Silence is golden… At least that is what I have heard. Being an automotive enthusiast, – make that an “anything with an engine” – enthusiast, I have been accustomed to the fact that one of the greatest experiences in the world is hearing a free-breathing engine screaming near redline. The sight, smell, and feel of a rumbling engine are all part of a remarkably exciting package that includes hearing an engine roar.

That doesn’t happen if the car runs on electricity.

Your body is also trained to absorb the slight impact of gear changes when the transmission slams from one gear to the next. Anyone that has ever been in a car with a dog sitting next to them can see what happens when you are not used to slight changes in pitch and gravity. The dog stumbles to gain its composure because it does not anticipate the movement.

This doesn’t happen if the car you are in is equipped with a Constantly Variable Transmission. (CVT for short).

What does this have to do with the Highlander Hybrid? Everything. Here at HOTRIDE, we strive to share with you our experiences behind the wheel of each of these vehicles we test. What we experienced with the Highlander Hybrid was nothing short of amazing.

When the Highlander arrived in my driveway, the first thing I noticed was how normal this truck was. Nothing flashy, no strange gauges or displays on the dash that made the truck feel like the space shuttle. No odd body shapes to make the truck stand out from the pack as in the Prius, with its “look at me, I’m saving the environment” styling that makes it stand out. This was a normal truck. It was even delivered in a (my opinion) boring tan/gold color with matching tan interior. Nope, this truck was making its statement quietly. When I say quietly, I don’t just mean looks.

Getting in this truck, I slid the key in the ignition, and turned it all the way back, as you would in any car. Lights click on, A/C and radio crank up and that is all. No shutter of any kind. Kind of like trying to start a car with a manual transmission, and forgetting to push the clutch in, you anticipate some sort of physical confirmation that the truck has been started.  Not happening here, the only sound is coming from the air vents and radio, the only confirmation is a white “READY” light in the gauge cluster. That’s it? Yep.

Enough fluff, getting more serious about this truck, all of us at HOTRIDE agrees it is a fantastic vehicle. No arguments whether the price is too much for the benefits, or that hybrid technology has issues (all cars do, let’s be honest).  Power is on par with most large V6’s, and the features on this vehicle are as normal as any other. It handles well, accelerates smoothly, and stops great. Room for 7 in the car only can be said if you are putting small children in the far back row, but 4-5 adults work fine. The stereo was phenomenal, and the build quality is Toyota-perfect.

All-in-all, if you are looking for a hybrid, but need more room than the Prius can offer, this is your truck. If you are looking for an SUV in the is class, take the time to consider the Highlander Hybrid. It might surprise you.

                It surprised us.