2018 Toyota Highlander: Engine and Transmission

2018 Toyota Highlander: Engine and Transmission

Engine and Transmission
With three different powertrain choices—including a hybrid—the Highlander is a unique option in the three-row-crossover marketplace. Its performance is average, and both the V-6 and hybrid should satisfy—but not thrill—buyers.

What’s New for 2018?
The Highlander’s engines and transmissions are unchanged for 2018, and performance is expected to follow suit.

2017 Toyota Highlander
Buyers stopping into their local Toyota showroom will find three distinct Highlander models—a gas-powered inline-four, a gas-powered V-6, and a hybrid. We’ve not had the opportunity to test the 2.7-liter four-cylinder model, but the 3.5-liter V-6 makes 295 horsepower and is hooked up to an easy-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. Throttle response is sleepy, and the transmission is hesitant to downshift for extra power when called upon, but for the most part, this pair should serve most buyers just fine and is available with front- or all-wheel drive.

The hybrid uses a retuned version of the 3.5-liter V-6 and two electric motors to produce 306 horsepower; a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is standard, as is all-wheel drive. This setup is similarly easygoing, but the CVT lets engine speed hang annoyingly high under heavy throttle. Passing power is significantly better in the hybrid thanks to the CVT, which provides more immediate response for extra oomph.

Maximum Tow Ratings Compared
If you’re looking to tow with your Highlander, be sure to choose the V-6—the four-cylinder is only rated to tug 1500 pounds. Source by caranddriver.com

Toyota Highlander Price and Specification

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2018 Toyota Highlander : Fuel Economy Review

2018 Toyota Highlander : Fuel Economy Review

Toyota’s fuel-saving measures introduced for 2017—including the updated V-6 engine and a new eight-speed automatic transmission—seem to have paid off. The gas-powered Highlander’s EPA combined-fuel-economy estimates increased by 2 mpg on both front- and all-wheel-drive models, making the Highlander the most efficient V-6–powered crossover in this matchup. The available hybrid model sips fuel in the city but achieved the same result as the nonhybrid model in our real-world testing.

What’s New for 2018?
Our real-world testing of last year’s models will apply to 2018 models as well, since Toyota has changed nothing with the Highlander’s powertrain, exterior styling, or aerodynamics. The EPA’s estimations also carry over unchanged.

Fuel Economy Ratings Compared: Toyota Highlander, FWD

Fuel Economy Ratings Compared: Toyota Highlander, AWD

We’ve devised our own fuel-economy test in an attempt to replicate how most people drive on the highway. Our procedure entails a 200-mile out-and-back loop on Michigan’s I-94 highway. We maintain a GPS-verified 75 mph and use the cruise control as much as possible to mimic the way many drivers behave during long trips.

Both of the Highlanders we tested delivered matching 26-mpg results on our fuel-economy loop: The hybrid model’s advantage in the city doesn’t translate to long highway slogs. Its fuel tank holds two fewer gallons, too, which reduces its highway range. Source by caranddriver.com

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2018 Toyota Highlander : Interior Review

2018 Toyota Highlander : Interior Review

Inside the Highlander, first- and second-row passengers are treated to spacious and comfortable accommodations, but third-row passengers aren’t so lucky. Materials throughout the cabin run the gamut from posh to bargain basement, but families with children will appreciate the available captain’s chairs and rear-seat entertainment system.

What’s New for 2018?
Still spacious and comfortable, the 2018 Highlander receives nothing new inside to differentiate it from the 2017 model.

Interior Space Comparisons
Despite the Highlander’s roomy first row and class-average second row, the third row is miserably tight to the point where even children might complain about the legroom. Second-row seats can be ordered as either a three-seat bench or a set of two captain’s chairs; adjustments to move the seats fore and aft on a track, as well as a reclining seatback, make for a comfortable and usable second row.

Second-Row Passenger Space

Interior Features
Cabin materials are a mixed bag. A soft rubber dash cover features convincing faux stitching and a leather-grain finish; door-panel armrests are plushly padded for comfort, and metallic-plastic trim bits are appealing. Lower down on the center console and door panels is a different story; here, we found flimsier materials and evidence of lazy panel fit and finish. The driving position is comfortable, and, save for a handful of infotainment buttons located too far away from the driver’s seat, ergonomics are adequate.


