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2014 Toyota Highlander

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Comments

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited April 2014

    Impressive Side Crash and Pole Crash Results for the 2014 Highlander

    Check them out:

    Side Crash Test Video: (http:// "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7sMETkhrjU")

    Pole Crash Test Video (http:// "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDdQe1QjMkk
    ")

    The 2014 HL looks like a safe enclosure for you and your family, when the unexpected happens, like when someone isn't paying attention and runs a red light and T-bones you and your car!

    Jake

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited April 2014

    Canned SMS/Texting Responses with iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s paired with 2014 Highlander Entune System

    Do any of you all with iPhone 5 or 5s use/reply to texts with canned/pre-programed text replies/responses with verbal commands on your 2014 (or earlier) Highlanders's Entune system? When checking with Toyota's website it states that iPhones (even 5 and 5s) do not allow SMS Text interfacing/messaging with Highlander's Entune system (whereas Toyota's Entune website states Android phones are able to use the SMS Text canned messaging feature), but when I checked with the local Apple store they said the iPhone 5 and 5s phone software has the capability to set up 'canned' text replies/responses using verbal commands to incoming texts using most new car infotainment systems, including Toyota's Entune.

    However, the above question(s) regarding interfacing iPhones with Toyota's HL Entune most probably will be moot as Toyota introduces Apple Car Play to the HL in the near future ( ~ 6-12 months) because, as I just learned, Apple's Car Play will streamline verbal messaging through the Highlander's stereo/Entune system using the iPhone's iMessaging feature and Siri, plus much more, to make it a seamless user friendly and safe experience. Check the following post for more on Apple's developing Car Play System.

    Jake

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited April 2014

    Apple's Car Play System and the 2014/2015 Highlander

    While Apple Car Play (ACP) is currently not available on the 2014 Highlander, it will be in the near future (6-18 mos). When it becomes available, it will run in conjunction with the Toyota HL Entune system, much like you can have two different OS systems on your Apple Mac Book Pro (eg, iOS Maverick 10.9 + MS OS Win 8.2) on a partitioned hard drive. But, reportedly you will have to have an iPhone 5, 5c, 5s or later connected to Entune with your Thunderbolt cable (not wireless, yet); currently an iPad will not work.

    If you are not familiar with the ACP System (and I surely wasn't before today) the following links and videos on ACP should get you up to speed on what to expect on the upcoming ACP/Entune set-up in the Highlander when it does arrive.

    ACP description on Apple's website: (http:// "http://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/")

    ACP Demo video in 2014 MB C-Class (@ 2014 Geneva Motor Show): (http:// "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiwRg_2GDGU")

    ACP Demo video in Volvo Concept Estate/2015 XC 90 (@ 2014 Geneva Motor Show: (http:// "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIo0wu0PVAs")

    CNET's take: (http:// "http://www.cnet.com/products/apple-carplay/")

    No word yet on how much auto mfgs will charge for the ACP feature, or exactly when we will see it on the Highlander or other Toyota models, but estimates are 6-18 mos.

    Jake

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited April 2014

    Apple CarPlay Update

    I am an iPhone fan (like you couldn't already tell!), and plan to get the iPhone 6 in the Fall. I have been so impressed with the Apple CarPlay (ACP) demo videos from the 2014 Geneva AS and New York AS, that I will hold off buying the 2014/2015 Highlander until it has the ACP system/feature.

    Here's another ACP demo video shown yesterday on a 2015 Hyundai Sonata w/CNET staff: (http:// "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7m-AKyUSAE")

    Jake

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited April 2014

    Apple CarPlay vs Android in the Car vs Mirror Link

    Please excuse my Apple CarPlay enthusiasm. Android users don't worry, you will not be left out of the 2015 Highlander Entune infotainment system connectivity, since Android in the Car and Mirror Link will be coming in 2015, perhaps sooner.

