, however, as well as SUVs like the CX-9 as well as Veracruz flaunt some impressively high end insides. In comparison, Toyota drops a little bit brief.
The Highlander shares foundations with the current Camry, as well as the control panel bears a lot of the sedan's flavor. The facility controls are the all-natural centerpiece, with large knobs for major functions within simple reach. Sporting activity and Limited designs have a 3.5-inch display atop the stereo. It shows gas mileage, outside temperature and also more. It additionally reveals settings for the optional automated environment control system, which can divide the cabin into as lots of as 3 temperature level areas-- 2 front and one back. The climate manages sit below the stereo, and also they're terribly chaotic. I counted 13 switches between the two temperature knobs; that's a lot of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. On the other hand, the typical hand-operated a/c is straightforward.
Cabin quality is just ordinary. The home window changes, turn signals and also center controls can go straight right into a Lexus, and the chrome accents as well as electroluminescent gauges appearance terrific. Most areas are trimmed in hard plastics, nevertheless, and the structures do not have the charm of the stuff in a number of competitors. Most awful of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is several of the least expensive computer mouse hair this side of an economic situation cars and truck.
Parents will certainly appreciate the storage space alternatives. The center console in between the front seats has four cupholders and a broad storage space container. Fail to remember laptops; the glove box can fit a little home computer. (Probably not the display, however-- allow's not get carried away.).
Three conventional rows of seats suit as much as 7, though you could drop the third row in order to save a little cash, reducing sitting capacity to 5. The pole positions supply lots of room, with a technique extender in the Highlander Limited that expands the pillow under the driver's thighs. Great touch.
The 2nd row is equally wide, with reclining back-rests and also seat cushions that adjust backward and forward. The center seat has Toyota's brand-new Facility Stow feature. It's basically a jump seat, which travelers could switch for a plastic facility console, turning the 2nd row into 2 captain's chairs. The extra part-- either the center seat or console-- shops in a flooring area in between the front seats. After a couple of practice runs, I had the ability to make the modification in around 25 seconds.
The dive seat is light sufficient for very easy setup. Its comfort is hit and miss, also for a middle seat; the bottom cushion is substantial, but I might conveniently really feel the joints below the backrest extra padding. The plastic console is lighter still, and both pieces have durable installment hooks that ought to survive plenty of thrashing from overenthusiastic kids.
Relying on where the second row is placed, the 3rd row can be remarkably adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet tall and found headroom a little bit limited, but with the 2nd row moved on a couple of inches-- maintaining plenty of legroom for most grownups-- the third row's legroom was such that I can tolerate a brief journey.
Larger Engine, Better Gas Mileage
All Highlanders obtain the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna as well as numerous other Toyotas. In the Highlander it makes 270 horse power as well as 248 pounds-feet of torque. Both are substantial gains over in 2014's V-6, that made 215 hp as well as 222 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is typical. Last year's base four-cylinder engine has been dropped.
Acceleration is adequate off the line and more powerful as the engine revs. The transmission assists points along, holding equipments as well as seldom changing too soon. Hard velocity could trigger some sudden transitions among lower gears-- better for acceleration, even worse for convenience-- however the majority of the moment the shifts are smooth adequate to pass unnoticed. The drivetrain feels ideal on the highway, where it downshifts with very little equipment hunting. 3rd equipment is especially potent for 50-to-70 miles per hour death.
The optional four-wheel drive is transparent to the vehicle driver. It includes a facility differential to divide power 50/50 between the front and also back wheels all of the moment. Four-wheel-drive designs have a downhill aid function. Press a dashboard switch, and also it will slow the SUV to a crawl down steep grades. The attribute appears a bit disingenuous: There is no low equipment for offroad rock crawling, which implies you need to probably prevent anywhere treacherous sufficient to require the downhill aid.
All Highlanders have a hill-start aid that holds the brakes for as much as 3 seconds from a stop to stop the SUV from rolling backward prior to you have time to strike the gas.
Making use of the EPA's even more reasonable 2008 score system-- which typically brings about reduce numbers-- gas mileage is ranked at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive versions and 17/23 mpg for those with 4x4. These ratings lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They also beat the old V-6 Highlander by about 1 mpg (readjusted making use of the EPA's brand-new computation)-- a remarkable accomplishment, provided the new Highlander has even more power and weighs some 300 pounds more. (Four-cylinder fans will not miss out on much: The old four-cylinder Highlander got just 1 mpg greater than the brand-new one does with the V-6.).
