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| 2007 Toyota Highlander |
The Limited comes with the ubiquitous third row as standard.Toyota Highlander is lush with standard safety features. You get the expected six airbags, three-point seatbelts and anchors for child seats, but there's also tire-pressure monitoring. A gaggle of systems, including vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, keeps the rig in check. The available four-wheel-drive system is better for light off-roading than the rugged stuff. Besides revised headlights, all Highlanders now feature standard side airbags. The Sport features a 215-hp engine and a sport-tuned suspension on 4WD models.
Toyota has an excellent reputation for reliability. Two minor problems affected the early Highlander: Engine noise and erratic warning lights. Expect above average reliability. The Toyota Highlander earned perfect five-star government crash test ratings. All models come with full side airbags, anti-lock brakes, brake assist, tire-pressure monitoring, whiplash preventing head restraints, and traction and stability control.
Pros
+ Excellent reliability
+ Great crash test scores
+ Available third-row seating
Cons
- Small standard engine
- Aging feature list
- Hard to access third row seat
Toyota's SUV measures 71.9 inches wide, rides a 106.9-inch wheelbase and stretches to 184.6 inches in overall length. A third-row seat that boosts seating to seven passengers is available. Toyota's 2.4-liter four-cylinder produces 155 horsepower and the 3.3-liter V-6 generates 215 hp. The "Toyota Highlander" is available with front- or all-wheel drive, which lacks a Low range.
Toyota's Star Safety System consists of an electronic stability system, traction control and antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. Side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for the first two rows of seats are also standard.
Confident, capable handling and an exceptionally smooth ride are the Highlander's principal attributes.
For 2006, Toyota launched a hybrid-powered version of its Toyota Highlander SUV that features a new second-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Sporting a minor headlamp update for 2007, the Highlander Hybrid looks nearly identical to the regular Highlander. Aluminum wheels hold 17-inch tires, and Toyota includes an extended hybrid-powertrain warranty.
TheToyota Highlander Hybrid achieves an SULEV emissions rating, and front- and all-wheel-drive versions are offered. Lexus, Toyota's luxury division, markets a hybrid SUV named the RX 400h.
The Highlander Hybrid provides standard seating for five and optional seating for seven. Three battery packs sit under the rear seat, which is 20 millimeters higher than the regular Toyota Highlander's. Combining a 208-hp, 3.3-liter V-6 engine and an electric motor, the Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain generates 268 total hp. When equipped with all-wheel drive, a separate electric motor drives the rear wheels.