2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid - Drive Time Review

Drive Time review of the 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited by auto critic Steve Hammes

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 2011
• Toyota
• Highlander
• Hybrid
• Limited
• SUV
• crossover
• 7-passenger
• gasoline
• electric
• Drive
• time
• review
• Steve
• Hammes

[LeadHammer]

Toyota clearly states that RX400h and the Highlander Hybrid are not intended for off-road use. Therefore, a Sienna makes a helluva more sense for hauling 7 people and lotsa stuff. Make it Sienna AWD for snowy mountain roads. Hybrid crossovers are just a marketing fluke. What, the Sienna is not hybrid? Right, THIS IS what Toyota should be working at - a hybrid minivan.

[stevehammes]

@LeadHammer Not a bad idea. 

[droppinsumfudge]

@miami428 but those cars have nothing to do with each other... thats like saying "at that price range, i would rather buy a bmw 3 series"... why would anyone who buys this car want to go off roading?? are you forgetting that toyota makes a 4runner?

[Toyota4Life]

BEST IN CLASS. Looks great also

[tinleo333]

@LeadHammer some suv can carry 5 peoples and others 9 but a ford escape or an expedition amall or big they are suv

same for the minivans or mini van

[LeadHammer]

@tinleo333 The Prius V is a wagon. To me, a minivan must have three rows and seat 7 to 9 people. Hence the American 6-seater Mazda5 is not a minivan in my book; the European version seats 7. I will see what Ford will offer in 2012, if it also is a 6-seater then I will pass it by just like the Mazda5.

I think that packaging a battery in a full-size minivan will be easier than in a Mazda5-sized car.

[tinleo333]

@LeadHammer soon wait

the prius v is a short wheel base minivan

[Charles2337]

I like it.

[thomasp1717]

@LeadHammer ford is introducing a plug in hybrid van in 2012

[crimsoninred]

Theres always a base model. This looks very substantial. Il get one. So it can be used on long rigorous trips.

[76carmel]

@LeadHammer

I think the only reason a Sienna with Synergy Drive (a.k.a. Toyota's Hybrid system) isn't there is because Toyota is trying to find a location of its Lith-Ion battery, usually in the rear of the vehicle. Also, the versitility should not be sacrificed unlike some hybrid passenger vehicles. But a Sienna Hybrid? Good point.

[Vanrocco66]

$46,000 for THAT???Are you kidding me?? For that money I'll buy an Audi Q5 or a new Saab 9-4x. It's not worth that kind of money to me to get an extra 5 mpg.

[kalargyi]

this or RX400h ? same price, same motor.