Toyota took a chance when it presented the Highlander in 2001. As one of the first "crossover" car-based SUVs, it did not have the strong, muscle design or off-road ability of popular truckbased SUVs of time. However, customers noticed they did not need all the off-road capability, and they liked the Highlander's carlike drive and affordable gas mileage. Delayed in the decade many opponents recognized the success of the Highlander and turned to crossovers. That left the Highlander a bit behind the bend, since many opponents are now bigger and more magnificent. For 2014, Chevy is treating that issue with a bigger Highlander outfitted with elegant components. Does the new design collection up?
Model lineup
The 2014 Highlander is offered in LE, LE Plus, XLE and Restricted cuts. The Multiple is now available only with Restricted equipment; a platform Multiple is no more available. The LE conventional devices contains fabric furniture, a rearview camera, a 3.5-inch LCD multi information show, Wireless connection and eight safety bags, such as car owner joint airbag and front side traveler chair support airbag.
Some of the LE Plus additional devices has a flip-up back hatch out show, flexible energy liftgate, three-zone automated heating and cooling with air narrow, an 8-way poweradjustable driver's chair and satellite tv stereo.
The XLE gets a sunroof, ceiling tracks, keyless access and starting, set furniture with vinyl fabric third-row chair, an auto-dimming rearview reflection, worldwide garage-door operator, second-row show sunshades, Driver Simple Talk speech boosting, and Entune Top quality Sound with the Routing and App Package. The Limited's variety of devices contains pierced set furniture, warmed and vented front side row seats, second-row captain's seats, red LED normal illumination, Entune Premium JBL Sound with 8-inch touchscreen technology and 12 sound system, back recreation area assist and sightless spot observe with back cross-traffic aware.
An available Driver Technology program incorporates Toyota's Safety Link service, a preclusion program with powerful mouth vacation management, and road leaving aware with automatic high-beam front lights. A Jewelry program has these features plus a spectacular sunroof, a warmed leader, and warmed pierced set second-row captain's seats. A rear DVD enjoyment program is also offered.
Under the hood
The powertrain choices carry over from 2013, except for a new transmitting. The 2.7-liter 4-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6 google are now mated to a 6-speed automated transmission instead of a 5-speed. The 2.7-liter makes 185 horse power and 184 lb-ft of twisting, while the V6 generates 270 horse power and 248 lb-ft of twisting. The 4-cylinder comes only with front-wheel generate, while the V6 provides both front- and all-wheel generate. With the 4-cylinder, the Highlander provides Ecological Protection Agency-estimated gas mileage scores of 20 mpg city/25 mpg road. With the V6 and front-drive, those figures are 19/24 mpg, and with the V6 and AWD they are 18/24 mpg.
Toyota also provides a hybrid powertrain that groups the 3.5-liter V6 motor with three power google to create 280 horse.The transmitting is a consistently varying automated that constantly adapts gearing percentages instead of modifying equipment. The hybrid powertrain is ranked at 27 mpg city/28 mpg road, and it has all-wheel generate.
The Highlander's new all-wheel-drive program delivers 100 % of the energy to the top side tires during normal visiting, but can apportion up to 50 % of the energy to the rear wheels when it finds slide. It also comes with a center securing differential to secure in a 50-50 divided. Based on the design and devices, the Highlander can tow 1,500, 2,000 or 5,000 pounds.
Inner space
Inside, the new Highlander has a more elegant look than its forerunner. Fit and complete are excellent, and the new soft-touch sprint panel imparts a excellent quality experience than the hard plastic Chevy used in previous times. The most impressive function is a new sprint panel show. It rests below the main manages and is a fantastic position for small items, especially mobile phones. It also has a pass-through so you can run a cable to the USB slot below and charge your cellphone.
