2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability
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Interior - What the Auto Press Says

Reviewers appreciate the Highlander Hybrid's cabin, which is roomier and quieter than ever before -- but features some sub-par materials. The optional third row makes the Highlander Hybrid especially useful for families.

• "You'll be comfortable in the Highlander's roomy new seven-passenger interior, especially since the optional third-row seat is actually made for adults." -- Edmunds
• "Inside, the dash layout, materials and fit-and-finish are excellent, and the Highlander provides a commanding driving position that makes SUVs a trusted companion on the road." -- MSN
• "Inside, the Hybrid Limited is as well-appointed as any luxury car. There's plenty of room in the front and middle seats, but the flat-folding third-row seat is best left to the kids." -- Orlando Sentinel
• "Our base model Highlander Hybrid used some questionable material in the cabin, such as fake wood-grain plastic over the console. We had a little trouble getting a 12-volt adaptor out of one of the car's console power points, and as we tugged at it, we saw the plastic cover bend and pull upwards." -- CNET

First- and Second-Row Seats

The base Highlander Hybrid seats five in two rows, but reviewers have mixed opinions about comfort. A plus is the second row's Center Stow Seat, which adds family-friendly versatility.

• "...Toyota has stolen every inch it can elsewhere in the vehicle, leaving taller drivers barely enough room for a comfortable driving position." -- Boston Globe
• "Unfortunately the front seats offer little in the way of lateral support and as is too often the case the bottom cushions are too short. The steering wheel rim is also a bit too skinny for a comfortable grip." -- Autoblog Green
• "The second-row seats recline and then also move fore and aft through 4.7 inches of travel. The second-row seat also incorporates a Center Stow seat, an occasional seat that can also be converted to a center console or even stowed away to create separate captain's chairs. It's amazingly light and easy to handle, and even a scrawny 6-year-old with arms like twigs was able to get the job done without whining for help." -- Edmunds
• "The Center Stow seat provides decent comfort and can be removed when not needed." -- Cars.com

Optional Third-Row Seats

An optional third-row seat makes room for up to seven passengers. However, a mixed reception from reviewers means buyers should try the seat for themselves before deciding on its usefulness.

• "In the interest of full testing, I climbed back there. My head was jammed against the roof and there wasn't enough legroom to even raise the second-row seats to their normal position." -- Boston Globe
• "We were surprised with the roominess inside, especially for third-row passengers, who made little consolation in terms of ingress, egress, and overall comfort. The Highlander Hybrid was quite flexible, easily morphing to accommodate different passenger/cargo needs, while providing outstanding long-distance comfort." -- MSN
• "Head and shoulder room out back are OK as is leg room thanks to the second row seats that can adjust fore and aft. Overall though, grownups will only want to ride in the back for short trips." -- Autoblog Green

Interior Features

The Highlander Hybrid comes with plenty of luxury features, but its interior is plagued by cheap materials. The Limited trim offers an optional voice-activated DVD navigation system, but check out our GPS reviews to see portable options with similar features.

• "Budget realities mean there are more hard plastic finishes than in a typical Lexus, but those plastics are nicely grained and assembled with care. Only the headliner, which looks like a cardboard egg carton, disappoints." -- New Car Test Drive
• "Visually the dashboard looks attractive enough and the plastic surfaces appear to be of a reasonably high quality. However, that impression ends when you touch the dashboard surface. All the plastic surfaces in the Highlander (aside from the armrests) are hard plastic with no padding." -- Autoblog Green
• "The instrumentation is clear, with the exception of a kilowatt/power meter that seems as extraneous as the tachometers on most of today's vehicles." -- Boston Globe
• "The audio system in this base model only uses six speakers, two tweeters in front and a woofer on each door. We were surprised how much bass came out of the speakers, but not in a good way. It wasn't a particularly deep bass, and it overwhelmed the sound quality." -- CNET

Cargo

Reviewers are disappointed with the Highlander Hybrid's cargo volume with all seats in use on seven-passenger models, but are pleased with the capacity in five-passenger models or when the third row is folded down.

• "Cargo volume behind the third row remains small at 10.3 cubic feet." -- Motor Week
• "If you don't need the extra people capacity, a tug on the strap at the top of the rear seat allows the head rests to flip down and the seat back folds down providing a flat load floor." -- Autoblog Green
• "The Highlander Hybrid was quite flexible, easily morphing to accommodate different passenger/cargo needs, while providing outstanding long-distance comfort." -- MSN
• "The Highlander's third row is also a one-piece fixed design, so you can't configure the cargo area for a storage and passenger mix. However, the seat does fold flat into the floor, allowing for 42 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. With the second row folded down, the space opens up to a capacious 94 cubes." -- Edmunds