Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Henny Youngman, the king of the one-liners, had a routine in which a man walks up to an acquaintance and asks, "How's your wife?" Whereupon the other replies, "Compared to what?" (Hit the snare drum.)

The same reply might be given to the question, “How’s the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?” The HH is the seventh hybrid to hit the market, and the third hybrid SUV. So, it’s difficult to weigh the pros and cons of the Highlander Hybrid without comparing it to other hybrids, or to the non-hybrid Highlander.

Compared to the Toyota Prius - Approx. $10,000 more for the Highlander Hybrid
It’s not fair to compare a mid-size coupe to a mid-size SUV, but let’s do it anyhow, as a way to establish a point of reference for just how far the hybrid options have come. The first point of comparison between the Highlander and Prius is one of scale. The Prius uses a modest 1.5-liter, four-cylinder, 106-horsepower gas engine versus the Highlander Hybrid’s beefy 3.3-liter six-cylinder 208-horsepower gas engine. When combined with the power of the electric motors, the total power of the Highlander is 268, compared to the Prius’s 110 hp.

Motor Trend calls the Highlander Hybrid “a bullet.” But for some hybrid shoppers, the pride of the Prius’s 60-mpg city rating far outweighs the thrill of the moving from zero-to-sixty in less than eight seconds in the Highlander Hybrid.

A Prius looks and feels like a hybrid. When you drive one, you scream, “I’m a geeky enviro-weenie” from a mile away. The Prius’s geekiness is carried inside, with its use of a funny-looking key (Toyota calls it a “fob”) and a “start” button. In a Highlander Hybrid, nobody will really know that you’re driving a hybrid. The Highlander starts up with a regular old key.

The speed and normal-ness of the Highlander should take its appeal beyond the most ardent supporters of hybrid technology. If you must have an SUV, you must.

Compared to the Conventional Highlander - Approx. $5,000 more for the Highlander Hybrid
Depending on your selection of a two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive Highlander, and your selection of the base model or the limited edition, you are likely to spend somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000 more for the hybrid version.

* Base 2wd - $33,030
* Base 4wd - $34,430
* Limited 2wd - $37,890
* Limited 4wd - $39,290

If you want to get to an exact price difference, it’s important to compare apples-to-apples. Considering how Toyota packages different add-on features and options, the comparison is not always obvious, and the hybrid premium is frequently exaggerated in auto reviews.

Why spend the extra dough? In a nutshell, the hybrid version delivers 30 horsepower over the conventional Highlander, about ten more miles to the gallon, and reduced tailpipe emissions. (Visit our Gas Mileage Impact Calculator to see how much money, gas, and pollution you might save.)

In the all-wheel drive version, you’ll also get an enhanced safety system, which Toyota calls “4WD-i.” In the system, Toyota adds a rear-mounted third motor-generator that can apply extra power and traction when the system detects that the wheels are slipping. For safety freaks, the 4WD-i might be worth the price of admission.

The only difference in exterior looks between the conventional and hybrid Highlanders is a revised front grille and bumper, rear LED taillights (which use less power, have a longer life, and illuminate more quickly), extra chrome trim, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a tiny hybrid badge in rear.

Compared to the Lexus Rx400h - Approx. $10,000 less for the Highlander Hybrid
The Toyota Highlander shares the most in common with the Lexus Rx400h. The two vehicles feature the same hybrid system, same performance, same horsepower, same fuel economy, and were created by the same chief engineer.

The Highlander Hybrid allows shoppers to hedge on cost by opting for cloth upholstery, a CD player without the changer, and no sunroof. You can purchase additional luxury features from an a la carte menu, or pick them up all at once in the limited edition. With the 2wd Highlander, available in base and limited packages, you receive the added benefit of a few more miles to the gallon.

The Rx400h is only offered in all-wheel drive, and only with the full array of luxury features and finishes—but lacks a third-row seating option.

If your primary interest is the powerful hybrid system and the additional passenger space, then the extra $10,000 or more seems hardly worth the additional Lexus styling. How much are you willing to pay for "brushed aluminum accents?" Some image-conscious buyers want Lexus bragging rights, and might think of the Highlander as too plain.

Compared to the Ford Escape Hybrid - Approx. $5,000 more for the Highlander Hybrid
The Ford Escape Hybrid also offers two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions. The Escape’s only advantage over the Highlander is a five percent increase in fuel economy. Other than that, the extra money for the Highlander seems like a bargain, especially considering Toyota’s leadership role in hybrid technology. Also consider:

* The Escape Hybrid offers 155 hp, compared to the Highlander’s 268
* The Highlander can tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the Escape is limited to 1,000 pounds
* And, once again, the Highlander seats seven

One caveat about the third-row seating: don’t expect to put Uncle Harry back there. The third-row seat will only comfortably seat small adults and children. And when the third-row is put into service, you’ll lose about 30 cubic feet of cargo space. It’s either seven humans (some of them small) and a couple of duffel bags, or keep the third-row seat down to allow for all your travel gear.

With the introduction of the Highlander Hybrid, Toyota has once again blown past its competitors, and leaves Ford—which for some time held bragging rights for offering the only hybrid SUV—in the dust. Perhaps this is why the Detroit News said the Highlander Hybrid is “more than just a smart buy for environmentally conscious drivers; it may also help raise the bar for the whole industry.” That's a bit overstated, considering that none of the hybrid SUVs have proved to be a hit in their segment, the way that the Prius has been a smash for the sedan category. Nonetheless, the Highlander is the top-selling SUV hybrid, and is likely to remain so for quite a while.