Toyota Highlander 2009
By
Alfian Adi Saputra
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Thursday, May 24, 2018
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2009 Toyota Highlander
Toyota Highlander 2009
The Highlander makes the grade on all matters, though it does not master any type of one area. Given it could preserve its superior resale value and also dependability, it ought to prove a smart-- otherwise specifically captivating-- selection for many years to come.
Edgier Designing
Toyota's The golden state design studios formed the exterior, which is larger in all significant measurements than 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, showy grille and also characterless bumper, the Highlander appears a little bit too glossy-- like a corner store customer that won't remove his sunglasses.
The rear bumper has lumpy reflectors on each side, and many trim degrees have a glass hatch that opens independent of the liftgate. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are basic; the Sport and also Limited have 19-inchers that fill in the wheel wells perfectly. The Sporting activity has a dark silver grille as well as smoked-out fronts lights. The Limited has plainer fronts lights and also chrome outside moldings.
At 188.4 inches long and 75.2 inches vast, the Highlander casts roughly the very same darkness 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 In
Toyota has invested years building a credibility for quality, and also absent any type of severe competition, the new Highlander may have preserved that standard. The competition is nothing if not serious, though, and SUVs like the CX-9 and also Veracruz boast some impressively high end insides. In contrast, Toyota falls a little bit short.
The Highlander shares supports with the current Camry, as well as the control panel births much of the car's taste. The facility controls are the all-natural prime focus, with extra-large knobs for significant features within simple reach. Sporting activity and also Limited models have a 3.5-inch screen atop the stereo. It shows gas mileage, outside temperature level and even more. It additionally shows settings for the optional automatic climate control system, which can separate the cabin into as numerous as three temperature areas-- 2 front and also one rear. The environment manages sit below the stereo, and they're awfully cluttered. I counted 13 switches between both temperature knobs; that's a lot of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. In contrast, the conventional hand-operated a/c is basic.
Cabin quality is simply average. 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 excellent. A lot of locations are trimmed in tough plastics, nevertheless, and also the appearances lack the allure of right stuff in several competitors. Most severe of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is some of the cheapest computer mouse fur this side of an economic situation cars and truck.
Parents will value the storage space alternatives. The center console between the front seats has four cupholders and a broad storage space container. Fail to remember laptops; the glove box might fit a small home computer. (Possibly not the monitor, though-- let's not obtain carried away.).
3 common rows of seats accommodate approximately seven, though you can drop the 3rd row in order to conserve a little cash money, decreasing seatsing capability to five. The pole positions supply plenty of room, with a trick extender in the Highlander Limited that prolongs the padding under the chauffeur's upper legs. Wonderful touch.
The second row is just as commodious, with reclining back-rests and also seat cushions that adjust backward and forward. The facility seat has Toyota's brand-new Center Stow function. It's basically a jump seat, which passengers could swap for a plastic center console, turning the 2nd row into two captain's chairs. The extra part-- either the center seat or console-- shops in a floor area between the front seats. After a couple of practice runs, I had the ability to make the modification in around 25 secs.
The jump seat is light enough for easy installment. Its convenience is hit and miss, also for a center seat; the bottom pillow is substantial, yet I might conveniently feel the joints underneath the back-rest cushioning. The plastic console is lighter still, and also both pieces have strong setup hooks that should survive lots of thrashing from overenthusiastic children.
Depending on where the second row is positioned, the 3rd row can be remarkably adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet high and also found clearance a little bit tight, however with the 2nd row progressed a few inches-- protecting a lot of legroom for a lot of grownups-- the 3rd row's legroom was such that I can endure a brief journey.
Larger Engine, Better Mileage
All Highlanders obtain the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna and several other Toyotas. In the Highlander it makes 270 horsepower and 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 conventional. Last year's base four-cylinder engine has actually been dropped.
Velocity is adequate off the line and also stronger as the engine revs. The transmission aids things along, holding equipments and also rarely shifting prematurely. Hard velocity can prompt some sudden transitions amongst lower gears-- much better for acceleration, worse for convenience-- however a lot of the time the shifts are smooth enough to pass unnoticed. The drivetrain feels finest on the freeway, where it downshifts with marginal gear hunting. Third equipment is particularly potent for 50-to-70 miles per hour death.
The optional four-wheel drive is transparent to the vehicle driver. It includes a center differential to divide power 50/50 between the front and back wheels all the moment. Four-wheel-drive models have a downhill assist feature. Press a control panel switch, and it will slow down the SUV to a crawl down steep qualities. The attribute appears a bit disingenuous: There is no reduced gear for offroad rock crawling, which implies you should most likely avoid anywhere treacherous enough to require the downhill assist.
All Highlanders have a hill-start help that holds the brakes for as much as 3 seconds from a quit to avoid the SUV from rolling in reverse prior to you have time to strike the gas.
