2008 Toyota Highlander Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Toyota gets the all-new 2008 Highlander’s styling exactly right. Its artfully flared fenders, handsome 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels (on Sport and Limited trims), and refreshing lack of gray plastic cladding give it a clean and modern appearance. A roof rack is standard equipment.

Surface gloss and grain levels are appealing, and clearly marked buttons and oversized stereo and climate control knobs dominate the otherwise minimalistic interior. They're so big, people living in colder climates will have no trouble operating the switchgear while wearing gloves. Gauges are located in deeply recessed housings, and the front passenger airbag is deftly hidden behind a seamless dashboard panel. A flip-up rear window and privacy glass are equipped beginning at the SR5 grade.

Any 2008 Toyota Highlander that doesn’t have a “Hybrid” badge on the front fender is equipped with a 270-horsepower, 3.5-litre V6 bolted to a five-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is not offered in Canada; all-wheel drive (AWD), which some literature refers to as 4-wheel drive (4WD), is standard here.

The Highlander Hybrid returns for 2008, pairing a 3.3-litre V6 with front and rear electric motors to create an electric AWD system. This powertrain uses an electronic continuously variable automatic transmission (e-CVT), which is a power management system that doesn’t work like a traditional CVT. Total output is 270 hp, and while the Highlander Hybrid is heavier than the standard version of the SUV, that weight feels offset, thanks to the instant torque from the electric motors. Toyota also provides an EV driving mode that allows for purely electric operation at lower speeds.

Both Highlanders return respectable fuel economy. The standard version averages 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 8.8 on the highway, and 10.7 combined. For the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, those figures drop to 7.4 L/100 km city, 8.0 highway, and 7.7 combined. That’s fantastic for a seven-passenger midsize SUV, but keep in mind that Toyota wants a minimum of roughly $9,000 extra for the Hybrid version.

Any 2008 Highlander is quick and nimble, but for the greatest athleticism, choose the Toyota Highlander Sport for its standard 19-inch wheels, rear spoiler, and sport-tuned suspension. Regardless of which version you choose, the Highlander drives more like a car than a truck, which is one reason it’s the standard-bearer in the midsize crossover SUV segment.

Up front, the 2008 Highlander provides comfortable seats wrapped in cloth or leather. Heated seats are available, and with Sport or Limited trim, the driver’s seat supplies eight-way power adjustability, including a power thigh-support adjuster on the latter trim.

A 40/20/40-split second-row seat is standard, offering a “Center Stow” function that allows a Highlander owner to remove the 20% centre section to create a couple of captain’s chairs with a pass-through to the third-row seat. Legroom is generous in the second row, but not in the rear seats. Adults can sit here for short trips, but it really is best reserved for children.

You’ll want to keep the third-row seat folded down most of the time anyway, because the Highlander only has 292 litres of cargo space behind it. When it’s folded down, the cargo area measures 1,198 litres. With the second-row seats folded down, a Highlander swallows up to 2,701 litres, with is downright astounding.

Toyota says the Highlander V6 can tow up to 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds), while the Highlander Hybrid can manage as much as 1,588 kilograms (3,500 pounds). All trims are equipped with a heavy-duty battery, starter, alternator and heater.

Toyota dramatically improves the Highlander’s technology game with the new 2008 model.

Standard equipment isn’t terribly impressive, amounting to air conditioning, power windows, power door locks and keyless entry, cruise control, variable intermittent wipers, a CD/MP3/WMA player, and an auxiliary input jack allowing iPod operation through the stereo system. But the SR5 trim adds steering wheel audio controls, a backup camera that allows a driver to see what’s behind the SUV, a 3.5-inch driver information display screen, and a six-disc CD changer. Sport trim adds dual-zone automatic climate control, and Limited adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror and keyless push-button engine ignition.

A JBL premium sound system that also adds Bluetooth hands-free calling is equipped on the Toyota Highlander Limited trim. With Bluetooth, you can pair your cell phone to the infotainment system and make and receive calls without holding the phone to your ear. The Highlander also offers a navigation system.

Toyota ups the Highlander’s safety equipment for 2008. Stability control, traction control, and antilock brakes (ABS) are standard, and Toyota equips every version with dual front, front-seat side, and three-row side-curtain airbags. Drivers also get a knee airbag, and a reversing camera is standard on all but the base trim.

In testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Highlander gets Good ratings in all four assessments, including for the seats and head restraints. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determines the Highlander gets a mix of four-star and five-star ratings.

A 2008 Toyota Highlander is not cheap, with prices starting at $39,650 for the base trim. Choose a Highlander Hybrid Limited, and you’re looking at spending $55,975.

Speaking of the Highlander Hybrid, it costs a minimum of roughly $9,000 more than the V6 version, which means it’s going to take forever to recoup the extra investment in terms of savings at the fuel pump. Given the price premium, choosing the hybrid version of this SUV is all about emissions and environmentalism and not at all about saving money.

Most people will be happiest with the Highlander Sport or Limited models. These versions of the sport utility vehicle are decently fuel-efficient and, if history is any indication, they will prove exceptionally reliable. But that happiness comes at an up-front cost.

Note: Images show a US model.