    The following videos help describe (a little) of what Android users can expect from Android in the Car and Mirror Link (which will allow both iPhone and Android connectivity) when they arrive in the 2015 Highlander, which again may not be until 2015:

    CNET's overview of CarPlay and it's competitors (the Android in the Car and Mirror Link discussions start at 2:55 min. into the 4:50 min. video): (http:// "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JDB_4EN2Io")

    Android in the Car (@ CES 2014): (http:// "https://www.youtube.com
    /watch?v=viWyqTkq_YU")

    CNET's take on Mirror Link: (http:// "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hgO_BcLZVA")

    HTC using Mirror Link in a 2015 VW Golf GTI: (http:// "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J5KNaaVRoQ")

    Hope this helps alleviate concerns for those using Android phones.

    Jake

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited April 2014

    Extreme Tech's 2014 Highlander Review: fair and balanced (check it out, especially page 2 and 3: (http:// "http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/176728-2014-toyota-highlander-review-great-midsize-suv-but-limited-tech-under-45k")

    Jake

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited April 2014

    CNET's take/review + video on the 2014 Highlander LTD + Platinum AWD: good overall; however, fuel efficiency, and JBL stereo/audio head unit and GreenEdge speakers a disappointment

    Check it out: (http:// "http://www.cnet.com/products/2014-toyota-highlander/")

    Jake

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366

    Head-to-Head Review: 2014 Toyota Highlander versus 2014 Acura MDX

    (http:// "http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/latest-reviews/luxury-label-new-2014-toyota-highlander-upset-victory-acura-mdx-article-1.1724339")

    Actually, these two are cross-shopped a lot.

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366

    Car and Driver's take of the 2014 Highlander AWD LTD Platinum: 'Zesty Vanilla'

    Check it out: (http:// "http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-toyota-highlander-awd-v-6-test-review")

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited May 2014

    2014 Highlander Airbag Recall (http:// "http://www.leftlanenews.com/toyota-to-recall-50k-highlander-suvs-over-airbag-module-software.html")

    "Obviously they forgot to factor in the weight of the average muppet."

    Hopefully, this is not the tip of the iceberg.

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited June 2014

    Android Auto in future Highlanders for Android users

    Google just announced Android Auto, which will compete with Apple's CarPlay for your Highlander/Entune infotainment in-car experience (even though Toyota has not yet announced it will partner with Google's Open Automotive Alliance/Android Auto, it's just a matter of time before it will) with lots of voice controls to minimize driver distractions, but we probably won't see it in a new Highlander until the 2016 or 2017 Highlander.

    Check it out: (http:// "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px6CAQDiEpI")

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited June 2014

    3 important reasons the 2014 Toyota Highlander is outselling its rivals

    Check it out: (http:// "http://www.torquenews.com/1083/top-3-reasons-2014-toyota-highlander-outselling-its-rivals")

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366

    2015 Highlander production to begin in July, with dealer delivery shortly thereafter

    Probably not many changes, if any, except possibly exterior paint; check it out: (http:// "http://www.landerfan.com/archives/release-date-of-the-2015-toyota-highlander/")

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366

    Highlander production to increase at Princeton, Indiana plant

    More highlanders and 300 more jobs!
    (http:// "http://www.autoblog.com/2014/08/25/toyota-highlander-indiana-plant-investment/")

  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited November 2014
    2014/2015 Highlander Best in Class for Kelley Blue Book's 2015 Best Buy Award Winners

    Check it out: http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/best-buy-awards/2000011397/

    And as you probably know the mid-sized SUV 2015 Highlander is virtually unchanged from the 2014, except price.
  • mlevinemlevine Member Posts: 581
    I was at the Miami Auto show this past Saturday. The highlander really looked nice. Toyota had a test drive track with the only SUV being the RAV4. Would think they would have a highlander available.
  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited March 2015
    Apple's Tim Cook yesterday announced CarPlay is coming to 40 car models by the end of the year.

    Does this mean the Highlander will get the factory installed CarPlay on the 2016 or 2017 HL? Anyone with info on this subject from Toyota sales staff?

