In every market segment, there is always a benchmark model, and every competitor wants to replace it. Gac Toyota Highlander as this benchmark, since 2009 to the introduction of the Chinese market, with the positioning of the large 7-seat SUV, has always been close to the needs of Chinese families. So far, the cumulative sales volume in China has exceeded one million vehicles. At the same time, it is also the first luxury large seven-seat SUV with cumulative sales exceeding one million units in China, and it has become an unbridgeable "gap" in the market segment.
And this year for Highlander, the heat is unprecedented. Because after eight years of waiting, domestic consumers finally ushered in a new fourth-generation Highlander in June. New changes from the outside to the inside make consumers more moved. This time, the editors also got it in hand and shared the next part of the feeling with everyone, the test drive is the supreme version of four-wheel drive, that is, the top match of the whole series.
A change from the previous style, delicate and visible to the naked eye
In terms of design, the fourth generation of Highlander abandoned the image of the previous generation of "greasy" middle-aged men, changed the style of the past, and went to fashion. In fact, not only in the fourth generation of Highlander, from the recent release of the new car, Toyota in the appearance of the shape, has gradually faded to give people the impression of moderation. The new standard LED headlights also enhance the sense of grade.
The side has a more big car feeling from the visual effect, plus the 20-inch wheel is also the first time to appear on the Highlander, with a suitable pair of "shoes" to highlight the temperament of the fourth generation of Highlander elites more prominently. The body size is 4950*1930*1730mm, and the wheelbase is 2850mm. The whole vehicle brings a full effect visually, which complements the muscular lines in the rear half of the car.
Compared with the front face and side, the tail shape is more mediocre, and there are not too many outstanding highlights. But this is also exactly in line with the positioning of the car, after all, The Highlander has always been steady and mature, and if it is too strong to cause too fancy effects, it will be counterproductive. In addition, it can be seen from the tail label that this test drive has a four-wheel drive system and is also the main HEV hybrid of the fourth-generation Highlander.
Large screen non-vase intelligent into a surprise
The appearance has temporarily come to an end and entered the interior part, the fourth generation Highlander continues the practical attributes of Japanese cars, and a large number of physical buttons ensure the accuracy and safety of blind exercises during driving. At the same time, the large-capacity storage space under the center console, which has been well received in the previous generation, has also been retained in the new generation. After actual experience, whether it is to place mobile phones, wallets, cards and other bits and pieces, it is indeed very easy to use.
Of course, the biggest change is the suspension touch central control screen used by the fourth generation highlander, with a size of 12.3 inches, which should be the largest size currently installed by Toyota, and the material can also be seen through touch. Including the steering wheel, the grip is also more natural and comfortable, except for the personal feeling that the diameter is too large, the others are just right.
Since the use of large-size screens, of course, it will not be just a "vase". The built-in "Fengyun Enjoyment", voice control and other intelligent network functions enrich the daily practicality of the large screen. Before, it was hard to imagine that it could be achieved with a sentence: "Hello Toyota/Xiaoyue, play music". At the same time, the design of the car machine in the UI interface and the logic of the menu level will not be too complicated, basically after entering a menu, through the entire function list, you can find the desired function points.
In the past, Japanese cars in the intelligent aspect of the car machine, consumers complained more than praise. But now, whether it is Honda or Toyota, in the new cars recently listed, without exception, they have made great changes to the intelligent networking of vehicles and machines. This is undoubtedly what all consumers expect and like to hear. However, one thing that has to be emphasized again is that the quality and clarity of the panoramic image really need to be improved. Obviously, Toyota likes to focus on mechanical quality, but now it still uses this picture quality, which does reduce the sense of high quality of the vehicle to a certain extent. Hopefully, in the near future, we'll see the same changes to the panoramic images as the car machines.
Ride as comfortable as the old new architecture brings a new good feeling
In addition, in terms of seating space, the overall performance of the fourth-generation Highlander second row seats is still outstanding when adjusted to a normal sitting position, and in the case of no need to sit in the third row, the backrest angle can also be adjusted to the most inclined to obtain a more comfortable riding experience. The third row obviously can't be compared to the first two rows, but the seat shape of the whole car is slightly wider, which brings better comfort. Facilities such as air conditioner air outlets and water cup holders are also in place, and certain comfort is also added when riding long distances. It is worth noting that in the case of a full load, the trunk performance is more general, which is also the situation that most large seven-seat SUVs exist.
The fourth-generation Highlander is based on Toyota's TNGA-K high-end platform, with low center of gravity, wide wheelbase, long wheelbase and several characteristics, compared to the same level of models, can produce a better driving experience. And the whole series is equipped with a 2.5L hybrid system, and the power battery provides an 8-year or 200,000-kilometer warranty service.
