2023 Toyota Highlander turbo-4 replaces old reliable V-6

2023 Toyota Highlander turbo-4 replaces old reliable V-6

The V-6 is lifeless. Prolonged are living the turbo-4.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander mid-dimensions crossover will no longer appear with the 3.5-liter V-6 engine that suburban family members all over North The united states hope in their a few-row SUV. This 12 months, the leading motor is a new 265-hp 2.4-liter turbo-4 developing 310 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with an 8-velocity automatic transmission powering the entrance wheels, or all 4.

The Highlander’s offered a V-6 considering that its start in 2001, but ever more rigid corporate typical gas financial state and tailpipe-emission procedures have considered it too thirsty. The acquire in EPA merged gasoline performance score is only 1 or 2 miles for every gallon, from 23 mpg in 2022 for the V-6 with possibly entrance- or all-wheel generate to 24 mpg this 12 months for the new turbo-4 paired with AWD, or 25 mpg in foundation FWD sort. The 36-mpg Highlander Hybrid carries on essentially unchanged.

While it’s down 30 horsepower on the V-6, which was rated at 295 hp, Toyota claims the highest torque from the turbo-4 is up 17 p.c from 263 lb-ft of torque. Even with the smaller engine, Toyota stresses the Highlander’s towing capacity of up to 5,000 lb is unchanged—an essential spec for potential buyers, it says. The Hybrid can tow up to 3,500 lb.

Not a large amount else has improved in the Highlander this calendar year: 2023 types now contain two 12.3-inch screens: one for the instrument cluster, changing a 7.7-inch electronic show, the other a central touchscreen for multimedia. People trims now also have electrical power folding exterior mirrors as common. The greater electronic cluster is optional on XLE and XSE grades, even though the small-stop L and LE versions enhance to the 7.7-inch cluster from final year’s 4.2-inch version. For 2023, the foundation FWD Highlander commences at $37,755 and the Highlander Hybrid at $41,555 both equally price ranges include a required $1,335 delivery price.

2023 Toyota Highlander

2023 Toyota Highlander

Don’t mess with good results

To be completely sincere, many consumers of the 2023 Highlander may well hardly ever know they’ve shed the V-6 except they ask—which they likely won’t. The new turbo-4 is pleasantly responsive previously mentioned about 3,000 rpm, while only regular underneath that. In other phrases, mom and dad who hold their foot in it can transfer their youngsters between immediately after-university occasions expeditiously.

They’ll locate the turbo Toyota Highlander receives noisy earlier mentioned 4,000 rpm, even so. At the very least in section, this is a consequence of the fantastic strides lots of automakers, which includes Toyota, have created in suppressing sounds, vibration, and harshness at lower motor speeds. The variance amongst an all-but-silent idle and a whole-on acceleration run is much increased than it was 10 years ago. That’s a disincentive to generate the Highlander really hard, which if nothing else must continue to keep the helpful fuel mileage up. 

Toyota quotations acceleration from to 60 mph for our AWD 2023 check car at 8.1 seconds, or .3 sec slower than previous year’s V-6. The difference for the FWD product is even smaller, at just .1 seconds extended than previous year’s 7.6 seconds. Astonishingly, the turbo-4’s greatest torque comes at a significantly lower engine pace this year: 3,600 rpm vs final year’s 4,700 rpm for the V-6. We did not feel it experienced a great deal of torque under 2,000 rpm, but motorists will get employed to the new engine.

The enterprise now builds about a quarter of a million Highlanders a yr in Indiana and exports them all around the world. It understands the SUV’s sector, and we’re fairly assured this new engine will not upset potential buyers or ripple the demand from customers curve.

Our check motor vehicle was a 2023 Toyota Highlander XSE AWD in a rich metallic white named Wind Chill Pearl, with a Cockpit Crimson inside. As the top model in the Highlander SE/XSE “sporty appearance” line of trims, it incorporated 20-inch machined alloy wheels, loads of electricity extras, and an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment interface with a JBL Audio process powering 11 speakers. The base line on our car or truck was $48,075, which includes the shipping payment. Dealers throughout the nation are now including substantial surcharges to suggested sticker charges, so store with caution.

Toyota furnished airfare, lodging, and foods to empower The Vehicle Link to deliver you this take a look at travel evaluation. 

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