The Highlander may not be as flashy as some SUVs out there but it is one of the most successful nameplates by the Japanese automaker Toyota. And with its hybrid version, it has become a trendsetter in its class. And for the 2008 model year, the Highlander Hybrid was given more ammo to make it the best in its class. And the prices for the most recent batch of Highlander Hybrids have also been announced recently by the automaker looking to be the king of the hill.
Although more features were added, the new Highlander Hybrid is priced lower than its predecessor. The 2008 Highlander Hybrid base model 4WD-i will have a starting price of $33,700 and that amount is $190 lower than the previous Highlander Hybrid. The upscale Limited trim level of the 4WD-i will carry an MSRP of $39,950. This is more than the previous version though by $3,400. The reason is that the Limited trim level has much more features than the previous model.
Aside from having a lot of technologically advanced features, the Highlander Hybrid is considered as a strong competitor in its class as it has the best fuel economy and the cleanest emission. Being a hybrid, this was expected of the Highlander Hybrid. For the 2008 model year, in addition to those features, the vehicle’s roominess, and power has been improved. Aside from that, the Highlander Hybrid also has a wide array of safety features that one can almost compare it to a Volvo in terms of the safety that it offers to consumers.
The Highlander Hybrid has seven airbags which includes one for the knees of the driver. That lineup also includes a roll-sensing side curtain airbag. That means an airbag which will be deployed once the sensors, erm, senses that the vehicle is about to roll over.
The powerplant of the Highlander Hybrid will be a 3.3-liter V6 which can produce as much as 270 horsepower. The new hybrid version of the Highlander is also equipped with features that will inform drivers how to take advantage of the hybrid powertrain. Just like Volkswagen tail lights which shows the direction that a car is going, the coming of the Highlander Hybrid also shows where Toyota is going with their hybrid powertrain.