All Highlanders feature front and rear climate controls; automatic three-zone climate control is standard on LE Plus trims and up. Leather seating surfaces, power-adjustable front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated front seats, second-row retractable sunshades, and a novel intercom system all become standard starting with the XLE trim. A rear-seat entertainment system is available for $1810 on XLE, SE, and Limited models.

Seat Adjustments

Climate Control

Interior Sound Level
Modern cabins do an excellent job of insulating passengers from ambient noise, but none can completely eliminate the sharp sound of the wind and the drone of tire noise when you’re traveling at highway speed. To measure the interior sound-pressure level, we use a Brüel & Kjær Type 2250-L sound meter, which we position in the middle of the first row of seats at the height of the driver’s ear. The meter automatically averages 15 seconds of sound in A-weighted decibels (dBA), taken while the test car is cruising at 70 mph. (A-weighting is an industry standard that adjusts decibel readings to better reflect how the human ear hears various frequencies.) We take two measurements and average the results. We also correct for speedometer inaccuracies with our GPS-based data loggers. It is worth noting that decibels are a logarithmic unit, so a rating of 40 decibels isn’t twice the sound pressure of 20 decibels; it is 10 times the sound pressure. A six-decibel increase roughly doubles the sound pressure. Source by caranddriver.com

2018 Toyota Highlander Exterior Design

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2018 Toyota Highlander : Exterior Review

2018 Toyota Highlander : Exterior Review

Businesslike with just a hint of attitude—especially in sporty SE guise—the Highlander’s exterior style won’t offend. Hybrid models sport subtle badging that doesn’t shout to the world that you love the planet, which, depending on whom you ask, is either a good thing or a bad thing.

What’s New for 2018?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the 2018 model won’t do anything to dissuade you from your opinion, as there are zero changes to the Highlander’s exterior this year.

Exterior Dimensions
Compact dimensions are a Highlander trademark. It’s shortest in length and stature and ties the Dodge Durango for narrowest in this matchup. These condensed dimensions make it easier to maneuver and park than the gargantuan Traverse and Atlas.

Exterior Features

A freshening of the Highlander’s exterior styling for 2017 includes a new grille that features three vertical chromed bars and sits over a lower bumper that echoes this design theme with three more. The new look is more purposeful and is accented by standard 18-inch wheels; SE and Limited trims come with more stylish 19-inch wheels. A sunroof is standard on XLE, SE, and Limited trims, but upgrading to the Limited Platinum (a $4580 venture on the nonhybrid and $3120 for the hybrid) adds a panoramic sunroof with a fixed glass panel over the rear seats. Source by caranddriver.com

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Toyota Highlander Price And Specification

Toyota Highlander Price And Specification

Toyota Highlander Price And Specification

New 2018 Toyota Highlander Limited : Price $46,231

New 2018 Toyota Highlander Limited : 
Vehicle Information :
EPA Mileage: 19/26 mpg / Exterior Color: Blizzard Pearl / Interior Color: Tan / Drivetrain: All Wheel Drive / Transmission: Automatic / VIN: 5TDDZRFH4JS845800

Audio and Navigation : 
AM/FM / Aux Audio Adapter / CD (Single Disc) / HD Radio / Hard Disk Drive / MP3
Navigation System / Premium Sound System / Satellite Radio / Trip Computer.

Packages and Acessories : 
Compact Spare Tire  / Intermittent Wipers / Protection Package.

Performance : 
High Performance Tires / Spoiler / Stability Control / Traction Control.

Safety : 
4-Wheel Disc Brakes / Anti-Lock Brakes / Anti-Theft System / Automatic Headlights / Blind Spot Monitor / Braking Assist / Child Safety Locks / Cross Traffic Alert / Daytime Running Lights / Engine Immobilizer / Fog Lights / Front Airbags (Driver) / Front Airbags (Passenger) / Front Knee Airbags (Driver) / Front Side Airbags (Driver) / Handsfree/Bluetooth Integration / Heated Mirrors / Lane Departure Warning / Passenger Sensing Airbag / Rear Head Airbags / Rear Side Airbags / Rear Window Defroster / Tire Pressure Monitoring System / Turn Signal Mirrors.

