If you want to vote for the worst popular SUV in the car circle, Highlander is expected to be the first to quit the group chat. According to incomplete statistics, on the Internet, Highlander has to be "hanged", "completely exploded", "crushed" hundreds of times every day, and many cars take it to benchmark and take it to scare.
Therefore, what kind of strength does Highlander have, so that it becomes the target of public criticism at the same time, and is competed for by many car companies? With this question in mind, the reporter test-drove the new Highlander 2.5HEV Four-Wheel Drive Extreme Edition (hereinafter referred to as the "New Highlander Dual Engine Extreme Edition").
This new Highlander, which was released in 2019 and was only domestically listed some time ago, its own product information is no secret. But for anyone who hasn't been deeply involved with the Highlander model, they will be very curious, why does it sell so hot? Will someone wait for it for a few months and a half, and will not change hands to buy a model that can be driven home at that time, and even have a lot of discounts? You know the price of Highlander is quite strong, unless the world collapses, it will be really difficult for you to wait for it to drop its price.
But on second thought, it's understandable. For such a large 7-seat home SUV with a large space, it is normal not to pay attention when you have not reached a certain age and do not have the needs of the whole family. And once you have a higher demand for the space and ride comfort of the model, and just happen to experience the Highlander, you may not help but fall into the pit.
If the large-scale chrome decoration of the previous generation model makes you feel that it is slightly greasy, then the new fourth-generation Highlander's upper and lower split trapezoidal grilles, as well as the soft three-dimensional curved surfaces on both sides, with flying wing logos, are visually instantly younger than a teenager. Of course, I admit that the changes in the design of this generation do require adaptation time, but believe me, after adaptation, look back at the old Highlander on the street, your inner OS: how the old model looks so old-fashioned.
In order to cater to the domineering shape of the front, the 20-inch high-gloss wheels show the width and thickness of the new car, while the two waist lines outline the excellent sports temperament of the new car: one runs through the beginning and the end, and the other appears on the half waist in the form of an arc, adding a bit of three-dimensional layering effect.
In terms of body size, the new Highlander has increased its full length and wheelbase by 60mm compared to the previous generation. However, although the new model has increased the wheelbase of 60mm, as we all know, the TNGA architecture of Toyota has more or less regressed in the performance of the interior space, and the interior space of the new Highlander is basically tied with the previous generation model.
Compared with the old Highlander, the second row of seat rails of the new car has been extended by 30mm, making the second row more flexible and the third row more convenient. The third row, which was once badly entered by everyone, has also been improved on the new Highlander, which is worth affirming. In terms of interior, the new Highlander has been upgraded mainly for the sense of refinement and technology in addition to the excellent storage and riding space.
The new car has also made great progress in terms of materials, and the center console, the inside of the door panel and the central armrest are wrapped in soft leather, which actually feels good.
12.3-inch LCD dashboard + 12.3-inch central control large screen to that put, the sense of science and technology is not to say that compared with the new forces, placed in the same level at least the mainstream level. However, the configuration of the 12.3-inch full LCD dashboard only appears in the configuration table of the top model, and for those consumers who like the technology configuration, they can only bite their teeth and choose the top version.
As for some other details, such as the old suspension throttle changed to a more advanced organ pedal, the gearbox lever has also changed from the Japanese standard snake to a straight gear shift, and the mechanical foot brake hated by domestic consumers has also become a "more advanced" electronic handbrake, etc., these details are the focus of the new Highlander upgrade. The large armrest box and the long storage compartment on the center console are retained. In general, the new Highlander has improved a lot more than the old model in the overall atmosphere of the carriage, and is no longer an old man.
If you want to count the few points that the previous generation of Highlander is criticized, it must be fuel consumption. The comprehensive fuel consumption of 12 and 13L is quite OK for a medium-sized SUV, but for Toyota, which has always given the impression of fuel saving, it is indeed a bit fuel-intensive, and Highlander is essentially a home SUV, and the target user must hope that it is more fuel-efficient as possible.
And completely abandon the 2.0T + 6AT power combination of the new Highlander, instead of using Toyota's latest fourth-generation enhanced hybrid system, that is, we are familiar with the set of THS II. system, in the fuel saving skills can not be doubted, fuel consumption, the reporter ran 106 kilometers with the method of refueling jump gun, in the same gas station the same oil gun was tested, after the city peak congestion road, mountain road, city expressway and other road conditions, the actual measured fuel consumption is only 4.71L. Interested partners can search for "258 talking car" on Douyin to view the specific content. Oh yes, the previous generation highlander to add No. 95 gasoline, come to the latest generation, with No. 92 gasoline to serve.
In terms of test drive experience, it is lighter and more responsive than a group of pure fuel players. If compared with the old Highlander, the acceleration feeling of the new Highlander is obviously several levels faster, and this feeling seems to be transformed from a big belly uncle into a healthy fitness man, and the measured 8.44 seconds of breaking the hundred is naturally the most powerful proof.
However, there is a saying that in the pure electric driving state, the mute effect of the new Highlander dual engine is quite excellent, but when the engine intervenes, the noise will enter the cabin through the firewall, and the sudden sound will make it very obvious.
It is worth mentioning that the previous hybrid model of Toyota was not satisfactory in the calibration of the brake foot feeling, after all, unlike the pure mechanical brake structure of ordinary fuel vehicles, the brakes of the hybrid model should take into account the two parts of "electric brake" and "mechanical brake", how to calibrate the two "no sense of integration", is a headache for car companies. After years of technical iteration, the new Highlander's brake foot feel has been quite natural, there will be no "one foot deep and one foot shallow" feeling, slightly adapted to a section of the road, you can also brake the car steadily.
Under the blessing of the TNGA architecture, a slightly more intense driving, the suspension of the new Highlander can also be overwhelmed, the rear section of the suspension provides enough support, the entire body posture control is more decent, there is no old "one soft to the end" suspension tuning, the overall sense of confidence in the control is much stronger than the old model, with a rather agile steering, in the words of my colleagues: "This car is driving without a big car feeling, very light and agile." Of course, although the new Highlander has improved its handling, it is not for you to use for the corner, and smooth driving is the right way for Highlander to open.
It's 2022, Toyota is still using self-priming engines, still does not have cool colorful atmosphere lights in the car, and it seems that there is still some disconnection from this rapidly developing Internet era. However, the reason why the new Highlander is still a benchmark is that in my opinion, it is well versed in the "bucket effect", and it is better to average all the demand than to make the selling point uneven. Perhaps, if you want to become a new benchmark, other car companies must first settle their minds and make the best balance in the promotion of many selling points.
Xiaoxiang Morning News reporter Zhang Yi