RSS
Home
Winter test: 2009 Toyota Highlander and Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
One could go on for pages about the Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, including for 2009 a torquey new four-cylinder engine and, of course, the Hybrid, and we were blessed recently with snowy and icy weather to test each, including the regular four-cylinder Highlander with all-wheel drive and the Highlander Hybrid that has an all-wheel drive system unique to Toyota and Lexus hybrid SUV models.
The Hybrid’s all-wheel drive system combines Toyota’s conventional full-hybrid front wheel drive with a separate electric motor that drives the rear wheels. The rear wheels are not connected to the engine or front wheels by any kind of driveshaft, only the brainbox that tells the rear motor when to contribute to the overall forward progress.
Surprisingly enough, that’s fairly often. Not that one would notice were it not for the hybrid monitor in the center stack that displays which elements are contributing to forward progress, recharging the battery pack of just taking a breather at any particular time.
We were surprised by the active participation of the rear-wheels’ motor. We had expected it act similarly to a nominally front-wheel drive-based all-wheel drive system that kicks in the rear wheels only front-wheel slip occurs. Not so with the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. While the rear motor was in non-power mode more frequently than the front, it clocked in for work at even moderate throttle. It’s not there just for low traction duties.
And in trailing throttle situations—with the driver’s foot is off the gas pedal and momentum pushing the car along, or in regenerative braking mode—the rear motor also contributes to recharging the battery pack. The system display has separate lines showing power to and power from the rear wheels.
However, in slippery conditions the rear wheels also do their bit towards forward progress, except that the Highlander Hybrid doesn’t feel so much like a four-wheel or more conventional all-wheel drive vehicle. Rather imagine a front-wheel drive vehicle with a giant hand pressing on the tailgate. The traction control system can be felt working on the front wheels but the rear wheels are serenely following along, helping to push the Highlander Hybrid with no drama at aft end of the vehicle.
Not that the Highlander Hybrid is wholly drama free on snow and ice. It seems that in the interest of fuel mileage Toyota has equipped its fuel-sipping SUV with low rolling resistance tires. That they would have less grip than winter tires on icy roads should be expected. Grip on icy surfaces is what winter tires are for. But another all-wheel car with “all-season” tires on the same road had less slip than the Hybrid did, even without the advanced stability controls that all Toyota and Lexus SUVs now have.
Our test 2009 Toyota Highlander with the new four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive behaved much more like the conventional all-wheel drive vehicle that it is, though we were able to drive through deep un-plowed but heavily-travelled snow on Detroit expressways. Not only were we impressed with the torquey pull of the four-cylinder engine( 2.7L double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve dual VVT-i; 187 hp @ 5800 rpm, 186 1b.-ft. @ 4100 rpm) with four adult males aboard, but Toyota’s “Star Safety System” kept us from having to constantly fight the sloppy ruts, or at least as much as we might otherwise.The Star Safety System integrates vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. The stability control system is typical in that it adjusts engine output and braking at each wheel to provide “steering assistance” when skidding is detected. ABS does what one expects along with the other features. Toyota has integrated these separate functions into one, however.
The Highlander has something called Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management:
“The VDIM system is designed to enhance handling, traction and braking systems that normally react to vehicle driving conditions by anticipating tire slippage before a skid, slide or wheel spin occurs and helps make corrections is a smooth, progressive way. In addition to integrating all of the Highlander’s dynamic control systems (VSC, TRAC, BA, EPS, EBD and ABS), the VDIM system also integrates the Highlander Hybrid’s Electronic Throttle Control with intelligence (ETC-i) and Electronically Controlled Brakes (ECB) The VDIM system integrates all of these systems with powerful proprietary software to help seamlessly manage the total vehicle dynamic package.”
Our non-hybrid Highlander also had a “straight-line steering system.” It adds control to ABS by applying steering torque via the electric power steering in concert with ABS to offset pull to either side. Surprisingly, there’s no acronym for this feature.
Toyota also has no set of letters for its “corner braking feature.” Here’s how Toyota explains it:
“This integrates automated control of engine output and braking force with provision of power steering assist torque through Highlander’s EPS (electronic power steering) system to communicate performance limits of the driver and help the driver steer in the direction that offers the greatest control.”
Whatever. If there’s something that can be tugged, twisted or applied, Toyota has found a way to do it if it that helps control the vehicle. If there’s any problem it’s that it is so subtle that drivers will never notice and not realize everything the Highlander is doing for them.
The ability of the Toyota Highlander and Toyota Highlander Hybrid to handle winter weather is justification for their existence. Although Toyota notes that the Highlander is not designed for off-road use, the vehicle’s generaous ground clearance keeps it from dragging its belly in deep snow. Of course, with that ability plus seating for up to seven, depending on how configured, means that the Highlander owner will be called upon to take the junior hockey team to practice when the weather would stop lesser vehicles. Whether that’s a blessing or a curse is up to you.
