Toyota Highlander 2009 Price

Toyota Highlander 2009 Price - If the upgraded Toyota Highlander is to be successful, it has its work cut out for it. It needs to carry and also delight children, ingest cargo as well as conquer snow. It needs to be secure, comfortable and elegant, and also it should do all these points without breaking the bank-- in vehicle payments or at the pump. A tall order, no doubt, but the leading midsize SUV competitors really have gotten that excellent.


Toyota Highlander 2009 Price


The Highlander qualifies on all matters, though it does not excel in any type of one area. Provided it could keep its superior resale worth and reliability, it must show a smart-- if not especially captivating-- choice for many years ahead.

Edgier Styling

Toyota's The golden state layout studios formed the exterior, which is larger in all significant measurements than the old Highlander. To my eyes, Toyota's smaller sized RAV4 SUV looks better-proportioned, with just sufficient contours to offset the angles. With its creased headlights, fancy grille and characterless bumper, the Highlander appears a little bit as well glossy-- like a convenience store buyer that won't take off his sunglasses.

The rear bumper has dimpled 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 typical; the Sporting activity as well as Limited have 19-inchers that complete the wheel wells perfectly. The Sport has a dark silver grille and also smoked-out fronts lights. The Limited has plainer fronts lights and also chrome outside moldings.

At 188.4 inches long as well as 75.2 inches large, the Highlander casts about the very same shadow as a Honda Pilot, Subaru Tribeca or Hyundai Veracruz. The Mazda CX-9 and Saturn Overview are both regarding a foot much longer.

The In

Toyota has spent years constructing an online reputation for quality, and absent any significant competition, the brand-new Highlander could have maintained that standard. The competitors is nothing if not major, however, and SUVs like the CX-9 as well as Veracruz boast some impressively upscale insides. In comparison, Toyota falls a little bit short.

The Highlander shares bases with the present Camry, as well as the control panel bears much of the car's taste. The facility controls are the natural prime focus, with oversized knobs for significant functions within simple reach. Sport as well as Limited designs have a 3.5-inch display atop the stereo. It presents gas mileage, outside temperature as well as more. It additionally shows setups for the optional automated environment control system, which can separate the cabin into as lots of as three temperature areas-- 2 front and one back. The climate controls sit listed below the stereo, and they're terribly messy. I counted 13 buttons between both temperature knobs; that's a great deal of ground to cover when you're referencing a readout some 10 inches away. On the other hand, the typical hand-operated cooling is basic.

Cabin high quality is merely ordinary. The home window changes, turn signals as well as center controls can go straight right into a Lexus, and also the chrome accents as well as electroluminescent gauges look terrific. A lot of areas are cut in tough plastics, however, and also the textures lack the charm of the stuff in several competitors. Worst of all is the ceiling's headliner, which is a few of the most inexpensive computer mouse hair this side of an economic climate automobile.

Parents will appreciate the storage space choices. The center console in between the pole positions has 4 cupholders and a large storage space bin. Forget laptops; the handwear cover box could fit a small desktop computer. (Possibly not the display, though-- allow's not obtain carried away.).

Three standard rows of seats fit approximately seven, though you could go down the third row in order to save a little cash money, minimizing sitting capability to five. The pole positions provide plenty of space, with a trick extender in the Highlander Limited that expands the pillow under the motorist's upper legs. Great touch.

The second row is just as commodious, with reclining backrests as well as seat pillows that adjust backward and forward. The center seat has Toyota's new Center Stow function. It's generally a jump seat, which guests can swap for a plastic facility console, transforming the second row right into two captain's chairs. The unused portion-- either the middle seat or console-- shops in a flooring area between the front seats. After a few practice runs, I had the ability to make the adjustment in around 25 secs.

The dive seat is light enough for simple installment. Its convenience is trial and error, also for a center seat; the bottom pillow is considerable, but I can conveniently feel the joints beneath the backrest padding. The plastic console is lighter still, as well as both items have durable installation hooks that must endure plenty of thrashing from overenthusiastic children.

Relying on where the 2nd row is placed, the third row can be remarkably adult-friendly. I'm 6 feet high and found clearance a little bit limited, however with the second row moved forward a couple of inches-- protecting lots of legroom for the majority of adults-- the 3rd row's legroom was such that I could tolerate a short journey.

Bigger Engine, Better Gas Mileage

All Highlanders obtain the 3.5-liter V-6 from the Camry, Sienna as well as several various other Toyotas. In the Highlander it makes 270 horse power and also 248 pounds-feet of torque. Both are substantial gains over in 2014's V-6, which made 215 hp and 222 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is conventional. Last year's base four-cylinder engine has actually been gone down.

Acceleration suffices off the line and also stronger as the engine revs. The transmission helps things along, holding equipments and also rarely changing prematurely. Difficult velocity can prompt some sudden changes among lower equipments-- much better for velocity, worse for convenience-- but the majority of the moment the changes are smooth enough to pass undetected. The drivetrain feels best on the freeway, where it downshifts with marginal gear hunting. Third gear is specifically potent for 50-to-70 mph passing.

The optional four-wheel drive is clear to the driver. It includes a center differential to divide power 50/50 between the front and also back wheels every one of the time. Four-wheel-drive models have a downhill aid feature. Press a dashboard switch, and it will certainly slow the SUV to a crawl down steep qualities. The feature appears a little bit disingenuous: There is no low gear for offroad rock crawling, which implies you ought to most likely stay clear of anywhere treacherous enough to need the downhill aid.

