Video reviews and test drives of the new Toyota Highlander 2023 in Moscow
Material content
Specifications
The 2015 Highlander has a very heavy hood. Toyota never introduces abrupt innovations that can then break down and create problems. Their main policy is to just take the previous crossover, see what problems it had and refine it to perfection.
In the previous crossover, the main problem was plastic. In addition, the car used really a lot of fuel. A car without a full frame and a particularly large cross-country ability ate 19 liters per 100 kilometers.
By and large, the Toyota Highlender was supplied with an all-wheel drive system from the RX. Now the usual clutch, permanent front-wheel drive and under duress, when slipping, the rear is connected. Suspension mcpherson, much taken from the Lexus RX. Behind – multi-link suspension. Engine – 249 horsepower. A big plus was the reduction from 277 horsepower while maintaining the same power. Conventional 4-cylinder VV-time motor on phase shifters, very quiet. And also – a six-speed automatic instead of a five-speed one. Thanks to this, the car began to spend less fuel on the highway and around the city, because the car lost its center differential. Minus – in a deep snowdrift or mud, the clutch will turn off and the car will inevitably get stuck.
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Handling and off-road ability
The updated Highlander is comparable in ride and handling to some Lexus models. The Japanese crossover, thanks to such characteristics, fully corresponds to the title of a family car. Highlander boasts excellent sound insulation: a running engine is not heard in the cabin, even if the engine spins up to maximum speed. At the same time, this unit provides high traction, and the automatic transmission acts as if trying to please the driver.
However, keep in mind that the Highlander is a large car. That is, the Japanese novelty is not sufficiently maneuverable and dynamic. It picks up speed relatively slowly and does not always accurately enter turns. Although its all-wheel drive and can partially eliminate understeer. On the other hand, the suspension easily levels out the bumps that are typical for Russian roads. The steering wheel, like most Toyota models, is smooth and has good feedback.
In terms of off-road capability, the Highlander outperforms direct competitors such as the Honda Pilot or Hyundai Palisade. A significant role in this is played by proprietary systems that provide automatic redistribution of torque between the axles and rear wheels. Thanks to this feature, the car rarely gets stuck even when moving along a rutted track. But the 204 mm ground clearance prevents the Highlander from being constantly used off-road.
Design
As part of the latest restyling, Toyota has “retouched” the appearance of the Highlander. In particular, the crossover acquired a new trapezoidal grille, which gradually expands as it approaches the bumper and is complemented by a relatively narrow metal edging. On the sides of it, elongated LED lights are placed, which stop their “movement” not far from the littered A-pillars. The bumper was replenished with large cutouts, inside of which air vents and fog lights are located at a fairly large depth. And below them stretched a long trapezoidal air intake. In general, the changes that took place on the front of the body made the appearance of the Highlander more sporty.
The interior of the Japanese model in Russia has only premium trim: leather is found not only on the seats, but also on the transmission tunnel, front and door panels. At the same time, the crossover is equipped with an outdated steering wheel. The Highlander retained the Toyota-branded touchscreen monitor with compact keys and a selector on the bottom. The transmission tunnel is still complemented by a small gearshift lever and four-wheel drive settings buttons.
