2009 toyota Highlander for Sale

2009 Toyota Highlander For Sale - If the redesigned Toyota Highlander is to be successful, it has its work suited it. It has to transport and also captivate youngsters, swallow freight and dominate snow. It has to be secure, comfy and luxurious, and it has to do all these points without breaking the financial institution-- in vehicle settlements or at the pump. A tall order, no doubt, yet the leading midsize SUV rivals truly have actually obtained that great.


2009 Toyota Highlander For Sale


The Highlander makes the grade on all matters, though it doesn't excel in any kind of one location. Given it can preserve its superior resale worth as well as integrity, it must confirm a smart-- otherwise especially captivating-- choice for several years ahead.

Edgier Styling

Toyota's California design studios sculpted the outside, which is bigger in all significant dimensions than the old Highlander. To my eyes, Toyota's smaller sized RAV4 SUV looks better-proportioned, with simply sufficient contours to balance out the angles. With its creased fronts lights, fancy grille and amorphous bumper, the Highlander seems a little bit as well glossy-- like a corner store customer that will not take off his sunglasses.

The rear bumper has lumpy reflectors on each side, as well as a lot of trim degrees have a glass hatch that opens independent of the liftgate. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are common; the Sport and Limited have 19-inchers that submit the wheel wells perfectly. The Sport has a dark silver grille and also smoked-out fronts lights. The Limited has plainer fronts lights as well as chrome exterior moldings.

At 188.4 inches long and also 75.2 inches wide, the Highlander casts approximately the exact same darkness as a Honda Pilot, Subaru Tribeca or Hyundai Veracruz. The Mazda CX-9 as well as Saturn Expectation are both concerning a foot longer.

The Inside

Toyota has actually spent years constructing a credibility for top quality, as well as lacking any type of serious competition, the new Highlander may have kept that requirement. The competitors is absolutely nothing if not significant, however, as well as SUVs like the CX-9 and Veracruz flaunt some remarkably high end insides. In contrast, Toyota drops a little bit short.

The Highlander shares bases with the present Camry, and the control panel bears a lot of the sedan's flavor. The center controls are the all-natural focal point, with large knobs for major features within easy reach. Sport as well as Limited versions have a 3.5-inch display atop the stereo. It shows gas mileage, outside temperature level and also even more. It also shows settings for the optional automatic environment control system, which can split the cabin right into as many as three temperature areas-- two front and also one back. The environment regulates sit below the stereo, as well as they're terribly chaotic. I counted 13 buttons between the two temperature level knobs; that's a lot of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. On the other hand, the conventional hand-operated air conditioning is simple.

Cabin high quality is simply ordinary. The window switches over, turn signals and also center controls might go straight right into a Lexus, and also the chrome accents and electroluminescent determines look excellent. A lot of areas are trimmed in tough plastics, however, and also the appearances do not have the appeal of right stuff in several competitors. Most severe of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is some of the most affordable mouse fur this side of an economic situation auto.

Parents will certainly appreciate the storage space choices. The facility console between the front seats has four cupholders and a vast storage bin. Fail to remember laptop computers; the glove box can fit a little home computer. (Probably not the screen, though-- let's not get carried away.).

3 basic rows of seats accommodate approximately seven, though you can drop the third row in order to save a little cash money, lowering sitting capability to 5. The front seats use plenty of area, with a method extender in the Highlander Limited that expands the pillow under the chauffeur's upper legs. Great touch.

The second row is equally wide, with reclining back-rests and seat cushions that adjust backward and forward. The facility seat has Toyota's new Center Stow function. It's primarily a dive seat, which guests could switch for a plastic facility console, transforming the second row into two captain's chairs. The extra part-- either the middle seat or console-- stores in a flooring compartment in between the pole positions. After a couple of practice runs, I had the ability to make the change in around 25 secs.

The dive seat is light enough for simple installation. Its convenience is hit and miss, also for a middle seat; the bottom cushion is considerable, however I can easily really feel the hinges beneath the back-rest padding. The plastic console is lighter still, and both items have tough installment hooks that ought to survive plenty of thrashing from overenthusiastic youngsters.

Depending on where the second row is positioned, the 3rd row can be remarkably adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet high and also located headroom a little bit tight, however with the 2nd row moved on a few inches-- maintaining a lot of legroom for most grownups-- the 3rd row's legroom was such that I can tolerate a brief journey.

Larger Engine, Better Mileage

All Highlanders obtain the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna and also a number of other Toyotas. In the Highlander it makes 270 horse power as well as 248 pounds-feet of torque. Both are substantial gains over in 2015's V-6, which made 215 hp and also 222 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is basic. Last year's base four-cylinder engine has been gone down.

Acceleration is adequate off the line as well as more powerful as the engine revs. The transmission helps things along, holding gears and also seldom changing too soon. Tough acceleration could motivate some abrupt changes amongst reduced gears-- much better for acceleration, even worse for convenience-- however most of the time the changes are smooth adequate to pass undetected. The drivetrain really feels ideal on the freeway, where it downshifts with very little gear hunting. 3rd gear is specifically potent for 50-to-70 mph passing away.

