New Toyota Highlander debuts in New York with better looks, efficiency

New Toyota Highlander debuts in New York with better looks, efficiency

5 years ago
Anonymous $9jpehmcKty

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/toyota-highlander-2020-debut-ny-auto-show/

Where things get really interesting is with the optional hybrid drivetrain. Toyota remains the undisputed king of hybrid tech, and it's really flexing its muscles there with the new Highlander. Rather than the Hybrid Synergy Drive that we're all used to, Toyota is debuting a next-generation system that it calls Predictive Efficient Drive.

Predictive Efficient Drive is a smart hybrid system in that it monitors and learns driver habits and compares that with GPS data for upcoming roads to decide when to best utilize the electric portion of the drivetrain for maximum efficiency. It's pretty cool, but what's cooler is that Toyota is claiming that the hybrid Highlander will offer its owners 34 miles per gallon combined. That's unreal in a big SUV and a 17% increase over the previous-generation hybrid.