2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review: Long on Efficiency, Short on Space
2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review: Long on Efficiency, Short on Space
As with last model year, the 2023 Toyota Highlander is available with a gas-only or gas-electric hybrid powertrain, and Cars.com reviewer Jennifer Geiger breaks down the pros and cons of the hybrid version of the three-row SUV. She finds a lot to like in terms of fuel efficiency and multimedia controls but is left wanting more when it comes to cargo space and third-row accommodations. The Highlander was last redesigned for the 2020 model year, and changes for 2023 include larger available cabin screens and a new 265-horsepower, turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine for the gas-only Highlander, replacing the previous V-6. The Highlander Hybrid competes in a small group of hybrid three-row SUVs that also includes the Ford Explorer Hybrid and the Sorento Hybrid.
Find a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid for sale near you: https://www.cars.com/shopping/toyota-…
See the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s pricing, trims and specs: https://www.cars.com/research/toyota-…
Read more about the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: https://www.cars.com/articles/2023-to…
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:33 Driving
0:50 Fuel economy
2:26 Controls
3:35 Cabin storage
4:03 Car seats
5:06 Cargo
5:36 Pricing
Editorial mission:
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Content
0.141 -> (upbeat music)
5.97 -> - Shoppers looking for
a hybrid three row SUV
8.67 -> don't have a lot of choices.
10.41 -> And the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
13.05 -> should definitely be considered.
14.88 -> It does a lot of things
well like fuel efficiency
17.64 -> and multimedia controls,
19.29 -> but it struggles in other areas
20.94 -> that might be as important to you,
22.8 -> like cargo space and third row room.
25.38 -> I'll show you what I mean.
26.88 -> First, the good.
28.26 -> The Highlander Hybrid has the overall
30.12 -> comfortable road manners
of the regular hybrid.
32.82 -> From a stop, the Hybrid
is decently responsive
36.24 -> and adequately powered.
37.95 -> It's handling is predictably
unexciting but stable
41.25 -> and it rides comfortably.
42.63 -> Where it departs is in
fuel efficiency and noise.
46.83 -> The Hybrid system pairs a 2.5
liter four cylinder engine
49.861 -> with two electric motors
for 243 horsepower.
53.7 -> It uses a continuously
variable automatic transmission
56.414 -> and comes in front or all-wheel drive.
59.075 -> In combined city highway driving,
61.29 -> the front wheel drive model is EPA rated
63.24 -> at 36 miles per gallon.
65.22 -> All-wheel drive knocks that to 35.
67.53 -> That's about 10 miles per gallon
more than the gas version.
70.8 -> It's similar to its main
rival, the Kia Sorento Hybrid
73.651 -> which has a combined EPA
rating of 37 miles per gallon
77.28 -> with front wheel drive and
34 with all-wheel drive.
80.73 -> Another pro is the Hybrids
regenerative braking system.
84 -> It captures braking energy
that would normally be lost
86.97 -> and is among the smoothest I've tested.
89.25 -> Where some hybrid brakes feel brick like
91.17 -> and have a non-linear responsiveness,
93.3 -> the Highlander hybrids feel almost normal
95.46 -> with little of the awkward grabbiness
97.23 -> of some other hybrid's
breaks, but it's not all good.
100.77 -> The engine is loud and obtrusively so.
103.68 -> Despite power feeling adequate,
it doesn't sound like it
106.89 -> and it groans loudly from a
stop if the engine is engaged
110.07 -> and complains during any
type of acceleration.
112.642 -> There's also a fair amount
114.09 -> of strange mechanical whirring noises
115.83 -> from the Hybrid system.
117.93 -> EV mode was also a disappointment.
119.91 -> The Hybrid has normal, eco,
and sport driving modes
123.06 -> plus an EV mode with low
speed electric driving
125.73 -> for short distances.
127.38 -> I found it difficult to
stay in EV mode for long.
130.44 -> Once enabled, it was
finicky and worked only
132.9 -> at parking lot speeds and
only for a couple of minutes.
136.14 -> But transitions from electric mode
137.88 -> to engine power were smooth.
140.07 -> Inside, there's a lot to like about
142.02 -> the Highlander's control setup.
144.03 -> My test platinum model uses
the new multimedia system
147.362 -> that pairs two 12.3 inch screens.
150.57 -> One for the gauge cluster
and one for the touchscreen.
154.08 -> The central touchscreen
has a lot going for it
156.51 -> including crisp graphics, a
straightforward menu structure,
160.08 -> and seamless wireless apple CarPlay
162.12 -> and Android auto smartphone connection.
