Overview & Reviews

New for 2006, the hybrid version of the Highlander pairs a gasoline-powered V6 with electric motors to improve fuel economy and acceleration.

• Real-world gas mileage in the 20s, terrific acceleration, smooth ride, comfortable cabin with simple controls and solid materials.

• Extra weight results in so-so handling, engine can be noisy, poor access to third-row seat.

User Reviews:

Showing 141 through 150 of 188.00

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  Heck of a First Car -- Will Post 1yr Review as Well - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By sovereign - August 6 - 12:13 pm

  As the title suggests, this is my first car. Purchased at 43k miles from a dealer. Having driven only my parents cars until now, those being minivans (Odyssey, Villager) and sedans (Impala), a small SUV is certainly different. That "hybrid" and "luxury features" are not mutually-exclusive (nor do they require a premium nameplate) is a good thing. The "hybrid premium" also shrinks to almost nothing (by Edmunds estimates for similarly-equipped vehicles quoted at dealer retail). 2006 Limited 4x4 loaded minus DVD: $20,923. 2006 Limited 4x4 Hybrid loaded minus DVD: $21,445. Thats $523, so one would need to save 125 gallons of gas in mileage vs. nonhybrid. Such savings is easy.

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  HIghlander Hybrid - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Rachis - July 14 - 9:16 pm

  This is a very well built SUV, that should provide excellent reliability, It is an excellent vehicle, but it is not a powerful SUV as one might expect in a BMW X5. Nevertheless because of the combined gas and electric engines it does provide more power than the standard gas Highlander. The gas mileage is not close to the EPA estimates, however, it does get about 25 MPG overall which is excellent for an SUV of this size.

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  I like it ! - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By David Cooper - July 4 - 4:53 am

  With 3600 miles on the vehicle, and about 6 weeks of ownership, my experience so far has been great. Gas mileage overall is 27.8 mpg, combined highway and city, and still increasing. Acceleration is strong, lots of torque, which surprises passengers and other drivers. This vehicle GOES. Its quiet, sure-footed, maneuverable, although some torque steer under heavy acceleration. The CVT transmission is always in the "right" gear, which is great for mountain driving. Regenerative braking limits brake heating and wear coming down long hills. Getting into the third row seats does require some agility. Retractable headrests help drivers vision out the rear.

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  Not worth the money - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Bob Martin - June 11 - 5:00 pm

  Let me start saying I am a Toyota man, always was, always will be. I bought my Highlander Hybrid thinking it would be the best car ever. Its ok, but has a herky jerky ride and the seats are not very comfortable. I took it back to Toyota and their factory rep. said "Thats just the way the car is" The car gets pretty good gas milage 24-26, and looks great. In my opinion Toyota needs to make it a lot smoother before I recommend it to anyone else. Sorry Toyota, but sometimes the truth hurts.

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  I could ask for a whole lot more! - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Sad - June 4 - 1:33 pm

  Fuel economy is 22-25% below sticker numbers. Has uncontrollable torque steer while under full throttle @15 mph. The cars pulls to the right then back to the left, dealer says "thats nature of the car". The motor thuds when it comes on and is anything but seamless. Lift gate squeaks, drivers side passenger door rattles. Vehicle has 3,000 miles on it. While driving with the windows down, the brakes will squeal and the motor whines noticeably also the wind buffeting is horrible. Suspension absorbs pot holes well. Vehicle is hard to control in turns and uncontrollable if accelerating hard in a turn. Captains chair arm rests and stereo are cheap. AC vents poor for 2nd row passengers.

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  Good all purpose green SUV - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Rose - May 4 - 8:40 pm

  I bought my Hybrid Highlander when it had 10000 miles on it. I am a little disappointed with the gas mileage - 25-27 mpg. regardless of city or highway driving. Certainly that is better than the 17 mpg the previous minivan got, but I was expecting mid-30s. The blind spots are bigger for a shortie like me than I would expect from such an otherwise well-designed car. I drove a 2008 model though and that one is too big and the blind spots are worse- couldnt even see approaching cars at intersections due to the huge side mirrors. Also, this vehicle is very safe. I was rear ended by a drunk driver while I was stopped. The Highlander sustained rear end damage but my passenger and I were absolutely unhurt. We could feel my car absorb that huge impact.

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  First Hybrid Experience - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By CD - April 9 - 1:20 pm

  The Highlander Hybrid is a pleasure to drive and is comfortable even for a tall person to drive. The trim and appointments of the interior (the Limited edition) are pleasing and show obvious build quality. We did not get the navigation system but the info display shows instantaneous and cumulative mpg and the display in the instrument cluster shows which way the power is going (into/out of the battery or engine).

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  Hybrid Highlander - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By mechman2020 - March 25 - 9:16 pm

  Very sweet drive. Serious guts, and 30mpg... although not at the same time. Drove to Vegas and back at 85mph and averaged 25mpg. Regular freeway driving 30mpg... If you do lots of short trips you are looking at 27mpg.

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  Disappointed with MPG - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By MCD - March 19 - 1:06 am

  I am leasing a 2006 Highlander Hybrid. Im in second year; took car for service for poor MPG, averaging 16.8 MPG city/highway for 800+ miles. I was told that it is what I should expect! At 26K I am averaging 21.4 MPG in city. The battery immediately reverts to gas. The service dept. said nothing could be done and that other Highlanders were getting similar MPG. This is not acceptable! The sticker indicates 31 miles city and 27 miles highway. I wrote to Toyota-their reply: MPG sticker quotes are generated under controlled testing conditions for EPA and so I should bring it in for servicing. Fuel efficiency is influenced by many variables: tire pressure, weather, fuel additives, etc.

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  Inverter Problems - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By drew1961 - March 4 - 10:50 pm

  This car has very expensive inverter problems. Cost to repair Hybrid inverter system as of June 21, 2011 $9325.00 + Tax Toyota does not fix this and have a class action suit against them at this time. If you are going green this green will be coming out of your billfold. The 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Vehicle (Highlander HV) was Toyota’s first generation of gasoline-electric hybrid versions of the Highlander sold in the U.S. A central component of the Highlander HV is the electrical inverter assembly, which changes the DC current from the vehicles battery into AC current that powers the vehicle’s motor. The defective inverter assemblies cause the vehicles to suddenly lose engine power while the vehicles is being driven.