2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum

Interior adjustments are much less apparent. All designs currently have a 4.2-inch color display screen in between the assesses in addition to a slew of USB ports– three in front and 2 in back, enough to satiate countless smart devices as well as tablets. Top-shelf Limited Platinum versions sport brand-new faux-wood trim, while SE versions instead utilize accents with a dark “technological pattern.” All designs with the exception of the SE now could be bought with eight-passenger seats (suggesting a second-row bench); the SE should make do with seven seats, its leather-covered captain’s chairs adorned with a striped “bow” in the pillows.

At least as appealing to the Highlander’s family-totin’ customers, we think, will certainly be the standard fitment of the Toyota Security Feeling driver-assistance attributes on all versions. This consists of flexible cruise control, forward-collision caution with pedestrian discovery as well as automated emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-keeping assist, and automated high-beams. Blind-spot surveillance begins almost the base LE.

2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum Given that this was just a first drive as well as not an instrumented test, we’ll have to wait to see what does it cost? the new V-6’s included muscle improves acceleration times. We can state, nonetheless, that powering the 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum away from a stoplight or overtaking a Winnebago on a country two-lane isn’t far more interesting compared to in the past. Velocity is robust otherwise blistering, appropriately fast for an eight-passenger SUV. The cathedral-grade quietness that envelops the cabin when travelling yields to a somewhat coarse, baritone roll under complete acceleration, similar to the previous V-6. In the hybrid, the engine seemed much quieter during our quick drive, as well as the stop/start system that is currently common on all Highlanders is basically undetected.

As in the past, winding roads will certainly have the Highlander listing from side to side, although less so in the SE design with its stiffer springs as well as retuned dampers. Brakes on the nonhybrid designs inspire self-confidence, however the hybrid exhibited the same nonlinearity that we’ve noted in this model formerly, as the energy-recuperation system transitions to mechanical braking. It likewise had a befuddling torque-steer problem. Toyota designers associated this to calibration of the electrically assisted power-steering system in the preproduction example we drove; its anti-torque-steer logic had not yet been finalized, they stated. It needs to be taken care of before the crossbreed gets to showrooms.

2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum The other news for the 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum involves its engine, Toyota’s port-and-direct-injected V-6– known by engine-code geeks as 2GR-FKS. It brings an added aiding of horsepower and also enhanced gas economic climate to both V-6 as well as hybrid models. The V-6, now typical to crossbreed and nonhybrid designs, can running the Atkinson cycle, although the crossbreed makes use of the a lot more efficient engine cycle more regularly. All produce the very same 295 horse power at 6600 rpm and 263 lb-ft of torque at 4700 rpm, increases of 25 horse power and 15 lb-ft of torque over the previous V-6. The hybrid’s front and back electric motors bring its overall system outcome to 306 horse power, versus the previous 280; the availability of the hybrid likewise is broadened to the LE as well as XLE along with the costlier Limited as well as Limited Platinum trims.

Fuel-economy rankings boost just as substantially. Many thanks to a new eight-speed automatic, the nonhybrid’s EPA city ratings increase from 18 (AWD) and 19 mpg (FWD) to 19 and 21, as well as highway numbers increase by 2 mpg, to 26 as well as 27 for 2018. Hybrids, which continuously make use of electronically managed variable drive proportions, now are ranked at 30 mpg city and also 28 freeway for LE models and also 29/27 mpg for XLE trim degrees as well as over.

The 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum goes on sale in November, with last rates to be revealed soon. Offered the price level of sensitivity of numerous Highlander customers, we do not expect 2018 costs to increase a lot from 2016 levels. The 2016 Highlander begins at $31,430 for the base LE four-cylinder as well as climbs to $44,470 for the Limited Platinum V-6; hybrid versions presently cost concerning $7000 more than their V-6 equivalents. With the crossbreed powertrain being offered on the lower trims, nevertheless, the price of entrance into a Highlander crossbreed will be much lower than previously. We’ll see whether that entices even more family members to try that greener recipe, or whether they stick with the (better and brand-new) mainstream recipe.