Gas to the floor - and forward through the freshly fallen snow! It’s so good that winter came so early this year! Frightened owners of “underdrives” crawl timidly in the right lane, and I enjoy the confident acceleration of the powerful V-shaped six. Yes, it’s not just that they say that a normal engine cannot have less than six “pots”. Eh, I haven't had this much fun driving a big four-wheel drive vehicle in a long time. I deliberately avoid the word “SUV” - that’s not what the Toyota Highlander is about at all. Someone will frown disdainfully: ugh, another SUV. But don’t rush to conclusions – the fact that the Highlander doesn’t look like a Prado or a 200 is its main advantage.
Toyota Highlander 2011
The first generation Toyota Highlander is a frequent visitor on the roads of St. Petersburg. This Japanese crossover has many fans and is rightfully considered one of the most reliable cars in its class. However, it officially debuted in our country quite recently - at the end of summer. And only today the first test cars appeared at official dealers.
Toyota Highlander 2011
Sales of the first generation Highlander model began in 2000. Initially, there were no plans to deliver the car to Europe, and especially to Russia. The main markets for the car were the United States, Australia and Japan - it was from there that many used cars were subsequently brought to us, in the “right-hand drive” version, known under the name Kluger. In total, 1,380,000 Highlanders have been produced to date, having survived the first generation change in 2007.
Toyota Highlander 2011
Toyota Highlander 2011 trunk
The Japanese demonstrated the seriousness of their expectations for the Toyota Highlander in our market back in August, organizing a world presentation of the new (and third) generation at the 2010 Moscow Motor Show. Our compatriots immediately liked the car: impressive appearance, rich equipment, seven seats...
Toyota Highlander 2011
Toyota Highlander 2011
Toyota Highlander 2011 interior
Toyota residents can really be proud of the interior of the “Highlander” (that’s how the name of the model should be translated). It’s spacious here even by overseas standards, and it’s also very high quality and well thought out. I myself witnessed how one buyer of a very serious build, climbing into the driver’s seat, exclaimed with delight: “It’s as if I was born here!” And this is not an exaggeration. Both young and old will find a comfortable fit. At the same time, no one will complain about visibility or lack of comfort. As expected, electric seats have a memory function, so it will be convenient for all family members to use the car.
Toyota Highlander 2011
As for ergonomics, it is the fruit of long and painstaking work. The focus is on conservative values. The dashboard with two wells framed in aluminum is informative and easy to read at any time of the day. The steering wheel with wooden inserts fits comfortably in your hands, and the radio control units located on it make life easier on the go. The center console houses the main controls, as well as two monitors, one of which displays data from the on-board computer and air conditioning system, and the other for the multimedia system and navigation. It’s hard to miss the large keys even when driving over bumps. Everything is clear, strict, convenient - just like the classics!
Toyota Highlander 2011
But you really fall in love with the Highlander's interior when you find yourself in the second row of seats. It seems that you are in a modern cinema hall, two independent leather seats separated by retractable armrests are so comfortable! You have your own climate control and so much space you can stretch your legs and lounge in a relaxed position! The middle part is hidden in order to free up the passage to the gallery - two retractable “seats” of the third row. However, if necessary, this pair of independent seats can be transformed into a full-fledged sofa, and the third row can be hidden in the floor, increasing the luggage compartment. After all, at its core, the third row of seats is a joker, which should be presented only in case of emergency. In normal condition, they rest safely in the trunk floor, the volume of which is an impressive 1200 liters, and with the second row seats folded - almost two cubic meters.
Toyota Highlander 2011
However, despite its solid dimensions, this car is not an SUV in the full sense. In the Toyota lineup, the Highlander is positioned exactly in the middle: between the RAV4 and Land Cruiser. As befits an SUV, it is built on a lightweight chassis and a passenger platform (in this case, from a Toyota Camry). There are no reduction gears or locks in the transmission - the Highlander is equipped with permanent and symmetrical (50:50) all-wheel drive without any frills. No downshifts or lock-ups! Like most modern models, all this is a thing of the distant past. Management is left to the electronics.