Making use of the EPA's even more reasonable 2008 rating system-- which normally leads to decrease numbers-- gas mileage is rated at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive versions and 17/23 mpg for those with four-wheel drive. These ratings lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They likewise defeated the old V-6 Highlander by about 1 mpg (readjusted utilizing the EPA's brand-new calculation)-- an impressive feat, given the new Highlander has more power as well as weighs some 300 pounds more. (Four-cylinder followers won't miss out on much: The old four-cylinder Highlander got just 1 mpg more than the new one performs with the V-6.).
Ride & Handling
The unibody building and construction manages a comfy ride, with none of the underbody vibrating that pestered the previous Highlander (which was also unibody) and also several body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sport, however I couldn't find a difference in flight suppleness among the base, Sport and Limited. All three have a bit more suspension sound over significant bumps compared to I've pertained to expect in a midsize SUV.
Wind sound is very little. Provided a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are reasonably silent. The Sport and also Limited's 19-inch wheels and P245/55R19 tires give off a small hum at freeway rates, which I couldn't detect with the base design's 17-inchers and also thicker P245/65R19 rubber.
All models currently feature electric power steering. These systems conserve a little bit on fuel intake-- a bit of low-hanging fruit to satisfy the government's gas economy requirements, I think-- yet they commonly lead to drab, man-made steering feel. Expectedly, the Highlander steers with a light touch, never ever delivering a lot in the method of responses or turning precision. The CX-9 fares better here, yet few various other competitors stand apart. The exact same is true for body roll: Like the majority of SUVs, the Highlander leans away in contours, advising vehicle drivers it's not to be cornered rapidly.
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are basic. The pedal supplies squishy reaction, however the brakes clamp down hard when required.
Freight & Towing
With all 3 rows installed and also raised, freight room in back is a weak 10.3 cubic feet. The third row folds flat into the flooring, and the 2nd row folds up nearly level. Highlanders without the 3rd row instead include a relatively large storage space location under the back floor.
With all seats folded up, optimal freight quantity is 95.4 cubic feet, which contrasts more positively with the crowd.
When properly outfitted, the Highlander can tow up to 5,000 extra pounds.
Safety.
In Insurance Policy Institute for Freeway Safety frontal crash tests, the 2008 Highlander racked up the highest rating, Great. IIHS has actually not checked the Highlander for side influences.
Toyota didn't skimp on security functions. All Highlanders come conventional with four-wheel-disc anti-skid brakes, grip control and a digital stability system. The stability system now works with the electric power steering, which enhances the power assist when the chauffeur is guiding to deal with a skid. It also aids fight guiding pull under hard braking to help the Highlander stop in a straight line. (Toyota states the system can not steer the SUV by itself, as some innovative systems currently do, so if you guide the upside-down in a skid, don't expect any additional power help.).
Seven air bags are common, consisting of the required dual front air bags, a motorist's knee airbag and also side-impact air bags for the pole positions. There are additionally roll-sensing side curtain airbags for all three rows, which release throughout a rollover to prevent passenger ejection.
All seats have head restraints, and also in Sport and Limited versions, the front ones are forward-adjustable for much better whiplash protection. Energetic head restraints are common on the pole positions of all trims. The 2nd row consists of Latch child-seat supports in the outboard seats, with easily accessible top-tether anchors midway down the seatback.
Functions & Prices
Leaving out the destination charge, the base Highlander with two-wheel drive begins at $27,300. A Highlander Limited with a complete bevy of options runs around $42,000. 4x4 on any trim adds about $1,500. All trim levels include 3 rows of seats, though a third-row erase alternative on certain models could save $740.
For $27,300, the base Highlander includes 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entrance, a CD stereo with a complementary MP3 jack, cooling, cruise ship control, and power home windows, mirrors and also door locks.
For $29,950, the Sport includes dark exterior aspects, 19-inch wheels, haze lights, a power motorist's seat, a multifunction wheel, a backup cam as well as six-CD sound.
For $32,700, the Restricted adds a keyless start-up system, automated environment control, natural leather upholstery as well as a power guest seat. Most of these functions are optional on the Sport. Options on both trim levels consist of a navigation system, JBL costs audio, a backseat DVD gamer, a moonroof, a power tailgate and warmed front seats.
Highlander on the market
Competitors from GM, Mazda and Hyundai will give the Highlander a run for its money. Its biggest opponent, the Honda Pilot, is due for a redesign in the next year or two, and Toyota's trump card-- its credibility for top quality and also dependability-- has been slipping lately. The car manufacturer has pledged to enhance its efforts, as well as its most recent SUV needs to show that.
The brand-new Highlander has great deals of book sensibilities, like decent gas mileage as well as lots of safety attributes, but there's nothing remarkable concerning it. If it verifies as bulletproof as its precursor, though, stability will become its specifying characteristic, which is a textbook draw a lot of purchasers could support.