With a shout out to eco-friendly, the 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a proud sibling to the conventional Highlander with standouts that include better fuel economy, but still the same high-end tailoring. There is seven-passenger seating on the Hybrid versus an eight seater on the conventional Highlander option.
New additions to the 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid include more space for comfortable riding and driving and a height-adjustable power lift gate.
Not that many choices for what this hybrid offers as there are plenty of features standard on this three-row crossover SUV. Indeed, this Toyota is all you really need in the way of a family friendly vehicle hauler with a longer body at about three additional inches and wider too from years past.
There are a few competitors on the market with a lower price tag like the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid and the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid, but this Toyota stands tall as a gallant opponent.
With three rows in this midsize crossover SUV, there are the Limited and Limited Platinum trims to choose from with both offering seven passengers sitting comfortable and two second-row captain’s chairs with a 60/40-split third-row bench.
On the Limited you get 19-inch alloy wheels, sunroof, LED running lights, fog lights, a rear hatch window that flips up, adjustable-height power lift gate, rear spoiler, keyless ignition and entry, ambient interior lighting, tri-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery and heated/air conditioned front seats. The luxury doesn’t stop there though, even on the standard trim you also get an eight-way power driver seat, driver memory functions, four-way power passenger seat and a second-row table between the chairs as well as retractable second-row sunshades. Technology with this trim includes an eight-inch touchscreen, smartphone integration as well as Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and 12 speakers with an audio system that comes with satellite radio, HD radio and iPod/USB connect functions.
If you want to add more, there is the Driver Technology package and that will give you adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation and automatic braking as well as a lane departure warning.
On the Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum trim you get all the Limited features as well as a larger, panoramic sunroof with a heated steering wheel and heated second-row seats. In the rear there is also a Blu-Ray entertainment system.
Under the hood, the 2014 Highlander Hybrid has a 3.5-liter V6 engine that includes three electric motors and a battery pack. This will give you 280 horsepower with all-wheel drive, but you can also opt for a continuously variable automatic transmission too.
In regard to safety, this Toyota hybrid offers the standard stability control, antilock disc brakes, front-seat side, driver knee and front passenger seat-cushion airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.
On the Limited there is the blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors and a back-up camera standard and with the Driver Technology package there are the additional safety features including the frontal collision mitigation system with automatic braking, lane-departure warning and the Toyota’s Safety Connect offering emergency assistance, stolen vehicle location and automatic collision notification.
The 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has had a facelift in 2014 and is much like the conventional Highlander inside from the gears and knobs to the stitched seams and plenty of storage space including the console storage box that is quite large. There is also a shelf on the dash that has a hole in the back perfect for the cords to power phones and the like.
The space inside the 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers 13.6 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 42 cubic feet when the third row is folded down or 82.6 cubic feet when the second and third rows are not in use.
On the road the 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid owns the ride in size and functionality weighing in around the mid-300s and comfortable all around. Take note too of the steering wheel that is a comfortable feel for the hands while driving and the quietness of the ride even when accelerating to take the highway. Final answer, this Toyota is a luxury family vehicle for the masses.
Should You Need to Know: When properly fitted the 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
MPG: On the 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum I drove, it was 27 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway.
Cost: On the 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum I drove, the price tag was $50,875.
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