    Check it out: http://www.leftlanenews.com/apple-carplay-to-arrive-in-40-models-this-year.html
  • orangeman99orangeman99 Member Posts: 88
    It seems that some people want to turn cars into mobile entertainment stations. It's a car, you don't need to connect your phone to the car. Jeez.
  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    Orangeman99, while I respect your opinion, for many people cars and pick-up trucks, besides providing basic transportation, are in fact mobile entertainment centers/stations. Since this is the case for the majority of drivers, these new smartphone/auto tech systems, if properly implemented, will make driving a much safer experience while listening to our favorite music/playlists, navigating to our destinations, and communicating with others in a much less distracting way. It's not a matter of will the implementation of Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto happen, it's just when it will happen. In my opinion, the sooner the better.
  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited October 2015
    Comparisons: 2016 Pilot vs 2014/2015 Highlander (2016 Highlander not out yet, but reportedly no major changes expected until 2017 MY mid-cycle refresh)

    4 Video Comparisons: Vid #1 pretty even-handed; Vid #2 comparison by the #'s (although not mentioned, updated safety/crash test results are in and excellent for both the Pilot and Highlander, and 0-60 times (V6's) slightly better for Pilot by 1/2 to 1 second, but from a practical perspective, negligible); Vids #'s 3 & 4 biased toward Toyota Highlander (Vid #'s 3 & 4 produced by Toyota dealers).

    Vid #1 (Winner depends on your family size): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It3f7ZbEuzE

    Vid #2 (by the numbers): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSFQA8EsfSA

    Vid #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guOOdlMsnL8

    Vid #4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM-0rE9JIRI
  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited October 2015
    Are Keyless Ignition Safeguards in place on the new 2014 and 2015 Highlanders, like a timed auto shut-off, to eliminate the risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, when you have an attached garage?

    Does anyone know if the 2014 and 2015 Highlanders have built-in keyless ignition safeguards, like a timed auto shut-off, to eliminate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, if you have an attached garage? And if not, is there a recall in place yet to retro-fit/fix this problem?

    Check out the following link: http://abcnews.go.com/US/keyless-ignitions-led-carbon-monoxide-deaths-recalled-suit/story?id=33344253

    At the very least, this car tech deficiency can cost the car owner lots of wasted gas and bad MPG #'s, and at the worst it can kill the owner and the entire family!
  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited October 2015
    Additional References on the Keyless Ignition risk of CO Poisoning, and Toyota's Legal Exposure

    If Toyota does not intervene in a timely fashion and right a wrong in their cars, like issue a TSB and/or recall, for those Toyota cars already sold that have keyless ignitions, it's not only terrible for the owners who will continue to be injured and killed by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning due to this issue, it can be potentially very expensive to Toyota, like the unintended acceleration suit that cost Toyota at least one billion dollars not so long ago.

    Article #1) Oct 5th ABC News Investigation of Keyless Ignitions: http://abcnews.go.com/US/abc-news-investigation-potential-risk-keyless-ignitions/story?id=34161887

    Article #2) Courthouse News Service: http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/08/28/class-calls-keyless-autos-dangerous.htm
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    Personally, I never have understood the desire for keyless ignitions.
  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    Berri- right you are, and keyless ignitions cars make it much easier for sophisticated car thieves to break into/hack these cars.
  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited October 2015
    Consumer Reports testing of 2016 Honda Pilot just completed and is somewhat disappointing

    Consumer Reports testing gave the 2016 Honda Pilot an overall score of 80 which is good, but significantly lower than the 2014/2015 Toyota Highlander (2016 not yet released) and 2016 Kia Sorento which both received an overall test score of 84.

    Check out the CR (the CR website was just updated and takes some getting use to) review and Road Test at the following link: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/honda-pilot.htm
  • ushy66ushy66 Member Posts: 366
    edited October 2015
    Getting ready for winter, the ski slopes and some mild off-roading? Check out the Off-Road Review of the 2014/2015 Highlander V6

    Take a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtub8bw_dfc
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