New Toy Hybrid Highlander is tha Bomb!

[Fro-Runner]

I read on my local dealership's electronic billboard that the new hybrid Highlanders were arriving soon. My new Motor Trend magazine listed the new '06 hybrid Highlander as posting 0-60 times in the 6.6 second range. The new '06 Highlander is also coming with a CVT tranny. Hmm, will the next generation '07 or '08 4Runner be soon to follow. I'd love to have my 4runner do 0-60 in the mid 6 second range. Just some food for thought.

Also..............Toyota! Where's my 5 spd tranny for my '04 V-6 Runner that you cheated me out of? My runner feels rejected!

 

[iFORCE]

CVT = :monster: tried test driving a murano.. and to me.. it doesn't feel like your driving. In a hybrid.. I guess that's what happens. slow.. steady... and boorrinngg.. "imo".

 

[Koz]

There is no way this vehicle will run 6.6 sec. The hybrid Highlander is rated at 270hp and must have some weight to it (batteries). I would have to see 6.6 sec 0 to 60 to beleive it. I would think mid to high 7 sec 0 to 60 sound about right.

Koz

 

[fastlif306]

My wife drove one last week, said it will smoke her V8 Sport 4Runner. Said it has more safety features and flat out hauls.

 

[ssmathis]

Remember, the electric motor generates a lot of torque instantly which is why the Highlander, RX400 and even the Accord hybrids are all quicker than their gas counterparts.

Scott

 

[Koz]

Remember, the electric motor generates a lot of torque instantly which is why the Highlander, RX400 and even the Accord hybrids are all quicker than their gas counterparts.

Scott

I stand by my statement, and will be willing to line up next to the hybrid.:driving:

Koz

 

[fastlif306]

Althought forums are usually a bashfest, I will try my best not to bite.
I live with someone that drives an 04 V8 runner everyday, plus every other vehicle made by them, and just drove the new Highlander, so I trust her impression. She said mainly on the highway when you slam it, it sets you back in the seat. More so than the runner.
Personally, I think the V8 in the Runner could/should be more powerful, 330-350 would be nice. Even the Cheap Jeep Chero k ee has alot more poop. I know our engine will run forever, but would be nice to have that, and more power.

I love V8s as much as the next guy, but someday, an electric car/truck will smoke you in your V8 runner, and you will just have to deal with it. Technology is a wonderful thing. Just like all the ole farts who said they could never be smoked by a CRX, well, 10 second CRX's are alot more common now than 10 second Rustangs or Camaros.

Personally, I am happy with the runner, more power is always better, but overall, it works like a fine watch. When I want speed I get on my R1. Real simple.

 

[Koz]

Althought forums are usually a bashfest, I will try my best not to bite.
I live with someone that drives an 04 V8 runner everyday, plus every other vehicle made by them, and just drove the new Highlander, so I trust her impression. She said mainly on the highway when you slam it, it sets you back in the seat. More so than the runner.
Personally, I think the V8 in the Runner could/should be more powerful, 330-350 would be nice. Even the Cheap Jeep Chero k ee has alot more poop. I know our engine will run forever, but would be nice to have that, and more power.

First off, the ONLY Heep that will out run the VVT-i V8 Runner is the Hemi powered one, and they are NOT cheap. POS, but not cheap!

This came off the Toyota web site;

06 Hybrid Highlander
Performance (4WD-i)
0

 

[ssmathis]

I stand by my statement, and will be willing to line up next to the hybrid.:driving:

Koz

As much fun as it is to see 2 SUVs race, well not really my thing, my point was that so far every hybrid is posting faster numbers than their gas powered alternatives given the electric motor's added torque. I personnaly continue to commute on my sv650 most days to work and get 50 mpg and have more fun doing it than any hybrid will give me.

Scott

 

[Northof49]

I love V8s as much as the next guy, but someday, an electric car/truck will smoke you in your V8 runner, and you will just have to deal with it. Technology is a wonderful thing. Just like all the ole farts who said they could never be smoked by a CRX, well, 10 second CRX's are alot more common now than 10 second Rustangs or Camaros.

Really? I definetly missed that memo

 

[Koz]

As much fun as it is to see 2 SUVs race, well not really my thing, my point was that so far every hybrid is posting faster numbers than their gas powered alternatives given the electric motor's added torque. I personnaly continue to commute on my sv650 most days to work and get 50 mpg and have more fun doing it than any hybrid will give me.

Scott

I agree 100% with what you said; if you line up a regular Highlander with a Hybrid, the Hybrid is quicker. This doesn't mean it will be quicker then other gas powered vehicles with V8s.

Koz

 

[Fro-Runner]

I am posting this info directly from the June '05 issue of the Motor Trend magazine road test results section in the back pages.

TOYOTA:
-Highlander Hybrid 4WD/'06
----Issue date: 05/05
----As tested price: $36,000
----Engine size,config: 3.3L+electric
----Driveline: CVT/AWD
----Max Power: 336 Horsepower
----0-60 MPH (secs): 6.6
----Acceleration 1/4 ml (secs/mph): 15.1/91.3
----Braking 60-0 (feet): 131
----Slalom, Avg spd MPH: 58.4
----MT's figure eight: N/A

----Our final take (comments): Unlike the Prius, the Highlander hybrid is FAST all right, but why?

