EmailBest Reviewed
Midsize SUVs
- Best midsize SUV 2009 Toyota Highlander *Est. $25705
- Most fuel-efficient midsize SUV 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid *Est. $34700
- Midsize SUV with a sporty flair 2009 Mazda CX-9 *Est. $29820
- Best luxury midsize SUV 2009 Acura MDX *Est. $40990
- Midsize SUV for off-roading 2009 Nissan Xterra *Est. $22310
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2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Most fuel-efficient midsize SUV
- Excellent fuel economy
- Ride comfort
- Quiet passenger cabin
- Second-row versatility
- Cargo space when seats are folded
- Reputation for reliability
- Safety ratings
- Premium price for hybrid technology
- Slow electric-only acceleration
- Mediocre handling
- Third-row seating is small, doesn't split
- Small cargo area behind third row
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was redesigned for 2008 and carries into 2009 with no changes. Thanks to a host of 2008 improvements, reviewers say Toyota's midsize hybrid SUV is larger in every dimension, with greater utility and better overall drivability.
The hybrid SUV's powertrain utilizes a 3.3-liter, V-6 engine and three electric motors. The V-6 only drives the front wheels, while one of the electric motors provides power to the rear wheels, making the Toyota Highlander Hybrid an all-wheel-drive SUV. Edmunds.com comments that while this unconventional arrangement is functional, the setup isn't "suitable for off-road or serious winter duties."
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is rated at 27 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, notably better than the standard V-6 Highlander's 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. A full hybrid-electric vehicle, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid can be driven at low speeds on purely electric power before the gasoline engine automatically starts to provide additional power. Most reviewers say the hybrid system operates smoothly and almost imperceptibly. Cars.com's Joe Wiesenfelder explains that the electric-only acceleration is slow, suitable for creeping along in stop-and-go traffic, but not most normal driving situations. He says, "Parallel hybrids like the Highlander accelerate too slowly on electric power alone to satisfy all but the most patient drivers among the most patient traffic." Normal acceleration will "start up the engine almost every time," he insists.
Don't plan on fuel savings to offset premium price
Many reviewers say that the premium price for the hybrid version of the Toyota Highlander will be very hard to recover in fuel savings, especially with the lack of federal tax credits for all Toyota hybrids. Overall, reviews say the Highlander Hybrid offers the same virtues as the standard model -- namely comfort, versatility and practicality -- with the added advantage of the best fuel economy of any seven-passenger vehicle in 2009.
Cargo space is only slightly reduced compared to the nonhybrid Toyota Highlander. With rear seats folded flat, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid opens up 94 cubic feet of space, versus 95.4 cubic feet for the nonhybrid. Edmunds.com is disappointed with the one-piece third row because "you can't configure the cargo area for a storage and passenger mix." Like several other six-cylinder midsize crossover SUVs, the Highlander Hybrid's towing capacity is 3,500 pounds.
For hybrid aficionados who need a larger vehicle or more towing capacity, reviews suggest the substantially more expensive Chevy Tahoe Hybrid (*Est. $50,455 to $53,260) or GMC Yukon hybrid (*Est. $50,920 to $53,730). For better fuel economy at a lower price, the Ford Escape Hybrid (*Est. $29,645 to $33,725) and similar Mercury Mariner Hybrid (*Est. $30,090 to $31,840), are recommended, although these smaller, five-passenger SUVs do not come with a third row of seats.
Research sources
One of the best reviews comes from Cars.com, with a good discussion of how the gas mileage and price compares to competitors. ConsumerGuide.com gives the Highlander its Recommended rating for 2009 and provides a summary report. ConsumerReports.org also tests the hybrid version of the Highlander. Car and Driver gives a brief summary of the 2009 model. We used several reviews that evaluate the 2008 Highlander Hybrid because the 2009 model has no significant changes. Well-written road test reviews can be found at CNET, Edmunds Inside Line, Automobile.com and AutoblogGreen.com. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the 2009 Highlander its Top Safety Pick honor for crash-test results.
Our Sources
1. Cars.com
Cars.com staff writer Joe Wiesenfelder questions the cost-benefit issues of the Highlander Hybrid, noting that it offers few advantages over a nonhybrid model at a significantly higher price. He discusses the fuel economy compared with competitors and nonhybrid Highlanders and offers a useful price comparison.
Review: 2009 Toyota Highland Hybrid, Joe Wiesenfelder, Nov. 21, 2008
2. Edmunds.com
Editors provide an excellent summary review of the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The review says the crossover's "all-around excellence helps the Highlander stand out from other competitors, hybrid or otherwise." They comment that the unconventional gas-electric, all-wheel-drive system is not as effective as traditional four-wheel-drive.
Review: 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review, Editors of Edmunds.com
3. Car and DriverDetails/Subscribe
Car and Driver gives a general recap of the 2009 Highlander Hybrid, with some comments about how it drives. They report "brisk acceleration" thanks to the "responsive torque of the electric motor," and compliment the Highlander's "carlike refinement." One complaint is "a slightly touchy brake pedal that results from the regenerative braking function."
Review: 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid -- Review, Editors of Car and Driver, Aug. 2008
The Highlander Hybrid "drives a little more like an SUV and less like a car," test driver Kelly Toepke comments. After averaging 23.8 mpg during the test drive, Toepke says, "Maximum fuel economy takes maximum effort to achieve." This detailed road test also links to a second opinion and stereo evaluation.
Review: Full Test: 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid -- Schizophrenic, but in a Good Way, Kelly Toepke, June 24, 2007
5. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Editors of ConsumerReports.org have a good summary review of the Toyota Highlander with hybrid-specific test-drive impressions and reliability history, as compiled in large owner surveys.
Review: 2009 Toyota Highlander Review, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerGuide.com gives the Toyota Highland a Recommended rating rather than its top Best Buy honor. A general 2009 Highlander review includes an evaluation of the hybrid variant, which test drivers say "is prone to subtle but annoying surging and bogging in cruising conditions." They comment that "the Hybrid models' higher prices may take years to offset in fuel savings."
Review: 2009 Toyota Highlander Review, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
7. CNET
CNET usually emphasizes the technological features of their test vehicles, but the Toyota Highlander Hybrid was only equipped with the base stereo system, which has "some of the poorest audio quality we've heard in a car," according to Wayne Cunningham. He provides plenty of useful behind-the-wheel impressions, summing up: "We failed to find much that was special" on the Highlander other than the hybrid powertrain, called the vehicle's "best feature."
Review: 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review, Wayne Cunningham, Nov. 20, 2007
This detailed road-test review gives an excellent description of the Highlander Hybrid and its pros and cons. Writer Justin Couture reports an impressive average of 30 mpg after a week of test driving. He says the interior has a pleasant, upscale look, although the test car had a "couple of rattles, made all the more obvious by the general absence of noise" in the vehicle.
Review: 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Road Test, Justin Couture, June 2, 2008
Written shortly after the introduction of the redesigned 2008 Highlander, this review gives a very informative description of the new hybrid and how it is to drive. Sam Abuelsamid compliments the revised styling and general drivability. He mentions the "tight squeeze" in the third row, and says the interior quality is "not what you might expect in a $48,000 vehicle."
Review: In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Sam Abuelsamid, Dec. 24, 2007
10. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Top-rated vehicles in crash tests are honored by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with a Top Safety Pick award. Each of the vehicles must earn Good ratings in frontal and side-impact crash tests, plus evaluations of head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. In addition, each winning vehicle must offer electronic stability control. All 2009 Toyota Highlander models, including the hybrid, are among the midsize SUVs to earn this honor.
Review: Top Safety Picks, Editors of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
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