All Highlanders have a hill-start aid that holds the brakes for approximately three seconds from a quit to avoid the SUV from rolling backwards prior to you have time to strike the gas.

Making use of the EPA's more reasonable 2008 ranking system-- which typically brings about decrease numbers-- gas mileage is rated at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for two-wheel-drive designs and 17/23 mpg for those with 4x4. These rankings lead most midsize SUVs by 1 or 2 mpg. They also defeated the old V-6 Highlander by around 1 mpg (adjusted making use of the EPA's brand-new estimation)-- an outstanding accomplishment, provided the new Highlander has even more power and considers some 300 extra pounds a lot more. (Four-cylinder fans will not 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 ride, with none of the underbody shimmying that plagued the previous Highlander (which was also unibody) and several body-on-frame SUVs. The four-wheel-independent suspension is sport-tuned in the Highlander Sporting activity, however I couldn't identify a distinction in ride firmness among the base, Sporting activity and also Limited. All three have a bit much more suspension noise over major bumps compared to I have actually come to anticipate in a midsize SUV.

Wind noise is marginal. Provided a smooth stretch of asphalt, the tires are fairly silent. The Sporting activity and also Limited's 19-inch wheels and also P245/55R19 tires produce a minor hum at highway speeds, which I couldn't discover with the base model's 17-inchers and also thicker P245/65R19 rubber.

All versions currently have electric power guiding. These systems save a bit on fuel usage-- a little low-hanging fruit to meet the government's fuel economic situation criteria, I presume-- but they usually cause lifeless, man-made guiding feeling. Expectedly, the Highlander guides with a light touch, never providing a lot in the means of feedback or turning accuracy. The CX-9 fares much better in this regard, however couple of various other rivals stick out. The very same is true for body roll: Like a lot of SUVs, the Highlander leans away in curves, reminding drivers it's not to be cornered rapidly.

Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are common. The pedal supplies spongy response, yet the brakes clamp down hard when needed.

Freight & Towing

With all three rows set up and also raised, cargo room in back is a meager 10.3 cubic feet. The third row folds up flat right into the flooring, as well as the second row folds up virtually flat. Highlanders without the 3rd row instead consist of a relatively big storage location under the back flooring.

With all seats folded up, optimal freight quantity is 95.4 cubic feet, which contrasts much more favorably with the crowd.

When effectively geared up, the Highlander can tow up to 5,000 extra pounds.
Safety.

In Insurance Institute for Highway Security frontal collision examinations, the 2008 Highlander scored the greatest rating, Great. IIHS has not evaluated the Highlander for side effects.

Toyota really did not skimp on safety and security functions. All Highlanders come conventional with four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control as well as an electronic stability system. The stability system currently collaborates with the electrical power steering, which improves the power assist when the driver is steering to fix a skid. It likewise aids fight steering pull under hard stopping to help the Highlander stop in a straight line. (Toyota claims the system could not steer the SUV by itself, as some sophisticated systems now do, so if you guide the wrong way in a skid, do not anticipate any type of extra power assist.).

Seven air bags are common, including the needed dual front airbags, a driver's knee airbag and also side-impact airbags for the pole positions. There are likewise roll-sensing side drape air bags for all 3 rows, which release throughout a rollover to avoid owner ejection.

All seats have head restrictions, as well as in Sport as well as Limited models, the front ones are forward-adjustable for far better whiplash security. Active head restraints are conventional on the front seats of all trims. The 2nd row consists of Latch child-seat anchors in the outboard seats, with conveniently accessible top-tether anchors midway down the seatback.

Functions & Prices

Leaving out the destination cost, the base Highlander with two-wheel drive begins at $27,300. A Highlander Limited with a full bunch of choices playings around $42,000. 4x4 on any type of trim adds regarding $1,500. All trim degrees include three rows of seats, though a third-row remove choice on specific versions can conserve $740.

For $27,300, the base Highlander comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless access, a CD stereo with a supporting MP3 jack, air conditioning, cruise control, as well as power windows, mirrors and also door locks.
For $29,950, the Sporting activity includes dark exterior elements, 19-inch wheels, haze lights, a power motorist's seat, a multifunction steering wheel, a backup video camera as well as six-CD sound.
For $32,700, the Limited includes a keyless start-up system, automated climate control, natural leather upholstery as well as a power guest seat. Most of these functions are optional on the Sporting activity. Choices on both trim levels include a navigating system, JBL premium sound, a backseat DVD player, a moonroof, a power tailgate as well as warmed front seats.

Highlander out there

Rivals from GM, Mazda and also Hyundai will offer the Highlander a run for its loan. Its biggest opponent, the Honda Pilot, schedules for a redesign in the following year or more, and Toyota's trump card-- its track record for high quality as well as dependability-- has actually been sliding lately. The car manufacturer has actually pledged to enhance its efforts, and also its most current SUV needs to verify that.

The new Highlander has great deals of book sensibilities, like suitable gas mileage and also lots of safety and security features, but there's absolutely nothing exceptional about it. If it verifies as bulletproof as its predecessor, though, stability will become its defining attribute, which is a textbook attract a lot of customers could support.