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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota Highlander Hybrid
3943 messages, Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 9:19 AM
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Replying to: tld (May 22, 2008 9:42 am) The 2008 HSD is identical to the 2006 HSD mechanically. Software likely changed due to the EV mode and other modification for better mileage. So I will assume our experience in our '06 HH will apply for the '08. For "off-road", you have to define "off-road". I wrote a long post way back on this so will keep it short here. The HH, like many other SUV, is an on-demand AWD vehicle, not a true 4x4. The HH kicks in the rear wheels ONLY when power is needed or traction is needed. So a front-drive on-demand AWD vehicle is really a simple front-two-wheel-drive most of the time. The rear kicks in only when needed, as determined by the on-board drive computer. A true 4x4 allows me to lock the axle so that all four wheels will get power ALL the time regardless of whether it is necessary. This gives a whole ton more flexibility in all sorts of challenging terrain. HH is not in this league. On-demand AWD vehicles are NOT suitable for boulder-crawling. 4x4 with locking diff and Lo is, within reason. On-demand AWD high clearance vehicle can handle any dirt road that a normal two-wheel drive vehicle can handle. On-demand AWD high clearance vehicle can handle some challenging dirt road that a normal two-wheel drive sedan and van cannot handle. The key is common sense and safety-first. If you come upon a stretch of forest service dirt road that looks like you will get stuck, trust your instinct and back off. If you ever feel like you need to lock the differential and shift to Lo but you are in the HH, it is time to back off. Our HH has handled many dirt roads now. We have hit many that are poorly maintained but nothing that requires a real 4x4 and Lo gear. Its high clearance lets me go where I have to go for work and for camping. Its AWD capabilities helps maintain stability over some muddy slipper patches. We have not encountered a forest service dirt road (in CA), in dry weather, we cannot conquer yet. We also have no direct experience with hard sheet-ice. We have driven over about 6 to 8-inch deep slush and loose thin icy chunks without problems. 2 to 4-inch (?) packed based with loose fresh snow on top without problems. Uphill w/o ice was not a problem, neither was downhill. On slick surface due to rain and fallen debris, the safety system kicks in and AWD lets us maintain control. Again, we have not encountered a big layer of ice yet, no help there. There were two posters reporting that on icy steep slope up their driveways, the car actually would stop spinning the tires resulting in their HH slowly sliding backwards. One let it slid to the bottom of the hill, gunned the engine and got back to the top. Another advised installing dedicated snow tires. Many of us are using the Nokkian SUV WR for winter driving. It is an All-Season tire with the "Severe Service" emblem. Hope this is useful.
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Greetings All, The HiHy made it back on my list recently with fuel prices topping $4. I am within a year of purchasing a new vehicle and I need some information from owners. Two main concerns I have with buying this vehicle right now - first, settling on an acceptable price. This in a vehicle that already comes at a premium, but it is of MUCH greater concern to me now with gasoline prices doing what they are. Secondly, I have heard some nightmare rumors over routine maintanance items ($1000 brake jobs on the Prius) and such that would essentially KILL whatever meager savings might be accumulated month to month. I have basically calculated that this vehicle would save me about $720 (optimistic prediction) per year over the competitor. Not sure if this is for me or not. Can any owners tell us a little about your routine mantainance - brakes and such? -TG
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Replying to: tourguide (May 24, 2008 10:02 pm)  . Standard maintenance is no different than any other car. We do the normal oil, filters and tire rotation. Additional work is on topping off the hybrid coolant and check the 12V and that is it. After 40K miles, we still have over 3/4 of the brake pads left. You can do all this yourself just like any other car. Toyota hybrids use regenerative braking to recharge batteries so it uses the mechanical brakes much less than normal cars. The brakes should last longer and it seems to be proving out on our HH. If these brake pads last 100K miles, $1000 for replacement is acceptable. Our '94 Sienna brake pads are still the original set and that car has 105K miles. May be it is because we do not do "jack rabbit" start and stop. Please note that while the HH is expensive, the price includes the "luxury class" safety system called VDIM. Only Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Lexus and Acura offer something similar. So the "premium" in the pricing is paying for the HSD, SULEV II rating, the VDIM safety system and more "luxurious" appointments in the car, not just for gas savings. It is almost impossible to compare the HH to the standard Highlander by just the HSD alone. As you figure in gas savings, don't forget the extras. Think of it as an entry-level Lexus car without the Lexus price. Have fun!
