Toyota Highlander

alpha01 · October 2003

For what its worth, I wanted to point out that Toyota incorrectly lists the RPM of the peak output of the new 3.3L V6 in its printed brouchure.

Peak hp occurs at 5600RPM
Peak lb.ft. occurs at 3600RPM.

A company as large and detail oriented as Toyota shouldnt be making stupid mistakes like this.

~alpha

angiepdx · October 2003

Thanks all for the input on the 4 cylinder versus 6 cylinder Highlander. Appreciate it.

Now does anyone know for sure if you can get heated leather seats in a 4 cylinder 2004 Toyota Highlander? One dealership told me yes, the other says no. I can't get a straight answer.

Thanks,
Angie

bigdad · October 2003

What is the error that you mention? Are the figures you give correct or is that the error? The formula for Torque requires that HP and Torque (in lb. feet not ft. lbs.) are the same at 5200 rpm.

golfdad06 · October 2003

We have only had our 03 HL for a week and we love it. The 4 cyl has all the power we need for where we live, Sacramento, CA. Several mechanics I talked to said the 4 cyl is a very good engine. With proper maintenance it should last a long time.

bbouch57 · October 2003

I have an 02 FWD four and it is almost vibration free. I have been in several v6 powered vehicles that are similar or rougher. The six in the Highlander that I drove recently was a little smoother but not much. The only real noticible difference is on harder acceleration. The four makes more of a growl that is fairly typical of most fours. When cranked at higher speeds, it sounds like a racing engine. Under no circumstances does the engine vibrate above idle/stopped. Even then, as mentioned, the vibration at idle is very minimal. The engine is well isolated. Not perfect but pretty darn good. Keep in mind, most fours when started in colder conditions are a little rougher until warmed up. When warmed up in a couple of minutes, especially in the summer, the engine at idle is almost silent. The fan when on is louder than the engine. When driving, the engine has a little more of a growl than a six depending on what speed your at below 60mph but above that the engine cruises almost silent. When driving, this engine - 4 is kind of misleading/a sleeper. The engine and transmission combo seems to be designed to deliver undramatic acceleration - meaning no big thrusts, but just a smooth flow of power. The torque is delivered smoothly and not biased toward initial take off to give the false impression of big power as some manufacturers do with fours in some underpowered econo boxes. The six in the Highlander 4WD I drove recently was not that much different accelerating from a stop than the four. Just less growl. The growl might give the impression of lack of power but when you look around, you are either moving with traffic or going faster and without hardly pushing down on the gas pedal. The six does have somewhat more of a kick when accelerating hard above 50mph, but still there is no dramatic difference noted. In mountains with a load, the six probably would show its stuff, but that is not much of an issue for me in Ohio.

grenedy · October 2003

Very well put bbouch57. Excellent description of my similar experience with '03 FWD 4 Cyl. I fully agree with your take on the highway performance (best feature IMO) and "growl" on launch. Not as smooth as 6 but overall package works great for me. Have heard same re reliability and longevity. Also highly rated as "green" SUV vehicle (if there is such a thing).

jimtarheel · October 2003

The new Toyota Highlander TV ads about the new 2004 models mention a "More powerful engine and optional third row seating." Because the 4-cylinder engine is standard, I took that to mean that the 2004 4-cylinder engine must be more powerful than the 2003 model. Is this true? What's the difference? Has anyone driven a 2004 HL with a 4-cylinder engine? (Like anyone else, I'd love to save on gas but I sometimes drive in the mountains and wonder if I don't need the 6.) Comments, anyone? Thanks.

bbouch57 · October 2003

More power would be applicable to the six. The five hp gain and two pounds of torque additional added to the four is insignificant. Gas mileage is also pretty insignifcant between the FWD six and the four. 3 mpg difference is minimal. Depending on how you drive there may be no real world difference. The biggest thing is if you do not need a lot of power the four is around $1,500.00 msrp less in cost.

crashmeister · October 2003

I got mine a few weeks ago and have been very happy so far. I have a 5x10 trailer so I put a towbar on it. Once I got past 1000 miles I tried towing the trailer. I previously towed the trailer using a 6 cyl, 200HP car. Trailer weight (loaded) is estimated to be between 1500 and 1750 lbs.

At first the gears kept shifting down when I thought the engine was delivering adequate power to sustain the speed. I tried taking it out of overdrive but that caused a 1000rpm jump, so I put it back into overdrive. I guess the gearbox must be adaptive, because after about 30 miles or so it settled down and really did a good job. There were no major hills on this 80 mile trip, but I did go up to 75 mph for a while. Cruising from 60 to 75 was quite comfortable.

