First Impressions of the Toyota Highlander for 2009
As time has gone by several things can be said about the Toyota Highlander series: including the strong reaction most buyers have towards their truck. The 6-cylinder engine is at the core of the strong emotions, it is reliable for its class and delivers a huge amount of torque.
Toyota Highlander Engine Specs
The restyled Highlander Hybrid Limited is equipped with a Toyota 3.3-liter 6-cylinder engine that utilizes a total of 24 valves. The engine is paired with a N/A 4-speed transaxle. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Toyota.
The Highlander uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The truck uses coil and coil springs front and rear respectively.
Vehicle Statistics
The Highlander is 189.20 inches long, 71.70 inches wide, and 57.90 inches high. It has a wheelbase of 109.30 inches. It is able to seat 5 comfortably.
The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $19,770 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $18,088. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Sport Utility.
Fuel Efficiency
The fuel system for the 2009 Highlander is a SFI design, running on ELECTRIC/GAS fuel. The fuel flow is regulated by a electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The storage capacity of the fuel tank is 18.50 gallons.
The Highlander Hybrid Limited received a miles-per-gallon rating of twenty one in-city driving and thirty one when it came to long-distance. Being a electric/gas-powered hybrid truck, this was exceptional.
Conclusion
The 2008 model began the promise of the Toyota Highlander. The 2009 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers Toyota hopes that the Highlander Hybrid Limited will continue to be a profitable vehicle.
Toyotas are my favorite
Blah
I’m sure that Toyota is up to it’s old tricks with the Highlander? I’m hoping the 2010 version is better.