2008 Toyota Highlander Preview

I recently pulled up to the local Toyota dealership and walked around the lot. Only one of their SUVs really caught my eye - a red 2008 Highlander.

Imagine an SUV with a backup camera, push button start, stowaway seating and seven airbags that also comes in a hybrid edition. Seem too good to be true? Believe it or not, the all new 2008 Toyota Highlander has these awesome features plus a whole lot more!

The 2008 Toyota Highlander is available in base, sport, limited, hybrid and hybrid limited models. You have several amazing packages to choose from in your new SUV search. The particular Highlander I looked at was a limited edition. It had halogen headlamps that automatically turned themselves on and off (in case you forget), fog lamps, power exterior mirrors, lamps at the entry doors, tinted glass, and 19-inch wheels with P245/55R19 tires plus a full spare. It also had roof rails and a rear spoiler with LED light. With the limited, hybrid, and hybrid limited editions, the Highlander comes with a cold weather package - meaning you get heated outside mirrors and a windshield wiper deicer.

Each Highlander comes standard with a 3.5 liter 270 horsepower engine (3.3 liters in hybrids), a rear spoiler, halogen lamps, power driver and passenger mirrors, tinted windows, 17- or 19-inch tires with a full spare, rear window with a defogger and a rear glass hatch (except on the base model) that allows you to open just the window instead of the entire door. Four-wheel drive is optional on all models except the hybrid versions. A sunroof and towing package are also options. The cold weather package can also be added to the base and sport models. The Highlander is available in red, white, silver, black, cream and blue colors.

During my conversation with the salesman, he informed me that the 2008 Highlander was designed with a special hood and fender that will crumple if you accidentally hit a pedestrian, hopefully resulting in fewer injuries. The SUV also tested "good" in its crash ratings. Other safety features of the new Highlander are antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front airbags, driver's knee airbag and side curtain airbags. (That totals seven air bags!)

I was already impressed with the exterior of the Highlander. When I opened the door to look inside, my mouth dropped. It was full of cool features! The Highlander had an ash-colored interior with a full front console. The console is both fancy and functional with its leather accents and wood-grain trim around the shift knob, arm rest and two cup holders. Every vehicle today has A/C but the system on the limited was digital and automatic (better known as Automatic Climate Control). I slid into the leather driver's seat to better check out the smart-key system where all I had to do was push a button to start the SUV. It comes with a radio, CD player and bluetooth capability. There's a 3.5-inch display with a backup camera monitor and huge navigation screen. The upper screen has a clock, outdoor temperature reading, speed reading, fuel consumption measurements (plus a warning with the distance you have left to travel before your gas tank becomes empty) and A/C settings. You even get a tire pressure reading! Both displays are easy to see and the entire panel is finger- and eye-friendly, meaning the buttons are square and rather large. Anyone can easily see, read and press them, which lead to safer driving, less fumbling and no more straining your eyes to find the right button. The instrument panel is also easy to see and read.

Optional interior features on the models are a DVD system for the passengers and leather heated seats or cloth seating. Each Highlander comes with stowaway second-row seating where even the center seat folds away to leave captain style second-row seating that can also be folded away. The third row folds flat as well. This gives the Highlander a lot of room whether you have several passengers, lots of stuff to haul or a combination of both. You also get stereo controls on the steering wheel and an audio jack on the radio area for your MP3 player.

The 2008 Toyota Highlander is truly a luxury SUV without the luxury SUV price tag! It's a stylish, versatile SUV for anyone - young, old, married or single - with a price ranging between $27,000 for a base Highlander to $34,000 for a limited 4WD to $40,000 for a loaded hybrid limited edition. If gas mileage is important to you, the non-hybrid models get 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway whereas the hybrid models, of course, are a bit better with 27 miles in the city and 25 on the highway.

I have tried my best to list all the wonderful things about the all new 2008 Toyota Highlander, but I'm sure I am leaving out something! This SUV is great and drives as smooth as a midsize car would. You can get pictures and a full list of specifications at your local Toyota dealership or online at Toyota's official Web site. Test drive one today, but beware - you'll never want to get out of it!