How to evaluate Toyota Highlander?

The Japanese market’s understanding of SUVs has always been related to “off-road”, so the Nissan X-Trail, which relatively emphasizes off-road performance, is still the number one selling SUV in Japan, while CR-V, RAV4, PILOT, etc. are targeting The “family SUVs” developed for the American market have basically disappeared in Japan. The Highlander is a typical American family SUV, which emphasizes large space and comfort. Toyota also has the burly Sequoia with a similar orientation. If these cars are regarded as "Japanese cars", they should actually be classified as "Japanese cars". question mark.

In the "medium-sized SUV" segment, Highlander is the well-deserved king. Since the first-generation Highlander was launched in North America in 2001, its cumulative sales have exceeded 2 million units. In 2015, The third-generation Highlander launched has sold 200,000 units in the United States for two consecutive years. In China, Highlander is not the best seller in its class, but this is mainly because due to production capacity constraints, the imported 2.0T turbocharged engine installed in Highlander is in severe short supply, which has resulted in consumers having to increase prices or wait in line. , according to a disclosure by GAC Toyota at a formal occasion, Highlander has maintained more than 30,000 orders for a long time, and more people have chosen to give up because they cannot accept the long wait.

Why the Highlander is so popular may be because it takes Toyota's "moderate" to the extreme and turns it into an all-rounder. Whether it's handling, driving quality, space, economy, passability...it has reached the top level of its class in every aspect of being an SUV. Coupled with the quality reputation created by the two generations of Highlander, and very With a competitive price, it is no surprise that the Highlander is very popular, and its comfort has reached a leapfrog level.

While retaining the functionality of the previous generation, the third-generation Highlander has undergone a comprehensive mechanical overhaul. Although it still shares the same platform as the Camry, the rear suspension has been changed from the controversial double-link to a double-wishbone similar to the Lexus RX. In terms of power system, the 3.5L V6 engine has been cancelled. The entire series uses a 2.0T turbocharged engine codenamed 8AR-FTS, paired with an Aisin 6AT gearbox.

The previous generation Highlander focused entirely on urban and high-speed driving, with almost no pursuit of off-roading. Coupled with a special counterweight design, although its 3.5L version has four-wheel drive, it does not have any locking function. It is an urban four-wheel drive that is extremely weak. The shortcomings in off-road performance are what the new generation of Highlander can best compensate for. The high-end models of this generation of Highlander are equipped with a four-wheel drive system. It can also lock the center differential and manually control the front and rear axles in a 50:50 ratio. The power distribution enables full-time four-wheel drive. Generally, urban SUVs that are not full-time four-wheel drive get stuck in a car on a muddy road and then get out of trouble through the electronic system. In the forced four-wheel drive mode of this generation of Highlander, the car may not get stuck at all.

Of course, Highlander will never be an off-road expert. The new Highlander's best working condition is still high-speed cruising. Highlander's high-speed driving texture is undoubtedly the best in its class. Its chassis Thick and tough, while ensuring comfort, you won't feel guilty even if you drive a little intensely. The Highlander's driving texture has a strong "high-end feel". This is because it isolates road vibrations and external noise very well, giving people the feeling of driving a luxury car. Many media reviews even think that Its driving experience on the highway is close to that of a Toyota Crown.

Being able to sit and load up is the traditional virtue of Highlander. Except for the lowest configuration, this generation of Highlander adopts a 7-seater layout of 2 3 2. The space in the second row is very ample. It supports front and rear adjustment, even in the front position, it can satisfy a 180cm tall person to move freely. And even if all the seats are in use, the Highlander's trunk can still accommodate large backpacks and other items.

The Highlander's configuration is not particularly high, but the excellent workmanship makes up for this shortcoming to a considerable extent.

Moreover, Toyota models have always been famous for their reasonable ergonomic design. Highlander’s interior design has numerous advantages, such as the narrow storage slot at the bottom of the center console, the oversized armrest box that can hold a laptop, and the extendable armrest box. The sun visor, etc., there are many more thoughtful designs like this, and these details are also an important reflection of the maturity of a product.

"An indestructible Toyota" is not a joke. It is no exaggeration to say that the quality of Toyota Highlander is a myth among automobiles. According to the tracking statistics of 550,000 vehicles by the US "Consumer Reports", the ten-year-old Highlander has not declined in almost any aspect. Except for the eight-year-old Highlander, which has some lower scores in terms of entertainment system performance, other parts, especially the engine, gearbox and other major components, are almost the same as new cars.

The safety performance of the 2017 Highlander is also impeccable. The new car is equipped with Toyota Driver Safety Assist System, referred to as TSS-P, which can help brake when necessary. This system also includes lane departure assist, adaptive cruise and automatic headlights. In the IIHS test, Toyota Highlander has received the highest safety rating of its type for the third consecutive time: TSP. In China's C-NCAP crash test, the GAC Toyota Highlander 2.0T two-wheel drive luxury version participated in the third batch of tests in 2015 and received a five-star safety rating. The overall score is 55.5 points.

Although the sales volume is not the first, Highlander is undoubtedly the benchmark in its class. When new cars of the same class are launched, they like to launch the topic of "challenging Highlander", but Highlander's most important As long as the challenger Honda PILOT does not land in China for a day, consumers will still have to accept the price increase or wait.