2017 Toyota Highlander SE AWD Review

In the event that the car showcase were an area potluck, Toyota would dependably be welcomed. It may not generally serve the spiciest or most intriguing dishes, yet what Toyota conveys to the gathering normally fulfills the majority. Also, the revived 2017 Highlander and Highlander mixture are the prepared chicken and pureed potatoes of the car world. For 2017, in any case, Toyota has added more zest to the formula as more intense and proficient V-6 and half breed powertrains, while additionally refreshing the prevalent SUV's styling. It even concocted another variety as the Highlander SE.

Huge Primpin'

The Highlander's recently discovered style begins with an upgraded front end, with adjusted headlamp innards (counting bended LED complements on SE, Limited, and Limited Platinum models) and maybe the most stretched out grille outside of a Peterbilt. All Highlanders utilize new LED taillamps, while Limited and Platinum models add chrome-ringed reflectors to their guards. The SE demonstrate looks more evil (well, as vile as a Highlander can look), with obscured body highlights for the grille, headlamp encompasses, and rooftop rails, alongside 19-inch wheels.

Inside changes are more subtle. All models now have a 4.2-inch shading show between the measures and also a huge number of USB ports—three in front and two in, sufficiently back to satisfy various cell phones and tablets. Top-rack Limited Platinum models wear new false wood trim, while SE models rather utilize highlights with a dull "specialized example." All models aside from the SE now can be requested with eight-traveler seating (which means a moment push seat); the SE must manage with seven seats, its calfskin secured chief's seats embellished with a striped "lace" in the pads.

In any event as engaging the Highlander's family-totin' customers, we think, will be the standard fitment of the Toyota Safety Sense driver-help includes on all forms. This incorporates versatile voyage control, forward-impact cautioning with person on foot recognition and computerized crisis braking, path takeoff alarm, path keeping help, and programmed high-bars. Blind side observing goes ahead everything except the base LE.

Better Six

Alternate news for the 2017 Highlander includes its motor, Toyota's port-and-direct-infused V-6—referred to by motor code nerds as 2GR-FKS. It brings an additional aiding of pull and enhanced mileage to both V-6 and half and half models. The V-6, now basic to cross breed and nonhybrid models, is fit for running the Atkinson cycle, despite the fact that the mixture utilizes the more effective motor cycle all the more as often as possible. All create the same 295 pull at 6600 rpm and 263 lb-ft of torque at 4700 rpm, increments of 25 strength and 15 lb-ft of torque over the past V-6. The half breed's front and back electric engines bring its aggregate framework yield to 306 drive, versus the past 280; the accessibility of the cross breed additionally is extended to the LE and XLE notwithstanding the pricier Limited and Limited Platinum trims.

Efficiency evaluations increment similarly as essentially. Because of another eight-speed programmed, the nonhybrid's EPA city evaluations increment from 18 (AWD) and 19 mpg (FWD) to 19 and 21, and parkway numbers increment by 2 mpg, to 26 and 27 for 2017. Mixtures, which keep on using electronically controlled variable drive proportions, now are evaluated at 30 mpg city and 28 thruway for LE models and 29/27 mpg for XLE trim levels or more.

The base 2.7-liter four-chamber motor with 185 strength and 184 lb-ft of torque extends unaltered with front-wheel drive just and a six-speed programmed transmission. Just 7 percent of Highlanders are sold with the four-banger, as indicated by a Toyota representative, and that take rate will undoubtedly drop advance with the presentation of the enhanced V-6, particularly given the four-banger's frustrating mileage of 20 mpg city and 24 parkway.

Since this was simply a first drive and not an instrumented test, we'll need to hold up to perceive how much the new V-6's additional muscle enhances speeding up times. We can state, be that as it may, that controlling the 2017 Highlander far from a stoplight or overwhelming a Winnebago on a nation two-path isn't considerably more energizing than previously. Speeding up is strong if not rankling, fittingly snappy for an eight-traveler SUV. The church building grade quietness that conceals the lodge while cruising respects a to some degree coarse, baritone thunder under full increasing speed, as with the past V-6. In the cross breed, the motor appeared to be considerably calmer amid our short drive, and the stop/begin framework that is currently standard on all Highlanders is for all intents and purposes imperceptible.

Natural Dynamics

As previously, winding streets will have the Highlander posting from side to side, albeit less so in the SE display with its stiffer springs and retuned dampers. Brakes on the nonhybrid models rouse certainty, however the half and half displayed a similar nonlinearity that we've noted in this model already, as the vitality recovery framework advances to mechanical braking. It additionally had a vexing torque-steer issue. Toyota engineers ascribed this to adjustment of the electrically helped control guiding framework in the preproduction illustration we drove; its against torque-steer rationale had not yet been concluded, they said. It ought to be settled before the crossover achieves showrooms.

The 2017 Highlander goes marked down in November, with definite estimating to be declared soon. Given the value affectability of numerous Highlander clients, we don't anticipate that 2017 costs will rise much from 2016 levels. The 2016 Highlander begins at $31,430 for the base LE four-barrel and ascends to $44,470 for the Limited Platinum V-6; cross breed models as of now cost about $7000 more than their V-6 partners. With the half and half powertrain being made accessible on the lower trims, in any case, the cost of passage into a Highlander cross breed will be much lower than previously. We'll see whether that tempts more families to attempt that greener dish, or whether they stay with the (better than ever) standard formula.

2017 Toyota Highlander V-6 AWD Review

Like the 1986 film Highlander, the Toyota SUV that offers its name is a group pleaser that neglects to motivate enthusiasm among commentators. After more than 190,000 Highlanders moved off merchant parcels a year ago, Toyota's moderate size hybrid SUV entered 2017 with a large group of changes went for fulfilling the majority and savants alike.

