The Highlander Hybrid also got some upgrades under the hood, with a new, larger engine. While the Highlander Hybrid base model starts at $37,490, the Limited model starts at $43,145. My test car, a Limited model, cost $44,720. The 2011 Highlander Hybrid is quite an improvement over past Highlanders in the looks department. A second electric motor powers the rear wheels when in all-wheel drive. The gas-powered front-wheel-drive Highlander has a four-cylinder engine and gets 20/25 mpg.
Life inside the Highlander Hybrid is about as comfy as it gets. The center seat, which is narrow and not the most comfortable location on earth, folds forward and pops out of place to be stored in a nifty compartment in the back of the front row's center console. The third row is really only fit for kids or short trips. Cargo space behind the third row is also limited.
Booster seats, forward- and rear-facing convertibles and rear-facing infant-safety seats all fit well in the "Highlander Hybrid's" second row that slides back and forth to create more room for bulky car seats or long legs. The second row's seat belt buckles are easy to use since they're on stable bases that can be grasped by kids.
The hybrid has the following standard safety features: all-wheel drive, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, an electronic stability system, traction control, a backup camera and seven airbags, including a side-impact airbags for the front row, side curtains for all three rows and a driver's knee airbag.
While the gas-powered Highlanders carry over their powertrains intact, the Highlander Hybrid is moving up to a slightly higher station in life.
The Highlander Hybrid's all-wheel drive, which replaces mechanical drive with an electric motor to power the rear wheels, isn't suitable for extreme off-road conditions though it should be adequate for slippery driveway duty.
The Hybrid's interior is the same spacious affair as the stock Highlander, but it does lose about 1.5 cubic feet of interior space to those same battery packs.