The above is the exact wording from the magazine. This means they have tested it. What really floors me is the 336 HP ! I would love to know if the electric/gas motor has the high torque power rating to match its HP rating. If it does.....then what is Toyota waiting for with the 4Runner. I'd be planning to trade in my Runner on the day they made the hybrid engine announcement.

 

[Koz]

I guess time will tell, I just don't understand why Toyota would list 7.5 sec 0 to 60.

Koz

 

[TeCKis300]

Ahh...the beauty of the electric motor. Max torque at 0 rpm.

We would have the advantage at highway speeds though where torque from the electric motivation would drop off quite drastically.

 

[Mark86]

I watch MotorWeek on the speed channel every week and they recently tested the 2006 Highlander Hybrid. They had a 0-60 time of 7.0 seconds. Here is a link to the roadtest if anybody is interested: http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2436.shtml

 

[bulldog-yota]

If the hybrid is fully charged it will haul ass with the CVT, as it keeps the engine at nice high RPM all the time with a electric motor to help. Hybrids are great for commuter vehicles and we sill see more and more of them.

However if you take the open road and go do a nice steep mountain pass te battery is dead before you know it and you have to drag all the heavy electrics with just the gas engine. This gets worse when you load the vehicle up with camping gear, etc. The other problem is that the current hybrid technology on the Lexus RX and Highlander is not designed to do slow hard work as it requires airflow for cooling on the rear motors, so dont think about using it offroad (the rear wheels are only electric driven).

SO if you need a commuter vehicle that can carry some more capacity the hybrid will be great, and give you the oomph you like every now and then (dont expect miracles on fuel economy then : ). But in all honesty the current hybrids were designed for the user not to pay a performance penalty and have fuel economy, rather than for real extra power.

If 0-60 is more important you can get far faster cars for that price. And you dont have to check the battery level every time you want to go speeding.

Expect much similar performance to the Rx400h. Read
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=9142&page_number=1

 

[Koz]

The V6 puts out 208 hp and 212 lb-ft of torque. The first electric motor acts as a generator, converting stopping power to charge the 288-volt NiMH battery pack under the middle row of seats. The second electric motor produces 167 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. The rear axle-mounted motor makes 68 hp and 96 lb-ft. You can

 

[fastlif306]

To Koz...

My reference to the "cheap jeep", was the old saying of the jeep brand, I was not saying that they were cheap as in dollar amount.

ZX-12, nice, but nothing beats the R1. Just kidding. All nice bikes, especially when we do not get hit by SUV's.

Fighting about how fast the highlander is is almost comical now.

quote:
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Originally posted by fastlif306

I love V8s as much as the next guy, but someday, an electric car/truck will smoke you in your V8 runner, and you will just have to deal with it. Technology is a wonderful thing. Just like all the ole farts who said they could never be smoked by a CRX, well, 10 second CRX's are alot more common now than 10 second Rustangs or Camaros.

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Really? I definetly missed that memo


northof49, ahh, didnt think you would need a memo, ever been to a dragstrip anywhere in the USA? Not saying all ricers have 10 second cars, but it is what you see everywhere, hopped up cars, and some that are quite quick. I will take my WS6 TA anyday, trust me, but, civics and the like are just the only car nowadays kids can afford to mess with.


The highlander isnt going to smoke your new mustang, or prolly alot of other cars trucks, but its good on gas, 4 wheel drive, and a yota. It is quick, but quick for a SUV.

You all better hope the runner gets this treatment, cause sales are down on it, and compared to other vehicles like almost all the other toyotas where the plants are running to the max, the runner is the only one down on sales. Thats bad for us. If things dont change, MAYBE there will not even be another generation 4Runner? I dont know, but, Toyota has no qualms about killing a vehicle. So ponder that for a while.

 

[Koz]

You all better hope the runner gets this treatment, cause sales are down on it, and compared to other vehicles like almost all the other toyotas where the plants are running to the max, the runner is the only one down on sales. Thats bad for us. If things dont change, MAYBE there will not even be another generation 4Runner? I dont know, but, Toyota has no qualms about killing a vehicle. So ponder that for a while.

I'm sure sales are down on ALL SUVs that get less then 20mpg.

Koz

 

[fastlif306]

I dont know all the stats across the board, but sure its bad for some. Burb and Yukon, pigs they are, are sucking wind I am sure.

Tacomas, Tundras, Sequoias all still are selling well. Runner is in a tough spot, its the best of its class as we all know, but so many SUV's are given away with huge rebates and sale gimmicks to the American stuff, that the guys that would be interested in the runner purchase the competition. Trailblazers, Jeeps, etc.. all get the low money, I am going to buy it attitude from people that cant see the real value of a Toyota.

Anyway, I think the Highlander hybrid will be a bit hit and its good for Toyota. I wish they had the option across the board on all their vehicles.