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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota Highlander Hybrid Driving Tips & Tricks
428 messages, Last post on Oct 16, 2009 at 6:44 PM
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Replying to: wvgasguy (Jan 09, 2007 6:11 am) The 2004 Prius had the problem of the TC causing the car to shut down in slippery conditions, but I was not aware that the Camry Hybrid had that issue. I think that the Prius got an update to allow the TC to be shut down. If you are using the vehicle for business, get a regular 4X4 SUV. The expenses are deductible anyway, and the vehicle will always function off road.
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Replying to: stevedebi (Jan 09, 2007 12:15 pm) It is important to clarify this statement. It all depends on the definition of "Off-road". It could mean a simple unpaved gravel road or the Rubicon. The HH is not meant for the Rubicon, but it can certainly handle a gravel road or a patch of dirt. There are backcountry dirt trails in Death Valley that cars and vans can handle and then some that require higher clearance vehicles but not 4x4 and then some that require a true 4x4. The HH can handle everything that cars and vans can handle. The HH has enough clearance to handle the other non-4x4 dirt tracks. When the condition requires locking the axles and 4Lo, then the HH is way out of its league. As a specific example, if you have been to Johnson's canyon in Death Valley, you will know of the nasty wash-board that leads to a "wash" via which one can approach the canyon mouth. I have driven a Ford Escort to the mouth of the wash and then backpacked on foot to the mouth of the canyon. Only a true 4x4 can make it through the wash to the mouth of the canyon. If the Escort can handle the wash-board to at least the wash, the HH can. That is about as close to off-road most SUVers will get. Another example is that if you are in CA SF Bay Area and you want to drive the Hollister Hills 4x4 course, then the HH is the wrong car. When we drive our HH onto trails and dirt tracks, we *never* assume it is a 4x4. Even the 4WD capabilities is limited. We just assume the car is a FWD and drive accordingly. So when we come upon places that looks like real 4x4 "country", we avoid them or turn-around.
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Replying to: cdptrap (Jan 09, 2007 4:46 pm) The HH AWD is intended for very limited use. A non hybrid AWD will not cease engaging the rear wheels after a short time, because they are mechanical drives, rather than electric motors. So yes, if you keep to roads that a FWD can handle, the HH is OK. However, the original post was talking about going into fields and such, where the earth would be wet and the wheels would spin.
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Replying to: stevedebi (Jan 11, 2007 10:24 am) Test: My sister's driveway, with an estimated 20 degree slope, was recently completely ice covered. I drove up from the level public road. I then tested the traction control. One front tire would spin; then the traction control would shift the power to the other front tire and back and forth. This continued until I tired of doing this testing after about one minute. I had on the factory supplied M+S tires. If I had on snow only tires, I might had been able to drive up this driveway. These snow tires grip much better. When I stopped this testing, as this driveway was so icy then, the HH slowly slid backwards down the driveway. I had similar experiences when driving away from ice/snow covered roads at stop signs and stop lights here in Minnesota. I can easily accelerate from ice covered roads at stop lights and signs. This is due to the nice traction control in the Toyota HH FWD. When I had a 1998 Chevy Blazer LS, with 4x4, and no limited slip rear differential, in these conditions, a back tire would spin and spin. In the Chevy Blazer, I let off the accelerator, put the Blazer in 4 wheel drive high, and accelerate from the stop sign or stop light. When stopping at these stop lights and signs, the ABS would also automatically engage on the Blazer. The ABS also works in a similar way on the Toyota HH at this stop lights and signs. End |
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Test date: January 17, 2006 Location: Parking lot just east of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA Vehicle: 2006 Toyota Hybrid Highlander with 22, 500 miles, front wheel drive only I was able to "test the Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicle dynamic integrated management (VDIM) on Wednesday evening, January 17 at an ice and snow covered, unused parking lot just east of the Mall of America. There were even the orange cones in the lot. I think these cones are used when parking new cars in these lots. VDIM worked fine at 15 to 20 MPH with a few inches of snow on a paved lot. I had the standard Toyota M+S tires with 22,500 miles. When VDIM is working, the traction control light comes on along with a ding ding ding sound. Steering became difficult during one steering maneuver around the orange cones. This is a known feature of VDIM. I do not know how VDIM compares to the VSC or the vehicle stability control found in Toyota Highlanders. Next step: As the lakes are finally frozen thick enough this winter to support cars and there is only a few inches of snow on the lakes (it has been unusually warm in Minnesota this year), I may try a higher speed test on a nearby shallow lake. I would like to feel how the VDIM works at 50 MPH. I accidentally rolled and totaled a 1998 Chevy Blazer on Minnesota state highway 61 near Schroeder, Minnesota on Sunday, November 26, 2006 (at highway 61 mile marker 72 just across from Satellite Inn & Cabins to be exact). I really want to know how this Toyota HH would handle in similar conditions. End
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Replying to: sebemismnusa (Jan 18, 2007 9:55 am)  . This is exciting! The hard steering is normal VDIM behavior. It will try to favor one side over the other by making it hard to steer. This is most obvious on highway when I want to change lane and accelerate at the same time. If I simply turn hard (to LEFT) and press down the accelerator, nothing happens, the VSC (or VDIM) will hold off power until the steering angle is much less. The steering also becomes very heavy to the side that has the potential to cause a roll-over. Steering is easy and power returns quickly when I steer the other way (to the RIGHT) down the lane. So, unlike gas-engine car, I have to press down gentler but continuously if I want to switch lane and take off. It is a nice safety feature once I got used to it. The car has so much power, gentler accelerator work still gets it moving real quick. Are you bringing along the shed, stove, drill, reel and rod ????
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Replying to: cdptrap (Mar 15, 2006 6:12 pm)
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Replying to: pnrjr (Mar 27, 2007 4:41 pm) Proper credit must go to "Gazguzler" who first posted the "needle in the stripes region" technique here. The word "Feather" was coined by Khdspyder who posted the technique here too. I simply took all that and put them into an organized note. Should have given them due credit in that note. |
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Hello fellow HH owners: We are about to pick up a new Highlander Hybrid LImited 4wd-i vehicle. We've browes the various CarSpace forums for hints on how to drive/maintain the vehicle. Does anyone out there have some do's and don'ts for the first few hundred miles? If so, you might want to reply directly to our e-mail address to get info to us ASAP: mallardcove  earthlink.net. Thanks in advance. We are excited about this car! Don and Linda |
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| We currently have a Subaru Outback and use it for skiing and snow conditions. We are looking at purchasing a toyota highland hybid and need to know if anyone has experienced how the car handles in bad weather, snow and ice conditions. And especially how it compares to the superior handling of the Subaru. | |
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