Toyota Highlander 2011
Toyota Highlander 2011
Toyota Highlander 2011
Review of Toyota Highlander 3.5 4WD (2011)
Out of old memory, I wandered onto the Totyota Highlander page, read some comments on the reviews and was slightly upset by the biased judgments 
I want to share my ownership experience. Perhaps it will help some wealthy citizens when choosing a future car..
I am 50 years old. The Highlander was purchased in April 2011 from OD, in white, in the most expensive configuration. The choice of equipment was determined by the desire to have 3-zone climate control, a large display and a hard drive for music. Before the Highlander there was a 2007 Touareg TDI and a 2011 Tiguan TSI.
Why did I buy it? Because there was no money for Tuareg 2011 (2.5 million), but there was money for Hai (1.8 million). I climbed into the driver’s seat, my wife and daughter dived into the 2nd row and said “Wow! It’s great how much space there is!” And I became one of the first owners of a white Hai in this body. After the purchase, I covered the hood, bumper, fenders and mirrors with armored film, and off I went! In 2 years I drove about 100 thousand km, of which 70% on the highway, 30% in the city.
Let me go over the main aspects:
— Reliability : Replaced the battery under warranty. Besides this, there were no problems in mechanics, electrical, or any other system for 2 years.
Interesting point: Since I live outside the city, I drove about 80 km a day on concrete roads and every spring I caught stones from under the wheels of trucks... before the sale there were 9 chips of different sizes on the glass... and not one turned into a crack!
— Comfort : The climate is excellent, the “skin” is a C grade, but the perforation helps you sweat less. It warms up quickly in winter and cools down well in summer.
— Interior ergonomics : a four plus, a practical and comfortable car for a family — a large trunk, a flat floor with the 2nd row of seats folded, no cardan tunnel and plenty of space on the 2nd row, 10 cup holders, hooks and loops for securing luggage, electric 5th door . The seats are for American seats, the buttons are for American fingers, the glasses are for 2 pairs of glasses)). A little rustic, a little cheap in places (for example, the plastic dashboard), but nothing ever squeaked.
— Ride comfort : The chassis is, IMHO, a good compromise between handling and comfort. Good ground clearance, but not an all-terrain vehicle, of course. There are no questions regarding the dynamics, everything is OK, in any situation. The brakes are American, but you get used to them, the main thing is not to overheat. Noise insulation is a 4 with a minus: thin glass, and the noise on the wheel arches is rather weak, there is room for craftsmen to turn around. At the door - definitely - add! We had to travel with six people - it was normal, we had to somehow transport 600 kg - no problem, 3 adult bicycles and a surfboard in the cabin - no questions asked. Rewind 600-700 kilometers along the highway on it - no problem, you don’t get too tired.
— Light : no comment... America, in a word. My equipment for 2011 did not have washers... in the fall and winter on the highway, as you understand, the scraper helped me out a lot.
— Appearance : unusual “facial expression” (at least not the unisex of the desired VW Touareg), white color — beautiful (I skated 3 weddings). The paintwork, of course, is so-so, but the film on the “face” and periodic polishing of the rest of the “body” saved me.
- Economics : there are no miracles in life, and 3.5 liters want to eat, my Khai’s appetite ranged from 10 (empty highway, winter, cruise control, Lukoil) to 18 (Moscow, heat, working day, BP) ) liters per hundred, according to BC. The tax is offensively high. Maintenance is often done after 10 thousand km, although I understand with my mind that this is only for the benefit of the engine and all important components.
— Why I sold it : 2 reasons — temporary financial difficulties and the near end of the Haya’s warranty run. The white color and good condition did their job when sold... the car quickly left for the southern regions of our vast Motherland.
SUMMARY : In 2011, when buying Haya, I thought: “a lot of car for a little money.” And now I’ll wait for the new Haya model with a less “taxable” engine, or... I’ll go to diesel engines within 2 million rubles.
I won’t give recommendations: everyone chooses their own... woman, religion, road..))
Good luck to everyone on the roads. Take care of yourself and each other!
I apologize for leaving my review in free form, and not in the “Disadvantages-Advantages-Recommendations” format!
