In 2008 Toyota released the Highlander Hybrid to the truck-buying market. The Highlander came in five configurations: Hybrid, Hybrid Limited, Base, and Sport. The Hybrid configuration is powered by the 3.3-liter six-cylinder engine, which makes 23 highway miles and 17 city. The Highlander competes in the Sport Utility market segment, in direct competition with Hyundai.

Toyota Highlander Engine Specs

The Highlander Hybrid is equipped with a Toyota 3.3 liter six-cylinder engine that utilizes 24 valves. The engine is mated to a N/A 4-speed Transaxle. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Toyota.

The fuel system for the 2008 Highlander is a traditional SFI, running on ELECTRIC/GAS fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 19.20 gallons.

Steering control is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The Highlander has power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. The truck uses coil front springs and coil in the rear.

Vehicle Statistics

The dimensions of the Highlander Hybrid are 75.20 inches wide by 188.40 inches long. It sits a comfortable 69.30 inches off the ground. It seats a standard seven passengers, with 4 doors. The wheelbase of 109.80 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.

The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $31,400 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $27,946. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Sport Utility.

There is a 36,000 mile, 36 month warranty with this vehicle, including a powertrain warranty of 60,000/60 miles/months. This is normal for this price range.

Fuel Efficiency

The 2008 Highlander gets 23 miles/gallon on the highway and only 17 in the city. This is exceptional for a sport utility truck.

Conclusion

The 2007 model began the promise of the Toyota Highlander. The 2008 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers Toyota hopes that the Highlander Hybrid will continue to be a profitable vehicle.

Related posts:

1. First Impressions 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited A high point in the sport utility market is...
2. First Impressions 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid The Highlander Hybrid is equipped with a Toyota 3.3 liter...
3. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited for 2008 A lot has been said about the Toyota Highlander...
4. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid for 2008 In 2008 Toyota released the Highlander Hybrid to the...
5. Our Take on the 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid A high point in the sport utility market is...

Tags: 4-Door, Canada market, Hybrid, Sport Utility, Toyota Highlander

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 at 9:42 am and is filed under 2008, Highlander, Toyota. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.