I'll be taking my trailer on a long trip soon. It will be interesting to see how the 4 cyl copes with hills.

I chose the 4 cyl for the following reasons:
1. Better gas milage.
2. It is quiet, smooth and has adequate power for most of the driving I will do.
3. SWMBO said so.

Regards,
Craig.

angiepdx · October 2003

Thanks for the responses on the 4 cylinder versus 6. Right now I am still trying to confirm with another dealership whether or not I can get factory installed leather/heated seats in a 4 cylinder. If any of you know for sure, please post back.

Thanks,
Angie

gwkiser · October 2003

Well, according to the Toyota link below, you have to select the leather option to get the heated seats, but the engine size doesn't seem to matter. However, this may be different depending upon the regional distributor for your area. You might want to perform a "Build Your Own" using your zip code to verify absolutely.

******************************

"ALL MODELS
AVAILABLE OPTIONS AND PACKAGES

Available Options:
Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade [2]

Driver and front passenger seat-mounted side and front- and second-row side curtain airbags [3]

Driver and front passenger heated seats [4]

JBL Premium 3-in-1 AM/FM Cassette/6-disc in-dash CD changer, eight speakers in six locations and in-glass antenna with FM diversity reception [5]

Rear-seat DVD entertainment system with rear-seat audio and two wireless headphones (includes 115V power outlet and RCA jacks) [6 , 7]"

*******************************

The note [4] next to the description above dictates that you must choose the leather interior option, which in turn requires either the/a convenience or quick order package. You might just want to invest in some sheepfur covers for those winter days!!

OTOH, if you were going to add other options anyway, then it might not cost that much more to get the heated seats.

Link: http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2004/highlander/options.html

angiepdx · October 2003

Thanks for the information and I will do what you suggested.

Angie

canwin1 · October 2003

My Gold V6 2004 Highlander has arrived. It has leather and more. I am pleased with the quiet ride and strong engine. This car/truck feels very solid and well built. The oem tires are the Bridgestone Duelers H/T. They seem different (tread design and ride) and better than my previous oem tire Bridgestone Duelers H/T on my 2002 CRV. I toiled between buying a Pilot, Murano or Highlander. The Murano seemed too flashy for me. It had louder engine hum as they seemed to want to appeal to sport car types. (I sound 90). I am high on Honda but I could not get comfortable with the seat in the Pilot. I also did not require a third seat. The Highlander B Package (Canada) is similarly equipted to the Pilot EX L. I also got a better deal and saved thousands. Built quality, engine power and 5 spd. trans. similar to the Pilot. I prefer the size of the Highlander and find the interior a little more luxury and less sparton than the Pilot.

pjaatpdx1000 · October 2003

wanting to put studded snow tires on my Highlander, but find our size hard to find. Anyone running studded snows, and if so, who is the manufacturer?

Thanks

canwin1 · October 2003

I figured a quality coat of wax or polish before it faces the elements would be good to protect the finish. I used Liquid Glass polish. Most of the car felt rough. I figured the car prep guys did not properly remove the shipping wax coating. I called the sales manager and he thought that was likely the case. Can it can be removed now without damaging the finish? Liquid Glass penatraits the paint.

kbalch · October 2003

I suggest washing your car with Dawn and then use a clay bar over the surface. It will come up nice and smooth. Then apply your wax.

runpanther · October 2003

That's a new one . . . Shipping Wax Coating???? Let me guess, the dealer agreed with you have you mentioned it, right? I figured I had heard it all with "Special Break-in Oil".

Oh well . . . What else will dealers think of next?

ahlin · October 2003

2001 Highlander limited V6 AWD 39000 miles am wondering about the coolant to use. The manual says extended life coolant installed. I looked in the expansion tank which is almost empty and the coolant was a bright orange color. Would this be a type of "dexcool" or equivalent? Manual says to flush at 30000 miles or 2 years. This doesn't sound like extended life to me. anyone out there had the coolant changed?

pjaatpdx1000 · October 2003

Click and Clack, on Car Talk, NPR on Saturdays, suggest the coolant doesn't need to be changed more than every 50,000 miles, unless there is a problem with freezing protection.

end_high · October 2003

I am currently weighing my options b/w Highlander and Endeavor. I am still not sure which one to go for. My budget is around 29000.
03 High has a decent rebate gng on rite now, so was planning to look at it but the AWD option comes out to around 28000. and does not seem to be a good buy. On the other hand, the endeavor looks good, has pretty good rebates gng but reliability is a key issue, evn though u take extended warranty. This will be my only car.
Can you plz advise?

harmon2 · October 2003

I'm trying to find and buy a 2004 Highlander Limited 4X4 in the new Sonora Gold color with leather and several other options. When I go to a Southeast Toyota dealer that lists the entire southeast inventory, none of the 487 vehicles on the list are Sonora Gold.