Illustrations: Top, 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; bottom, 2009 Toyota Highlander. Photos courtesy Toyota and not representative of weather at our test site.
| Inline-4 | V-6 | Hybrid | |
| Engine | 2.7-liter DOHC I-4 | 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 | 3.3-liter DOHC V6 |
| Hp @ rpm | 187 @ 5800 | 270 @ 6200 | 209 @ 5600 |
| Torque lb-ft @ rpm | 186 @ 4100 | 240 @ 4700 | 21 @ 3600 |
| Torque lb-ft com | |||
| MPG, city/hwy | 20 / 27 | 17 / 23 | 27 / 25 |
You might also enjoy these:
Keep up with the latest. Subscribe. It's free. click on "subscribe" below.
Related Articles:
Comments
Engines for ZR1, Z06 and Grand Sport Corvettes are built one at a time by one engine builder (video)
It's probably an affront to early industrial efficiency expert Frank Gilbreath and it's definitely contrary to Henry Ford's concepts of assembly line …
There's a saying in show business that says a performer should always leave them wanting more. That's another way of saying, know when to quit. And …
- 2011 Kia Sorento EX V6
- 2010 Reviews
- 2010 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI
- 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10
- 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet
- 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT RS
- 2010 Chevrolet Equinox AWD 2LT
- 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
- 2010 Ford Taurus Limited AWD
- 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
- 2010 GMC Terrain SLT1 FWD
- 2010 Hyundai Elantra SE
- 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
- 2010 Kia Forte
- 2010 Lexus HS 250h
- 2010 Lexus IS 350 C
- 2010 Lexus RX350
- 2010 Lexus RX 450h
- 2010 Mazda CX-7 i Sport
- 2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed3
- 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic
- 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
- 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid
- 2010 Nissan Cube 1.8 Krom
- 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL Hatchback
- 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S
- 2010 Toyota Prius
- 2010 Toyota Prius II
- 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI
- 2009 Reviews
- 2009 Acura TSX
- 2009 Audi A4 Avant 2.0T quattro
- 2009 Audi A6 3.0 TSFI
- 2009 BMW 135i Coupe
- 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive 3.5i
- 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 4WD
- 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 1LT
- 2009 Chevrolet Kodiak pickup truck
- 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
- 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
- 2009 Chevrolet Traverse FWD LTZ
- 2009 Dodge Journey SXT AWD
- 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Quad 4x4
- 2009 Ford Fiesta
- 2009 Ford Flex Limited AWD
- 2009 Ford Fusion SEL I-4
- 2009 GMC Acadia SLT-2
- 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
- 2009 Honda Fit Sport w/Nav
- 2009 Honda Ridgeline RTL
- 2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8
- 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible
- 2009 Infiniti M45x
- 2009 Jaguar XF Premium Luxury
- 2009 Jaguar XKR Porfolio Coupe
- 2009 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x4
- 2009 Kia Borrego
- 2009 Kia Borrego EX 4x4
- 2009 Land Rover LR3
- 2009 Lincoln MKZ
- 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 Sport
- 2009 Lotus Exige S
- 2009 Maserati Quattroporte S
- 2009 Mazda Mazda6 s Grand Touring
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4Matic
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK300
- 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS 4WD
- 2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster Touring
- 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport
- 2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD
- 2009 Nissan NISMO 370Z
- 2009 Pontiac G6 4-cyl
- 2009 Pontiac G8
- 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
- 2009 Pontiac Vibe AWD
- 2009 Porsche Boxster RS60
- 2009 Saturn Aura XR 4-cyl
- 2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid
- 2009 Scion xB
- 2009 Subaru Legacy 3.0R Limited
- 2009 Suzuki SX4 Crossover AWD Technology
- 2009 Toyota 4Runner Sport Urban Runner
- 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
- 2009 Toyota Highlander/Hybrid
- 2009 Toyota Matrix XRS
- 2009 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4-cyl. 4WD
- 2009 Toyota Sequoia Platinum
- 2009 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD
- 2009 Toyota Venza 4-cyl. AWD
- 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
- 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
- 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Matic
- 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI
- 2008 Reviews
- 2008 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell
- 2008 Bentley Continental GT
- 2008 BMW X6 xDrive 5.0i
- 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
- 2008 Kia Amanti
- 2008 Lexus IS-F
- 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT
- 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR
- 2008 Nissan Cube JDM
- 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line
- 2008 Scion xD
- 2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo
- 2008 Volkswagen Toureg V8
- 2008 Volvo XC70 3.2
- 2008 Volvo XC70 D5
- 1971 Honda N600
