Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Most popular vehicles
Popular New Cars
- New Acura MDX
- New Acura RDX
- New Audi Q5
- New BMW 3 Series
- New BMW X3
- New Buick Enclave
- New Cadillac Escalade
- New Chevrolet Equinox
- New Chrysler 300
- New Dodge Challenger
- New Ford Edge
- New Ford Escape
- New Ford Expedition
- New Ford Explorer
- New Ford F-150
- New Ford Focus
- New Ford Mustang
- New Honda Accord
- New Honda Civic
- New Honda CR-V
- New Honda Fit
- New Honda Odyssey
- New Honda Pilot
- New Hyundai Elantra
- New Hyundai Santa Fe
- New Hyundai Sonata
- New Hyundai Tucson
- New Jeep Compass
- New Jeep Grand Cherokee
- New Jeep Wrangler
- New Mazda 3
- New Mazda 6
- New Mazda CX-5
- New Nissan Altima
- New Nissan Maxima
- New Nissan Rogue
- New Porsche Cayenne
- New Ram 1500
- New Subaru Crosstrek
- New Subaru Forester
- New Subaru Impreza
- New Subaru Outback
- New Tesla Model S
- New Tesla Model X
- New Toyota 4Runner
- New Toyota Camry
- New Toyota Corolla
- New Toyota Highlander
- New Toyota Prius
- New Toyota RAV4
- New Toyota Sienna
- New Toyota Tacoma
- New Volkswagen Jetta
- New Volvo XC60
- New Volvo XC90
Popular Used Sedans
- Used BMW 5 Series
- Used Chevrolet Impala
- Used Chevrolet Malibu
- Used Chrysler 200
- Used Dodge Charger
- Used Ford Fusion
- Used Ford Taurus
- Used Honda Accord
- Used Honda Civic
- Used Hyundai Elantra
- Used Hyundai Sonata
- Used Tesla Model S
- Used Toyota Camry
- Used Toyota Corolla
- Used Volkswagen Jetta
Popular Used SUVs
- Used Acura MDX
- Used Acura RDX
- Used Ford Edge
- Used Ford Explorer
- Used Honda CR-V
- Used Honda Pilot
- Used Hyundai Santa Fe
- Used Jeep Compass
- Used Lincoln Navigator
- Used Mazda CX-5
- Used Nissan Rogue
- Used Subaru Crosstrek
- Used Subaru Forester
- Used Tesla Model X
- Used Volvo XC90
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Expect very tight inventories and long waiting lists. My local dealer already has over 12 people on the waiting list for the HH and is selling at sticker only. They said to expect a six month wait on the vehicle and that they won't be selling at under sticker anytime in the next six months unless they have cancellations or building inventory. I suspect that will be the case with all dealers in my area. Less affluent parts of the country it might be possible to get dealers who will have the HH on the lot and willing to deal on it come Nov/Dec.
Here is an interesting point though...they just lowered the price of the Hybrid Camry!!!! I guess that they want to sell more of them along with more Prius'. If they ramp up production of the HH's look for the same price or lower.
It will be interesting.
Toyota cut the price to $25860, but they also cut:
-alloys
-leather steering wheel and shift knob
-electrochomatic rear view mirrors
-CD changer
-JBL
Accounting for these items, they didn't really reduce the price of the TCH, it seems, at all.... it just starts at a lower equipment point.
Mackabee
But yes I agree with your clarification.
I actually went to take a look at the '08 that did have the 3rd row. It didn't have vents in the 3rd row. To get vents for all three rows, I think you have to order one of the 3rd row A/C options.
The ride was excellent IMO. It soaked up New Hampshire pavement very well. It was on the verge of being floaty but it'll be my wife's and she liked it. I could easily live with it and it'd be a nice counterpoint to my Subaru with STI suspension.
I thought the interior was very well done. There were a few cases where the materials weren't the greatest but it has to be remembered that this isn't an Acura or Lexus. The front seats weren't as comfortable as the MDX but, for me, better than the Veracruz or CX9. The second row had a lot of leg room and the movable seats were a great thing (can have leg room or carbo or some tradeoff).
