Review: Highlander Hybrid showcases best of what Toyota offers
What is a halo car? It is a vehicle that is the culmination of everything a brand stands for. If it is a performance brand, then the halo car is a supercar, like the Ford GT or Chevrolet Corvette. But what if your brand’s reputation is for efficiency, ergonomics, pragmatism, and price? If you baked all those inputs into the same halo car equation, the 2016 Highlander Hybrid would represent Toyota.
The Highlander Hybrid features exterior styling that is surprisingly muscular. It is evident the automakers are attempting to project more rugged body-on-frame SUVs onto this segment. But for everyday use, the Highlander is orders of magnitude more useful than the hulking 4x4s.
The Highlander Hybrid is also more efficient than most SUVs thanks to a powertrain that combines a 3.5-liter V6 with a continuously variable transmission, a battery pack, and a trio of electric motors, one at the front and two at the rear. It delivers 280 horsepower to this unique AWD system that blends gas and electric power for efficiency and all-weather capability.
EPA estimated fuel economy for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is 27 mpg city, 28 highway. In city-heavy driving, we observed fuel economy of about 26.7 mpg.
Don’t let the “hybrid’’ in the name fool you; this three-row SUV delivers some surprising acceleration. When you press the accelerator, you don’t hear much at first, but you feel the electric power kick in. Electric motors have 100 percent torque at zero rpm, which means that at any speed the motors can provide solid pick-up. After a brief moment, you’ll hear the gas engine engage, as the Highlander makes a brisk transition to highway speeds.
For all the hybrid gadgetry going on under the hood, just as much praise can be given for how well thought out the cabin is for families. There are multiple cupholders, cubbies, and storage options for just about any bag, thermos, or mobile device. In front, there’s a very useful ledge in the dash where drivers can store phone, wallet, keys, all separated by small dividers.
The Highlander Hybrid has seating for seven, with second row captains chairs, and a three-passenger third row. The seats can be folded easily for access to the third row, and kids can pass from the second to third rows using the decently sized corridor between the second row seats. With all seats folded, the Highlander Hybrid has more than 80 cubic feet of cargo space, accessed via a remotely operated power open-close tailgate.
VOLUMES OF VERSATILITY: The Highlander cabin features cubbies, bins, and all manner of storage for everyday life.
Trims for the Highlander Hybrid are Limited and Limited Platinum. The Limited comes loaded with standard features such as leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, JBL premium stereo system, and navigation system. Available features on this model include rear seat Blu-Ray entertainment system, and a Driver Technology Package that includes pre-collision alert, dynamic cruise control, and automatic high beams.
The Limited Platinum comes as well equipped as any SUV from a luxury brand. Its long list of standard features includes heated second row seats, heated steering wheel, panoramic moonroof, and items that are optional on the lesser model, among them automatic high beams, pre-collision system, lane departure warning, and dynamic radar cruise control.
Every trim comes with a center storage area, which is an absolute quantum leap in ergonomics. Rather than a flip-up top, which puts the driver’s arm at an awkward angle when lifted and is not easily accessible to rear passengers, this unit has a retracting lid. Almost like a sunroof, it retracts into the back of the center console, so that there is no obstruction. There is a second, smaller lid that retracts forward, and the bin itself is massive, broken up with a movable mid-level tray.
The Highlander does not possess the best turning radius, but it is competitive among large SUVs and is helped by a backup camera and parking aids. The rear cross traffic system also watches for oncoming cars as you are backing out of a driveway.
According to NHTSA, the Highlander Hybrid earns five-star overall safety ratings, and a crash test score of good from the IIHS for moderate overlap frontal offset, side impact, and roof strength tests.
Base MSRP for the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is $47,870 for the Limited model. The Limited Platinum comes in at $50,485. Our test model was $51,385.
I never thought I would dedicate so much copy to center consoles and ledges for wallets and keys, but the attention paid here perfectly sums up Toyota in 2016. The automaker is not known for performance chops, but it is willing to put Manhattan Project-level resources into rethinking a storage bin. Paired to decades of hybrid know-how, the 2016 Highlander Hybrid is the culmination of all that Toyota has achieved in cabin ergonomics and powertrain efficiency.
[You can find local deals on Toyota here.]
2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
THE BASICS
Price: $47,870; as tested: $51,385. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 27/28. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 26.7 mpg. Drivetrain: 3.5L V6, CVT, all-wheel drive. Body: Three-row SUV.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 280. Overall length: 191.1 in. Wheelbase 109.8 in. Height: 68.1 in. Width: 75.8 in. Curb weight: 4,861 lbs.
THE GOOD
Lots of cargo space, impressive rear seat room, more storage options than we can count.
THE BAD
Wide turning radius, V6 noisy when it kicks in.
THE BOTTOM LINE
One of the most comfortable—and versatile—family vehicles on the market.
ALSO CONSIDER
Lexus RX Hybrid, Volvo XC90
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