The award represents the culmination of a yearlong regimen of expert testing and evaluations that include an in-depth analysis of five-year cost-to-own data, vehicle pricing, sales numbers, actual transaction figures and other retail information, plus consumer reviews and ratings. The 2015 Highlander was named as the top midsize SUV/crossover in the first ever Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards, which recognize the top new vehicle choices available in the U.S. However, I’m not the only one giving it high marks. In my view, Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive is also the best hybrid powerplant package available, and like its gas-only sibling, the Hybrid boasts that hard-to-beat combination of roomy interior, high-quality materials, loads of features and seating for seven. It gets impressive mileage for a midsize crossover SUV - a combined 28 city/highway, while the gasoline-only version is rated at a mere 20. Too bad all the features on the gas engine model didn’t transfer over and that it only brings the fuel economy to 27 mpg.Although not much changed between the 20 model years, I still think the family-friendly 2015 Toyota Highlander is among the absolute best vehicles in this market space. When shopping for a family mid-size SUV that isn’t a gas guzzler, it’s ideal to have the 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid as an option. With the third row down, there’s plenty of cargo space. Fortunately, the glass portion opens so you don’t have to worry about everything in the back falling out when you open the cargo door. When the third row is up, the cargo area is limited. We were okay but had to lean our legs to the sides and jump out of the car often to stretch. Munchkin and I sat back here on and off for a good portion of six hours. Fortunately, the seat slides up and back fairly easily. Passengers in the second row will have to move their seats forward and get used to hopping out if more are riding in the third row. Frans did mention that the protruding wheel casing did cause some difficulty in getting out. In addition to a bottle holder on each door, a collapsible tray offers two more cup holders. Both passengers can move their seats forward and back so they can have oodles of legroom. The bucket seats in the second row are super comfortable. When we were driving a car group of six, there was plenty of fresh air moving and it wasn’t stuffy at all.Ģ015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review - Seating The separate climate controls for the back were so nice (also on the console). I loved being able to toss my crossover in this compartment when I jump in the car! The console does stick out quite a bit but it’s at a good height and position so that it doesn’t get in the way. The middle console is large enough to a small purse or bag as well as tablets. If you buy this car, you’ll have to make sure you keep plenty of 12V-USB adaptors on hand to keep everyone’s devices charged for long road trips. I suppose it has something to do with conserving energy but one USB port is not sufficient for a family car, even if there are several 12V outlets. In the other Highlander, there were tons of ports to charge mobile devices from every seat. One huge surprise was the lack of USB ports. It would have been dangerous for me to reach so far over so I used the controls on the steering wheel or waiting for a red light to change the channel.There’s plenty of room for your smartphone in the cutout area in the dash but it does look a bit strange. When I was driving by myself, though, I did notice that controls on the right side of the navigation screen were really far over. There are plenty of features in this car. There was some roll on the turns and often the car felt “heavy.” as if I was driving a huge truck that took more effort to stop and extra power to get going. The ride was smooth and handling was good. The Highlander Hybrid does feel like a big car but was fairly easy to drive. Not bad for a car of this size but less than what I hoped for. With the different engine, this vehicle was getting about 24 miles per gallon. The same sleek design, polished interior, and protruding rear lamps are also on this model. Outside the Highlander Hybrid looks very much the same. Fortunately, the 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is available.Ģ015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review - Similarities & Differences The only thing that could make it better, in my opinion, was if it had good gas mileage. It was roomy, had tons of features, and the redesign make the mid-size SUV look good. Last year I was able to test drive the Toyota Highlander, which I loved. Notable Features: Third row, nice interior finish, hybrid engine One-week vehicle loan was provided for review purposes.
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