A child's car seat does fit in the middle of the 2nd row. There are only 4 LATCH anchors at the base of the seat back so it requires robbing the inner two. However, there is an anchor in the middle for the tether strap. This was important to me so I was glad to see it.
The engine and transmission are very smooth though I tried to be gentle with it. I'm used to a much quicker car but it wasn't awful
The downsides I saw were that the auto climate control was pretty confusing. Also, with the 3rd row up there's practically no luggage space. In fact the 3rd row headrests were about 6" from the rear glass.
It's pretty much our top choice right now. I just have to see if I can get it optioned the way we want it. Theoretically, it is possible to custom order a Toyota but it requires a cooperative dealer and luck, it seems.
Yeha, as long as you get the options Toyota's distributors want you to get.
Mackabee
You an also go to GreenHybrid.com and look at their database to see what others are getting.
The MDX is more expensive than the Highlander assuming that you pay sticker on both but dealers seem more willing to deal on the MDX.
You can get a Highlander limited that has leather seats, etc, for $34K but in my region of the country they can only be ordered with one of three option packages that pushes the price to $38K (and that's without nav).
MDX also has a longer warranty, "premium" service from Acura dealers, etc, for what that's worth.
The two cars are very close. The MDX is built on its own "truck like" SUV chassis, the Highlander is built on the Camry chassis. MDX starts at a higher trim level and is only available with AWD standard, you can buy a 2WD Highlander if you live in a part of the country where you don't need AWD. MDX takes premium fuel, Highlander can be ordered in hybrid trim that gets 28mpg.
At the end of the day, it would make the most sense for us to get the 2008 HH Limited but I have a feeling that the way we would want it equipped it would be $44K. At that point I would probably just sway screw it to the gas savings, and get an entry level MDX for under $40K.
It's a tough choice for sure.
I totally agree with your other statements though. Part of my comparison is based on what I think actual selling prices will be over the next 4mo or so. The MDX will be sold at invoice whereas the Highlander will likely be sold close to MSRP.
If I could get a Highlander Sport at close to invoice with the options I want, it's an easy choice.
The MDX is better finished, longer warranty and more power, it is also slightly smaller and doesn't have a rear window that opens. I could probably get a loaded MDX w/navi & RES for about $44.
If I can get a loaded HL limited w/navi & RES for $38-39 I will probably get the highlander.
I am interested in how much cargo room the HL has with the third seat down.
I plan on waiting at least another 3 months and will then see how much dealers are willing to move.
I was also suprised to see that of the several option packages the distributor is ordering, one of them fits my needs perfectly (FWD, JBL, power back door, rear auto climate, rear spoiler).
The HH should avg 26 mpg combined, I assume the Gas HL avg 20 mpg combined. I drive ~15000 miles/yr at $3.00/gal.
The HH would save me ~ $520.00/yr.
I have read somewhere that they expect the HH to be an extra $4500.00 more than conventional gas model.
Assuming the HH is $4500.00 more than a gas model, I would have to own the HH for over for over 8.5 yrs to get my investment back. I have never owned a vehicle for > 5 yrs.
Does not make financial sense!. Any other advantage I should see in the HH. Any thoughts, clarifications, opinions would be appreciated. :confuse:
The issue that I had was that the vehicle was really really sensitive, and very sloppy with a lot of oversteer. My wife had some problems with stabilty when going down hill and around curves. It was like driving a car with a flat tire or too-low air pressure in the tires. The sales lady said that the VSC might be the problem.
There must have been something wrong with the car's setup.
Has anyone else felt like the Highlander has stability issues? What was your impression of normal handling.
I will say that the front seat room is luxurious. Leg room is great for tall drivers and the telescoping steering wheel adds to the comfort
What kind of car are you used to?
I thought normal handling was fine and quite stable. I hope the Sport will be a bit firmer though. You should probably test drive another before making a decision. I'd suggest testing a Sport also.
1) If the pricing on the HH is actually $4500 over a similar ICE version. That's unknown at this time.
2) What will be the price of fuel in the near term?
You have to look at your total transportation cost as vehicle plus fuel. Using your numbers which may very well be correct...
ICE model is X
HH is X + 4500
The cost of fuel for..
