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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
You are in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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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Replying to: jaredjo (Jul 17, 2007 7:45 pm) That area is very hilly, with a lot of small streets and gerzillion street lights. Too many street lights close to each other makes it tough. If there is no traffic, we can use electric to move from light to light, if there is traffic, I have to get rolling and the gas engines kicks in but then I can coast earlier too as the car coasts well. One trick I have used whenever I am the first car or if there is no traffic, I would quickly pick up speed from stop to 25 or 30 and let it coast to the next light. This is possible for most of the lights in that area. Some half-block ones are impossible so I do not bother. The quick start burns little gas and the coast recharge the car batteries so it can be used later to cruise on electric-only in slow traffic or from light to light. I do this a lot in Oakland Chinatown area (dim sum runs ). Another trick is to get up to speed and depending on traffic condition, gently press down on the accelerator so the needle stays near the top of but inside the zebra region ('06 version). This either kicks in the electric-power only to keep the momentum going or even if the gas engine kicks in, it runs at low RPM and uses less gas. I notice the HH seems most efficient at around 30-MPH when cllimbing a hill. On-board MPG read-out often returns 10+ MPG at this speed even up some rather steep hill. I do not lose much at the final tank computation. You can see if this is possible in the hills you have to negotiate. If possible, use of momentum helps too. Another owner who posted here shared this trick last year. As you head downhill to a dip before the next hill, use the accelerator to maintain or increase momemtum safely downhill as you enter the dip and as you climb, give it a little more power and then ease off and reduce power as the car reaches the peak for another downhill run. The goal here is not to maintain a set speed to the top but use no more power than absolutely necessary to reach the peak for the next downhill. Of course, the car will slow as it climbs and approaches the peak while you reduce power. You will have to decide how slow before it becomes unsafe or impractical. You may have to do this a few times to learn to time the easing off process just right. Too slow, you will end up having to step on it half way up to give more power, this will burn more gas. Too fast, and the car will rocket to the top in a blink , so it will take some practice. Each hill is also different so it will take a few runs to get the hang of it for each hill. It usually takes me 5 to 7 runs to get the right feel. Same trick for when you start from a stop to climb up a hill. Gauge the climb and power needed and traffic condition so you can give it a go and then ease off as it slowly nears the peak. On some hills, the climb is so steep, all bets are off, so I just move at a reasonable speed to climb. The quick start works well if you are the lead car because the HH will move off real quick and reach posted speed half way up while the other cars are still laboring up the hill. By the time you slow enough at the peak, they will barely be catching up, then it is all downhill again at safe posted speed. So you can save some gas and not block traffic. All these of course assumes safe speed only, either below speed limit or at posted speed. Sorry it is long winded but hopefully, these are tricks that can help you a bit. It actually is impressive you can get 22 MPG on the HH in that area. As it breaks in more, may be 5000+ or 7500+, you may start seeing 24-MPG on occassion. Given that terrain, it will be interesting to see if it can ever get 26-MPG. I may be going up into Montclair again next week, will see what mileage I can get. |
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2006 AWD HiHy 13,700 miles 95% highway Now consistently getting more than 30 MPG for the last 2 months. I noticed that in some city trips I can get as high as 40+ MPG. I am very happy, it is much better than the mileage of my previous 2000 and 2005 Hyundai Elantra's. Mark |
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Hello, I have a new 2007 hybrid 6 cyl 2WD which has close to 5000 mi and it is very annoying to have the car shake/jolt when the gas engine engages or disengages!! If i come to a full stop in traffic the car shakes when the engine goes off...as if the car behind you bumped into you!! And as bad... when I take off slow... it jolts again as the gas engine kicks in?? In taking off it feels as a transmission jumping into gear would. Now I believe this has to be the gas engine, but not really sure? Is this something that is normal for toyota hybrids?? I do not remember the test ride SUV riding like that or I would not have bought one. .... thanks for any help or thoughts, especially if others have seen this. |
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If you are a long-term hybrid owner, our Senior Editor, John O'Dell, would love to hear from you! A short email with your maintenance experiences and concerns would be great. Please send to John at jodell edmunds.com by close of business Wednesday, August 22, 2007. Be sure and include your Forums username.
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jun 12, 2006 5:18 pm) Thank-you.
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