Style and Comfort :
Adaptive Cruise Control / Adjustable Steering Wheel / Air Conditioning / Auto-Dimming Mirror / Body Side Moldings / Bucket Seats / Cargo Cover / Cargo Tray / Chrome Wheels / Cooled Seats / Driver Adjustable Lumbar / Heated Seats / Integrated Garage Door Opener / Keyless Entry / Keyless Ignition / Leather Seats / Leather Steering Wheel / Memory Mirrors / Multi-Zone Climate Control / Parking Sensors / Power Liftgate / Power Locks / 
Power Mirrors / Power Seat (Driver) / Power Seat (Passenger) / Power Steering / Power Windows / Privacy Glass / Rear Air Conditioning / Rear Bucket Seats / Rear-View Camera / Remote Start / Remote Trunk Release / Seat Memory / Steering Wheel / Controls / Sun/Moonroof / Third Row Seating / Vanity Mirror/Light / Wood Trimmed Interior.

Other Features

All-Weather Mat Protection / Package / Smart Device Integration. Source by caranddriver.com

Toyota Highlander Review

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2018 Toyota Highlander: Elegant and Homely Family Cars

2018 Toyota Highlander Review
Elegant and Homely Family Cars

Buyers seeking a vehicle capable of hauling both people and cargo are more and more frequently selecting three-row crossovers over minivans, and among the throngs of available options is the Toyota Highlander. It’s a satisfactory if unexceptional choice with a spacious cabin, good build quality, and efficient engines. Driving enthusiasts won’t find the Highlander to be gratifying, but its smooth ride and muted dynamics will appeal to most everyone else.

A host of active safety technologies gives the Highlander bonus points among the safety conscious, but those who value in-cabin infotainment technology may find its offerings lacking. The Highlander sells itself on its good value and long-term durability, and to some buyers those things are worth more than gizmos and corner-carving prowess.

What’s New for 2018?
Following a thorough freshening in 2017, the Highlander—unsurprisingly-receives zero updates for 2018.

What Was New for 2017?
For 2017, the Toyota Highlander lineup saw not-so-subtle updates to its exterior appearance in the form of new, more extroverted front grille and headlamps, sleeker LED taillamps, and revised bumpers. Three new exterior colors became available: Celestial Silver Metallic, Toasted Walnut Pearl, and Salsa Red Pearl. Updates to the Highlander’s powertrain included a more powerful 3.5-liter V-6 and a new eight-speed automatic transmission. An automatic stop/start function, which shuts off the engine during idling to further save fuel, became standard on all but the base LE trim. On the safety front, all Highlander models gained Toyota’s Safety Sense P active safety suite, which includes automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlamps. A backup camera also became standard for 2017, and XLE models and higher trim levels received blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Four new USB ports joined the infotainment party, bumping the total number of ports to five. The gas-powered Highlander gained a sporty-looking SE model, and the Highlander’s hybrid powertrain became available in entry-level LE and midrange XLE trims.

Trims and Options We’d Choose
Recommending the mid-level XLE is a no-brainer, as it bundles the segment’s most popular options into one value-priced package. Compared with the base LE and LE Plus, it adds:

• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Power sunroof
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment with navigation
• Leather seating with heat and power adjustments for the front seats

For 2018, the front-wheel-drive XLE sees a slight $400 price increase to $39,915, keeping it just under that magical $40,000 mark. All-wheel drive adds $1460 to the bottom line. Source by caranddriver.com

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Honda Ridgeline : Price And Specifications

Honda Ridgeline : Price And Specifications
Price : $30,705 – $44,195

Honda Ridgeline : Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE:	front-engine, front- or all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
ENGINE:	SOHC 24-valve 3.5-liter V-6, 280 hp, 262 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION:	6-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT (C/D EST):	4250–4500 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):	Zero to 60 mph: 6.6–6.8 sec
	Standing ¼-mile: 15.2–15.3 sec
	Top speed: 112 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY:	Combined/city/highway: 21–22/18–19/25–26 mpg

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