2012 Toyota Highlander Price, Styling, Mechanical, Features

Trim Name, MSRP and Invoice 2012 Toyota Highlander
Trim Name	MSRP	Invoice
Base 4X2 I4	$28,090	$25,647
Base 4X2 V6	$29,245	$26,700
Base 4X4	$30,695	$28,025
SE 4X2 I4	$32,695	$29,851
SE 4X2 V6	$33,850	$30,905
SE 4X4	$35,300	$32,229
Limited 4X2	$35,595	$32,498
Limited 4X4	$37,045	$33,822

Toyota continues to provide solutions for SUV lovers by providing new machines are more fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly but still mighty. Last week, Toyota Motor Sales USA officially announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the Highlander SUV that uses the latest four-cylinder engine capacity of 2.7 liters. More efficient and powerful, plus a long line of safety features and convenience, this model is offered with prices starting at 25.705 U.S. dollars, the cheapest of all variants of Highlander. In the mid-size SUV, Toyota Highlander 2.7 liters became one of the most efficient SUV. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the fuel consumption 20/27mpg city / highway (22mpg combined). While emissions are classified as Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEVII).

Styling

The 2012 Toyota Highlander is a visual rerun of the 2011 Highlander. It carries forward the minor styling alterations that dressed up the 2011 model but had no effect on dimensions or overall proportions.

Thanks to its rather long nose, Highlander presents the “two-box” profile of an SUV. But its lengthy wagon body speaks of minivan-like interior volume. However, without sliding side doors, it’s clearly no minivan. And with no pretension of off-road ability, it lacks hard-core-SUV credentials.

Nonetheless, Highlander does a fine job bridging the two genres. It looks more muscular than a minivan and drives with a bit more precision and road feel, too. It’s not as threatening as a trucky SUV, though its all-wheel-drive can tackle deep snow and rutted backboards. Highlander is relatively easy to maneuver and garage because its body is no larger overall than the typical five-seat midsize crossover. Toyota does, however, squeeze in a third-row seat. It’s tighter back there than in a minivan, but still quite handy. And Highlander’s first- and second-row accommodations are as generous as any midsize SUV’s.

This is a true crossover because its body and frame are a single unibody structure similar to that of a car’s. Unibody designs benefit fuel economy, ride, and handling because they’re lighter than the truck-like, separate-body-and-frame construction typical of old-school SUVs, such as the 2012 Toyota 4Runner.

The 2012 Highlander continues in Base, SE, and Limited models. The 2012 Highlander Hybrid returns in Base and Limited form. Toyota gives the Highlander Hybrid its own grille and front bumper and tints its headlamp and taillamp covers blue.

All 2012 Highlanders come with handsome alloy wheels, 17-inch diameter on Base and SE models, 19-inch diameter on the Limiteds. All have darkened rear side glass and a rear spoiler. SE models are distinguished from Base versions by body-colored mirrors, standard roof cargo rails, fog lamps, and an antenna in the rear side window instead of on the front fender.

Highlander Limited models dress up with chrome door handles and roof rails and also come with leather upholstery and plastic wood grain interior trim instead of cloth seats and silver cabin accents. A power lift gate that can be opened and closed via the key fob or a driver-side control is standard on SE and Limited models and optional on the Base Highlanders.

Mechanical

 The 2012 Toyota Highlander returns a choice of four- and six-cylinder gasoline engines as well as a gas-electric hybrid power train.

The four-cylinder is a 2.7-liter with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque (think of torque as the force that generates movement, horsepower as the energy that sustains momentum). The four-cylinder is standard on Highlander Base and SE models and is available only with front-wheel drive. It mates with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2012 Highlander’s V-6 is a 3.5-liter with 270 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. It’s optional on the Base and SE models and standard on the Limited. It’s available with both front-drive and all-wheel drive (AWD.) In a class where six-speed automatics are the norm, Highlanders with the V-6 use a five-speed automatic transmission. With either engine, Highlander’s dashboard-mounted transmission shift lever includes a separate gate for manual-type gear control. 

