Author Topic: CD Article: 2008 Toyota Highlander (Read 5008 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** July 19, 2007, 11:36:27 pm »

Today's First Drive:

It's bigger, roomier and more powerful than the current Highlander, but almost magically, the new 2008 Highlander offers better fuel consumption, reports Editor-in-chief Greg Wilson. Still, is this a good time to introduce a bigger SUV, he asks?

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Read the article | View the photos | All The First Drives

ovr50 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2007, 12:37:34 am »

As an owner of the now-previous generation HL (an '05 model), I think the new design is attractive and more evolutionary than revolutionary. Considering that the HL is a strong seller for Toyota, they obviously did not wish to mess with their success of the '01 to '07 model. Maybe existing HL owners wanted more size, more power, more aggressive styling and that's what Toyota tried to give them. They also gave them a higher price and more weight (although they are claiming improved fuel economy with the larger engine

).

I like the size of my '05 HL and, in the minority apparently, I do not want a larger, heavier, 7 seater for more money. It is very unlikely I would upgrade to the new HL. I am more likely to get a RDX for less money than this new HL. Or abandon the mid-sized crossover market altogether, and get a sports wagon.

No matter, I suspect Toyota will sell a ton of the new HLs. Certainly the existing HL has a great track record for resale, reliability and all-around functionality. Another winner for Toyota, although there will lots of posters on here who will knock it (forgetting that car-enthusiasts on this site do NOT represent the main stream buying public).

1TSX · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2007, 01:39:34 am »

Wow, front end = Subaru Forester.

But that interior is very nice.

Mitlov · « **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2007, 02:09:17 am »

Quote from: ovr50 on July 20, 2007, 12:37:34 am

No matter, I suspect Toyota will sell a ton of the new HLs. Certainly the existing HL has a great track record for resale, reliability and all-around functionality. Another winner for Toyota, although there will lots of posters on here who will knock it (forgetting that car-enthusiasts on this site do NOT represent the main stream buying public).

Hey! I am fully aware of that fact when I knock the Highlander

chrischasescars · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2007, 05:34:45 am »

Quote from: ovr50 on July 20, 2007, 12:37:34 am

I like the size of my '05 HL and, in the minority apparently, I do not want a larger, heavier, 7 seater for more money. It is very unlikely I would upgrade to the new HL. I am more likely to get a RDX for less money than this new HL. Or abandon the mid-sized crossover market altogether, and get a sports wagon.

Or, Toyota's betting you'll choose a RAV4 instead.

airbalancer · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2007, 07:01:19 am »

which US dealer will sell to Canadians?
Interior looks great

Blueprint · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2007, 07:56:53 am »

I really wish Toyota would drop the "SR5" label now that it doesn't mean a thing.

SR5, way back in the '70s and '80s, meant the sporty and 5-speed manual version of a Toyota (because base cars had 4-speeds, hence the 5 in SR-5).

My first car was an SR5 : '80 Corolla Liftback SR5.

I expect the new HL to bomb in Canada : no four, 40k$ base, Cooper-sized trunk, mandatory 3rd row. We Canucks (well, most of us) don't have image problems with minivans, and the Sienna is a much better deal for a family shopping the same showroom. Late-model Highlanders are getting rare; I have a feeling sales were in a sharp decline.

sailor723 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2007, 08:28:49 am »

I'd have to agree on the sizing issue. I'm going to be in the market shortly to replace my 03 Pathfinder and I'm finding a lot of vehicles I'm considering turn out to be either a little too big (Outlook/Acadia,CX-9, Vera Cruz) or a bit small (Santa Fe, Rav4 etc) for my taste. The CUV manufacturers seem to have created a hole in what used to be "mid size"

sailor723 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2007, 08:31:45 am »

Quote from: airbalancer on July 20, 2007, 07:01:19 am

which US dealer will sell to Canadians?
Interior looks great

Not to flog a dead horse but I make it about $8500 CDN difference for a loaded Limited between Canada and the US.... Not quite as bad a spread as Subaru but a bit worse than Hyundai.

carcrazy · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2007, 09:59:35 am »

I'm sure it's a very good vehicle for it's purpose, the interior looks nice although nothing to write home about and I'm sure it's very well engineered. However, the exterior design is ... well...not nice at all in my eyes, especially the rear and those shapes around the fenders. A nice looking car would be the last thing to expect from Toyota I guess.

JSCC · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2007, 11:22:04 am »

V6 and 7 seats ? Sounds like the Seina?
CUV = Stylish Minivan replacement?

Mitlov · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2007, 11:31:18 am »

Quote from: sailor723 on July 20, 2007, 08:28:49 am

I'd have to agree on the sizing issue. I'm going to be in the market shortly to replace my 03 Pathfinder and I'm finding a lot of vehicles I'm considering turn out to be either a little too big (Outlook/Acadia,CX-9, Vera Cruz) or a bit small (Santa Fe, Rav4 etc) for my taste. The CUV manufacturers seem to have created a hole in what used to be "mid size"

CX-7? Edge?