164.4 -> The climate controls under
the screen are also large,
167.16 -> clearly marked, and very easy to use.
169.74 -> Two things annoyed
during my test, however.
172.29 -> First, the volume knob is a stretch.
174.51 -> I can't comfortably reach
it while I'm driving.
177.09 -> I can use the steering wheel controls
178.89 -> but it's not the same.
180.42 -> Second, while overall I think
the new infotainment system
183.51 -> is easy to navigate, it's
missing a key feature,
186.099 -> a home button.
187.56 -> Without it, it's kind
of annoying to navigate
190.02 -> from the Android auto screen
191.706 -> back to the cars native radio controls.
194.88 -> For example, if you wanna know
like, who sings this song?
198 -> You have to go into the apps menu,
199.92 -> hit the Toyota button,
201.33 -> to then go back to the
satellite radio controls.
204.39 -> It's not a deal breaker
but it's an annoying,
206.4 -> odd extra step.
208.02 -> A couple of things stand
out in terms of space,
210.27 -> both good and bad.
211.44 -> On the positive side, the
Highlander has a bunch
213.99 -> of small items storage that
makes the cabin more useful.
217.47 -> One of my favorites is
this small dash shelf
220.05 -> that my husband may have
used to hold french fries.
223.38 -> And another one is this
giant console storage box
226.41 -> that slides open.
227.37 -> It's really big.
228.96 -> The Highlander Hybrid has
seats for seven or eight
231.36 -> depending on how it's configured.
233.13 -> This model has second row captains chairs
235.47 -> that are roomy and comfortable.
237.3 -> There's also exposed lower latch anchors
239.46 -> for easy car seat connection.
241.47 -> I installed a variety of rear
and forward facing car seats
244.68 -> in the second row, and they all
went in easily and fit well,
247.95 -> thanks to the exposed anchors,
249.66 -> removable head restraints,
and ample second row legroom.
253.11 -> Things are very different
in the third row.
255.27 -> First, it's tough getting back here.
257.4 -> Even my small 12 year old daughter
258.99 -> had a hard time getting back here.
260.85 -> Second, leg room is tight
262.68 -> and the second row needs to move up
264.66 -> in order for the third
row to have any leg room.
267.66 -> There's technically three seats back here
269.46 -> but if you install a car
seat, only one will fit.
272.85 -> There are no lower anchors back here
274.71 -> and the only top tether
anchor, which is essential
277.26 -> when installing a forward facing car seat,
279.42 -> is in the middle position.
280.95 -> That's the only seat that has a removable
282.78 -> head restraint too,
which needs to come out
285.36 -> to fit a car seat or booster
flush against the seat back.
288.63 -> The problem is that the
middle spot is narrow,
291.18 -> so putting a car seat
there means taking up
293.22 -> part of the other two seats.
295.08 -> The center seatbelt also
comes down from the ceiling,
297.69 -> which blocks the driver's
view when in use.
300.66 -> Things are just as dismal
behind the third row,
303.6 -> where the Highlander Hybrid has
just 8.6 cubic feet of space
307.41 -> according to cars.com's measurements.
309.66 -> The regular Highlander
also has the same amount
312.27 -> of space or lack thereof.
313.98 -> But to be fair, the Sorento
hybrid also struggles
316.438 -> with room behind the third row
and even has a little less.
320.43 -> I attempted to do a full grocery run
322.5 -> for my family of five and could only fit
324.51 -> a few bags back here.
325.86 -> You'll either have to put
the third row seat down
328.11 -> or put some bags throughout the cabin.
330.48 -> The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
332.7 -> starts at around $41,000.
335.16 -> Compared with a similarly
equipped regular Highlander,
338.13 -> The hybrid powertrain adds about $1,400.
341.28 -> Meanwhile, the Kia Sorento
Hybrid starts at around $38,000.
345.93 -> The Highlander Hybrid
comes loaded with a lot
348.09 -> of standard safety features
and driver assist tech,
351.09 -> such as automatic emergency braking
353.16 -> that can detect pedestrians and cyclists,
355.645 -> as well as adaptive cruise control,
357.93 -> a blind spot monitor with
rear cross traffic alert,
360.72 -> hands-on lane centering,
and automatic high beams.
364.08 -> I like the Highlander Hybrid's
365.73 -> mostly comfortable driving
manners and efficient powertrain
369.51 -> but if you need to
routinely haul three rows
371.82 -> of people and stuff, it
might not work for you.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izk_Q1gihkM