Test drive Toyota Highlander
A huge trunk, a powerful V6, a very roomy rear sofa and a long list of options - the Highlander, which carries key values for the American market, has already conquered the Russian audience.
The psychological milestone is 3 million rubles. the updated Highlander stepped over without looking. This means that the model, as before, falls under the luxury tax. On the opposite side there is rich equipment even in the basic configuration, a spacious interior and permanent four-wheel drive. In addition, now the power of the only V6 engine in any configuration has been reduced to 249 hp, which fits perfectly into the transport tax rates. As a result, the Highlander's cost of ownership is comparable to that of the competition.
Large crossovers have traditionally been very popular with American buyers. Such a car allows you to comfortably move around the city and at the same time go on a long journey with the whole family. So can a car that carries key values for the American market conquer the Russian audience?
"Hayrenda!" And where does the Japanese have such a passion for names that they themselves are completely unable to pronounce correctly? Although we, the conventional inhabitants of Europe, like this: here you have a biting masculine word, and images of mountain passes, and a stern man's beard, slightly sticking out of the doorway just above the frame elements shod in body panels. And although there is really no frame here - you need to turn to the Fortuner model for it - the Highlander is still associated with the image of a brutal male car, which is enough in the Toyota range without it.
In general, the Highlander was conceived as a family crossover, so it has the length of an E-class sedan, only a seven-seater saloon and a powerful V6 with a solid pretentious sound. Moreover: the multi-link rear suspension, which not only helped to successfully arrange the interior and trunk, but also made it possible to count on decent ride quality. On good surface, it is - the feeling of riding a well-raised Camry. The buildup and some rubbery responses have not gone anywhere, but compared, for example, with the frame Prado, this is a completely different car - more assembled, understandable and comfortable. More lightweight.
But the interior here is clearly not from the Camry. On the one hand, after the last update, the interior has become much more noble and no longer so clearly resembles the 1990s. On the other hand, it is still a big Toyota with massively shaped elements and a bit rough finish. Strict plastic keys are still in abundance, the plastic is just as tough, and the covers of the stowage boxes are slammed shut with the same bang. The media system is quite modern, but the fonts and Russification in it are completely archaic. The role of a cozy family nest pulls only with some stretch.
The atmospheric "six" with a loud breath raises the front end and accelerates the crossover very decently, but there is a feeling that a lot of fuel is thrown into the pipe. There is no diesel and will not be, a hybrid is not supplied to Russia, and it turns out that it is necessary to carry a family with two pedals, briskly starting and just as intensively upsetting the car. And from the point of view of parking in the city, this is also not the most convenient car. In general, the rational European values, which today necessarily imply compactness, efficiency and quality of all sensations, without exception, Highlander has not yet cultivated. In this sense, the Korean Kia Sorento Prime is much closer to me personally - more affordable, flexible and almost completely European. And by the way, Koreans have no problems with pronunciation.
With the planned update, the appearance of the third generation Highlander has changed slightly. The restyled version can be distinguished by a new radiator grille, a different design of the front and rear optics, as well as 19-inch wheels. In a technical sense, the Japanese limited themselves to just one change, but what a! Now an 8-speed automatic transmission is installed on the crossover.
From the off-road functionality on board - blocking the central clutch and partially disabling the traction control system. On a bumpy dirt road or a broken country road this will be more than enough, but for a serious off-road there is a more serious technique. But in any Highlander there is a permanent all-wheel drive and a torquey 6-liter V3,5 that develops 249 horsepower. Younger 2,7-liter unit with 188 hp. removed from the Russian market. Probably, this is even for the best, because for a car weighing more than two tons, he was frankly weak.
The revision of the versions and their equipment was carried out only for Russia. Indeed, in the American market, the four-cylinder unit is still available and is offered on the base Highlander. Together with such a motor, the same 6-speed "automatic", familiar from the pre-styling car, works, and the torque is transmitted only to the front wheels.
The suspension is the same for all markets and trim levels. McPherson struts at the front and multi-link at the rear are built around conventional shock absorbers and steel springs. No mechatronic chassis or air bellows for you. Despite this, the Highlander has a good ride on rough terrain and excellent road holding at high speeds. The steering, as before, is equipped with an electric power assisted with a sufficient amount of effort and feedback on the steering wheel.
This is the first car that did not fit into my favorite parking space in the yard. Seriously, no matter how I tried to squeeze the five-meter Highlander on a hillock, nothing worked: I either drove my wheels onto the curb, or rested the door against the neighboring Lexus RX. Even the BMW X5 felt more at ease here than this "Japanese". But something else is more interesting.
The Toyota Highlander constantly reminds you how big it is. A giant hood in front of your eyes, a very "long" steering wheel and a lot of free air inside. I had similar feelings in the Ford Explorer, but the "American" was clearly shy about his size. Toyota is without complexes, and that's great!
I like to slowly cut through Varshavka on my way home. Especially when it's summer. The Highlander is the perfect car to relax and not pay attention to the next second-rower. Hey Nexia, don't hit the bump stop, drive in front of me. This is exactly what a family crossover should be: it absolutely does not provoke impudent behavior, although the Highlander has plenty of opportunities for this.
