Test Drive: 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited

**Tideland Prius** · 07-11-2005, 12:42 AM

The only thing worse than sitting in rush hour traffic after a hard day's work is passing time by watching the trip computer. Boring, yes, but also distressing. The moment you enter the freeway and slow to a stop, the litres per 100 kilometres indicator starts rising.

It might was well be a cash register. With each tenth of a litre added, the cost of the daily commute goes up, and up, and up. And the hours spent earning the money to pay the cost of getting to work go up, and up, and up.

Frustrating.

But that's just the personal cost. The environmental cost increases significantly too. The more fuel your vehicle consumes per mile crawled, the greater the environmental impact will be.

It doesn't have to be that way.

Highway 417, which dissects Ottawa from East to West, is fairly typical of urban freeways anywhere in Canada. Twenty hours a day, the 417 - or Queensway as it is known here - moves traffic quickly and efficiently across the city. But at rush hour, morning and evening, things get slow, real slow. It is something to be avoided.

But one day recently, it was a trip we couldn't avoid. We drove, or more aptly, inched from Greenbank Road in the West end to Blair Road in the East, a distance of 17 kilometres, in heavy five o'clock traffic. The trip took nearly 40 minutes.

Fuel consumed: zero litres. Not even a decilitre, not an ounce, none, no fuel used.

Full Article

DaveG · 07-17-2005, 03:26 PM

I did some poking around on Toyota's website last night, and a few "Highlander Facts" that never really "sunk-in" finally broke through my late-night brain-fog.

-There is no SE/SS in the highlander. This is simply a deal KILLER right there. I won't buy another vehicle that doesn't have that option unless it's completely unavailable. I have to take my key out of my pocket to get in or drive? How very old-fashioned...

-Where is the big, beautiful multi-function display? Gone. No thanks.

-Old fashioned analog gauges and fake woodgrain interior.

-Old fashioned gear shift.

And they want about $6,000 more than a fully decked-out Prius for the base model highlander hybrid...

I suppose it's the result of Toyota grafting the HSD onto existing models rather than new models designed from-scratch, but I think I'd rather be in a cutting-edge vehicle, rather than something older with a new drivetrain.

Dave

dj_devil · 07-17-2005, 04:30 PM

If anybody has any questions (about our Hybrids the Prius or Highlander) just e-mail me at :
xx_djdevil_xx@yahoo.com
I work for Elmore Toyota. So if you in So. Cal and have some questions just e-mail me or stop by and I'd be more than happy to help anybody out; with pricing, options, etc. However if you do plan on stopping by or call : Ask for Martin Rom (its pronounced CD-ROM). I'll help you out as much as I can.

**Tideland Prius** · 07-17-2005, 06:32 PM

Well, I never found the Highlander to be of much value anyway. The base starts at $32k. The one most people will get is the 4WD V6 model which starts at $36k. $36k buys you a fully loaded Camry XLE V6!! Adding Camry features pushes it to $45k tops. Starting the base Highlander with 4WD V6 features at $44k is hella expensive. At least the "base" RX400h has some features (comparable to the Premium Package) instead basing it on the "base" RX330 model at $49k.

The screen only comes with the Navigation System and since we don't have that option, no energy monitor. That's dumb. I think Toyota's a little optimistic with the SUV hybrids.

Charging a higher "premium" than on the Prius because you're expecting high demand isn't the way to go. Sadly, the RX400h is actually more worth the value than the HiHy yet, not a lot of people can afford that $60-70k price tag.

DaveG · 07-17-2005, 07:05 PM

Yup, I'd love to get the Lexus 400h, but at $70,000cdn for a loaded package, it's basically twice the cost of the Prius. Sure it's a Lexus, but is "a Lexus" worth another $35k? Not in my books...

Hopefully Toyota continues to put their cutting-edge technology into the next major Prius redesign and only "tones-down" their other models for more conservative customers.

Dave

dj_devil · 07-17-2005, 07:46 PM

Let me tell something very important, no matter what car you want, no matter what options you chose (as long the car can be equipped with those options), then PRICE ISN'T IMPORTANT!!! You can negotiate price. Because price is determined upon many different factors (ex. how long the car has been on the lot...some dealers give outrageous offers if the cars been there for more than a month) However...you cant try to get a car that's got a sticker of lets just say 20K (and lets just say the dealership bought it for that much too) dont try to ask for 16K, NOT GUNNA HAPPEN!! give the dealership something reasonable, and you'll be surprised.

**Tideland Prius** · 07-17-2005, 10:00 PM

err.. reality check "dude"

Up here, negotiation isn't possible. You pay MSRP, no higher, no lower. Of course you may ask the dealer for free accessories or credit towards oil changes etc. We never said anything about giving unreasonable offers, so chill!

Dave,

Yeah, I hope so. I like the RX, no doubt but yeah, there's nothing special other than the HSD system. True, the fuel mileage is better than our 4-cylinder Camry (I avg'd 9L/100km). I hope they add something special to the Camry Hybrid - something that isn't available on the non-hybrid models.

