2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Overview
2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Exterior
On the outside, the 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid looks like—well, a Toyota Highlander. The large crossover has a menacing stance on the road given its sheer size, and while it’s not the most attractive vehicle in its class, its abundance of standard features certainly makes up for what it lacks in looks.
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These standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED running lights, foglights, sunroof, rear flip-up hatch window, power liftgate, rear spoiler, and keyless entry. These features are available on both trim levels—the Limited and the Limited Platinum. If you decide to go with the top-of-the-line Limited Platinum, you’ll get a panoramic sunroof rather than your regular run-of-the-mill one.
2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Performance
Both the Highlander Hybrid Limited and the Limited Platinum are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that combines with multiple electric motors and a battery pack. All in all, this adds up to an output of 280 horsepower. The engine is powered by a continuously variable transmission, which sends power to all four wheels.
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Although AWD is a standard feature in the Highlander Hybrid, the vehicle primarily uses the front wheels only. In the case of wheel slippage, the rear wheels are engaged to increase traction and decrease the likelihood of the car spinning off the road.
2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Efficiency
The 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes with an EPA estimated rating of 27 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, which evens out at 28 mpg combined. While this mightn’t sound too impressive when compared to the likes of the Prius, consider the size difference between the two vehicles, and the fact that the non-hybrid Highlander is rated at just 20 mpg combined. In this case, 28 mpg is an outstanding rating for a large, three-row crossover, and about as good as you’ll find in this segment.
2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Interior
The most striking thing about the 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s interior is its sheer size. Three-row seating is standard, with the second row boasting comfortable captain’s chairs and the third row allowing room for three. While larger adults might feel cramped in the third row, it’s plenty big enough for smaller adults and children.
In both the Limited and Limited Platinum, you’ll find standard features like ambient lighting, keyless ignition, leather upholstery (leatherette in the third row), tri-zone automatic climate control, heated/ventilated front seats, Drive Easy Speak, and a second-row table between the two captain’s chairs. In the Limited Platinum, you’ll also get a heated steering wheel and heated second-row seats for the ultimate in comfort.
One option that families might decide to choose is the rear-seat Blu-ray entertainment system, which will keep kids of all ages occupied on longer road trips.
2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Safety
As many families opt for the Highlander Hybrid, Toyota made sure that safety was a top priority. The crossover is outfitted with a wide array of airbags, including front-seat side airbags, driver’s knee airbag, front passenger seat-cushion airbag, and full-length side curtain airbags. Other standard features include stability control, antilock brakes, hill-start assist, a rearview camera, and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors.
Opting for the Driver Technology package will add a frontal collision mitigation system with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, and Toyota Safety Connect—a telematics service that includes emergency assist, stolen vehicle location, and automatic collision notification.
These features helped the 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid earn a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
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