Firstly, it has an honest and very powerful atmospheric engine. The elastic motor is ready to cheerfully accelerate the two-ton crossover from almost any speed. Second, the Highlander has amazingly tuned brakes. No waste of pedal travel and no loss of efficiency at track speeds - it always slows down like a Camry.
And finally, you can literally feel this car with your fingertips. Yes, yes, I know, I just talked about the enormous size of the Highlander. So, you get used to its dimensions very quickly, so the car ceases to seem overgrown. It seems that only the Japanese can do this.
The Highlander is available on the market in three trim levels. Already in the basic version "Elegance" the car is quite well equipped, and therefore the corresponding price tag is 41 dollars.
For this money, the car will be equipped with 19-inch wheels, up and down assist systems, 8 airbags, light and rain sensors, an intelligent keyless entry system, a tire pressure sensor and an electric fifth door. The cabin is also in complete order: leather seats and a multifunctional steering wheel with heating, three-zone climate control, AUX and USB connectors, multimedia with a rear-view camera and cruise control.
The next version of "Prestige" is estimated by Russian dealers at 43 dollars. There are few differences from the basic configuration. This is a dashboard with a color display in the center, memory for the front seats, a rear-view camera with dynamic lane lines, as well as monitoring systems for "blind" zones when changing lanes and reversing out of the parking lot.
The top-of-the-line Safety Suite for $ 45 will also feature Active Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Crossing and Collision Warning systems, front parking radars, four panoramic cameras and a 500-speaker JBL audio system.
Having easily placed all the purchases in the trunk of the Highlander, I was about to close it, but right there I kissed my head on the fifth door. They say that the amount of its rise can be regulated here. It's fine, but what the hell? I do not argue that for this money you really get a lot of a car, but since its price forces you to pay a tax on luxury from above, then the demand for such luxury is appropriate.
Okay, stop being boring. Moreover, in the driver's seat of the "Highlander" I was greeted by space and comfort. However, this is true for the entire interior space of the Japanese crossover. Leather trim, multi-adjustable seats, and even three-zone climate control. In such a situation, the only thing left to complain is the passengers of the third row. If they are over 12 years old, then their faces are unlikely to look happy after a long journey. But everyone else will feel like passengers of a real business class.
That would still get hold of a slightly more modern multimedia system. If you don't find fault, then even the one installed on the Highlander is quite enough for basic needs. Plus, your favorite songs come through the 12-speaker JBL audio system.
But graphics from the mid-2000s and not the fastest response to commands force us to use the 8-inch touchscreen as little as possible. It's a pity, because, among other things, there is a very detailed navigation in Russian, which knows not only asphalt roads, but also some country roads.
Even despite the correction of retail prices by the Russian office of Toyota, the updated Highlander is still worth a lot against the background of competitors. But as soon as you open the list of equipment in comparable trim levels, its price no longer seems high. At the same time, almost all classmates have similar power units and transmissions.
In Russia, the restyled Highlander is fighting for buyers primarily with the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder. Prices for the American crossover start at $ 34, while the Japanese competitor is priced at a minimum of $ 200. Both cars are equipped with 35-liter aspirated engines with a capacity of 600 hp. and an all-wheel drive transmission, while Ford also has a Sport version with up to 3,5 hp. motor.
Not the most popular, but no less important competitor of the Highlander, the Honda Pilot, is equipped with a 3,0 liter engine (249 horsepower). The initial Lifestyle equipment with all-wheel drive and 6-speed "automatic" is estimated at $ 38. The new Mazda CX-700 came in handy. The second generation of the model is available on the Russian market in two trim levels - prices start at $ 9. Another notable player in this class is the Hyundai Grand Santa Fe. Basic machine with 37 hp diesel engine. and all-wheel drive is available from dealers for $ 300.
Coco Chanel's catchphrase that life never provides a "second chance to make a first impression" describes my relationship with Toyota Highlander in the best possible way. For the first time I found myself behind the wheel of this car in the spring of 2014 in the mountains of Georgia, when a Japanese company introduced the crossover to the Russian market and organized the first test drive along the Tbilisi-Batumi route.
Then, on the narrow serpentines of the old Georgian military road, the Highlander seemed too heavy and awkward, so it did not impress at all. Even against the background of frame Land Cruiser Prado, a couple of which were in the column of test cars. Not impressed with the Highlander and the interior trim. The transatlantic eclecticism that reigned in the interior of the crossover seemed quite simple for a car that claims to be some kind of premium.
A few months later, we met Highlander again. And this was our second chance. I had to take the basic front-wheel drive version of the 2,7-liter aspirated crossover on a short trip from Moscow to Volgograd. Once again, Toyota left an ambiguous aftertaste.
The suspension seemed completely unsuitable for our roads - the constant shaking inside was very exhausting. Yes, and front-wheel drive, coupled with a small-sized engine of the volume class, did not demonstrate the miracles of efficiency. Fuel consumption on the highway for the entire trip did not fall below 12 liters.
And now, more than three years later, we met with Highlander again. Is fate giving us a third chance? After the update, the crossover has become more pleasant inside and no longer seems so American-style simple. There is no now in our market and not very balanced front-wheel drive version. Only a well-packed car with a 3,5-liter "six" and four-wheel drive. And the only thing that repels sympathy for the Highlander is its price. The cost of the crossover ranges from $ 41 to $ 700. And this is already the territory of the Volvo XC45 and even the Audi Q500.