Flight & Handling
The unibody construction manages a comfy ride, with none of the underbody shimmying that tormented the previous Highlander (which was likewise unibody) and also several body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sporting activity, yet I couldn't spot a difference in trip firmness among the base, Sport and Limited. All 3 have a bit more suspension sound over significant bumps compared to I have actually come to expect in a midsize SUV.
Wind sound is minimal. Offered a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are fairly peaceful. The Sport as well as Limited's 19-inch wheels and also P245/55R19 tires release a small hum at highway speeds, which I couldn't identify with the base version's 17-inchers and thicker P245/65R19 rubber.
All models now include electric power steering. These systems save a little bit on gas usage-- a bit of low-hanging fruit to meet the federal government's gas economic situation requirements, I think-- yet they usually cause drab, fabricated guiding feel. Expectedly, the Highlander guides with a light touch, never delivering a lot in the way of feedback or transforming precision. The CX-9 prices better hereof, however few other rivals stand out. The very same holds true for body roll: Like most SUVs, the Highlander leans away in contours, reminding drivers it's not to be collared rapidly.
Four-wheel-disc anti-skid brakes are typical. The pedal provides mushy action, yet the brakes clamp down hard when needed.
Freight & Towing
With all 3 rows installed as well as raised, cargo room in back is a weak 10.3 cubic feet. The third row folds up flat into the floor, and also the 2nd row folds almost level. Highlanders without the 3rd row instead include a fairly huge storage space area under the rear floor.
With all seats folded, maximum cargo volume is 95.4 cubic feet, which contrasts much more favorably with the crowd.
When effectively outfitted, the Highlander could tow approximately 5,000 extra pounds.
Safety.
In Insurance Policy Institute for Freeway Safety and security frontal collision tests, the 2008 Highlander racked up the highest score, Great. IIHS has not evaluated the Highlander for side influences.
Toyota really did not skimp on security features. All Highlanders come conventional with four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control and a digital stability system. The security system now collaborates with the electric power guiding, which increases the power assist when the chauffeur is steering to correct a skid. It additionally helps fight steering pull under difficult braking to assist the Highlander drop in a straight line. (Toyota states the system can not guide the SUV by itself, as some innovative systems now do, so if you guide the wrong way in a skid, don't expect any kind of extra power aid.).
7 airbags are basic, including the needed dual front airbags, a motorist's knee airbag and also side-impact air bags for the pole positions. There are also roll-sensing side drape airbags for all three rows, which deploy during a rollover to stop resident ejection.
All seats have head restrictions, and in Sport and Limited models, the front ones are forward-adjustable for much better whiplash security. Active head restrictions are standard on the front seats of all trims. The second row includes Latch child-seat anchors in the outboard seats, with easily obtainable top-tether supports midway down the seatback.
Functions & Pricing
Leaving out the destination fee, the base Highlander with two-wheel drive begins at $27,300. A Highlander Limited with a full bunch of options runs around $42,000. Four-wheel drive on any type of trim adds concerning $1,500. All trim degrees include 3 rows of seats, though a third-row remove alternative on particular designs can save $740.
-For $27,300, the base Highlander comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless access, a CD stereo with a supporting MP3 jack, a/c, cruise ship control, as well as power windows, mirrors and also door locks.
-For $29,950, the Sport adds dark exterior components, 19-inch wheels, fog lights, a power motorist's seat, a multifunction wheel, a back-up video camera and six-CD audio.
-For $32,700, the Limited includes a keyless start-up system, automated climate control, natural leather furniture as well as a power traveler seat. Much of these features are optional on the Sporting activity. Alternatives on both trim degrees include a navigating system, JBL premium audio, a rear seat DVD player, a moonroof, a power tailgate as well as warmed pole positions.
Highlander in the marketplace
Rivals from GM, Mazda and also Hyundai will certainly offer the Highlander a run for its cash. Its largest rival, the Honda Pilot, schedules for a redesign in the following year or 2, as well as Toyota's secret weapon-- its credibility for quality and also dependability-- has actually been sliding lately. The automaker has actually promised to redouble its efforts, as well as its most current SUV needs to confirm that.
The brand-new Highlander has great deals of book perceptiveness, like suitable gas mileage and tons of safety and security features, however there's absolutely nothing remarkable about it. If it confirms as bulletproof as its precursor, though, reliability will become its defining attribute, which is a book attract a lot of buyers can support.