Thinking of getting a new 2015 or 2016 Highlander Hybrid

We're in the market for a Highlander Hybrid to replace our aging, but reliable, 2004 Sienna XLE Limited. I'm a little annoyed that Toyota forces you to get the Hybrid in the Limited or Limited Platinum trim levels, which pushes the price upwards of $50K. Ouch. I'm leaning towards a Platinum mostly because it comes with the Driver Technology Package automatically, and doesn't force us to get the Rear Seat Entertainment Package. All of the Limiteds I could find in Northern California didn't have the Driver Tech package, and the ones in Southern California that did have the Driver Tech Package all had the Rear Seat Entertainment package bundled in. Our needs have changed such that the RSE is no longer necessary (no longer hauling kids all the time). Our other challenge is finding a Limited Platinum in Nautical Blue Metallic.

Looking for recent experiences with the car, specifically real world gas mileage. While the car is EPA rated at 28, I know that the way we drive, we probably won't get that. We're used to getting around 20 to 21 in the Sienna, which was EPA rated around 25 on the highway, which is where most of our driving will be (lots of drives to Southern California from Northern California).

 

I considered the RX hybrids, but the wife wants the ability to haul 7 passengers. Yes, I've sat in the back on the HiHy, and I definitely wouldn't want to be in the back for a long car ride, but for a short drive around 30 or 40 minutes, it would be acceptable. Then again, I'm never likely to be in the back...

 

Wow, only 12 to 13? Do they do a lot of short trips where the engine doesn't warm up properly? That's the only reason I could see for such poor mileage.

When I recently rented a HiHy for a day (the PiP was getting it's 90K service), the computer claimed I was getting about 26 to 27 MPG. I did about a hundred miles that day. And this was in a combination of freeway and city driving, and I wasn't driving the car in the most sedate manner...

 

Thanks for the feedback. This helps a lot. We're not exactly what you'd call conservative drivers, usually doing between 75 and 80 on I-5 in the central valley of California. It's a pretty long and straight piece of highway where 75+ is the norm and even the trucks do 65 to 70. We probably won't get near what you do, but it's nice to know it's possible to meet or exceed the EPA estimates.

Which model did you get, Limited or Platinum? If just Limited, did you get the Driver Tech Package, and if so, how do you like it? And did you add the trailer hitch to the car, and if so, how well does the car tow and did you add a brake controller?

 

We're ordering a 2016 Limited Platinum in Nautical Blue Metallic. We don't need the car for another 3 or 4 months, so we're okay with waiting to get the exact car we want. The dealer we're working with supposedly will have it in our hands by January. We too are going to be using a hitch mounted cargo carrier for extra space, and we'll occasionally be towing with it (a popup camper).

 

Finding room for the battery pack would be the hardest part. There's not a ton of excess room for it. You could potentially sacrifice the underfloor spare and put runflats on the car but runflats offer a harsher ride, which is not suitable for a family hauler like the Sienna. You'd also potentially have to raise up the floor, which also goes against the family friendly layout of the van. A big advantage of the van for us has been the large cargo capacity it has when you fold down the third row and seats and tumble the middle seats foward.

 

Update: pulled the trigger and took delivery on a 2016 Highlander Hybrid Platinum yesterday. So far so good.

 

2nd update: Got a flat tire after just 400 miles. Cause was a screw that embedded itself in the tread. Toyota Roadside service put the spare on it fairly quickly and I had a local tire shop patch it for $35. The TPMS reset itself automagically after the tire was repaired.

So far we're averaging about 24 to 25 MPG according to the computer. About 60% highway, 40% city driving. I'll have a better feel for MPG after this next tank, and after a run down to Southern California later this month. Decent amount of power in the car.

Love the touch screen on this model. Way way way more responsive than the one in my Base PiP. The navigation system is a lot like the one I had in my 2005 Prius. Definitely prefer this one than the one in the PiP. However, I don't like the fact that if you are driving, and you select a destination, it won't show you all three route types (Quick, Short, and Alternate) to select from. Instead it picks whatever is the current preferred type. If you are stopped, it will show you the 3 types. In the PiP, it shows all three types no matter whether you are stopped or driving. Just a minor annoyance. The voice command system is also way better. Faster and able to understand what is said much more easily.

Also love the fact that I can browse my phone's entire music library via Bluetooth. In the PiP, you can only do this if you are plugged in.

Must have the Entune app running on the phone in order to use the Entune app suite, like Fuel Guide, Pandora, etc. But you don't have to have it plugged in, or setup a DUN/PAN connection and use your phone as a hotspot. Traffic is either via the HD radio in certain markets (supposedly the top 100 or so), or via the phone's data connection if that is available. You can configure it to only use HD traffic. There is no data via Satellite.

If you are listening to regular radio and get a phone call, the car will buffer the radio, and resume playing after your call is over. That can be rather handy. However, this doesn't work on Satellite. My wife's 2011 Mini Countryman, however, allows you to buffer the satellite radio. Don't know if we ever tested if that works on regular radio in her car. Will have to try the next I'm in it.

More updates to come...