The creative design engineers at Toyota feel that the car is a mix of complex personalities that can well be defined only when they work together to make the Highlander stand apart in a crowded marketplace of hybrid cars.
Everything about this SUV seems to be proportionately larger than in most cars in the same range like the 7-passenger space.
The Highlander Hybrid has the latest Camry chassis, while the wheelbase has been increased by 3 inches, and its overall length and width has also increased by 4 inches and 3 inches respectively.
Three rows of seating on the inside and elegant interiors are tempting enough for any large family or mid-sized family. With so much of space and such a huge body, there’s no wonder that this new vehicle has put on some extra weight. It now weighs 263 pounds more than the previous model.
One of the major highlights or rather the central personality of the 2008 Highlander Hybrid is its upgraded 3.3-liter, V6 engine that can produce almost 270 horsepower.
The best thing is that even with the variable transmission the SUV is no where near being sluggish. The V6 engine makes sure that this heavy built personality can cruise to 60 mph in 7.5-seconds.
The Highlander has everything that an SUV should have and even drives like one, which makes it difficult for people to understand if it is an SUV or a mid-sized family car.
Equipped with a electronic power steering, it takes much less effort to turn the Highlander around a sharp bend or to maneuver it through curves. Another salient point of this huge vehicle is that it can be comfortably glided into the tightest of parking spaces.
The suspension of the Highlander has gone through some transformation to handle the 19-inch wheels.
The Highlander will live up to most of your expectations and offers three different methods of maximizing fuel economy. The System Indicator in the Highlander Hybrid has 2 automatic modes: the Normal and the Acceleration mode.
There is an EV switch closer to the central console, which will allow you to operate the Highlander Hybrid in the electric mode for small distances and at low speeds.
One of the new characteristics added to the existing personality is the Econ drive mode. Econ has the ability to activate a specific control program that is used to restrain the throttle response of the power-train or it does not let you accelerate beyond a certain point.
The 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the perfect car for those who want the best of both the worlds: power and space of SUV and comforts of a sedan.