Cross-country ability Toyota Highlander 2011
Of course, this doesn’t make the car more passable – but that’s not what it was made for. Due to the fact that the Highlander is free of “off-road ballast”, it handles significantly easier than its purely off-road counterparts and is much better suited for driving in urban conditions. Let's not forget about excess weight - once you get rid of it, a large car becomes much more economical!
Toyota Highlander 2011
However, the ground clearance of 206 mm allows you not only to move on asphalt, but also to move onto a country road. Yes, it’s not tempting to storm a ford or a swamp in such a car, but there are no problems driving through freshly fallen snow or parking on a curb. To help the permanent all-wheel drive there are various auxiliary systems: traction control TRC, directional stability VSC+, hill assist HAC2, hill descent assist DAC. Well, if it snows, there is a special Snow mode for extra confidence.
Toyota Highlander 2011
Toyota Highlander 2011
Test drive Toyota Highlander 2011
By the way, I had the opportunity to test this entire arsenal in action - on the day of the test drive there was a real snowfall - the first one this year. Half a month's worth of snow fell in one night. As a result, the roads were practically at a standstill, but the ring road was empty. Of course, in such a powerful car it’s difficult not to grab it with all your might. And there were no problems with this.
Toyota Highlander 2011
With a volume of 3.5 liters, the engine produces a good 273 horsepower and 337 Nm of torque. This is enough to not only move a two-ton car from a standstill, but also to experience the beauty of the acceleration of a V-shaped “six”. The Highlander reaches the first hundred in 8.2 seconds. after the start, and with increasing speed the thrust becomes more and more. The 5-speed automatic shifts gears evenly and smoothly, only adding to the sensation. To be honest, when you look at the massive Highlander, you don’t expect such agility!
Toyota Highlander 2011
However, when it was time to turn off, it turned out that all the exits were covered with snow. I went a little too fast and ended up in the bump stop. Even 50 km/h in such conditions is too high a speed at which losing a car is easy. And he is lost. A couple of instinctive movements of the steering wheel change the whole thing - the car is instantly caught. Thanks to the electric booster, which works in tandem with ESP, turning the car into a single system.
Toyota Highlander 2011
Needless to say, “Highlander” feels great in the metropolis? There is always plenty of traction under the foot to perform sharp maneuvers, and huge mirrors coupled with a rear view camera allow you to fully control the road situation. In addition, the electric booster is tuned specifically for Russia, thanks to which the steering wheel has a clear zero, and decent effort, which does not evaporate even with sharp deviations of the steering wheel at large angles, and, most importantly, constant feedback from the wheels, which most people lack models made for America. Thanks to these settings adapted for us, the huge crossover feels maneuverable like a sedan, and the feeling of control does not leave you on the highway.
Toyota Highlander 2011
Going on a long journey in a Highlander is a pleasure. Smooth highway driving suits this solid crossover perfectly. Well, for our own safety, the maximum speed is electronically limited to 180 km/h - it’s not good to drive faster in a tall car! It is worth noting another feature of the “Russian” Highlanders - stiffer shock absorbers, which allow you to more accurately handle unevenness and confidently, without swaying, stay on course.
Toyota Highlander 2011
Is everything really that good? Not really: short suspension travel can be unpleasantly surprising. Indeed, if you happen to fall into a snow-covered hole, a surprise awaits you - a blow to the entire body, echoing even into the steering wheel. This really doesn’t happen on Prado! But you have to pay for everything - the feedback between the wheels and the steering wheel is better here than most of its classmates. Thanks to this more “passenger-like” setting, the feeling of control over the car on the track increases, but comfort decreases.
Toyota Highlander 2011
Characteristics of Toyota Highlander 2011
The buyer of the Highlander crossover in Russia will not have to choose for long: one engine, one transmission and, in general, one luxury package. However, formally there are still two, and both of them can safely be called maximum. It has everything: seven seats, seven airbags, leather trim, and three-zone climate control. The only difference between the “Prestige” and “Lux” versions is that the more expensive version has a seven-inch monitor with a hard drive and navigation. The minimum cost of a Toyota Highlander is 1,757,000 rubles, and a fully equipped Highlander will cost 58,000 rubles more.
Toyota Highlander 2011
The equipment of this car is “Lux”, the cost is 1,813,000 rubles.