07-11-2005, 12:42 AM	#1
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	Test Drive: 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited The only thing worse than sitting in rush hour traffic after a hard day's work is passing time by watching the trip computer. Boring, yes, but also distressing. The moment you enter the freeway and slow to a stop, the litres per 100 kilometres indicator starts rising. It might was well be a cash register. With each tenth of a litre added, the cost of the daily commute goes up, and up, and up. And the hours spent earning the money to pay the cost of getting to work go up, and up, and up. Frustrating. But that's just the personal cost. The environmental cost increases significantly too. The more fuel your vehicle consumes per mile crawled, the greater the environmental impact will be. It doesn't have to be that way. Highway 417, which dissects Ottawa from East to West, is fairly typical of urban freeways anywhere in Canada. Twenty hours a day, the 417 - or Queensway as it is known here - moves traffic quickly and efficiently across the city. But at rush hour, morning and evening, things get slow, real slow. It is something to be avoided. But one day recently, it was a trip we couldn't avoid. We drove, or more aptly, inched from Greenbank Road in the West end to Blair Road in the East, a distance of 17 kilometres, in heavy five o'clock traffic. The trip took nearly 40 minutes. Fuel consumed: zero litres. Not even a decilitre, not an ounce, none, no fuel used. Full Article __________________ 2005 Tideland Pearl Premium Package 25/10/04 VVT-i Emblem, Sport Pedals, All-Weather Mats, Cargo Mat, EV Mod, JDM Prius Footwell Lighting, DICE iPod Kit 2008 Deep Black smart fortwo passion coupé - sold (6.1L/100km) 2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic Technology Package 29/08/09 All-Weather Mats, Homemade Console Pads, LED lighting "Ask an Expert" on Facebook I am not employed by Toyota, and the opinions expressed by me as a Prius Expert are not those of Toyota.

07-17-2005, 03:26 PM	#2
DaveG Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 807 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: C Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Test Drive: 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited I did some poking around on Toyota's website last night, and a few "Highlander Facts" that never really "sunk-in" finally broke through my late-night brain-fog. -There is no SE/SS in the highlander. This is simply a deal KILLER right there. I won't buy another vehicle that doesn't have that option unless it's completely unavailable. I have to take my key out of my pocket to get in or drive? How very old-fashioned... -Where is the big, beautiful multi-function display? Gone. No thanks. -Old fashioned analog gauges and fake woodgrain interior. -Old fashioned gear shift. And they want about $6,000 more than a fully decked-out Prius for the base model highlander hybrid... I suppose it's the result of Toyota grafting the HSD onto existing models rather than new models designed from-scratch, but I think I'd rather be in a cutting-edge vehicle, rather than something older with a new drivetrain. Dave

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07-17-2005, 04:30 PM	#3
dj_devil Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: O.C. California Posts: 3 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	If anybody has any questions (about our Hybrids the Prius or Highlander) just e-mail me at : xx_djdevil_xx@yahoo.com I work for Elmore Toyota. So if you in So. Cal and have some questions just e-mail me or stop by and I'd be more than happy to help anybody out; with pricing, options, etc. However if you do plan on stopping by or call : Ask for Martin Rom (its pronounced CD-ROM). I'll help you out as much as I can.

07-17-2005, 06:32 PM	#4
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	Well, I never found the Highlander to be of much value anyway. The base starts at $32k. The one most people will get is the 4WD V6 model which starts at $36k. $36k buys you a fully loaded Camry XLE V6!! Adding Camry features pushes it to $45k tops. Starting the base Highlander with 4WD V6 features at $44k is hella expensive. At least the "base" RX400h has some features (comparable to the Premium Package) instead basing it on the "base" RX330 model at $49k. The screen only comes with the Navigation System and since we don't have that option, no energy monitor. That's dumb. I think Toyota's a little optimistic with the SUV hybrids. Charging a higher "premium" than on the Prius because you're expecting high demand isn't the way to go. Sadly, the RX400h is actually more worth the value than the HiHy yet, not a lot of people can afford that $60-70k price tag.

07-17-2005, 07:05 PM	#5
DaveG Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 807 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: C Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Yup, I'd love to get the Lexus 400h, but at $70,000cdn for a loaded package, it's basically twice the cost of the Prius. Sure it's a Lexus, but is "a Lexus" worth another $35k? Not in my books... Hopefully Toyota continues to put their cutting-edge technology into the next major Prius redesign and only "tones-down" their other models for more conservative customers. Dave

07-17-2005, 07:46 PM	#6
dj_devil Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: O.C. California Posts: 3 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Let me tell something very important, no matter what car you want, no matter what options you chose (as long the car can be equipped with those options), then PRICE ISN'T IMPORTANT!!! You can negotiate price. Because price is determined upon many different factors (ex. how long the car has been on the lot...some dealers give outrageous offers if the cars been there for more than a month) However...you cant try to get a car that's got a sticker of lets just say 20K (and lets just say the dealership bought it for that much too) dont try to ask for 16K, NOT GUNNA HAPPEN!! give the dealership something reasonable, and you'll be surprised.

07-17-2005, 10:00 PM	#7
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	err.. reality check "dude" Up here, negotiation isn't possible. You pay MSRP, no higher, no lower. Of course you may ask the dealer for free accessories or credit towards oil changes etc. We never said anything about giving unreasonable offers, so chill! Dave, Yeah, I hope so. I like the RX, no doubt but yeah, there's nothing special other than the HSD system. True, the fuel mileage is better than our 4-cylinder Camry (I avg'd 9L/100km). I hope they add something special to the Camry Hybrid - something that isn't available on the non-hybrid models.