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Thinking of getting a new 2015 or 2016 Highlander Hybrid

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by devprius, Oct 22, 2015.

  1. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    We're in the market for a Highlander Hybrid to replace our aging, but reliable, 2004 Sienna XLE Limited. I'm a little annoyed that Toyota forces you to get the Hybrid in the Limited or Limited Platinum trim levels, which pushes the price upwards of $50K. Ouch. I'm leaning towards a Platinum mostly because it comes with the Driver Technology Package automatically, and doesn't force us to get the Rear Seat Entertainment Package. All of the Limiteds I could find in Northern California didn't have the Driver Tech package, and the ones in Southern California that did have the Driver Tech Package all had the Rear Seat Entertainment package bundled in. Our needs have changed such that the RSE is no longer necessary (no longer hauling kids all the time). Our other challenge is finding a Limited Platinum in Nautical Blue Metallic.

    Looking for recent experiences with the car, specifically real world gas mileage. While the car is EPA rated at 28, I know that the way we drive, we probably won't get that. We're used to getting around 20 to 21 in the Sienna, which was EPA rated around 25 on the highway, which is where most of our driving will be (lots of drives to Southern California from Northern California).
     
  2. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Have you looked at the RX hybrids? With the way Toyota equips and prices the HiHy, the Lexus may not be real far out in price. It is at least available without AWD, which it sounds like you don't really need.
     
  3. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    I considered the RX hybrids, but the wife wants the ability to haul 7 passengers. Yes, I've sat in the back on the HiHy, and I definitely wouldn't want to be in the back for a long car ride, but for a short drive around 30 or 40 minutes, it would be acceptable. Then again, I'm never likely to be in the back...
     
  4. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    My parents have I believe a 2006 or 2008 non hybrid highlander and gets real world mpg of about 12-13, that's mostly driving in the suburbs..

    Not sure how hybridizing can over double the real world mpg... Maybe though.

    Good luck in your search.
     
  5. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    Wow, only 12 to 13? Do they do a lot of short trips where the engine doesn't warm up properly? That's the only reason I could see for such poor mileage.

    When I recently rented a HiHy for a day (the PiP was getting it's 90K service), the computer claimed I was getting about 26 to 27 MPG. I did about a hundred miles that day. And this was in a combination of freeway and city driving, and I wasn't driving the car in the most sedate manner...
     
  6. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Yes, that's correct... Lots of short trips.

    My father told me today his Highlander is a 2006 with 40000 miles...so yeah they don't drive to far too often. Lol.

    My mother mostly drives the highlander and she works only a couple miles from the house and does the usual shopping trips and other local stuff. No real hwy so to speak. My father said that he has seen up to 23 hwy in the past though.
     
    #6 Blizzard_Persona, Oct 24, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2015
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    I can get 28 to 29 mpg in our 2001 Sable on my commute and road trips. It only has 63k miles on it. So I don't think about what my wife gets on her one mile or so grocery runs.
     
  8. M8s

    M8s Retired and Lovin' It

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    I have a 2015 Highlander Hybrid. I got it on 09/02/14 and have about 19.500 miles on it now. My car has averaged about 30 mpg in the past year. I get 31 to 31.5 mpg when I travel from Denver to Fairplay, which I do fairly often (I go fishing up that way a lot). That round trip covers around 200 miles and goes over the Continental Divide (twice, of course). The speed limit on that trip varies between 45 to 65 mph with a lot of it at 55 mph, which is right in the mpg "happy zone," apparently. Around town, I average 28 to 28.5 mpg, which is (more or less) what the epa sticker suggests. I also travel from Denver to Casper WY and from Denver to Mesa AZ and get about 27 to 28 mpg on the highway, depending on weather. Any other questions I can help you with?
     
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  9. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    Thanks for the feedback. This helps a lot. We're not exactly what you'd call conservative drivers, usually doing between 75 and 80 on I-5 in the central valley of California. It's a pretty long and straight piece of highway where 75+ is the norm and even the trucks do 65 to 70. We probably won't get near what you do, but it's nice to know it's possible to meet or exceed the EPA estimates.

    Which model did you get, Limited or Platinum? If just Limited, did you get the Driver Tech Package, and if so, how do you like it? And did you add the trailer hitch to the car, and if so, how well does the car tow and did you add a brake controller?
     