Remarkably, all Highlanders, from the base $31,590 LE to the highest point of-the-line $48,840 Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum, now come standard with a pre-impact cautioning framework with person on foot location and robotized crisis braking, in addition to path takeoff cautioning, path keeping help, versatile journey control, and programmed high-shafts. Our everything wheel-drive $43,184 Highlander XLE test auto additionally stuffed blind side observing, an element inaccessible on the lower-level Highlander LE and LE Plus.

Going with the 2017 Highlander's various security frameworks is the most recent variation of Toyota's 3.5-liter V-6 motor. The six-barrel is standard on everything except the base front-wheel-drive Highlander LE—which keeps on utilizing a weak 185-hp inline-four—and joins a large group of present day advances, including an immediate and port fuel-infusion framework and an overhauled valvetrain that enables the motor to keep running on the more effective Atkinson cycle. Appraised at a solid 295 strength and 263 lb-ft of torque, the amended V-6 makes 25 more horses and an extra 15 lb-ft contrasted and the past unit. Efficiency is up, as well, with the front-wheel-drive 2017 Highlander V-6 procuring an EPA-appraised 23 mpg joined; all-wheel-drive models accomplish 22 mpg. The two figures check a 2-mpg change over a year ago's Highlander and put the hybrid inside 1 mpg of the four-barrel Mazda CX-9's consolidated efficiency figures.

Toyota's 2GR-FKS six is a pearl of a motor that fabricates control as far as possible up to its 6800-rpm redline. At the track, this Highlander shaved 0.3 second off of its antecedent's zero-to-60-mph and 30-to-50-mph times, hitting the imprints in 7.0 and 3.8 seconds, separately. Shockingly, the 2017 Highlander's 5.6-second 50-to-70-mph sitting back was both moderate for the class and about a moment behind that of its forgo. Accuse the new eight-speed programmed transmission's aversion to downshift. Notwithstanding, the reconsidered Highlander's V-6 offers a lot of snort in most genuine driving circumstances. Much obliged to some extent to our test auto's programmed stop-begin framework, we dealt with a sensible 21 mpg amid our opportunity with the hybrid, 2 mpg superior to anything what we got from a Mazda CX-9.

The Element of Crossover

In the event that the 2017 Highlander's V-6 powertrain is what might as well be called Highlander's enchanting Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez (played via Sean Connery), at that point the hybrid's patched up outside plan is much the same as the film's great looking however forgettable hero, Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert). New front and back sashes, refreshed headlamps, and an appealing arrangement of LED taillights give the Highlander a more durable, SUV-like appearance. Be that as it may, regardless we wouldn't put it very on an indistinguishable level of engaging quality from the butch Dodge Durango or the shapely CX-9.

Dissimilar to the outside, the Highlander's inside has been left to a great extent untouched. Toyota added four more USB ports, conveying the aggregate to five—three in front and two in the back. The cockpit includes various helpful stockpiling alcoves, including a rack that traverses the lower dashboard and an enormous focus reassure canister that can oblige almost a cubic foot of different things. Ergonomic flaws incorporate hard to-grasp temperature handles for the atmosphere control framework and a touchscreen that is too far from the driver.

While base-level LE and LE Plus Highlanders accompany a standard second-push seat situate, the XLE, SE, Limited, and Limited Platinum grades accompany commander's seats in the center. (The seat situate is a no-taken a toll choice on the XLE, Limited, and Limited Platinum.) Space is ample in the second line, however we found that our seven-traveler test auto's basin seats were mounted too low for ideal solace. All things considered, the Highlander's sliding and leaning back second-push seats resembled a couple of La-Z-Boy chairs contrasted and the thin and shaky 60/40 split-collapsing third-push seat. Legroom in the wayback is only 27.7 inches, an entire six inches less than what the Volkswagen Atlas' rearmost column offers. On the off chance that you consistently pull enough travelers to justify visit utilization of the third line, think about the Atlas, a Honda Pilot, or a Ford Flex.

Shadow of a SUV

Despite the Highlander's carlike unibody development and low advance in tallness, this medium size hybrid's taking care of helps us to remember an out-dated body-on-outline SUV, as its delicately sprung suspension permits intemperate body come in turns. On the in addition to side, the suspension retains street anomalies with nary a shiver, and the electrically helped controlling is moderately fast and by and large all around weighted.

At 4560 pounds, our everything wheel-drive Highlander test auto was no lightweight, and the overabundance mass made itself known while applying the brakes, as the Toyota required 181 feet of landing area to prevent from 70 mph—11 feet more than a 161-pound-lighter all-wheel-drive GMC Acadia Denali.

With an as-tried cost of $43,184, our Toasted Walnut Pearl Highlander XLE wore $3704 in choices. Of that count, all-wheel drive includes $1460 and furthermore brings minimal mud folds, slope plummet control, and a show setting inside the 4.2-inch check bunch screen that shows torque circulation among the Highlander's four wheels. A $1810 raise situate excitement framework was the most costly alternative, while $434 purchased floor tangles and body-side moldings. Standard things included route, a nearness key with push-catch begin, and a sunroof, and previously mentioned highlights, for example, a blind side observing framework and cowhide trimmed first-and second-push seats (Toyota upholsters the third line in vinyl).

While the Highlander's inert taking care of and cramped third column keep on curbing our excitement for the Indiana-assembled hybrid, the refreshed 2017 Highlander's not insignificant rundown of standard security and accommodation highlights, all the more effective and fuel-proficient V-6 motor, and enhanced outside styling will keep on attracting crowds of customers searching for an agreeable and sensibly estimated average size hybrid SUV.