The Toyota Highlander Hybrid to Hit the Market Mid-Year 2005
Toyota Motors enters the hybrid SUV business in mid-year 2005 with the introduction of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Modeled intimately on the conventional model of the Toyota Highlander SUV, a popular vehicle, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is expected to be a quick seller as far as gasoline/electric SUVs are concerned according to industry analysts.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is billed as being the first seven-passenger hybrid. The Toyota Highland Hybrid comes with a standard third row of seats that include rear privacy glass and a rear heater system. The rear seats of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid can be folded down to create 80.6 cubic feet of cargo space.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid will have all of the available features of the conventional Toyota Highlander. According to the manufacturer, these features that will be included in Toyota Highlander Hybrid will include the navigation system, rear-seat DVD entertainment options, premium radio, sunroof, leather upholstery, heated seats, and towing packages.
Toyota indicates that it has made safety the top priority with the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid will feature what the company is calling its “Vehicle Dynamic Management (VDM) System.” The system monitors a variety of sensors to anticipate and correct a vehicle slid or skid—by getting “panic assist brakes” ready for maximum stopping effort, while moderating the throttle control. During these situations, the VDM will also remove the slack in the front seat belts.
In addition, another safety feature in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a stability control system and a tire pressure monitoring system. These two systems will come as standard equipment on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Optional features on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid include front seat-mounted side airbags as well as side curtain airbags for the second and third rows.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is an all-wheel drive vehicle. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes compete with a special monitoring system to ensure that the four wheel drive systems is performing safely and to its optimal capacity.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rated the Toyota Highlander Hybrid as an ultra-low emissions vehicle.
Get the facts before you invest in a hybrid vehicle!