Anyone know why?

Thanks

wwest · October 2003

News & views, Toyota/lexus AWD.

gpolt · October 2003

Try Carmax.com Laurel, MD location. They have two.

jbollt · October 2003

Hi all... I recently bought a new 2003 Highlander base V6. The dealer was out of 2003 brochures, and the Toyota web site said they'd send one, but I received the 2004 brochure. I like to keep it in the file for the next owner, whenever I get ready to sell the car. Anyone have an extra 2003 Highlander brochure you would be willing to send me?

Thanks

stever · October 2003

Someone is probably selling one on eBay right now :-)

Here's an eBrochure you can print.

Steve, Host

mvh_2000 · October 2003

Is there anyway to change how the door lock work on the car? EI: Auto lock when car is started, or auto lock when put in drive?

Thanks
Mike

sibiryak · October 2003

Edmuns gives different prices for 2004 Highlanders v6 w/3rd seat 4WD v. 2004 Highlanders v6 w/3rd seat AWD (the latter is $1000 more). However, when I look on all Toyota sites they only differentiate between 2WD and 4WD, but not the subsets of 4WD (assuming there are any). Are there really 4WD and AWD 2004 Highlanders? If yes, what is the difference? I always thought 4WD was better than AWD, but it does not seem to be the case with Highlander becuase you pay more for AWD than 4WD. I am totally confused!?

wwest · October 2003

Are you mistaking "FWD" for "4"WD?

FWD is front wheel drive.

By most common definitions, there is no such thing as a Highlander 4WD.

Someone is going to argue the point, about what distinguishes 4WD and AWD, but the Highlander is only available as FWD or AWD, not "4WD".

stever · October 2003

Some manufacturers have referred to four wheel drive as FWD, or so I've heard recently.

Please send in a Feedback Form about any pricing errors you see on our vehicle pages. Thanks!

Steve, Host

lmacmil · November 2003

Did you come up with one yet? If not, I can send you mine. Email your address to lmacmil@yahoo.com. If you don't need your '04 brochure you can send it to me.

normy04 · November 2003

My 04 is the same not auto locks when put in drive? Not sure if anyone can help with this?

akasrp · November 2003

Patiently (OK, not so patiently) waiting for delivery of 04 AWD V6s to the dealerships.
'Build Your Own' at Toyota.com does not even list the HL V6 AWD option - only FWD (4x2).
What gives?

-srp

rqc · November 2003

I'm not aware of any way to enable auto-locking on any '03 or '04 Highlander. If someone finds a way, let us all know. This should be a configurable setting on any car nowadays.

petl · November 2003

Check your owners manual for disabling procedures. I disabled the auto-lock feature on my 2002 Camry. I will assume you can do the same with the Highlander.

storm11 · November 2003

Just went through adjusting the settings on my '04 Sienna. I assume the HL works the same way (and the instructions are in the manual).

Should come preset with autolock once taken out of park. To disable this, put key in ignition and turn to accessory position. Within 10 seconds, hold the front of the power lock down for five seconds (accurate time is important here, or it won't work). After letting go, you should here a quick lock/unlock of the doors. Congrats, you just disabled to autolock once you shift out of park. To turn this setting back on, just repeat the procedure.

To set it for locking at 12 mph (which is the way I did it on the Sienna.....that way the doors don't lock until you're actually driving down the road). Again, put key into ignition and turn to accessory position. Within 10 seconds, move the shift lever into neutral (need to have foot on brake) and push down on the front of the power lock button for 5 seconds. Again, you should here the system lock and unlock quickly. Now the car will lock automatically after 12 mph. To take this setting off, just repeat the procedure.

There's also another setting you can do, but I don't recall what that is. I like the locking at 12 mph. I found the factory setting (autolock after taking it out of park) to be annoying. I would back the car out of the garage into the driveway and need to get out of the car, or someone needed to get in and I had to unlock the doors to do this. At 12 mph, you know you're done getting in and out of the car to load/unload, so I found this to be more practical.

bbouch57 · November 2003

The Highlander door locks are not adjustable. They should be though. Just another ridiculous omission similar to the lack of an engine immobilizer on all but the limited model.

mckeown · November 2003

It IS available on the 2004 on any Model with the Preferred Package. Just like the 3rd row seat is standard with the 3.3 V6.