- Audio system with MP3
- Rear View Camera
- Three-zone climate control
- Navigation system in Russian
- Electric rear door
- Alloy wheels
- Ascent and descent assistance systems
Reviews of Toyota Highlander Rating: 4.5 out of 5 29 reviews found
17.03.2011
Good afternoon I drove the Hyundai Tushkan for a long time, I consider it an excellent SUV. Last year, the opportunity arose to take out a bank loan secured by an apartment and buy a new car. I chose between Highlander, Tiguan 1.4 and Volvo XC90.
Volkswagen has the advantages: German quality, the proud title of Engine of the Year, meaning 1.4 TSI and manual transmission. I like the manual transmission because I like to control acceleration, and my left leg and right arm tend to move when I drive the car, so the clutch pedal and shift lever are just what the doctor ordered.
On Volvo’s side is Swedish-Chinese quality, safety, you never know what kind of pole you’ll hit, and superiority over competitors. The Volvo company conducted independent research of cars at its testing site in southern China, in harsh winter conditions, where SUVs and SUVs of all brands were assembled. So, the XC90 was unanimously recognized as completely superior to all competitors.
As I wrote above, I needed a manual transmission, but they don’t offer such a Highlander in Russia. I believe that these are Toyota marketing mistakes, while the Tiguan 1.4 can be chosen with a manual transmission.
Having decided to buy a Highlander, I waited in line for 4 months and now I am the owner of a Japanese car. I can’t call myself happy because I calculated how much I’ll have to pay in transport tax. The suspicion immediately arose that he was in a hurry. I also don’t like that the Highlander has all-wheel drive with three free differentials, like the Mercedes ML. I read the reviews...
The lateral support at the seat was disappointing. When I celebrated the purchase of Highlander with friends, I drove home drunk. When getting out of the car, the lateral support did not cope with its function, the seat did not support my body, I fell out of the car and slammed on the asphalt.
As a result, I decided to exchange the new Highlander for a used Tiguan 1.4 and Volvo XC90. Fortunately, one-year-old Europeans fit into the price of the Highlander. And I found a person who agreed with me to exchange. I had a couple of questions for him, but he calmed me down. This year there was a snowy winter, and the owners of the Volvo XC90 complained about the massive failure of the AWD and the long wait for the spare parts to be replaced and repaired, but the seller offered two complete clutches as a gift, in case of repeated snowfalls. Despite their shabby appearance, he says they both work. There were rumors about Tigaun that the engine could throw up surprises. He replied that such rumors were spread by envious competitors; the engine was impeccable. In St. Petersburg, it is not customary to deceive buyers when selling cars, so now I am completely confident in the new choice and will complete the transaction.
Good luck to everyone on the roads.
Options and prices Toyota Highlander 2011
| Equipment | Prestige | Lux |
| Cost, rub. | 1.757.000 | 1.813.000 |
| Alloy wheels | + | + |
| Leather interior | + | + |
| Engine start button | + | + |
| Third row of seats | + | + |
| Rear View Camera | + | + |
| Automatic transmission | + | + |
| Navigation system | – | + |
| Hard drive with file recording capability | – | + |
| Audio system with MP3 | + | + |
| Three-zone climate control | + | + |
| 7 airbags | – | + |
Choosing the optimal configuration of Toyota Highlander
Toyota Highlander is a rare example of a car that is equally popular in both Russia and the USA. The Japanese gave motorists in both countries what we valued and will continue to value: a spacious, well-equipped all-wheel drive vehicle of impressive dimensions.
We learned the advantages and disadvantages of the Toyota Highlander in comparison. With the large Mazda CX-9 crossover and the Toyota Venza all-wheel drive station wagon. In both cases, Highlander proved to be a good option, and we decided to move on. Having studied the prices and configurations of the car, we calculated what the best version of the Toyota Highlander should be and how much it will cost.
When it comes to the engine, transmission and gearbox, we, unlike the Americans, have nothing to choose from. The only petrol 3.5 V6 with a capacity of 273 hp is intended for the Russian market. With.; The gearbox is only a 5-speed automatic, the drive is permanent all-wheel drive. No options.
