When my California friends ask what life is like in the Pacific Northwest, I tell them that everything is clean and green. The frequent rain keeps everything sparkling and is the reason why we have so many trees. It often feels like I live in a forest instead of a suburban neighborhood.
When you live in an area like this, you can’t help but to be more aware of the environment. Recycling is a way of life. We are thoughtful about the type of food we buy and where we purchase it from. And we try to make choices that have a reduced eco impact. For example, it seems like every other car in our neighborhood is either an electric or a hybrid of some sort.
I had an opportunity to test drive the 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid which has room for eight, a stylish design, and a gasoline/electric hybrid engine system. I’ve read a lot about hybrid vehicles and have been considering buying one, so I jumped at the chance to see how the Highlander performed.
The Toyota Highlander uses a combination of a 3.5-liter V6 engine and an electric motor to power the vehicle. When I was in stop and go traffic or moving slowly through the parking garage, I saw that the Highlander used the electric motor more frequently. When I needed power to get up the big hill to our house on the plateau, the V6 kicked in.
The engine combination gives you about 280 horsepower, which never leaves you feeling like you are sacrificing performance (one of my biggest concerns about driving a hybrid). Toyota reports that the Highlander Hybrid gets a 27 city and 28 highway mpg. If you want to maximize the fuel efficiency of the vehicle, you can put it into ECO Mode which modifies the throttle response to squeeze out some additional savings.
Along with a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle rating, the Highlander is very quiet to drive. For a ridiculous example, I left the engine running while I took some photos and two deer walked up to the vehicle. It really is that quiet.
While the engine is the big story with a hybrid, the interior of the Highlander is equally as impressive. The vehicle seats eight, which is large enough for most families and whatever cargo they might bring along. My son loved the second row captain’s chairs and I was impressed that they were heated.
The second row seats had their own audio and thermostat controls. A panoramic moon roof runs the length of the vehicle and really opens up the vehicle’s interior. My son loved the great view it gave him.
The Toyota Highlander had plenty of bells and whistles with the entertainment system which you control through the 8.1 inch touch-screen display. The Entune audio system has Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM and HD Radio.
You can can also do some neat things like buying movie tickets, check sports scores, get gas prices, or find weather and traffic information through the display. There was even a feature called Driver Easy Speak that uses the car’s microphone and speaker system to amplify your voice. This way, your children in the back of the car can easily hear you without the need to raise your voice.
I really liked the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and didn’t want to give it back at the end of the test drive. It is roomy and comfortable. It has lots of great tech features and an efficient engine. The Highlander Hybrid is a wonderful family vehicle that is perfect for getting around the pacific northwest.
