Created: 11/27/2007
Video description: We failed to find much that was special about our 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and even with few options, it was expensive. Its hybrid system is its best feature, justifying most of the price. The Limited model is nicer in every way and can be optioned
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Video Transcript
>> Here's the new 2008 Toyota Highlander. And it solves one of the compromises in the world of car tech. Let's go inside and I'll show you which one.
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Okay, here is what this car solves for. Usually, you get a car with a six disk, in dash changer or then you opt for the nav like we have here. And you get drop down to a single disk in dash CD player. Arr! You want both, right? Well on this Highlander, we kind of have an interesting mix. If I open the screen here, which is how you get in there to load a disk, touch screen as you can see, large display as well. Here's your CD slot, but that's a four disk, in dash changer. An in dash changer with nav, I like that. So this has also got the ability to play WMA and MP3 disks as well as standard CDs. So you've got a nice mix here of disk volume, disk types and your navigation stays in place. That's a good blend. Let's give you that navigation screen now. Looks to me like a Lexus piece, but kind of slightly downgraded. The menuing and the layout is very LS, but the quality of the screen isn't. That's definitely a grainier, lower dot pitch LCD than we've seen in the Lexus LS and other cars. If we look at the way the screen is laid out, it's a very good system as we've seen before. Good large, reachable touch screen buttons, the menuing on this is one of the, one of the better, one of the more clear I think. It really works for me anyway. But enough about the big guy. What's this? That little screen which by the way is incredibly good resolution, is called the multi information display. You drive it over here with the display button. That lets you page through various screens from vehicle status to your HVAC system. Of course, you've got time and temperature sitting up there just about all the time. And of course, you've got a whole variety of fuel economy calculations as you might expect in there. That's a nice idea. You know kind of cribbing a little bit from Honda to be honest. Where they've been putting a secondary display on top of the dash, so your nav system can stay uninterrupted. Okay, Bluetooth hands free comes with any of the upgraded head unit packages. So the one that has nav and better audio or the one that has better audio only, or the one that has better audio and nav and rear seat entertainment, all of those bring you Bluetooth. Standard on this vehicle is a backup camera. That's kind of a nice touch. No option involved here. That's on every Highlander Limited. And as you can see, it's pretty good quality video. Seen better, seen worse. That view is kind of funny because our deck lid is up, so it's looking kind of to the sky there. No trajectory lines and no distance gauge on there. So you've got to pretty much read this one by eye. That can be touch with a very wide-angle lens. Push button start on this vehicle, but you also have an optional glass break detector, if you want to put that in here. Because there's a lot of glass and places for folks to break in and get your stuff. Let's price out our 08 Highlander. 33300 for this limited, front wheel drive. Add about 3500 dollars if you want the all wheel drive version. The package that brings you the better audio system and the nav is about 2500 bucks. Remember the rear view camera is standard. And if you want to add rear seat entertainment to that package, you go to about a 6500-dollar additional option.
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2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review
Avg user rating
Good
7.0
out of 10
The good: The 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has an electric vehicle mode switch, and its hybrid system gives it particularly low emissions. A small LCD comes standard in the dashboard, offering useful information about the power train and fuel economy.
The bad: The base stereo system sounds terrible, and the Highlander Hybrid is pricey. Fully optioned up, it is over $45,000. Some cabin materials feel cheap.
The bottom line: We failed to find much that was special about our 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and even with few options, it was expensive. Its hybrid system is its best feature, justifying most of the price. The Limited model is nicer in every way and can be optioned with navigation and a better stereo.
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2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Specs
Manufacturer: Toyota
Part number: 100942022
Product Basic Spec
- Connection for portable MP3 sound system
- Standard
- Multizone climate control
- Optional
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2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Prices
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