- suv 119,578
- 30 below average
- 12,497 fair
- Parma, OH
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- autoshopper.com
- 30 below average suv 119,578 gasoline automatic
2008 toyota highlander review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. All-new version is bigger and better. introductionthe toyota highlander is completely new for 2008. After seven successful model years, the toyota highlander has been redesigned and re-engineered to enhance its strengths. The new version is bigger and roomier. It's also been made more powerful, though not at the expense of fuel economy. the 2008 toyota highlander is larger than its predecessor in every dimension. Those larger dimensions add up to increased cargo and passenger volume. the 2008 toyota highlander is an even better people mover than its predecessor. The second row can slide forward and back, and the third-row seat changes from an afterthought to a space hospitable for children and capable of carrying adults. Getting in and out of the first two rows is easy, and toyota provides both a walkthrough and a fold and slide forward second-row seat to ease access to the third row. the highlander is moving slightly upmarket for 2008. The standard 3. 5-liter v6 is larger and dramatically more powerful than last year's engine. In spite of this, fuel economy has been slightly improved. The 3. 5-liter v6 is buttery smooth, as is its five-speed transmission, which downshifts seamlessly to provide ample passing punch. Front-wheel-drive highlanders get 18/24 mpg city/highway. All-wheel drive models are rated slightly lower at 17/23 mpg. hybrid models keep the same 270-hp gas/electric power train as the 2005-07 models. The hybrid also provides smooth, plentiful power. The hybrid powertrain is rated at 27/25 mpg city/highway. While the epa ratings are not as good as those of the 2007 model (rated 31/27 mpg), fuel economy from the 2008 highlander is slightly better in real-world driving. Epa test procedures have changed for 2008 models and now are closer to what consumers can expect to get. highlanders come standard with front-wheel drive with all-wheel drive available for customers who want all-weather capability and enhanced safety. Hybrids come standard with all-wheel drive. the highlander is a so-called crossover suv, meaning it's built more like a car than a truck. The highlander is based on the architecture of the toyota camry midsize sedan. Overall, we found the 2008 toyota highlander to be a pleasant way to a group of people. lineupthe 2008 toyota highlander comes in base, sport and limited trim levels, each with front- or all-wheel drive. The two hybrid models are base and limited, and both are offered only with all-wheel drive. highlander comes standard with air conditioning; cloth upholstery; three-row seating for up to seven passengers; a 40/20/40 second row seat with a removable center section that can be stowed under the first-row center console; a fold-flat third row; am/fm/cd with six speakers and mp3; power windows, door locks, and mirrors; remote keyless entry; cruise control; variable intermittent wipers; rear defogger with variable intermittent wiper; rear spoiler; tilt/telescope steering wheel; and two front and one cargo-area 12-volt power outlets; fog lights; 245/65r17 tires on alloy wheels. hybrid models get toyota's smart entry system that includes keyless entry and starting, a 3. 5-inch multifunction display screen that includes a rear backup camera, a clock, tire-pressure display, air conditioning readout, and outside temperature and trip computer information, in addition to all the hybrid-related features. Hill descent control is standard on awd models. walkaroundits increased size puts the 2008 toyota highlander in the heart of the midsize suv market. The new highlander is about the same size as the honda pilot. Highlander's 95. 4 cubic feet of cargo room is more than all but a handful of competitors in the popular midsize class. at 188. 4 inches overall, the 2008 highlander 3. 8 inches longer than the pre-2008 models. It's also 3. 3 inches wider and 3. 8 inches taller, and the wheelbase has grown from 106. 9 to 109. 8 inches. The weight is up some 300 pounds. highlander fits in the middle of toyota's three-pronged midsize suv lineup. Highlander features softer styling than the midsize 4runner suv and the retro-styled fj cruiser; truck-based platforms, rugged suspensions and low-range transfer cases make 4runner and fj cruiser highly capable off road. The highlander is based on the same architecture that hosts the camry and avalon sedans. Highlander's all-wheel-drive systems are designed for taming slippery pavement and wintry conditions, not for climbing rocks and traversing rough terrain. the design of the highlander is cleaner than that of the pre-2008 models. It is accentuated by a side character line that leads into pronounced wheel arches. The look is more muscular than the previous-generation models, tending more toward suv than station wagon. Available 19-inch alloy wheels add to the more muscular stance. alloy wheels come standard, so every highlander looks well-equipped. Hybrid models are differentiated by blue-tinted lighting, a special grille, and unique alloy wheels. interiortoyota is known for quality and reliability, but there is a feeling among some that those areas have slipped of late. Toyota officials acknowledged that they have fallen short of some internal standards, and they've responded with a new manufacturing program called customer first. The look is more upscale than the last model. Fit and finish are excellent and the design is attractive. Budget realities mean there are more hard plastic finishes than in a typical lexus, but those plastics are nicely grained and assembled with care. Only the headliner, which looks like a cardboard egg carton, disappoints. the various controls are easy to spot, and they move with precision. All but the base model have a 3. 5-inch screen that displays trip computer and climate control information, as well as the image from the rear backup camera. The picture is awfully small, but it could help the driver avoid making the tragic mistake of backing over a child. It also speeds parallel parking or backing up to a wall. opt for the navigation system, and the camera is projected onto the larger navigation screen, making the image easier to see. The display also absorbs some of the audio controls, adding an extra step or two when changing stations. cup holders abound (with 10 plus a bottle holder in each door) and there is plenty of storage for small items. hybrid models have some exclusive interior touches. The gauges are trimmed in blue instead of red, and a power meter replaces the tachometer. Displayed either on the multifunction screen or the navigation screen are consumption and energy monitor information. The consumption screen displays fuel economy in real time and five-minute increments, and the energy monitor screen employs a schematic to show when the gas engine and electric motors are in use. The highlander's elevated ride height and upright seating position give it that desirable suv trait but with easier step-in. Head and leg room are generous in the first and second rows. Up front, the leather seats are comfortable. Visibility is good to all corners. the second-row captain's chairs are comfortable, and the highlander has a handy removable center seat that can be replaced by a center console. The area between the second-row seats can also be left open to provide a walkthrough to the standard third row. Either the center console or the center seat can be stowed beneath the front seat center console. the third-row seat in the last-generation highlander was nothing but an af.
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