bluemind2 · November 2003

Hi, I just bought 04HL 4x2 V6. I wonder the gasoline octane should I use. 87 or higher?

lmacmil · November 2003

Use what the owner's manual recommends.

mckeown · November 2003

Minimum is 87, but if towing, use higher. It also states that it will run better on 91.

jackmick656 · November 2003

03 HL 4x2 V6. I run 91 in the hot summer months and 87 in the winter. Cant tell any difference in performance between the two octanes.

bpi · November 2003

I live in Maryland. I enter my zip code. It shows that Central Atlantic Toyota is the distributor. I proceed to the Highlander section. There're five models available. For each one that I select, there're two preconfigured option combinations. Each combination has some features that I don't want (Apearance Package, Towing Prep. Package, Sunroof etc.). I can't deselect both. Is this how Toyotas are sold now? I can't order one with the exact options that I want?

dbarnett66 · November 2003

My wife was rear ended by a teenager who was hanging out the window of her car at a stop light. Apparently she was goofing off with a friend and when she slid back into the car she hit the gas pedal with her foot. The impact pushed my wifes car a few feet into the intersection.

The highlander had less than 400 miles on it.

While my wife was ok, (Slightly sore neck) and thank goodness my two year old son was not in the car. Initially I considered the damage to minimal, but the estimates blew me away. How about $4000 to fix a slightly crushed rear bumper and dented back panel. Of course this includes the car rental for 7-10 days as well.

I buy my wife a fully loaded Highlander with leather seats and DVD player, only to have some yahoo nail it. I guess her dream car will be on hold for a while.

The 17 year girl had no insurance, no license and no current registration. The CHP towed her vehicle to an impound yard and slapped her with a court date.

Sheesh, why is trouble actracted to a new car. My 95 Dodge Dakota was hit three times the first month I owned it!

Dan - San Diego

phrosut · November 2003

Dang, Dan.... and I assume that the car the twit was driving won't be worth the impound storage fees so she'll just buy another and keep on driving?

98.7% of all accidents happen within 25 miles of home, so I undo my seatbelt and relax as soon as I'm at least that far from my house ;o)

Maybe you should start parking any new car you buy for the first two months, then you'll be out of that risk zone you find yourself in.

Phil in N. Calif.

hlfan · November 2003

First off, Dan, have your wife check out her neck at a good doc. Even if she does not feel that bad, she might have a whiplash injury. I had a teenager (without insurance) rear end me at 40 mph, and the money I lost is nothing compared to the headaches (literally). And this after I walked around with a neck brace for weeks !

Secondly, you seem to have terrible luck ! Please give us you registration number so we can pull over if we see you down in SD ! :-)

Nicholas, OC

stever · November 2003

"The Highlander is a nice, manageable size, which allows you to zip around at ease in urban traffic. It didn't feel the least bit like a truck, and it's one of the most smoothly riding, carlike SUVs out there, and thus would be a terrific transitional vehicle for somebody moving into an SUV for the first time."

Prepare for the snow with SUV Highlander (Post-Gazette)

Steve, Host

gwkiser · November 2003

Nice to see our HLs are still liked. Thanks for the link, steve.

'01 2wd V6 Limited, 38K and still running strong...

hlron · November 2003

I second gwkiser on nice to see the HL is still liked, and the thanks for the link.
Also, gwkiser, nice to see you still posting over the past couple of years - from what I have deduced over those past couple of years, I think you bought your '01 2wd V6 limited a bit before I purchased by '01 2wd V6 "unlimited" in June 2001. Like you, mine is still going strong. I still like it a LOT, with 43,550 miles on mine. Reliable, practical and - for me -perfect size. If something happened to mine, I would not hesitate to buy another HL to replace it. /Ron

gwkiser · November 2003

Thanks, Ron. Same to you. Yep, got ours in April '01 and just got back from a 10 day trip to Santa Fe/Taos NM about 3 weeks ago. That trip added about 2200+ miles to the odo...otherwise we'd be at about 35K-36K.

However, if something major happened to ours, I can't say I'd get another, but only because I've got my eye on a 2-seater the next time around!

akasrp · November 2003

Odd that Toyota.com still only shows 4x2 HL as an option in Build Your Own.
Per their online inventory, Longo Toyota in SoCal (huge dealer) has only recd two 4x4 models and both were non-Limited.
FWIW, they are quoting $1000 over invoice on the 04s (I inquired about a LTD V6 4x2). They still have lots of 03s.
Whats the hold-up on the 04 V6 AWD (4x4) models?
Im gonna end up impulsively buying something else pretty soon...
-srp

Toyota Highlander

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Your Privacy