And I was under the impression that the new RAV4 has essentially the same useable interior space as the outgoing Highlander. It's just smaller on the outside thanks to better packaging. Am I wrong here?

ovr50 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2007, 11:41:04 am »

Quote from: Mitlov on July 20, 2007, 11:31:18 am

Quote from: sailor723 on July 20, 2007, 08:28:49 am
I'd have to agree on the sizing issue. I'm going to be in the market shortly to replace my 03 Pathfinder and I'm finding a lot of vehicles I'm considering turn out to be either a little too big (Outlook/Acadia,CX-9, Vera Cruz) or a bit small (Santa Fe, Rav4 etc) for my taste. The CUV manufacturers seem to have created a hole in what used to be "mid size"

CX-7? Edge?

And I was under the impression that the new RAV4 has essentially the same useable interior space as the outgoing Highlander. It's just smaller on the outside thanks to better packaging. Am I wrong here?

You are a bit wrong - the outgoing '07 HL has 3.8 cuft more space behind rear seats; 7.4 cuft more space behind front seats; is 3.5 inches longer; has 2.2 inches more wheelbase and is about 1/2 inch lower than the current RAV4.

Overall, the RAV4 is a bit less vehicle than the '07 HL, so will be a bigger difference to the incoming '08 HL.

All figures from Toyota Canada website.

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2007, 12:15:32 pm »

I think it looks pretty blah/blob-like outside but has a nice interior. I don't think access and usability of the 3rd row will be great, and as such have to wonder why you'd buy it as a family/people carrying vehicle. Being V6 only and fairly high priced for mainstream audience, don't expect it to go back to selling tonnes but should post respectable numbers. Certainly executed better than today's 4Runner, but wouldn't be on my shopping list. All that said, haven't seen one in person yet

carcrazy · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2007, 12:22:29 pm »

If I recall correctlly from my past research, the 07 Santa Fe is very close to the outgoing (07) Highlander based on the dimensions; therefore those craving for the 07 HL size might as well look at the 07 Santa Fe (much cheaper and perhaps nicer looking for many too).

sailor723 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2007, 03:58:53 pm »

Quote from: carcrazy on July 20, 2007, 12:22:29 pm

If I recall correctlly from my past research, the 07 Santa Fe is very close to the outgoing (07) Highlander based on the dimensions; therefore those craving for the 07 HL size might as well look at the 07 Santa Fe (much cheaper and perhaps nicer looking for many too).

I'd like to find something with about the same space as my Pathfinder (approx 85 cu.ft. with back seat folded). The Santa Fe is around 79 and maybe just a bit small. I like the Path and would buy another Nissan but IMHO they really ruined the Path redesign in 05.(It's FUGLY and the backseat (2nd row) is awful). The 3rd row in most of theCUV's I've looked is pretty useless and takes up cargo space even when folded. In some of them the 2nd row is tighter than it should be because it's been jammed forward to make room for the 3rd row.

soj · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2007, 03:59:49 pm »

I think that in Toyota's mad drive to overtake GM, we're ironically starting to see them make the same mistakes, i.e.: not enough differentiation between certain models and therefore no perceived value added. Not only that, but just as GM, they're continuing to introduce larger SUVs. Sometimes I really wonder whether these outfits are reading the tea leaves.

carcrazy · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:28:46 pm »

I can see Santa Fe winning from this "enlargement" trend. It's one of the few SUVs that are still what mid-size should be, with the option for a 7-seats for those that really want them.

Craig · « **Reply #18 on:** July 22, 2007, 09:10:02 pm »

They are introducing larger SUVs, but they are also improving the fuel economy for each successive iteration.

We'll probably have the X-Trail for 2 or 3 more years, but as our kid(s?) grow, I can see us replacing it (the X-Trail, not the kid) with one of these. My TSX will get replaced with something remarkably different, at a remarkably later date.

ovr50 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 10, 2007, 02:06:47 pm »

I have now seen/sat in (briefly) but not driven, the new '08 Highlander. My initial impressions were:
1. appears very large physically on the outside,
2. styling is quite bland and although I only saw in two dull colors (a silver and a grey), it did nothing for me. My Indigo Ink blue '05 with grey leather interior was nicer to look at IMO.
3. sat in driver's seat briefly and thought the dash/front area nicely done, but not "knock your socks off nice".
4. looking rearward from driver's seat again gave me impression of it being "bigger" than mine,
5. I'm sure the new, larger engine will be appreciated, but will reserve judgement until I actually drive one.

One of the two there was a "Limited" model, stickered at just over $51K. The other was a "Sport" model with no sticker (just off the truck).

Overall, I am glad I am not in the market for a new Highlander as I felt rather underwhelmed at first inspection.