2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid – Green, Green It’s Green I Say……

Sandi Pedersen, www.car-data.com

Let’s see’, I bring my groceries home in reusable grocery bags, I recycle all paper and plastic,I clean with only organic detergents, I purchase natural grown fruits and vegetables and last weekI drove the Highlander Hybrid. Yes, I am doing my part to save the planet and go green.

Little of substance has changed between the 2008 and the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. My testvehicle had the 3.3L V6 engine and electric motor which provided good smooth acceleration andallowed it to achieve highway speeds easily. When you turn the key it seems like nothing happens.Rest assured, the vehicle is operational. The gas engine doesn’t start until it is needed. The gasengine also shuts off at stoplights but starts up again and gets moving when accelerating. Underthe right conditions (coolant temperatures and full battery charge) you can press the EV, electricvehicle mode, button and drive the Hybrid up to two miles at less than 25 miles per hour onelectric power alone. This is a great feature in stop and go traffic.

The Highlander is a so called cross-over SUV, meaning it’s built more like a car than a truck.As a result the Highlander offers a quiet cabin and a luxurious ride having been based on thearchitectural design of the Toyota Camry midsize sedan. Overall, I found the Toyota Highlander agreat way to move people. The second row seats can slide forward and back and getting into thefirst two rows is easy and the removable middle seat can also be replaced by a center console. Awalkthrough with fold and slide forward second-row seats add ease when accessing the optional thirdrow, which can actually accommodate both children and adults.

Toyota’s Highlander Hybrid comes standard with some of my favorite features. Smart Entry Systemwhich includes keyless entry and push button starting, a 3.5-inch multifunction display screen thatincludes a rear back up camera, a clock, tire-pressure display, air conditioning readout, outsidetemperature gauge and trip computer information. An automatic rear air conditioning system withrear vents for the second and third row seating was an added option on my test vehicle but one I’ddefinitely include.

The 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers more room and more power without giving up fuel economy. With 25 highway miles per gallon and 27 city miles per gallon the Hybrid offers excellent fueleconomy, particularly in the stop-and-go traffic or major metros. Emissions are also extremely low.If you add in the excellent reliability of a Toyota and resale value you can see why the HighlanderHybrid is a wise choice for active families and those who just want to ‘go green’

I have come to the realization that when I get into a vehicle for the first time, I immediatelylook at the cup holder options. Call me shallow or just an avid coffee drinker, who is seldomwithout a cup, but I found in talking to other people, women in particular, that this is a veryimportant aspect of how we feel about the vehicle.

On a scale of 1-10

Cup holders ‘ 10 With 10, plus a bottle holder in each door, there are plenty of storage spacesfor small items.