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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota Highlander Hybrid MPG-Real World Numbers
417 messages, Last post on Oct 16, 2009 at 11:34 AM
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Replying to: stevedebi (Jul 02, 2007 12:54 pm) Many of the gas saving techniques are practiced as much as possible. I'm under the belief that "conservative" driving should be all that is needed to attain "near" EPA specs. Please don't be offended, but anything more then that, seems to me, like needing to jump through hoops. I'd rather just relax and drive.
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2007 HH Limited 4WDi. Took delivery on March 17, 2007. Currently at 15,600 miles. Have been getting 25-26 MPG. Nearly all miles are in the left lane on I-95 between Washington DC and Richmond at 80 MPH. No issues, love the car.
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Replying to: abeer (Jul 02, 2007 4:02 pm) That is most likely your problem. Hybrids are very sensitive to short trips - the engine has to warm up the catalytic converter, and thus it runs all the time. For longer trips the hybrid components have more effect. |
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Replying to: rodonnell (Jul 09, 2007 11:58 am) I owned a 2003 Honda CR-V; 26 MPG  80 MPH is exactly what I always registered. I think the hybrid is not as useful at highway speeds...
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Replying to: stevedebi (Jul 10, 2007 10:54 am) The 2007 HH is a mid-size V6 SUV that weighs 4200+ lbs. It has emission rating of SULEV II or EPA grades or 7,9 (higher is better). It can haul 3500-lbs. For the speedster-owners, it can accelerate like a bat out of <censored>. Yet, this owner can get 26-MPG. The Honda CRV is a small SUV using a 4-cyclinder small engine. The 2007 version scored a 6,7 respectively from EPA. Not bad for the CRV but still 1,2 points less than the HH, a gas-electric vehicle in a larger class. So in terms of ability to do more work, carry more load, cargo volume, MPG and emission, the gas-electric is still a better engine choice. As for hybrids being not as useful at highway speeds, that is not always true. I see this generalized claim a lot but no one has stated clearly what is considered useful in contrast? Even in the first generation HH, the V6 2006 HH, the battery turns ON to assist in keeping our HH cruising along at 65-MPH. When it does that, the mileage (intermediate) shoots up anywhere from 35-45 MPG. If there is a head wind, it may drop to 30-MPG. If there is a tail wind, it will reach 45-MPG easily. This is most apparent whenever we drive the flat stretch of HWY 101 south of San Jose all the way to San Juan Bautista, about 30+ miles. If I only commute on that stretch everyday, I am sure to easily get 30-MPG average on our HH. To be more specific, I can drive at speed limit from San Jose to Watsonville via 85->101->129 and back and get an intermediate MPG of 26. If I am the only person in the car, no gear and I drive 60 on 85+101 and 55 on 129, then I have been able to get 27+ MPG. As of today, July 2007  , there is NO OTHER V6 SUV in the mid-size class, with the same engine performance characteristics, that can match that MPG number, have the same emission rating, driving those very same freeways. With the 2008 HH coming this fall, the ECON mode gets the MPG up to 28-MPG. I will love to see FORD, GM, Mercedes, BMW, Hyundai or whoever put out a car in that same class, with the same performance, getting the same 28-MPG and the same SULEV II rating. Gas-Electric is just one engine choice, like diesel, diesel-electric, gas or biodiesel. They each have advantages and disadvantages. For a car as big as the HH, until someone can point to a specific example, citing specific test results, the only cleaner and more efficient engine choice currently in production is gas-electric.
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I have owned my 2007 HH since March and am compelled to write now since the last post reflects where I live. I love the car and am happy with most everything, but I must say, my mileage is 21-22, no matter what. Hwy or city, a/c or not, trying to "feather" or not, I am stuck at around 22. I wonder how everyone is doing better. I should mention that mine is 4WD so maybe that makes a difference. Any comments/thoughts would be appreciated.
