Toyota Highlander Hybrid Priced at $33,595

Toyota Continues its Promise of Cleaning Up the World One Vehicle at a Time

Could it be that you would rather have a fuel conscious, clean burning gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle than a gas-guzzling SUV, but the reality of kids and an active lifestyle make it so that the compact models now available wont do?

Youre hardly alone, which is why Toyotas Lexus division is in the process of launching its new RX 400h SUV, featuring a gasoline-powered 3.3-liter V6 and a high-torque electric drive motor-generator drivetrain that results in an overall output of 268-horsepower for the performance of a V8 with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder compact car.

But not everyone can afford a Lexus, which is why Toyota is fitting the Hybrid Synergy Drive system to the Highlander crossover SUV, which shares its general architecture with the RX.

The Highlander Hybrid will become the automakers first 7-occupant HEV when it arrives in June, joining the Prius 5-door liftback under the Toyota nameplate, and in so doing give Toyota the distinction of the only brand to offer both car and SUV hybrids. The new model will be priced at $33,595, including destination charges, which is $6,840 more than the standard V6 gasoline version with three rows of seats. All-wheel drive will be $34,995, including freight, which is $6,840 more than the AWD gasoline version.

While the Highlander Hybrid will be available with front-wheel drive in base trim, a unique all-wheel drive system incorporates a separate 50 kw electric motor in the rear producing an additional 96 lb-ft of torque on demand.

Look for the Highlander Hybrid to increase Toyotas lead in hybrid-electric vehicles, with more Toyota and Lexus vehicles, such as the upcoming Camry Hybrid and the GS 450h respectively, the latter just recently introduced in New York, to follow.