..the ICE model is (15000 x 5 yrs x $3/gal)/ 20 mpg = $11250;
..the HH model is ( 15000 x 5 yrs x $3/gal/ 26 mpg = $8655
Your total cost of transportation ( Vehicle + fuel ) is:
ICE : x + $11250
HH : (x + $4500) + $8650
So if the numbers are accurate with a $4500 premium and $3/gal fuel the ICE costs $1900 less over 5 yrs. The only question is to which huge multinational company do you want to give your money? But..
If the premium is less than $4500 and/or fuel ends up being $6/gallon in 5 yrs ( which is very likely btw ) then all the numbers change. Which way do you want to bet?
The final point is that 26 mpg is a very realistic average for combined driving. Some drivers though regularly get 28 mpg on average and 30 mpg is not unheardof. 28 mpg is a realistic upper range with good techniques.
We are now at a turning point in automative history where the future is clear but the timing is not so clear. At some time in the near future we will have multiple drive options, multiple fuel source options, much more expensive fuel and probable shortages of petroleum products. Is this 4 yrs from now? 8 yrs? or 12-15 yrs?
Again there is the line. You make your bet.
Haste makes waste. Of time.
DrFill
1. Driving a Hybrid is not all about just saving yourself money in the long run it is about polluting less, helping the environment, trying to prevent global warming (very scary stuff). What is that worth to you?
2. There are also many tax incentives for Hybrids not only some with your own tax (they continue to lower as more are sold, but still there) but also many companies get tax breaks themselves and thus give their employees money towards hybrids, like Bank of America which gives $3000 towards hybrid.
3. Gas savings...now if you take $3/gal right now, who believes this will be the case even in 2 years? I would bet that it ain't $3/gal, in fact it is more then that. Lets say the avg price of fuel over the course of 6 years is $4/gal, assuming $3 at the beginning and $5 near the end of the 6 years, so your gas savings increases over that time period.
4. I do not believe it is a $4500 difference compared to the equally equipped gas model, but this has not been confirmed...what is the difference for the 2007 model...I know you cannot compare the base highlander to the base hybrid...I thought it was a like a $3000 difference.
Hope this helps, I am just frustrated that there is only 1 family vehicle on the market that is hybrid...I wish I liked the new highlander more styling wise as that is it
B.
-Andy
It's obvious the HL was designed to one-up the Pilot, the primary competitor.
DrFill
For me the ride verged on being too soft. Like I said before though, I guess it's what you're used to.
Plus the HL still tows more.
DrFill
1. There will be no FWD version of this HH, they will all be 4WDi. That's a $2000-$2500 differential right there.
2. Standard features the Base HH will have that the Base Highlander will not have:
..minor Exterior accessories
..in glass antenna with FM Diversity
..3500# Tow Prep Package
..Back up monitor, 3.5" MFD
..SKS
..minor Interior accessories
..VDIM
..Engine Immobilizer
Options that can be included on a Base HH which are not available at all on a Base Highlander:
..Power rear liftgate
..Dual climate control
..Power drivers seat
..Steering wheel controls for audio and climate control
..Homelink, illuminated vanity mirrors, 2nd row reading lights
..2nd row fold flat levers
Regardless, fitting a CX9 or Acadia into my garage would be tough. Therefore, both are out of the running. A lot of people do compare the Acadia/Outlook to the Highlander/Pilot/Veracruz/etc. though.
But who are the intended buyers for this new model? The reason I ask is that that 2nd row Center Stow seat seems as useful as ......... If I was 30 Something with two small kids in car seats and a preteen that Center Stow would never be in use. So who would use it? In a pinch maybe.
But the pricing starts at ~$28000 and realistically will be about $30000+. Young families on a tight budget? $32000? Probably not. This leads me to believe that it's being directed toward older more financially capable couples rather than a young family of 5 with the parents in their late 20's.
Thus the RAV now takes over the position of the base Highlander which was apparent when the 4c model was dropped. But Toyota is building a 200K unit Highlander plant in Tupelo? They've never reached 200K units with the first Highlander and now it seems to be directed to a more limited market. I think Toyota may have the clearest crystal ball of all the vehicle makers when looking at what will sell to which segment now and into the future.
