Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV

The Highlander is the Toyota brand’s second hybrid offering and the company’s third, following the notable Prius and the Lexus RX400h. While it shares much of the componentry found in its upscale Lexus counterpart, the Highlander definitely has its own personality and its mission. It is the most fuel-efficient Highlander variant and also offers the best fuel efficiency rating of any mid-size SUV, with EPA estimates of 33 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway when configured as our test vehicle with front-wheel drive. The 4x4 variant nets 31 mpg and 27 mpg, respectively.

Is this ground breaking mileage? Not compared to a Prius, which nets an average EPA fuel economy figure of 55 mpg. But let’s place this in context. This is not a midsize passenger car, but rather a spacious SUV packed with high levels of function and utility. Let us not forget that SUVs are noted for their versatility, not their fuel economy...and this SUV brings a notable estimated 30 mpg average fuel economy to the party. That’s higher than the EPA average for a four-cylinder compact sedan. It’s also about double that of many of the Highlander Hybrid’s V-8 counterparts, which is significant. If performance is what’s desired, it’s Toyota’s position that its hybrid 3.3-liter V-6 Highlander provides an ideal answer while still addressing environmental priorities.

GCJ’s long-term test of this Highlander Hybrid will provide insight into this rationale. We can say that the benefits of the Highlander Hybrid’s higher combined power output – at 268 hp, an increase of 38 hp over the standard V6 powerplant – was certainly noticeable out of the gate while merging into traffic on California’s 101 Freeway during a recent road trip. With traffic tight and a burst of acceleration needed to slide into an available spot, power was there in abundance, on demand, with the full effect of the front-mounted, 167 hp AC electric motor obvious and welcome.

It isn’t just power that distinguishes this Highlander variant, although we’re already pleased with this aspect of the vehicle’s overall performance. The Highlander Hybrid also offers a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) rating with emissions some 80 percent less than conventional SUVs, a positive thing in a world of larger vehicles that too often take a proportionately larger toll on the environment. We’ll provide an update on our evaluation in a future installment on this site, with a look at what thousands of miles on the odometer bring us.