As you likely have heard from the local newsies screaming EXTREE EXTREE READ ALL ABOUT IT! TOYOTA TO MAKE HIGHLANDER AN EV from outside your window, rising above the din of the fishmongers and steam-powered hurdy-gurdy music, yes, Toyota’s mainstream crossover, the Highlander, is now driven by electrons. That’s the big reveal of this Toyota event I’m at, and I have a chance to see it for “content creation” in about an hour. So, is there anything in particular you’d like me to get a good look at?
There’s a few crucial things I know I’ll be checking out: does it have a frunk? I suspect not, but I’m ever-hopeful. Are the rear turn indicators amber or red? Are there any good Easter Eggs hidden in this thing? How do the floormats taste? Can you sleep in it? What’s it smell like? Is it actually interesting?
In full, brutal honesty, the Highlander has never been a vehicle I’ve been that interested in, at least once I realized that these were not the “there can be only one” sort of Highlanders, and, as a result, were free from the torments and joys of The Quickening:
But now that it’s electric, it has a little more in common with The Quickening, which seems to involve a hell of a lot of electricity:
So, I’ll see how much this dramatic byproduct of immortality relates to these new crossovers.
So, what would you like me to find out? Or test or do? I’ll read over the comments and see if I can manage anything you’ve asked for. Unless you want me to slash the tires. Toyota has already told me not to do that. Again.
Top graphic image: Toyota
Does Toyota have any V2H plans? If not, does it do V2L? Are there integrated outlets?
Spare tire?
Is heat pump standard?
I can comfortably answer that without knowing anything about the vehicle: No.
The current Prius hybrid has space for a spare tire and tools, but the car does not come with them. You can buy all the parts from the service department should you so desire. The Prius PHEV has no space for a spare due to the larger battery so you are completely SOL unless you want to carry it in the cargo area. I see no reason why Toyota would give you one on the EV. It’s unlikely to be the deciding factor in whether someone purchases the vehicle. Most people may not even realize it doesn’t have a spare until they need it.
I’d love to know if
1) can it V2H?
2) can the rear seat be fully removed?
3) what’s the battery chemistry?
4) where’s the charge port, I very much dislike trying to NACS charge at a drivers side front port.
Sometimes I feel like I am the only woman in this entire commentariat.
How many cup holders does it have? Are the HVAC controls physical or do I have to risk life and limb looking at a goddamn touch screen? How many granola bars can I fit in the glove box? What’s the charging port situation? Does it have CarPlay? Can it easily switch between my work and personal phones? Is there a built in garbage can (how come no one has these anymore?)? Do the seat warmers automatically turn on when I remote start? Does the kick feature for the power liftgate actually work? IS THERE SPACE IN THE FRONT FOR MY PURSE OR DO I HAVE TO KEEP SHOVING IT UNDER MY LEFT ELBOW??
I’m not a woman, but I am married to one, I do want to learn more about family vehicles, and I do wish there was a little less of this:
from the writers/reviewers.
Like it’s fine if Torch personally isn’t interested in this vehicle, but considering that’s the case, would it be so hard to send someone who *is* interested to review it? I enjoy reading his reviews, but now I’ll likely enjoy this one a little less knowing it’s a begrudging review. All the questions you ask are ones that I hope get answered, and I kind of wish someone who cared about the vehicle a little more was there to write about it.
You’d love my I5. The floor is completely flat, which means there’s space for a normal-sized purse in between the front two seats, and space for a hugeee purse underneath the arm rest.
I did not even consider this until a female friend of mine got on and went “wow-there’s space for my purse!” and put it underneath the armrest.
I then started looking at every other car and had an absolutely epiphany, suddenly wondering HOW HAS NO ONE THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE!?
I remember my mom always having to put her purse in the passenger footwell, which annoyed me when I was sitting in that seat, and also the floor can get kinda dirty in winter!
By the way, a lot of Hyundais, including mine, have this feature where instead of trying to kick underneath the rear hatch, you can just stand there for 3 seconds and it will open. I turned it off, but I have to think that’s a better solution than the kick. I have two friends with Lincolns, and the kick to open works like 20% of the time. I have no idea what it wants me to do to get the trunk to reliably open with a kick.
What’s your opinion on the tail lights?
I would like to know why they aren’t releasing a small, electrified truck.
I saw this at exactly an hour after it was posted.