But there are three trim levels: basic Comfort, “medium” Prestige and top-end Luxury. The base version includes seven airbags, full power accessories, active head restraints, a rear view camera, cruise control, a CD/MP3/WMA audio system with six speakers, and a 3.5' multifunctional color display. The price of a basic Highlander in Russia is 1,690,000 rubles.
A seven-seater saloon (or rather, a six-seater, as Kolesa.Ru during a recent test drive of the Toyota Highlander) becomes available in the Prestige version. And along with the third row of seats there are also chrome roof rails, three-zone climate control, perforated leather upholstery, an access system and engine start by pressing a button (Smart Entry & Push Start). In the interior decoration, in addition to leather, wood-effect inserts are also used in mid-range and top-end trim levels. The issue price is RUB 1,920,000.
By adding only 56,000 rubles, we get the maximum Luxury package. True, its only difference from the Prestige is the presence of a navigation system with a 7.0-inch multifunction display.
Thus, the problem of choice comes down to answering one single question: do you need a third row of seats or not? The seats on this very third row, by the way, are quite full, suitable for transporting adult passengers. Which, however, is not surprising, given the size of the Toyota Highlander.
| For those who choose the Toyota Highlander package, Kolesa.Ru recommends paying attention to the Comfort version. Equipment that fully corresponds to the price and status of the car, a spacious interior and... it’s even difficult to find a suitable epithet for a trunk with a volume of under 1,200 liters! In general, you can transport not only a refrigerator, but half an apartment! |
As for the Prestige and Luxury versions, firstly, in everyday use a large trunk is often more useful than a third row of seats, secondly, the Smart Entry & Push Start system and chrome roof rails are not worth overpaying a six-figure sum for them, and thirdly, pseudo-wooden inserts only spoil the completely cozy and organic interior.
| Equipment/components | Comfort | Prestige | Lux |
| — 7 airbags — leather steering wheel — safety power windows — active head restraints — rear view camera — cruise control — heated seats — electric drive and heated mirrors — 3.5′ color multifunction display — CD/MP3/WMA audio system, 6 speakers — third row seats - 3-zone climate control - leather compartment. seats - Smart Entry & Push Start - navigation system - color multifunction. display 7.0′ | + + + + + + + + + + – – – – – – | + + + + + + + + + + + + + + – – | + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + |
| price, rub. | 1 690 000 | 1 920 000 | 1 976 000 |
We found only one argument in favor of each of the two expensive versions of the Toyota Highlander. They are very conventional, although the manufacturer included them in the names of the configurations...
Toyota Highlander 2011 Competitors
All the main competitors of the Toyota Highlander come from the East.
Nissan Murano 2011
Nissan Murano is an already established brand, which, alas, has lost a fair amount of fans after the change of generations. We have already written that the new Murano simply kills with its design. At the same time, the car is not bad at all. The base price for Nissan Murano (V6 3.5, 249 hp) is from 1,675,000 rubles, and the top-end configuration will cost 1,850,000 rubles. However, don’t expect to find 2 extra seats in the trunk. Nissan Murano is a five-seater car.
Honda Pilot
Another worthy opponent of Toyota is the Honda Pilot. Like the Highlander, this car was made specifically for America. It doesn't lack for power - the high-revving V6 3.5 engine produces 257 hp. An interesting feature is that the Pilot is equipped with a function that allows you to temporarily turn off unused “cylinders”, saving fuel. In addition, like the Highlander, the Pilot has an additional row of seats underground, designed for up to three people. The base price of the car is 1,732,000 rubles.
Hyundai ix55
Finally, the Korean Hyundai ix55 (V6 3.8, 268 hp) may well compete with the Highlander. This car is clearly overpriced - the base price is 1,919,900 rubles. Of course, it is quite richly equipped and has a third row of seats, but overall, it is hardly better than Toyota.
Kia Mohave
However, there is also a more affordable analogue on the market - Kia Mohave (V6 3.8, 275 hp, the same 7 seats). Its price in petrol version starts at 1,459,900 rubles. Diesel is significantly more expensive – from 1,779,900 rubles. And this is quite natural: the petrol Mohave is equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission, which the Koreans themselves consider outdated. Hence the discount.