So why would they build a plant with 50% more capacity than they normally sell? Perhaps they see that fuel prices are only going up from here at $3/gallon and the traditional BOF SUVs like the 4Runner and Explorer and Pathfinder and TrailBlazer will disappear from sight.
In 2010 with fuel say at $5/gal..
..owners of 2002 4Runners come back for their next Toyota wanting something more efficient than 17 mpg.
...young families won't be wanting many V6 4WD vehicles but a good 30 mpg 4c RAV might just fit the bill.
....a RAV-sized 'Prius' CUV at 40 mpg then would cover the whole spectrum from $22K up to $40K.
So why would they build a plant with 50% more capacity than they normally sell? Perhaps they see that fuel prices are only going up from here at $3/gallon and the traditional BOF SUVs like the 4Runner and Explorer and Pathfinder and TrailBlazer will disappear from sight.
On the money. More improtantly, the Tahoes/Expeditions/Durangos will downsize next time around to a CUV with a 3rd row seat.
Toyota selling 150-60k in 2008 sounds about right, plus maybe they can sell some in Canada? Exports?
So Toyota will have a small-med CUV (Rav4) and a large CUV (HL). Just like 4Runner to Sequioa. Cover the market, and then refine. The HL now won't lose so many sales to the larger Pilot. The difference between the two was pretty large.
DrFill
So why would they build a plant with 50% more capacity than they normally sell? Perhaps they see that fuel prices are only going up from here at $3/gallon and the traditional BOF SUVs like the 4Runner and Explorer and Pathfinder and TrailBlazer will disappear from sight.
On the money. More improtantly, the Tahoes/Expeditions/Durangos will downsize next time around to a CUV with a 3rd row seat.
Toyota selling 150-60k in 2008 sounds about right, plus maybe they can sell some in Canada? Exports? If they can centralize HL production, it should make them more flexible for other vehicles to increase production when needed.
So Toyota will have a small-med CUV (Rav4) and a large CUV (HL). Just like 4Runner to Sequioa. Cover the market, and then refine. The HL now won't lose so many sales to the larger Pilot. The difference between the two was pretty large.
DrFill
Probably because 1) they anticipate higher demand for the Highlander; and/or 2) they plan on adding additional model lines to the assembly plant. Better to have additional capacity up front than to have to retrofit or expand the plant after it's built, IMHO.
There was a rumor of another 5-passenger CUV that Toyota may introduce, modeled after the FT-SX concept vehicle.
My guess on positioning of the new Highlander? It's for those with a couple of older kids who, once in awhile, need the ability to pack 6 or 7 people in the vehicle (i.e. visiting grandparents, kids' friends, etc.).
If you have a large family to begin with, a minivan is the way to go. I rented a Pontiac Montana this weekend and it was nowhere as refined as a Toyota SUV. However, with the amount of space it had, the sliding doors, etc., it just felt much more flexible than any reasonably sized SUV will ever be.
I was under the impression from past posts that Toyota was working on a new design sporty xover like the soon to released Infiniti Ex35. That is how the extra capacity will be used.
The interior materials and trim seemed fine and I did not get the sense that the interior was cheap like others had mentioned. At least not for a vehicle in this price range.
Overall, my wife and I prefer the design of the Veracruz better. If the Veracruz had Toyota's track record for reliability it would be an easy decision.
DrFill
Mackabee
Mackabee
Keep in mind that the EPA numbers for the Veracruz will go down for 2008, from 18/25.
You have some more 3rd seat room, but lose some towing and cargo room.
DrFill
Here's a link to the FT-SX concept vehicle on Toyota's site.
I know when the '08 Highlander was announced, some were hoping that it would inherit styling cues from the FT-SX. In hindsight, I guess it would have been difficult to do given the Highlander's 3 rows of seats and the concept's swooping roofline.
I'm planning on taking my Highlander test drive this afternoon.
Automobile magazine that I just got had many complimentary things about the car, however ended the article with "The GMC Acadia and the Saturn Outlook both offer second-row captain's chairs, along with more interior room than the Highlander, while a similarly equipped Hyundai Veracruz is, overall, nearly as good as the Highlander but cost less. What's more, the Mazda CX-9 is much better to drive. Toyota is going to have to try a bit harder if it intends to retain its status as the king of the crossovers".