2006 NY Auto Show
The Highlander Hybrid joins the popular Prius sedan, making Toyota the first brand to offer both a passenger car and an SUV with hybrid powertrains.
Highlander Hybrid combines a 3.3-liter V6 engine with a high-torque electric drive motor-generator to deliver unexpected performance along with fuel economy ratings better than many four-cylinder compact cars, as well as remarkably low emissions.
Highlander Hybrid is powered by a new version of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain specifically developed to meet the load-carrying requirements and performance expectations of mid-size SUV buyers. Its all-new high-speed electric motor operates at twice the speed and delivers more than twice the power as the motor used in the four-cylinder Prius, producing 268 peak combined horsepower with a standard towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
Highlander Hybrid is defined as a high-power, high-voltage full hybrid, which means it is capable of operating in electric-only or gas engine-only mode as well as a mode that combines the power of the gas engine and electric motor. In contrast, other hybrid technologies are not capable of running only on electrical power, but instead require constant gas engine operation.