If you have driven other Toyota hybrid models, the driving performance of the fourth-generation Highlander is believed to be roughly calculated. The starting and urban driving state, the reaction speed of the motor after stepping on the accelerator are very direct, and then the intervention of the engine is timely, and the entire acceleration process is silky and smooth. Meanwhile, the fourth-generation Highlander has three driving modes, but there won't be much personality distinction between the three, and it will only tell you through different instrument colors. Life always requires different flavorings to enrich our taste buds, and Highlander's three driving modes are seasonings rather than main dishes. After all, its task is more to bring comfort to everyone.
Thanks to the TNGA architecture, the fourth-generation Highlander chassis feels very thick. The use of front McPherson and rear E-type multi-link independent suspension also makes the chassis more absorbable in response to road impact, and the shock filter performance is neat and clean. But depending on the reactions of passengers in the second and third rows, there will still be fine aftershocks in the back rows.
Usually driving such a big car, there is a high probability that you dare not enter the corner or change lanes quickly at a faster speed. Because of the fear of sideways not ideal, there is a feeling of uneasiness in the soft lying down. Unexpectedly, the fourth generation of Highlander's suppression of the roll was actually quite good, and the faster speed of the line or the U-turn would not be unable to hold on. In addition, for the noise isolation and NVH, the fourth generation Highlander is also in place, in addition to the rapid acceleration can hear the noise from the engine, daily walking, high-speed road conditions can ensure a comfortable and quiet cabin environment.
Finally, in terms of safety, the fourth-generation Highlander is equipped with the latest generation of Toyota Safety Sense safety system, which includes a pre-collision safety system (with forward pedestrian identification), dynamic radar cruise control system, which can realize the 0-180km/h full-speed domain follow-up function and lane following assistance system. At the same time, quasi-L2 level automatic driving can be realized in automatic driving assistance, although it is not as good as other L3 or even L4 levels, but stability and safety are the greatest travel guarantees. In addition, the use of high-strength steel, high rigidity body and the whole series of standard 7 airbags, but also to maximize the safety of the occupants of the car.
Six models are not entangled In Honorable four-wheel drive is more recommended
The fourth-generation Highlander is priced at 268,800-348,800 yuan, and a total of six models are launched, including two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. To put it simply, the whole series can be divided into Elite Edition, Premium Edition and Supreme Edition. In the same color, black is the new standard, and beige is only available for medium and high-end models, and after choosing the interior color according to your preferences, the configuration of the whole series of models will not be too complicated and tangled.
The Elite edition is three models with a minimum of five seats. This believes that it can be passed directly, after all, who looks at Highlander, who is not rushing to the seven seats. The other two are two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, depending on the demand choice. Note that the Elite Edition is not equipped with radar, reversing images, and A TSS security system. For such a big man and this price point, it is really difficult to accept. However, things like CarPlay, HiCar and CarLife are all set up for you. The difference between the four-wheel drive system is 11,000, which is acceptable if there is a demand. Here, the elite version recommends a two-wheel drive seven-seat version.
(Elite Edition partial configuration list)
Coming to the Premium Edition, there are two models, the same divided into two-wheel drive/four-wheel drive. The aforementioned reversing image and safety system is equipped here, but carplay ones are canceled for you. Mainly upgraded in the sense of high-end, such as the size of the central control screen is larger, there is a panoramic sunroof, the front seat heating, etc., including the multimedia system has become more intelligent, with a certain degree of playability. Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive do not have to be entangled, up to the price of 300,000, it seems that a four-wheel drive also has more face. Therefore, the editors of the premium edition recommend four-wheel drive models.
The last remaining model, the 4WD Extreme Edition. The configuration is another grade in luxury and texture, with JBL audio, two-row seat heating, 220V power supply and seat intelligent access, etc., there is basically nothing to be picky about in the configuration. However, the price is also rising, and the landing price is nearly 360,000. If you don't consider luxury brands, one step in place is indeed not impossible.
National public opinion car: the fourth generation of Highlander has adopted a new structure and new power, which can be described as a blockbuster. Looking back at the competitiveness, word-of-mouth and high retention rate of previous generations of models in the market, the new generation highlander is only worse. Including eye-catching fuel consumption performance, it is enough to make it difficult for opponents to resist when placed in the mainstream 7-seat SUV.
Although the editors have not yet had enough reasons to convince themselves to choose a Highlander, it is because the experience and precipitation are not enough. The fourth generation of Highlander advocates a positive, high degree of freedom, high quality, upward lifestyle and attitude to life, just like the current young us, we need to constantly struggle, overthrow our former selves, and establish new standards for ourselves. Looking at today's new Highlander, isn't that also the case?