Tustin Toyota

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Driving Impressions

The Toyota Highlander is a pleasant vehicle to drive. Most notable is the ride quality, which is luxurious or soft, depending on your viewpoint. Even with the available 19-inch wheels, the suspension smoothes all but the most jarring bumps. There is a bit of unwanted float on highways and on winding roads, though, and some folks find it too soft. Sport models and Hybrids have slightly more road feel, but are still quite comfortable, making them a better choice who find the standard suspension too soft.

The suspension emphasizes a soft ride over taut handling. All models lean when cornering and braking. Steering feel is light, but the response is somewhat slow. We would not describe the Highlander as nimble. We prefer the Sport model's slightly firmer ride because it doesn't allow as much lean and is still comfortable. The Nissan Murano offers better handling prowess. Traction control and electronic stability control come standard on the Highlander to help keep you on your intended path in slippery conditions or if you enter a corner too fast. Just always remember to look and steer where you want to go.

The brakes feel a bit soft but provide fine stopping power thanks to Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist.

The all-wheel-drive system in the gas models provides a full-time 50/50 front/rear torque split. In Hybrid models, the AWD system is front-drive biased, but when it detects slippage, the rear-mounted electric motor can kick in to deliver up to 25 percent of the available power to the rear wheels. Both systems will help you get the kids to school on snowy days.

The 3.5-liter V6 propels the Highlander front-drive models from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds and all-wheel-drive models in 7.8 seconds. A manual shift gate also allows choosing a lower gear for more immediate power delivery. From inside the cabin, the V6 can barely be heard, emitting only a refined growl under hard acceleration.

The Hybrid's powertrain is called Hybrid Synergy Drive, and it mates a 3.3-liter V6 with three electric motors for a total of 270 horsepower. The transmission is a continuously variable automatic that constantly adjusts gearing ratios instead of changing gears.

The Hybrid version feels a bit more responsive off the line, but in reality it isn't as quick as the standard versions, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. Driving the Hybrid is different than driving a standard V6 model. You start to notice those differences when you turn the key and nothing happens. Rest assured, it's ready and operational. The gas engine just doesn't start until it's needed. The gas engine shuts off at stoplights but starts again as soon as you step on the accelerator. Under the right conditions (full battery charge and proper coolant temperature), you can press the EV button and drive the Hybrid up to two miles at less than 25 mph on electric power only. That can be a big benefit in stop-and-go traffic. The Highlander Hybrid is the first Toyota hybrid to offer an EV button in the United States. Hybrid models also have an ECON button that reduces throttle response to improve fuel economy. The continuously variable transmission feels natural. It has a standard drive mode, which allows the Hybrid to freewheel down hills, as well as a B mode, which uses engine compression to slow the vehicle when the driver's foot is off the throttle. B mode helps recharge the battery pack. The Hybrid powertrain is a little rougher than the standard V6 but is still quite refined.

In all models, wind noise is well-checked, and the only notable interior noise is some tire hum on rough pavement.

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