Last month Toyota sent a 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid for me to tryout. Along with this beautiful family friendly SUV came a Massage Envy gift card for a little extra me-time. As soon as it arrived we couldn’t wait to test it out. It went to the grocery store, swim lessons, and even a little road trip back to Tucson. One week wasn’t enough to explore all the fantastic safety, convenience, and technology features; but here are just a handful of our favorites.
- Seats 7 with middle row captain seats and a rear bench.
- Convenient console that folds out of the way for even more storage.
- Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade. We LOVED the optional panoramic moonroof; perfect for late night star-gazing.
- Entune™ Premium JBL® Audio with Navigation and App Suite.
- AM/FM CD player with Bluetooth® MP3 for easy music streaming.
- Hands-free phone capability, phone book access, and music streaming via Bluetooth®.
- One touch Driver Easy Speak to access music, phone, navigation and some apps.
- A must have for moms and dads is the Smart Key System. No need to dig for keys for locking, unlocking, or even starting the car. Such a big help when you are juggling two kids, a grocery cart, and a purse!
- USB port for easy charging.
- The side mirrors have an integrated blind spot monitor and turn signal indicators. A great safety feature with a large vehicle, especially for freeway driving.
- This is one feature I am greatly missing. Though not a replacement for checking around your car the backup camera with rear parking sonar is a wonderful added security. There was even little gridlines to help with parking, very helpful when parking downtown.
- LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) on the middle and rear row.
- Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) catches low tire pressure preventing blowouts and unsafe situations.
- Monitor the speed limit right on your dash and be notified when you cross over the side lanes.
- Heated seats have always been lost on me living in AZ, but the Highlander has ventilated front-row seats. I’m telling you this has been missing all my life. Cool air blows on your back, legs, and neck to cool you down quickly. I wish there was a way to hook up air to my kids carseats!
- Three-zone automatic climate control with second and third row vents are a must in Arizona. They AC did not disappoint. We currently drive a Corolla and Toyota air cuts easily through the dry hot air here.
- The driver’s seat is completely adjustable with additional thigh and lumbar support. Having that extra support is a must when taking long road trips.
- Hybrid Synergy Drive® system with on dash monitors to track your energy/gas consumption.
- Cruise control with optional Dynamic Radar Cruise Control automatically adjusts your speed to keep your vehicle at a specified distance from other cars.
*Some features are specific to the Hybrid model or optional.
I love the feature cool air seats. My Lexus had heated seats which I used when traveling to cold climates. But in Arizona cool air would be wonderful. Sounds like this hybrid is the perfect Suv