The 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid combines a 3.5-liter gasoline V-6 with an electric motor at each axle. The motor in front assists the gas engine and can propel the Highlander on electric power alone. The motor in the rear kicks in as needed to provide AWD. Net horsepower is 280; Toyota does not provide a torque rating for the Highlander Hybrid.

The 2012 Highlander Hybrid utilizes Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system. It can propel the crossover on electric power alone, with the engine alone, or with a combination of the two as determined by sensors set to balance acceleration and fuel economy. No plug-in charging is needed; the system recharges by capturing energy during braking and from the engine.

The Highlander Hybrid has a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which performs like an automatic but with a rheostat-like delivery of power. A console-mounted “EV” button enables the driver to extend the electric-only range slightly at low speeds, battery charge permitting. And an “Econ-mode” switch maximizes fuel economy by modulating throttle response during acceleration.

As with any front-wheel drive vehicle, the weight of the engine is over the tires that also propel the Highlander, giving it good overall traction. AWD Highlanders are not intended for serious off-roading but do provide an extra measure of all-surface, all-weather traction by automatically shuffling power from the front wheels to the rears to minimize tire slip.

Again standard on all 2012 Highlanders is traction and anti skid technology for enhanced grip on take-offs and in turns. The standard antilock brakes improve control in emergency stops, and a corner-braking feature limits brake pressure on inside wheels during cornering to improve control. With the optional towing package, 2012 Highlanders with the V-6 can tow trailers weighing up to 5,000 pounds and four-cylinder models and the Hybrid can pull 3,500 pounds.

Features

The 2012 Toyota Highlander continues to appeal to upmarket buyers who tend to order it in higher trim levels or with a substantial number of options. All versions of the 2012 Highlander again seat seven passengers on three rows of seats and furnish 10.3 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rearmost seat – pretty typical for a three-row crossover.

Fold that third row into the floor and cargo volume expands to 42.3 cubic feet. A total of 95.4 cubic feet is available with the second and third rows folded. Both are very good figures for a mid size SUV, though the load floor is fairly high. Highlander’s second-row seat is split 40/20/40 and the middle section removes and stows on board to create a minivan-like arrangement of captain’s chairs with a walk-through between.

Standard on every 2012 Highlander are power windows, mirrors, and locks, tilt/telescope steering wheel, cruise control, and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. Standard safety features again include a driver’s knee airbag, and head-protecting curtain side airbags that cover all three seating rows and deploy both in side collisions and when sensors detect an impending rollover.

The 2012 Highlander SE and Limited models come with leather upholstery and feature a standard backup camera that displays on a 3.5-inch dashboard screen. The screen also displays a clock, outside temperature, warning messages, and average fuel economy, average speed, distance to empty, current fuel economy, and trip timer. On models equipped with the optional navigation system, the backup camera's images are viewed on a 7-inch dashboard screen.

The Tech Audio system is standard for 2012 Highlander SE and Limited model and optional for Base versions. It features a USB iPod interface, XM satellite radio (includes 90-day trial subscription), and Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone and music streaming connectivity.

The USB and Bluetooth linking are available on Base Highlanders as part of the Tech Package option. This also includes the backup monitor and dash screen, an eight-way power driver seat, flip-up lift gate window, fog lamps, and black roof rails.

Standard on all 2012 Highlander Hybrids are the eight-way power driver’s seat, the Tech Audio system, and manual rear climate control. The Highlander Hybrid Limited features standard automatic climate control for the rear and offers perforated leather seating surfaces. The Base Hybrid can be brought closer to Limited livery with a Leather Package that includes leather-trimmed seats with front seat heaters, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, power moon roof, HomeLink®, auto-dimming rear view mirror with compass, plus an engine immobilizer with security alarm.

Among 2012 Highlander options are a voice-activated touch screen navigation system with an 8-inch dashboard screen; JBL audio systems; leather-trimmed seats with front seat heaters, and a power tilt/slide moon roof.