2009 toyota Highlander
By
Alfian Adi Saputra
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Friday, May 4, 2018
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2009 Toyota Highlander
2009 Toyota Highlander
The Highlander qualifies on all counts, though it doesn't master any kind of one area. Given it can keep its impressive resale worth as well as dependability, it must show a clever-- if not particularly captivating-- choice for years to come.
Edgier Styling
Toyota's The golden state layout studios sculpted the outside, which is bigger in all major measurements compared to the old Highlander. To my eyes, Toyota's smaller RAV4 SUV looks better-proportioned, with simply adequate contours to offset the angles. With its creased headlights, flashy grille as well as amorphous bumper, the Highlander appears a little bit as well slick-- like a corner store shopper that will not remove his sunglasses.
The back bumper has lumpy reflectors on each side, and also many trim levels have a glass hatch that opens up independent of the liftgate. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are typical; the Sporting activity and Limited have 19-inchers that fill in the wheel wells perfectly. The Sport has a dark silver grille as well as smoked-out fronts lights. The Limited has plainer headlights and chrome outside moldings.
At 188.4 inches long and 75.2 inches broad, the Highlander casts roughly the very same shadow as a Honda Pilot, Subaru Tribeca or Hyundai Veracruz. The Mazda CX-9 and Saturn Outlook are both about a foot much longer.
The Inside
Toyota has actually invested years constructing a credibility for quality, and also missing any major competitors, the new Highlander may have maintained that criterion. The competitors is absolutely nothing if not serious, however, and also SUVs like the CX-9 and Veracruz flaunt some remarkably high end insides. In comparison, Toyota falls a little bit brief.
The Highlander shares supports with the existing Camry, and the control panel bears much of the sedan's taste. The facility controls are the all-natural prime focus, with extra-large handles for major features within very easy reach. Sport and also Limited versions have a 3.5-inch screen atop the stereo. It shows gas mileage, outside temperature level and even more. It also reveals setups for the optional automatic climate control system, which can divide the cabin into as several as three temperature areas-- 2 front and also one rear. The environment regulates sit listed below the stereo, and they're terribly messy. I counted 13 switches between the two temperature level handles; that's a lot of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. On the other hand, the common hands-on a/c is straightforward.
Cabin top quality is just ordinary. The home window switches, turn signals and also center controls could go straight into a Lexus, and the chrome accents and electroluminescent assesses look great. Many areas are cut in tough plastics, nevertheless, as well as the appearances lack the allure of right stuff in a number of rivals. Worst of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is some of the most inexpensive mouse hair this side of an economy car.
Moms and dads will certainly value the storage space options. The center console in between the front seats has four cupholders as well as a broad storage container. Forget laptop computers; the handwear cover box can fit a tiny home computer. (Most likely not the screen, though-- let's not get carried away.).
Three common rows of seats accommodate approximately 7, though you could go down the third row in order to conserve a little cash, lowering seatsing ability to five. The front seats use lots of space, with a technique extender in the Highlander Limited that prolongs the pillow under the driver's thighs. Wonderful touch.
The second row is equally wide, with reclining backrests and seat pillows that adjust backward and forward. The center seat has Toyota's new Center Stow attribute. It's basically a jump seat, which passengers can switch for a plastic facility console, turning the second row into two captain's chairs. The unused section-- either the middle seat or console-- stores in a flooring compartment between the front seats. After a few practice runs, I was able to make the adjustment in around 25 seconds.
The dive seat is light enough for simple setup. Its comfort is hit and miss, even for a center seat; the bottom cushion is substantial, yet I might easily really feel the hinges under the backrest padding. The plastic console is lighter still, and both pieces have durable installment hooks that need to endure plenty of knocking from overenthusiastic kids.
Depending upon where the second row is placed, the third row can be surprisingly adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet high as well as found headroom a little bit tight, however with the 2nd row progressed a couple of inches-- preserving plenty of legroom for a lot of grownups-- the 3rd row's legroom was such that I can endure a brief trip.
Bigger Engine, Better Gas Mileage
All Highlanders obtain the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna and also several various other Toyotas. In the Highlander it makes 270 horsepower and also 248 pounds-feet of torque. Both are significant gains over in 2014's V-6, makinged 215 hp as well as 222 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is typical. In 2014's base four-cylinder engine has actually been dropped.
Acceleration is adequate off the line as well as more powerful as the engine revs. The transmission helps things along, holding gears and hardly ever shifting prematurely. Difficult velocity can motivate some sudden transitions amongst reduced gears-- better for acceleration, worse for convenience-- yet a lot of the time the changes are smooth adequate to pass unseen. The drivetrain really feels finest on the highway, where it downshifts with very little gear searching. Third gear is especially powerful for 50-to-70 miles per hour death.
The optional 4x4 is transparent to the motorist. It integrates a facility differential to split power 50/50 in between the front and also back wheels every one of the time. Four-wheel-drive models have a downhill help function. Press a dashboard button, and also it will certainly reduce the SUV to a crawl down high grades. The function seems a bit insincere: There is no low gear for offroad rock crawling, which indicates you ought to probably prevent anywhere treacherous adequate to call for the downhill help.
