2015 toyota Highlander
By
pusahma dua
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Saturday, May 12, 2018
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2015 Toyota Highlander
Toyota listened to customers while redesigning the seven/eight-seat 2014 Highlander and also responded to demands for even more cabin as well as freight space, dynamic styling as well as costs facilities. Ask for a more vibrant driving experience needs to have been pleasantly overlooked, nonetheless, as the 2014's harsher trip is a tradeoff I don't assume many midsize SUV purchasers need to need to deal with in return for sportier handling.
Still, other renovations will unquestionably interest consumers who had damaged the previous Highlander off their listing or at least to those that don't think about a comfortable ride a must-have. The 2014 Highlander's increased cargo room behind the basic third-row seat is a much-needed enhancement; plus, it's easier to obtain right into the 3rd row, which currently sittings three and bumps common sitting capability to eight.
2015 toyota highlander
With upgrades that extend the lineup of LE, LE And Also, XLE, Limited and also Limited Platinum trim levels, the 2014 Highlander is currently in much better shape to take on the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2014 Ford Explorer as well as 2014 Honda Pilot.
I drove four-cylinder, six-cylinder and also Hybrid 2014 Highlanders at a Toyota media event.
Outside & Designing
Toyota returned to the drawing board to revamp its aging and stylistically devoid Highlander. Fast-forward to 2014, as well as you can not call the Highlander boring looking any longer. The 2013's ho-hum look transforms into a hulking SUV with a beefier position, protruding fenders and also strong front styling. Its presence was big on the 2013 New York City International Automobile Show floor where it debuted, and also it looks equally as good rolling down the street.
Just how It Drives
The driving experience isn't the vehicle's most attractive quality, despite a variety of appealing new framework and suspension changes, so it's good the new SUV does so many various other points well.
Toyota picked curvy canyon as well as coastal roadways in California to show the Highlander's brand-new handling chops. Driving a 2013 as well as 2014 back to back, the 2014 does show greater degrees of roadway hold and a boosted guiding reaction. It's even more sports when excavating into a corner, though I would not call the Highlander enjoyable to drive. The 270-horsepower V-6 doesn't have an instant strike of velocity in the heavy Highlander. It's an unlike the lighter, 290-hp Hyundai Santa Fe, which is a "little" round of enjoyment to name a few similar three-row SUVs. A six-cylinder Highlander LE with front-wheel drive is 4,244 extra pounds, while a V-6, front-wheel-drive Santa Fe GLS is 3,933 pounds.
An adverse effect of the Highlander's newfound characteristics is a choppier ride over harsh roads. After driving 2013 and also 2014 designs, I can tell the 2014 transmits more roadway flaws through the chassis and also into seats. Hey, Toyota: It's OKAY to have an aggressive style and also flight like a sofa; see the 2014 Chevrolet Impala.
On the benefit, the 2014 Highlander has a much more significant feeling over harsh roads, with fewer rattles, squeals as well as framework flex. It's a matured experience with boosted noise insulation, acoustic glass as well as a stiffer chassis aiding maintain outside noise minimal.
I briefly hung around in the four-cylinder Highlander with front-wheel drive, which Toyota anticipates to represent 5 to 10 percent of sales, and also in the all-new Highlander Hybrid. Both the front-wheel-drive-only four-cylinder (20/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined) and also all-wheel-drive-only Hybrid V-6 (27/28/28 mpg) are a little harsh around the sides as far as engine noise and also resonances. The Hybrid's gas mileage is fairly unmodified for 2014, down 1 mpg in city rankings to 27 mpg but keeps its 28 mpg incorporated rating. The shift from electrical to when the engine fires up is recognizable with raw sounds coming from under the hood, audible from throughout a parking area. Resonances from the transition are marginal, however the sounds are audible to take notice.
An additional 353 extra pounds contributed to the hybrid from three electrical motors-- 2 in the front and also one in the back-- and a nickel metal hydride battery is obvious in exactly how the Crossbreed drives compared with the Minimal V-6 with all-wheel drive. It's an unwinded experience much less fired up concerning speeding up and also handling even with 280-hp incorporated, and also it additionally does not ride any kind of smoother compared to the non-hybrid.
The Crossbreed's abnormally loud engine noises wouldn't be as much of an issue if the Highlander Crossbreed weren't $48,160 with location, $7,130 more than 2013-- a 2014 Lexus RX 450h is $47,320, however a lot smaller on the in. The Highlander Crossbreed's deluxe automobile cost doesn't reflect high-end refinement since the feature-loaded Hybrid Limited is the only Crossbreed offered; the less-expensive variation obtained the axe for 2014.
The volume-seller V-6 is one of the most refined of the lot, using smooth as well as foreseeable velocity as well as the very best handling with all-wheel drive. The V-6-powered Highlander's gas mileage of 19/25/21 mpg with front-wheel drive as well as 18/24/20 mpg with four-wheel drive is also much more competitive than the outbound 2013 thanks to a brand-new six-speed automatic transmission replacing a five-speed device on V-6 models. The all-wheel-drive system, which is also brand-new, assists include 2 mpg freeway over the 2013 version. All-wheel-drive Highlanders send out torque to the rear wheels when slippage is identified, versus the previous system that constantly sent out torque to 4 wheels.
Interior
Part of the 2014's transformation consists of calling up the interior styling with numerous soft-touch and accent-stitched interior panels that boost the classiness. The quality is Toyota-Avalon great with a sewn control panel, guiding wheel as well as soft-touch, top notch materials in famous areas. Plastic locations that typically aren't textured, stitched or covered are still on par for the class. Even the base LE Highlander radiates the practically luxurylike niceness of the higher-optioned Limited trims.