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Greetings all: I've had my 2007 HH FWD Limited w/Nav for a bit over 3 months now. My average MPG over that time has been just a bit over 28mpg. Mostly rural/highway driving w/maybe 10% city traffic (Charlottesville, VA). My best mpg was 29.8 and my worst has been 26.1. I calculate manually as the onboard cpu seems a bit generous in its numbers. I attribute that 26.1mpg to being a bit aggressive with the go pedal too frequently. The 29.8 mpg figure was when I first got the car and was driving very conservatively and not using the AC. Not sure why the AC would affect mpg as it runs off the batteries but maybe the ICE must run more frequently to keep the Batteries up due to AC use. Not sure why some of the other HH owners are stuck in the low 20's - maybe its the fuel formula that is used in different regions of the country for environmental reasons. All in all, I am quite pleased with my HH. Very comfortable and quiet, impressive fit/finish and great mpg for such a good-sized vehicle. The 2008 model has a few features I like but I am guessing the price will be at least 40K for a similarly equipped 2007 HH. BTW, I changed the oil in the HH last week. A very easy task as long as you have a cup-type oil filter wrench that fits over the end of the filter. There is even a little drain pan right under the filter! This allows the runoff to drain right into the drain pan I placed under the car and not all over the engine or nearby components. No muss, no fuss - the cleanest oil change I've done yet. Regards - M. J. McCloskey |
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Replying to: cdptrap (Jul 10, 2007 11:40 am) If you will check the interior dimensions for the Gen 2 CR-V, I think you will find them comparable to the (pre 2008) HH. Granted, you don't want to tow with a CR-V (max 1500 lbs). However, that CR-V is available at a far lower actual out-the-door cost than the HH. And the Honda has a simpler engine / drivetrain - it will still be going strong in 10 years, no concerns about the traction battery or electrical motors. To each his own, of course. As you note, they are different breeds. However, (as I note), for my comparison of Gen 2 vs pre-2008 HH, for basic transportation and capacities they perform a similar function. |
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Replying to: jaredjo (Jul 10, 2007 1:23 pm) . My comments are based on the '06 HH, you will have to examine if it applies to the '07. I would suggest the following: 1. Check tire pressure. I learned from other owners here that higher (within safety limits) air pressure helps. In our case, we use one that can take up to 44-psi, so we pump it up to 37 psi cold instead of the recommended 32 psi. 2. Break-in. We babied our HH for the first 6 months and tried to drive extra gently to "save" gas. We got no better than 22 MPG for the first 2500+ miles. A tad better, I think 24 for the next 2500 miles. Finally popped up to 26 with a glimpse of 27 at the 5000-mile service. I have never really believed in long break-in but this car takes forever to break in. We could not get consistent 27-28 in normal bay area driving until we got past the first 20,000 miles. Ouch! 3. In the '06 version, there was a problem with the ISL - Idle Speed Learning procedure. If the little auxiliary (not the traction battery) is disconnected or runs down below 12V, the drive engine will lose its parameters for keeping the car running at tip-top shape. Toyota bulletin says the car will have lower mileage and louder gear clanking, gas engine will run much longer than normal. The dealership can check this for you to see if it has been set correctly. I would start with the above 3 and see if they help. The rest is just driving techniques and car breaking in. I did not want this car at first. I like its emission rating but it was expensive, first-gen, and seemed wimpy on range roads to me. My wife wanted it and that was that . You can imagine my irritation level that first 5000 miles. 22-MPG? 24-MPG? What a waste of good cash! Not now though. If you happen to be in the same region as I, we can trade driving experience along same stretch of freeway.
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Thanks cdptrap. I will try the tire pressure thing. I already have almost 3000 miles, so I'm not so optimistic about the breaking in period, but I hope you're right! I haven't been back to the dealer yet, so I will certainly get their input when I go. I live in the Oakland Bay Area so there are some hills, some highway, lots of city. Really a little of everything. But I'm still at 22. 
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