The sprint features touch-sensitive audio and cellphone manages, and it comes conventional with various editions of Toyota's Entune infotainment program. We usually don't choose touch controls as they can be difficult to hit just right, but these proved helpful whenever. Entune is a hub for the emails, enjoyment, and navigation features, and it provides a gateway to applications through owners' mobile mobile phones.
There is one more unique function of observe. Chevy phone calls it Driver Simple Talk. The car owner simply strikes a exclusive key on the center show and his/her speech is transmitted through the speaker program. While this originally seems like a excellent way to scream at the children, it's better used to include back burner travelers in the discussion. Not a bad idea for children members automobile.
Speaking of family members, the Highlander plays against some large close relatives trucksters, such as the Durango and Chevy Navigate, so it was in Toyota's best interest to create the Highlander bigger for 2014. While the new design is a longer period, has more internal area, and can chair up to eight instead of seven, it's still more compact than those opponents. What issues, however, is how well that interior space is used and Chevy does a fine job of making travelers relaxed.
Three-row sitting is conventional. Front travelers sit on relaxed seats with a excellent view of the street, but the motorist's chair doesn't
have enough improvements and mobility for an ideal sitting position. The second-row is offered as a regular or a couple of captain's seats. The third-row chair is now broader, enabling area for a third traveler — offered they are all children. A couple of grownups will fit back there, too, but they will sit with their legs at their chins. Both the second- and third-row seats also lie down to let residents modify the seatbacks for the best possible comfort.
Highlander paths the opponents in back freight area. With all the seats up, it has 13.8 cubic legs of freight quantity, and with the second- and third-row seats down that increases to 83.7 cubic legs. The Durango provides 17.2 cubic legs behind the third row and 84.5 cubic legs of max quantity, and those numbers are 24.4 and a huge 116.3 for the Navigate. Thankfully all of the Highlander's seats turn down easily to create a pretty smooth fill floor.
On the road
The Highlander has always offered a enjoyable generating experience, and the 2014 Highlander is even better. A new double-wishbone back revocation liberates up some room in the rear and allows the Highlander track more obviously through changes. The guiding is also enhanced from the last design. It has some affordable weight and is perfectly immediate though without a lot of experience. However, the automobile is also broader, and you can think that size with a little bit of trim in sides. As in previous times, the revocation smooths out all but the most jarring bumps, and motor disturbance is demure. In terms of generating characteristics, the Highlander is center of the package in an enhanced midsize cross-over market.
The platform 4-cylinder motor isn't up to snuff as opposed to V6s offered by both Chevy and the opponents. It does not have energy and does not provide much gas mileage benefit. A full-out zero-to-60 mph sprint takes a relaxing 9.7 a few moments. Add a complete fill of children and food, and the 4-cylinder will likely battle to get out ahead of visitors.
The 3.5-liter V6 motor, on the other hand, is a satisfaction, pushing front-drive Highlanders from zero to 60 mph in 7.9 a few moments and all-wheel-drive designs in 8.2 a few moments. The 3.5 V6 is also buttery sleek, and its new 6-speed automated gearbox is right-now delicate. Considering that there is only a one mpg charge for choosing the V6, we think it is the apparent choice.
The Multiple has a quality of approximately $5,000 for another eight mpg, and it is also a little bit faster, taking 7.7 a few moments to get from zero to 60 mph. The Multiple powertrain is more responsive off the line, where the immediate twisting of electrical powered google allows most. However, the CVT never changes, creating a somewhat insensitive experience during speeding. Turn the key, and the Hybrid's gas motor usually does not start until you get on the decrease. The gas motor also changes off at stoplights, but it begins up again and gets you moving as soon as you step on the decrease.
Right for you?
Three-row crossovers like the Highlander are excellent close relatives automobiles, and the Highlander provides a Multiple edition that surpasses the opponents for gas mileage. A more luxurious interior and improved traveler potential create the 2014 Highlander a more welcoming position to be, but opponents like the Avoid Durango and Chevy Navigate provide even more space in automobiles that are probably more fashionable.