Seating is comfortable in the very first and second rows with soft, large front seats and a very adjustable 2nd row that slides and reclines with two captain's chairs or the common three-seat bench configuration-- captain's chairs are available on the XLE and typical on the Limited. The remainder of the Highlander may have been redone with dynamism in mind, but the seats talk to its comfort-focused origins. Many individuals on our staff will certainly miss the 2013's removable second-row center seat. I won't, as it was uneasy as well as bulky to eliminate and also replace with the center table that saved under the facility console.
In the 3rd row, Toyota enhanced width and also added an added seat for a maximum capability of eight occupants in conventional setup. A brand-new, much more small back suspension freed the extra area. The 3rd row still does not fit grownups with as much comfort as the bigger Chevrolet Traverse, yet it readies in a pinch. There are also brand-new one-touch folding second-row seats on both sides. Previously, only the curbside seat folded up and also moved forward through the one-touch lever. Third-row cyclists also gain from the second row's boosted seat travel, which enables easy access as well as exit.
Comfort design & Electronic devices
Innovation is a significant focus in the 2014 Highlander and also done effectively. Toyota's Entune multimedia system works much better than ever compared with other Toyota lorries in which I have actually made use of the system. Functioning the Entune system's voice commands is impressive. The designs I tested detected the numerous voice commands I talked.
Those with cumbersome phones or that continuously have their phone linked to the SUV will appreciate a device storage step listed below the climate manages that supplies a pass-through for USB cords. There must be no more Medusa-like dangling of wires ensnaring the equipment selector.
The conventional Entune on base LE models consists of a 6.1-inch touch-screen with backup cam, USB port with iPod connectivity, complementary input, voice recognition, Bluetooth phone connectivity and also Bluetooth streaming sound. LE Plus trims have Entune Audio Plus with a higher-resolution 6.1-inch screen, HD Radio and 90-day satellite radio subscription. The following step up is Entune Premium Audio with Navigating and Application Collection on XLE versions with an 8-inch touch-screen and also app suite with Pandora, Yelp and Facebook assimilation with a mobile phone and accompanying Entune downloadable application. A JBL stereo is standard on Restricted trim degrees.
The enormous facility storage space container in between the front seats could feast on anything plus-sized, like a purse, iPad or Blu-ray collection for the readily available rear-seat Blu-ray player. And when you fail to remember that Blu-ray in your home, a fascinating brand-new function called Easy Speak sends the booming voice of an upset mama or papa via the back stereo audio speakers through the Bluetooth microphone to keep rowdy children in check. How much more family focused can you obtain than giving an attribute that enables moms and dads to yell at youngsters?
Freight, Towing & Storage space
Freight space behind the 3rd row boosts over the previous Highlander's revealing step, which had a hard time carrying groceries, not to mention a baby stroller or golf bag. The freight volume is now rated at 13.8 cubic feet, up from 10.3 cubic feet. It's not a significant improvement, yet at the very least it makes the location usable. It's still little compared to others in the section: The Traveler has 21 cubic feet and the Pilot has 18 cubic feet behind the 3rd row. Toyota's trickery to boost freight space entailed moving all three rows of seats ahead, adding size behind the back wheels and making use of an extra compact rear suspension.
The power liftgate is an excellent attribute to be conventional on LE Plus trim degrees as well as above, and has a trick up its sleeve: It adjusts to numerous heights, not simply a couple of predetermined elevation settings. With the liftgate moving, individuals could stop the liftgate as well as program it to open up to that set height the next time. The function will certainly make much shorter motorists and also owners of low garages very happy. (If the gate goes expensive, shorter people may have a hard time to get to the power-close switch on its lower side.) One more one-of-a-kind feature on the back is an oldie yet a reward: On LE Plus models as well as above, the back window opens for simple gain access to independent of the cargo gate.
A 5,000-pound tow score on XLE as well as Limited trim levels features a standard towing plan that consists of engine/transmission coolers as well as upgraded radiator and also alternator. Hybrids could tow 3,500 extra pounds, V-6 LE/LE Plus can tow 2,000 extra pounds and also a four-cylinder LE is rated at 1,500 extra pounds.
Safety
The 2014 Highlander had not been crash-tested at the time of this writing.
The 2014 Highlander supplies reduced supports and tethers on outboard second-row seats for child-safety seats, but just a secure anchor on the center third-row seat.
Advanced safety functions are available, though only on the expensive Limited trim degree where an unseen area surveillance system and back vehicle parking aid are typical, as well as pre-collision, flexible cruise ship control as well as lane departure caution are optional. Minimal trim degrees are likewise the only models with a back-up video camera that utilizes predictive standards to show the lorry's path-- a backup electronic camera with fixed lines is common on all other trim degrees.
Worth in Its Course
Toyota claims rates is up about $1,500 usually throughout the 2014 trim levels, which include extra attributes over the 2013. Base pricing starts at $30,075 for a base four-cylinder LE with destination, while volume-seller XLE designs with four-wheel drive are $38,360 and consist of leather seatsing with heated front seats, navigation, three-zone environment control, clever keyless access, second-row sunshades and even more. Prices for the XLE is very affordable to three-row midsize SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer or even the Hyundai Santa Fe.
The 2013 Highlander was truly a midpack three-row SUV, hanging back in crucial areas like interior top quality, freight room as well as modern technology. Rest assured, if you're a Highlander proprietor planning to update-- as long as you're unconcerned about flight high quality-- the 2014 is not just an engaging upgrade, but also worthy of cross-shopping the segment's finest.