There was – as the movie quote goes – supposed to be only one, though Toyota was talking hybrid engines while Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert were talking swordsmen. The common element? Highlander.
Well, Connery didn’t make it in the movie, so as far as Lambert was concerned, there was only one. The same could not be said for Toyota’s engines however.
The three model Highlander range was supposed to be a CO2 slaying trio of hybrid powered SUVs in the GXL, Limited and Limited ZR specification.
No one was more surprised than Toyota New Zealand when the market here – driven primarily by the fleet sector – demanded a petrol-powered ICE version. Especially as the exclusive petrol-engine offering of the previous model was the Highlander’s Achilles Heel.
Toyota NZ has done right by its customers and the country and agreed to have the ICE-powered Highlanders in GXL and Limited grades.
It is only bringing in one for every four hybrids however, with the expectation the V6’s will have fallen from favour by the time the Clean Car Scheme starts inflicting financial penalties on petrol-powered gross emitters.
One argument for the demand of a 3.5-litre, V6 is that of pulling power and the misconception that hybrids can’t haul.
Let’s put that to bed right now: all Highlanders have a 2000kg towing capacity, regardless of the engine type. What’s more, the hybrids are more fuel efficient by 3.2 litres per 100km, emit less CO2 by 77gm/km and will save you $3250 or so in fuel and servicing costs over three years.
NZ Company Vehicle would like to see Toyota NZ’s efforts in cleaning up our CO2 recognised by Auntie J’s government, but the hybrids are self-chargers and don’t qualify for the Clean Car Rebate, still, this should not stop their uptake.
Happily, at time of writing, TNZ had over 500 order s for the Highlander with over 90 percent of those being hybrids.
You see, Highlander has always been a popular SUV: well sized, well-priced and well specified and in 2021, Toyota has made it even better.
Highlander is built on the new Toyota New Generation Architecture, so its 60mm longer and 5mm wider, affording better interior accommodations for the seven occupants and better handling with an increased wheel-print.
Standard equipment includes smart key entry and push button start, air conditioning, rain sensing wipers and automatic lights, and five USB ports.
Limited grades gain heated front seats with 10-way powered driver’s seat, tri-zone climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, satellite navigation and a seven-inch, multi-information display.
Entertainment and information are provided via a multimedia system with controls accessed on the steering wheel and an 8-inch touchscreen display atop the centre console. The system incorporates Bluetooth along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The Limited ZR variant will include a series of premium features new to Highlander, including an 11-speaker JBL premium sound system, a colour heads-up display, and a large panoramic sunroof.
The hybrid tech hails from RAV4 which also uses the 2.5-litre petrol engine but has an upgraded hybrid system for the Highlander.
Total power output for the petrol/hybrid is 184kW with a 5.6 litre per 100km combined fuel figure for the AWD Highlander whose drivetrain is managed electronically with the E-Four system.
And speaking of systems, Highlander has Toyota’s best when it comes to safety.
As with all new product, Toyota Safety Sense – designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of traffic conditions – is standard across the Highlander range and includes blind spot monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert Auto Brake, reversing camera, seven airbags and front and rear parking sensors.
New additions include road sign assist, emergency steering assist and intersection turn assistance as well as Curve Speed Reduction.
This builds upon an already extensive list of driver assistance features that include Pre-Collision System with AEB (vehicle, pedestrian, and bicyclist detection), Lane Tracing Assist, All-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Automatic High Beam.
The 2021 Toyota Highlander is priced at:
• 3.5 V6 GXL AWD SUV AT 7-SEAT $60,990.
• 3.5 V6 Limited AWD SUV AT 7-SEAT $63,990.
• 2.5 GXL Hybrid AWD SUV E-CVT 7-SEAT $63,990.
• 2.5 Limited Hybrid AWD SUV E-CVT 7-SEAT $66,990.
• 2.5 Limited ZR Hybrid AWD SUV E-CVT 7-SEAT $74,990.
The first Land Cruiser 300 landing
Eyes of the world on central North Island for Toyota reveal.
OMG it’s true! Palmerston North IS the centre of planet Earth, or at least it was for one day in June.
All eyes were on little ole PN – the home of Toyota NZ – as the brand hosted the global reveal of the Land Cruiser 300 – yes, we were the first market in the Toyota world to put eyes on the metal at a catered dinner event and followed that up with a drive the next morning.
Land Cruiser 300 is something of a critical vehicle as far as Toyota New Zealand is concerned, with a dedicated following of hardcore Land Cruiser owners, eagerly awaiting the 2022 release here.
In a few months, we will see the three-model Land Cruiser range launch here with a raft of changes, improvements and new technology which celebrates the model’s 70 years of overall 4x4 brilliance.
As such, all Land Cruiser 300 models incorporate a ladder chassis a superb 4WD system and a significant change to the spectacular diesel engine, which has now, become even better.
The tried-and-true 4.5-litre, V8 has finally come to the end of its life, but that’s ok according to Toyota, who’s new twin turbocharged, 3.3-litre, V6 makes more power and more torque – up from 200kW / 650Nm to 225kW / 700Nm over the eight-cylinder.
Land Cruiser’s new V6 is mated to a new 10-speed automatic as standard across the three-model range which starts with the VX, extends to the top-of-the-line VX Limited and introduces the GR Sport model.
Of the range, the GR Sport model is possibly the most exciting. Rather than being a seven-seater as the Land Cruiser is typically known to be, the GR Sport accommodates five but is hardly a cut-down, frills-free model.
In fact, the GR Sport sees an upgraded electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, adaptive variable suspension, lockable front and rear differential and four new drive mode options of Sport S, Sport S+, Comfort and Customise.
The GR designation comes from the inspiration provided by GAZOO Racing, who’s technological expertise has filtered through to a number of Toyota products already, noticeably Supra and high-performance Yaris models.
Given the iconic nature of Land Cruiser and the successful performance of GAZOO Racing, bringing the two together makes logical sense – although it might not be the first marriage to spring to mind.
We’re picking the GR Sport will appeal to a new generation of Land Cruiser buyers while the VX and VX Limited are likely to find favour with traditional Land Cruiser buyers.
In either case, the Land Cruiser 300 range does enjoy the latest Toyota tech in terms of safety systems and a comprehensive update in cabin, with heads up display, 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity.
As far as the limited drive experience is concerned, the Land Cruiser 300 does seem to be perfectly suited to New Zealand’s provincial roads where – to be fair – the vehicle will be most at home.
Changes of tractive surfaces, long distances between refuelling stations and genuine off-road destinations where the going gets tough – these are the places we would expect to find Land Cruiser 300s – specifically the VX models.
The VX Limited may find itself more at home in more metropolitan industries where it can make the most of its range spanning 3500kg towing capacity when its time to get away from it all.
The Land Cruiser 300s are likely to arrive in country in force in October, when we can give you accurate pricing.