  10. M8s

    M8s Retired and Lovin' It

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    I got a Limited - no platinum package. The dealer was due to receive a 2015 HiHy in 2 days, it was pearl white with tan leather interior (our favorite color combo) and it had some factory-installed options I wanted. So, rather than order one and wait weeks or months, I jumped on it. It does have the blind spot monitor, cross traffic monitor and parking alignment lines. I would've gotten more safety features (radar cruise control, etc.) if I could have, though.
    I don't tow - the hitch is for a pontoon carrier which fits vertically (like a bike rack). The hitch is cool as it is integrates into the bumper cover without lessening ground clearance.
     
  11. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    We're ordering a 2016 Limited Platinum in Nautical Blue Metallic. We don't need the car for another 3 or 4 months, so we're okay with waiting to get the exact car we want. The dealer we're working with supposedly will have it in our hands by January. We too are going to be using a hitch mounted cargo carrier for extra space, and we'll occasionally be towing with it (a popup camper).
     
  12. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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  13. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    Didn't know they were coming out with one. First drive: 2016 Toyota RAV4 hybrid first drive

    I really think the hybrid highlander is just too much money for what it is. I wish Toyota could drop a hybrid powertrain in their sienna. Lots of room for one.
     
  14. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    Finding room for the battery pack would be the hardest part. There's not a ton of excess room for it. You could potentially sacrifice the underfloor spare and put runflats on the car but runflats offer a harsher ride, which is not suitable for a family hauler like the Sienna. You'd also potentially have to raise up the floor, which also goes against the family friendly layout of the van. A big advantage of the van for us has been the large cargo capacity it has when you fold down the third row and seats and tumble the middle seats foward.
     
  15. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    Update: pulled the trigger and took delivery on a 2016 Highlander Hybrid Platinum yesterday. So far so good.
     
    wjtracy, Tideland Prius and Jeff N like this.
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Congrats! Keep us posted with your user experience.
     
  17. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    2nd update: Got a flat tire after just 400 miles. Cause was a screw that embedded itself in the tread. Toyota Roadside service put the spare on it fairly quickly and I had a local tire shop patch it for $35. The TPMS reset itself automagically after the tire was repaired.

    So far we're averaging about 24 to 25 MPG according to the computer. About 60% highway, 40% city driving. I'll have a better feel for MPG after this next tank, and after a run down to Southern California later this month. Decent amount of power in the car.

    Love the touch screen on this model. Way way way more responsive than the one in my Base PiP. The navigation system is a lot like the one I had in my 2005 Prius. Definitely prefer this one than the one in the PiP. However, I don't like the fact that if you are driving, and you select a destination, it won't show you all three route types (Quick, Short, and Alternate) to select from. Instead it picks whatever is the current preferred type. If you are stopped, it will show you the 3 types. In the PiP, it shows all three types no matter whether you are stopped or driving. Just a minor annoyance. The voice command system is also way better. Faster and able to understand what is said much more easily.

    Also love the fact that I can browse my phone's entire music library via Bluetooth. In the PiP, you can only do this if you are plugged in.

    Must have the Entune app running on the phone in order to use the Entune app suite, like Fuel Guide, Pandora, etc. But you don't have to have it plugged in, or setup a DUN/PAN connection and use your phone as a hotspot. Traffic is either via the HD radio in certain markets (supposedly the top 100 or so), or via the phone's data connection if that is available. You can configure it to only use HD traffic. There is no data via Satellite.

    If you are listening to regular radio and get a phone call, the car will buffer the radio, and resume playing after your call is over. That can be rather handy. However, this doesn't work on Satellite. My wife's 2011 Mini Countryman, however, allows you to buffer the satellite radio. Don't know if we ever tested if that works on regular radio in her car. Will have to try the next I'm in it.

    More updates to come...
     
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  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    We're getting a bonus user experience of the latest Entune Audio systems. :) Thanks!
     
  19. M8s

    M8s Retired and Lovin' It

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    The Highlander Hybrid also has a small heads-up display (between the gauges) that I use all the time and like a lot. On the heads-up display, if you move it one click to the right, a small sign appears showing the local speed limit (works on most roads). I use that all the time as I drive through a lot of small towns and on local roads where speeds aren't well posted and the police like to hand out tickets. It is amazing how quickly it updates when the speed limit changes.