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2009 Toyota Highlander road test
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The Toyota Highlander SUV is a front-drive or all-wheel drive crossover vehicle. For the 2008 model year it grew significantly in size (four inches longer in overall length and three inches wider). At that time seating for seven was made available and if ordered, it comes with a folding third row seat.
The largest gasoline engine available for the Toyota Highlander SUV for 2009 is Toyota's 3.5-liter V6 which is rated at a strong 270 horsepower. The only transmission available with this engine is a 5-speed automatic and the combination delivers an acceptable EPA-rated fuel economy estimate of 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway. There is also a new 4-cylinder engine available. It's a 2.7-liter (large displacement for a 4-cylinder engine) rated at 187 horsepower and its only available with a 6-speed automatic transmission. As as aside here, it's important to note than in "real world" use, the V6-powered Highlander may deliver superior fuel economy to the 4-cylinder equipped model. Why? Because the driver of the V-6 may not have to use the throttle pedal as much to get the relatively heavy vehicle moving from a stop and to keep up with traffic.
Standard safety equipment on the 2009 Toyota Highlander SUV includes driver and passenger side airbags, side impact airbags for the driver and front seat passenger and there is even a driver's side knee airbag. The Highlander shares its platform with the more luxurious Lexus RX SUV, but the Highlander still offers excellent passenger and cargo carrying abilities along with Toyota's quality reputation and excellent resale value.
There is also a gasoline/electric hybrid version of the Highlander available. It combines the older 3.3-liter V6 gasoline engine with an electric motor and the total horsepower rating is 270. Hybrid models are only available with a constant velocity automatic tranmission (CVT) and only with all-wheel drive (AWD). EPA fuel economy estimates are 27 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway. In addition the hybrid Highlander has a driver-engaged EV mode which put the vehicle in electric-only for a limited distance; no plug-in electric charging is available. I found it interesting that Toyota recommends regular fuel for the 3.5-liter V6 and premium fuel for the 3.3-liter V6 found in the hybrid model.
Our 3.5-liter tester proved to have adequate street and highway performance and the midrange power (for passing) felt veery good. The sport suspension is slightly more harsh than the base suspension, but we liked it. The Highlander's handling was competent, but not up to sports sedan standards. On the downside we did feel some moderate body lean and found the steering response to be slower than we liked.
Another downside to the 2009 Toyota Highlander SUV appears to be the price. Base prices range from $28,000 up to $35,000 and the Hybrid model has a sticker price of more than $40,000 Toyota adds a destination charge of $745.00, but there may be some deals out there now, even from once considered recession-proof Toyota. On our scale of one to five, four tires and a spare, the 2009 Toyota Highlander crossover SUV rate a four plus.
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