The optional four-wheel drive is transparent to the driver. It incorporates a facility differential to divide power 50/50 in between the front and also back wheels all the moment. Four-wheel-drive versions have a downhill aid function. Press a control panel button, and also it will certainly slow down the SUV to a crawl down high qualities. The function seems a little bit insincere: There is no reduced gear for offroad rock crawling, which means you need to probably stay clear of anywhere treacherous sufficient to require the downhill aid.

All Highlanders have a hill-start aid that holds the brakes for up to 3 secs from a stop to prevent the SUV from rolling backward before you have time to hit the gas.

Utilizing the EPA's more sensible 2008 rating system-- which normally causes reduce numbers-- gas mileage is rated at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive designs and 17/23 mpg for those with four-wheel drive. These scores lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They additionally defeated the old V-6 Highlander by about 1 mpg (adjusted using the EPA's brand-new estimation)-- an impressive accomplishment, offered the new Highlander has even more power as well as evaluates some 300 pounds more. (Four-cylinder fans will not miss much: The old four-cylinder Highlander obtained just 1 mpg greater than the brand-new one makes with the V-6.).

Ride & Handling

The unibody building manages a comfortable flight, with none of the underbody vibrating that pestered the previous Highlander (which was additionally unibody) and numerous body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sporting activity, yet I couldn't spot a distinction in ride suppleness amongst the base, Sport and Limited. All 3 have a bit much more suspension noise over significant bumps compared to I've concerned expect in a midsize SUV.

Wind sound is minimal. Given a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are fairly quiet. The Sporting activity as well as Limited's 19-inch wheels as well as P245/55R19 tires give off a slight hum at highway rates, which I couldn't detect with the base version's 17-inchers and thicker P245/65R19 rubber.

All models currently include electric power steering. These systems save a bit on fuel intake-- a little bit of low-hanging fruit to meet the government's fuel economy requirements, I presume-- yet they typically cause lifeless, synthetic steering feeling. Expectedly, the Highlander guides with a light touch, never ever delivering a lot in the way of comments or turning accuracy. The CX-9 prices much better here, however couple of other rivals stick out. The exact same is true for body roll: Like many SUVs, the Highlander leans away in contours, advising vehicle drivers it's not to be cornered quickly.

Four-wheel-disc anti-skid brakes are standard. The pedal uses spongy reaction, but the brakes clamp down hard when needed.

Freight & Towing

With all 3 rows set up as well as elevated, freight area in back is a weak 10.3 cubic feet. The 3rd row folds level right into the flooring, and also the 2nd row folds up almost level. Highlanders without the 3rd row instead include a rather big storage space location under the rear floor.

With all seats folded up, maximum cargo volume is 95.4 cubic feet, which compares more positively with the crowd.

When effectively equipped, the Highlander can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Safety and security.

In Insurance Institute for Highway Security frontal crash examinations, the 2008 Highlander racked up the highest possible rating, Great. IIHS has not tested the Highlander for side influences.

Toyota didn't skimp on safety features. All Highlanders come typical with four-wheel-disc anti-skid brakes, traction control and also a digital stability system. The security system now works with the electric power steering, which enhances the power help when the motorist is steering to correct a skid. It likewise aids fight steering pull under difficult braking to help the Highlander drop in a straight line. (Toyota claims the system could not steer the SUV on its own, as some innovative systems currently do, so if you steer the upside-down in a skid, don't anticipate any added power aid.).

Seven air bags are common, including the called for dual front airbags, a chauffeur's knee airbag and side-impact airbags for the front seats. There are also roll-sensing side drape airbags for all three rows, which release during a rollover to stop resident ejection.

All seats have head restrictions, as well as in Sporting activity and also Limited versions, the front ones are forward-adjustable for far better whiplash security. Energetic head restraints are common on the front seats of all trims. The 2nd row includes Latch child-seat anchors in the outboard seats, with easily accessible top-tether supports midway down the seatback.

Functions & Rates

Excluding the destination charge, the base Highlander with two-wheel drive starts at $27,300. A Highlander Limited with a full bunch of choices runs around $42,000. Four-wheel drive on any type of trim adds concerning $1,500. All trim degrees come with three rows of seats, though a third-row erase option on specific models can conserve $740.

For $27,300, the base Highlander comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, a CD stereo with an auxiliary MP3 jack, air conditioning, cruise control, and also power windows, mirrors and door locks.
For $29,950, the Sport adds dark exterior elements, 19-inch wheels, haze lights, a power driver's seat, a multifunction steering wheel, a back-up video camera and also six-CD sound.
For $32,700, the Minimal includes a keyless start-up system, automatic environment control, leather furniture as well as a power traveler seat. Most of these functions are optional on the Sport. Options on both trim degrees consist of a navigation system, JBL premium audio, a rear seat DVD player, a moonroof, a power tailgate and warmed pole positions.

Highlander in the Market

Competitors from GM, Mazda and Hyundai will certainly give the Highlander a run for its loan. Its biggest opponent, the Honda Pilot, is due for a redesign in the following year or two, and also Toyota's key resource-- its online reputation for top quality and dependability-- has actually been sliding recently. The car manufacturer has actually vowed to enhance its efforts, and its newest SUV has to show that.

The brand-new Highlander has great deals of book sensibilities, like suitable gas mileage and also tons of security attributes, yet there's nothing phenomenal about it. If it proves as bulletproof as its predecessor, however, dependability will certainly become its defining attribute, which is a textbook attract a great deal of customers could get behind.