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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota Highlander Hybrid
3943 messages, Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 9:19 AM
You are in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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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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In HH you are not only getting vehicle safety control (VSC) which is partof Toyota's Star Safety System and in all their SUV's but you also get the benefit of VDIM. Besides the standard braking system, VDIM usesboth electric engines to stop the vehicle, normal braking pressure is not applied until HH is traveling at under 7 mph. That's why the brakes never need to be changed, how can anything wear out when they are not even used until the automoble is almost stopped. The HH's VDIM, together with the VSC and curtain side airbgs, etc. truly make Toyota's HH the safest SUV on the road.
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Replying to: lynnkushnir (May 28, 2008 9:00 pm) I think you may have meant to say "safest HYBRID SUV" (many ICE-only SUVs have these features), but even there I don't think this is necessarily correct. These features (although not with these names) are on the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. The FEH has the airbags and the Ford RSC system. The eCVT uses deceleration via the transmission instead of brakes for normal braking. The 2009 model has a software controlled "braking" action that makes the brakes feel like "normal" brakes, but it does not affect the actual operation. And while speaking of "inclement weather" stopping, Ford holds the patents on hybrid systems being able to use ABS in the winter time. The regenerative braking is interrupted when ABS is needed. I'm not sure if this is one of the patents that Toyota cross-licensed from Ford. I think you will find that under "fast stop" conditions the HH will use the brakes in conjunction with (or perhaps rather than) the VDIM system. Also, I doubt that Toyota claims that the brakes never need to be replaced. IMHO, choosing between the HH and FEH is a matter of desired size (FEH is smaller), cargo space (HH is higher - goes with the larger size), desired MPG (FEH is higher), price (FEH is less expensive), AWD systems (the FEH has a more robust AWD), acceleration (HH has a V6, FEH has an I4), and the most important item - personal preference as to which vehicle drives the way YOU like. Also, I think that the HH has more available options. It is really a matter of personal choice and desires, as well as the fundamental difference between Ford and Toyota engineering - the vehicles drive differently.
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Does Toyota, the people who designed the Highlander Hybrid, or others offer tips on reasonable, safe, and legal methods to improve the gas mileage in Highlander Hybrids, methods that also do not void the warranty (or extended warranty)? What I have: 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with front wheel drive (no EV mode to my knowledge); I purchased and plugged in a Scangauge II for additional information last year. I also realize there are many articles on improving driving habits to improve gas mileage, many of which I am doing and work quite well. Are there any tips that might apply to Highlander Hybrids or similar vehicles that may not apply to other vehicles? What else may I do? Are there any after market modifications that may help, for example a higher flow exhaust system? I have not found any catback systems for Highlanders. Would any catback system work or could this make the MPG worse? While I already have a K&N "oiled" cotton filter, I purchased this as I like to clean the air filter every other oil change. I will switch to synthetic oil during the next oil change (ex. maybe 0-30W or 5-30W). I am looking for what I consider "reasonable" methods and tips. I am aware of "hypermilers techniques to overinflate tires (sorry, I keep my tires consistently inflated to what is listed on the door ), consideration to closely tailgate large trucks (I prefer to see the side mirrors on large trucks so the driver can SEE my vehicle). I do drive slower, when possible. MPG is more important than average speed. A little knowledge about how the propulsion system works in Highlander Hybrids work may also be useful (ex. what could be the ideal throttle position setting and ideal engine RPMs for acclerating under various conditions). I am also watching the instanteous mileage display to try to determine this. I also need to watch for other traffic, bicyclists and pedistrians. Yes, riding my bicycle yields the best MPG  End |
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Replying to: stevedebi (May 29, 2008 8:16 am) FEH/MMH does not yet have an equivalent system to VSC, only something called rollover protection. I fully expect I will be buying an MMH as soon as a VSC equivalent system becomes available. I will immediately convert the MMH to only RWD by removing a front halfshaft and applying a constant voltage to the rear drive clutch. Will probably have to modify the OAT sensor so the MMH will continue to use full regenerative braking during the wintertime. With RWD the safety hazards of front regenerative braking will not be present.
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Replying to: lynnkushnir (May 28, 2008 9:00 pm) On a Toyota 2006 Highlander Hybrid, I tested the VDIM/VSC many times in several snow covered, unplowed, large parking lots. This is easy for me to do during Minnesota winters. VDIM/VSC works great in the Toyota Highlander, especially in comparison to my previous SUV. My previous SUV had anti-lock brakes, but no VSC. I tried to spin out the Highlander many times, safely in snow covered parking lots. The VDIM kicked many times, including the beep-beep-beep traction control warning light. As I read, the steering wheel can be come increasingly difficult to turn. I believe this helps to prevent over steering. In my near fatal accident, I over steered. On a two lane road (straight, but had quickly became icy), I steered out of the other lane, over steering and going off the road (down a steep grade, rolling over and spinning around 180 degrees). With VDIM, I believe I would had remained on the road. In any situation, looking where you want to drive, rotating your head is preferred. This is in contrast to what I did, look through the front windshield that moved back and forth as the SUV skidded around. End
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