This mid-size crossover is equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. Gasoline engines use variable valve timing on both the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft.
Toyota said that the variable cooling system and fully variable oil pump help improve engine efficiency. The system has a power of 243 horsepower; we have an AWD version, but there is also a front-wheel drive version.
All these improvements are translated into the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which has a fuel efficiency rating of 35 mpg for the city, 34 mpg for the highway, and 35 mpg for the highway.
The transaxle mounts the motors (MG1 and MG2) coaxially instead of in series, resulting in a smaller and lighter package that reduces friction losses. The gasoline engine and MG2 work together to provide dynamic performance, while both MG1 and MG2 charge the hybrid battery.
In order to reduce the size and weight of the drive axle, the reduction gear is a parallel shaft gear instead of a planetary gear, and it integrates a power distribution planetary ring gear, a parking gear, and a multifunctional gear with a reverse drive gear. Computer integration and a smaller, lighter power pack mounted directly above the drive axle help reduce energy transmission losses.
The battery pack is small enough to fit under the rear seats, so it won’t take up any cargo or passenger space. This means that Highlander Hybrid drivers can get all the benefits of a hybrid system without sacrificing the much-needed cargo compartment for daily activities.
Almost, we found that the third row of our test vehicle had almost no headroom. Most of the content we just wrote comes directly from Toyota’s press materials, and it sounds good, and it’s true. But the improvement of material comfort and daily driving is a true story. Toyota has transformed the Highlander Hybrid into a premium crossover.
Highlander Hybrid is old school, but it doesn’t look that way. The interior of our test vehicle is leather. There are heated and cooled seats. It has a skylight. There is a shelf under the dashboard that it spans.
We noticed that the meter is analog, with a power meter on the left, a speedometer on the right, and a TFT screen in the middle. We are also very happy that the audio system can use a volume knob and another knob to adjust the station.
It seems clear to us that the designers of the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid took the driver and passengers into consideration. There are not many controls that require you to take out the user manual to figure out how to work.
They also got rid of software that sends certain settings back to default values, in other words, turning off when the vehicle is turned off. If you turn on the heated seats, they are still on when we restart the car, and so does the heated steering wheel.
There are three riding modes: sports, normal and ecological. Highlander can also enter the full electric vehicle mode within a short distance, and can also be set to off-road mode.
The infotainment touch screen can display audio information, navigation details and climate control. Yes, it can be divided into three information channels.
There are three USB drives and a 12V plug under the shelf. The wireless charger is really deep on the center console. The second row area has its own climate control device and a manual privacy screen on the side. Two other USB jacks and a 120V plug with grounding are also accessible from the second row.
We are not satisfied with two things. They need to do better in making the electronic continuously variable transmission silent. The Highlander is fast enough, but the noise of the ECVT under hard acceleration makes it sound as if the vehicle has nowhere to go.
And the third row of seats has no headroom for adults. This is a space for shorter and younger people. However, getting into the third row is relatively easy. Electric lift doors and 360-degree panoramic cameras were appreciated when driving out of our driveway and loading cargo.
Post time: Nov-11-2021
