Maxing The Payload - 2014 Toyota Highlander Limited Long-Term Road Test
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Maxing The Payload - 2014 Toyota Highlander Limited Long-Term Road Test
The 2014 Toyota Highlander is rated to handle around 1,400 pounds of payload. We were tempted to push the limit.
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Should have gone for it. It would've been fine.
Payload capacity includes the driver and passengers' weight, no? So according to my math, you were 100lbs overweight before factoring in any humans. Looks like you made the right choice to me.
As I understand it, the payload rating includes passengers. So you would have been more than 100 pounds over capacity. I'm sure the Highlander could have handled it, but it was probably a good idea to break it down into two smaller loads.
The old Highlander (2013) had 95+ cubic feet of cargo. The new one has under 84. The old Highlander top-trim model (like this one) had over 1,700 lbs. of payload capacity, but this one drops to 1,385 lbs....and Toyota says that the third row is now a three-passenger seat, so it's an eight-passenger rather than a seven-passenger. See where this is going?
My 2011 GTI has a payload of around 1,075 lbs., so if I have five 150-lb. passengers, I still can carry 300 lbs. of cargo and fuel. I think that's a pretty realistic payload for this type of car.
In this Highlander, if your eight passengers each weigh 150 lbs., you can fill the gas tank and carry maybe 4 bags of groceries.
That's a joke. You have to wonder what Toyota was thinking.
Admittedly, I sometimes load our hatchbacks like that but there is always the thought in the back of my head that the cargo just might impact the back of my head if someone crosses into my lane or pulls out blindly in front of me.
I would have taken it all in one trip. There are safety margins built in to these calculations. It's not like at 1,385 pounds everything is kosher and at 1,386 pounds it's suddently a death trap and your suspension is going to collapse.
I'd've taken it all it one trip. When payload ratings are calculated, the actual fail point is higher than what is posted on the door. This is so people like you who will inevitably exceed these ratings won't break the vehicle. Is it a good idea to exceed the weight ratings? No. Were you a good consumer in that you didn't? Yes. However, I would've been confident that knowing I was only 100 lbs over, the vehicle would've been more than capable.
I have mixed feelings. The engineer in me knows the factor of safety would have allowed for you to easily and safely carry it all in one load, and would like to have heard how it went. From a practical standpoint, if anything did happen to the car, I bet Toyota would tell you that you voided the warranty when you knowingly exceeded the vehicle's GVWR. As a hypothetical owner I would have done it in one trip, but if I had to write an article about it, I think I would have broken it into two.
Those numbers are not correct. The new highlander is larger and has more cargo room. The numbers are reported correctly however not in context. The measuring standards for measuring cargo room has changed so what once resulted in 95 cu ft now results in the low 80s. Edmunds has not corrected this problem in their review. tsk tsk.
well good job being safe. ive never driven a front wheel drive vehicle that heavy before what would be the total GVRW with all that weight? I allways liked the way my truck drove when i was hauling 300-500 pounds of music equipment in the bed of my pickup truck it seemed to drive better i owuld imagine a front wheel crossover the opposite would be true.
maybe he did it anyway just reported that he didn't. everything you read on the internet is true isn't it?
I just got my 2014 Highlander Limited. Definitely a big improvement.
The XM radio is now definitely a pleasure. It is horrible on my 2010 RX 350. And was horrible on the 2012 Highlander I traded in.
The voice recognition definitely superb. I was able to dictate a complex address and it worked. I hope they upgrade by RX to this nav system. Bluetooth flawless. They even fixed the compass. No more guessing which direction I am going in.
Problems I have run into: cannot get the system to read out my emails and SMS. When there is a new message it tries to load and reboots. Could not get my entunes to work yet. Does not accept the VIN. I think it's stupid to have this restriction. More people see it the more interest they have. The other issue I do have is the cargo cover was not delivered with the car. In reviews I see it's included. The other element buyers may want to consider visors are flimsy. The mats had frayed edges. The door liner by the handle is blue - error sure looks odd. I also thought the limited had led day running lamps and a smoked tinit. Not on this car. I also have to duel with the dealer noticed two symmetrical dings on the hood. Thank god I got the plastic protector. I use all the features on the car and will be pleased to add unbiased real data for users
I will take whatever you can give us.