All Highlanders have a hill-start aid that holds the brakes for as much as three seconds from a stop to avoid the SUV from rolling in reverse prior to you have time to strike the gas.
Utilizing the EPA's more sensible 2008 rating system-- which usually brings about decrease numbers-- gas mileage is ranked at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive versions as well as 17/23 mpg for those with four-wheel drive. These scores lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They likewise beat the old V-6 Highlander by about 1 mpg (readjusted using the EPA's brand-new estimation)-- a remarkable accomplishment, offered the brand-new Highlander has more power and considers some 300 pounds extra. (Four-cylinder fans won't miss out on much: The old four-cylinder Highlander obtained simply 1 mpg greater than the new one makes with the V-6.).
Flight & Handling
The unibody building affords a comfortable trip, with none of the underbody vibrating that afflicted the previous Highlander (which was also unibody) and also many body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sporting activity, but I couldn't find a distinction in flight suppleness amongst the base, Sporting activity as well as Limited. All 3 have a little bit much more suspension sound over significant bumps than I have actually involved expect in a midsize SUV.
Wind noise is marginal. Offered a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are reasonably quiet. The Sporting activity as well as Limited's 19-inch wheels and also P245/55R19 tires send out a slight hum at freeway speeds, which I could not identify with the base design's 17-inchers and also thicker P245/65R19 rubber.
All models currently have electric power guiding. These systems save a bit on gas consumption-- a little low-hanging fruit to fulfill the government's fuel economy criteria, I believe-- yet they usually result in drab, synthetic guiding feel. Expectedly, the Highlander guides with a light touch, never ever providing a lot in the way of responses or turning precision. The CX-9 fares better hereof, however couple of various other competitors stick out. The same holds true for body roll: Like the majority of SUVs, the Highlander leans away in contours, reminding vehicle drivers it's not to be collared swiftly.
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are standard. The pedal provides mushy feedback, yet the brakes clamp down hard when required.
Freight & Towing
With all three rows mounted and elevated, freight area in back is a weak 10.3 cubic feet. The 3rd row folds flat right into the flooring, and the 2nd row folds almost level. Highlanders without the third row instead include a fairly huge storage space location under the rear flooring.
With all seats folded, maximum freight volume is 95.4 cubic feet, which compares more favorably with the group.
When correctly furnished, the Highlander can tow as much as 5,000 pounds.
Safety and security.
In Insurance Policy Institute for Highway Safety and security frontal crash examinations, the 2008 Highlander scored the highest rating, Excellent. IIHS has not evaluated the Highlander for side effects.
Toyota really did not skimp on safety and security features. All Highlanders come conventional with four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control and also an electronic security system. The stability system now deals with the electric power steering, which enhances the power help when the chauffeur is steering to remedy a skid. It additionally helps combat guiding pull under difficult braking to assist the Highlander drop in a straight line. (Toyota claims the system could not steer the SUV by itself, as some sophisticated systems currently do, so if you guide the wrong way in a skid, don't expect any type of added power help.).
7 air bags are conventional, including the required twin front air bags, 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 release during a rollover to prevent owner ejection.
All seats have head restraints, as well as in Sporting activity and Limited versions, the front ones are forward-adjustable for far better whiplash security. Active head restrictions are basic on the front seats of all trims. The second row includes Latch child-seat anchors in the outboard seats, with quickly obtainable top-tether anchors midway down the seatback.
Attributes & Pricing
Excluding 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. 4x4 on any trim adds about $1,500. All trim levels have three rows of seats, though a third-row delete choice on particular models can conserve $740.
For $27,300, the base Highlander has 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless access, a CD stereo with a complementary MP3 jack, cooling, cruise control, and power home windows, mirrors as well as door locks.
For $29,950, the Sport adds darkened outside components, 19-inch wheels, fog lights, a power chauffeur's seat, a multifunction steering wheel, a back-up camera and also six-CD audio.
For $32,700, the Restricted adds a keyless start-up system, automated climate control, natural leather furniture and a power passenger seat. Much of these attributes are optional on the Sporting activity. Alternatives on both trim degrees include a navigation system, JBL premium audio, a rear seat DVD gamer, a moonroof, a power tailgate as well as heated front seats.
Highlander out there
Rivals from GM, Mazda as well as Hyundai will certainly provide the Highlander a run for its loan. Its largest opponent, the Honda Pilot, is due for a redesign in the following year or 2, and Toyota's key resource-- its online reputation for quality and integrity-- has been slipping lately. The car manufacturer has promised to enhance its initiatives, and its latest SUV should show that.
The brand-new Highlander has great deals of textbook perceptiveness, like respectable gas mileage as well as lots of safety features, however there's absolutely nothing exceptional about it. If it shows as bulletproof as its predecessor, however, reliability will certainly become its defining characteristic, which is a book draw a great deal of purchasers can support.