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Replying to: tld (May 22, 2008 9:42 am) I think the mistake some drivers make with the VDIM system is trying to give it more "gas" when they run into a problem. If the system detects wheel spin, it applies the brake to that wheel. If all of the wheels are spinning, it cuts the power. Simply backing off the throttle a little to allow the tires to regain traction will usually get you through. |
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Replying to: cdptrap (May 25, 2008 11:14 am) Cargo space is also a compromise but that is a bit down the list for me since we get along OK with the current Hi. Thanks for your response. How has your 06 been for reliability? Is it typical toyota?
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Replying to: tourguide (May 25, 2008 7:59 pm) 50K is too much? I read a few posts here of prices around 40 to 42? I may be wrong on info. My two biggest gripes were smallish trunk (on the 06 model) and lousy tires. The trunk, even with 3rd row folded, was just a tad small. If we could do away with the intruding wheel wells and third row hand-rests, it would help a lot. I have learned to live with it. Ours came with cheap single-ply side wall van tires. This on a 2+ ton SUV? We ended up changing them after losing one to side wall cut. A minor gripe is front seat leg and head room. I am a larger 6-ft male and it took a while to find a good comfortable position for long distance driving. Now that I have worked out a position, it is comfortable. Very good lateral support for a Toyota. May be the 08 has more front seat room. I thought the 08 has back-up camera? Is that similar or same as sonar+camera? Reliability has been excellent. At 40K, not one single problem and only normal maintenance. With good tires, the car runs smooth, relatively quiet and feels glued to the road. It takes turns with solid stability. Steering response is quiet good though not nimble like a BMW. The VDIM is nice. I used to enjoy the cushy cruiser-like ride of our Sienna on long trips but its imprecise control makes high speed driving (70-75 on I5 in CA) a bit tiring. The HH's better control (with good tires) make hi-speed long distance driving easy. The ample power and handling also makes mountains and winding road easy. Overall, a much less fatiguing car to drive than our van. Your preference may be different of course. Good luck with the research!
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Replying to: cdptrap (May 26, 2008 12:41 am) MSRP on these things is getting close to $50K optioned the way I want. The two deal breakers will be #1) price, and #2) getting one without the sunroof (toyota makes this kind of thing notoriously difficult - but we shall see). Going back to price, if I can come in at close to $45 out the door, AND I can get one the way I want sans the sunroof I'll pull the trigger. I am pretty pessimistic right now about the stars aligning and everything working out. Makes it difficult when you can't cross shop the dealers. On an order this is difficult to impossible. |
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Replying to: cdptrap (May 22, 2008 11:06 am) Good overall summary, but you left out one critical item. Most AWD systems use a mechanical transfer case that shifts power to the rear wheels as needed. The HH uses separate electric motors for the rear wheels. This means that if those motors are used continuously, they will overheat and shut down until they cool. Thus they are suitable for most situations when one needs to activate the rear wheels, but not for continuous situations. From what I have read this seldom happens, and the key (as with any car) is to know the limitations, strengths, and weaknesses - every system has it's strong and weak points. If you want a hybrid SUV with a mechanical AWD, the Ford Escape is available, though it is not quite as large as the HH.
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Replying to: stevedebi (May 27, 2008 11:55 am) So far, we have not had problems with it as the drive computer seems to knows when to use it and when not to use it.
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Replying to: cdptrap (May 28, 2008 8:33 am) Oh, I think the HH is fine for basic AWD uses. There is one forum member who uses it on a farm IIRC. I myself have the FEH AWD. I have the FEH because the HH has an I6 and the FEH has an I4, plus the expense of the HH  . I have AWD because that was the only one on the lot that had the exact options I wanted. I would have preferred the FWD for better mileage (FWD = 34/30, AWD = 29/27). I have 1500 miles on my FEH, and so far am averaging just under 30 MPG. |
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