Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs, Toyota
Toyota announces new 2.7L four-cylinder for Highlander
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Toyota Highlander
When the all-new Highlander launched last year, it came equipped with your choice of a 3.5L V6 or a 3.3L hybrid powerplant. Toyota is expanding the Highlander's powertrain lineup for 2009 by adding a more fuel efficient 2.7L four-cylinder engine. The new engine produces 187 horsepower at 5,800 RPM and 186 lb-ft at 4,100 RPM, making it the most powerful four cylinder engine in Toyota's lineup. Assisting the new 2.7L engine is a six-speed automatic transmission that Toyota says together will provide smooth acceleration and V6-like performance. EPA figures will be announced closer to the engine/transmission's January 2009 launch date, and they should be a few mpg better than the 3.5L engine's 18/24 figures.
The addition of a four-pot to the Highlander lineup will give customers a less expensive and more fuel efficient option in this model lineup, which should prove mighty popular. What remains to be seen is whether a 187-hp engine can properly motivate a 4,000-lb vehicle. We're guessing that since many Highlander buyers aren't likely all that interested in driving dynamics, the most important stat for Toyota's CUV will be its EPA number. Hit the jump to for Toyota's press release if you're looking for nitty gritty details.
Gallery: 2008 Toyota Highlander Sport
[Source: Toyota]
PRESS RELEASE:
August 14, 2008 - Torrance, CA - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced today that the 2009 Highlander mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) will offer an all-new, powerful yet fuel-efficient 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. When it arrives at dealerships in mid-to-late January, the new Highlander powerplant will be among the best mid-size SUVs in the areas of performance, fuel economy and value.
The new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine will generate an impressive 187 horsepower at 5,800 RPM and 186 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,100 RPM on regular 87 octane fuel. A dual exhaust manifold will help achieve exceptional low-end torque and maximize its power output. In addition to its performance output, the Highlander equipped with the new four-cylinder will be EPA-rated as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEVII) and is expected to be among the leaders in fuel efficiency in the gas mid-size SUV segment. Official EPA fuel efficiency ratings will be announced closer to launch.
The new four-cylinder engine will be mated to an all-new six-speed electronically-controlled automatic overdrive transmission with intelligence (ECT-i). The new transmission will help deliver quiet and smooth performance on par with a V6 and acceleration that is surprisingly quick for a four-cylinder. When equipped with a tow package, the new powerplant will achieve a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
The new engine will come standard on the Highlander grade two-wheel-drive model equipped with two rows of seats, contributing to its excellent value. A third row seat package will also be available for families requiring additional seating capacity. Other key optional equipment will include an eight-way power driver's seat, manual rear air conditioning, and an AM/FM/six-disc CD Changer with satellite radio capability, MP3/WMA capability and six speakers.
With the new four-cylinder engine, Highlander will be the only mid-size SUV in the current market to offer three powerplant choices. The 3.5-liter Highlander V6, available in two- and full-time four-wheel drive, is among the leaders in fuel efficiency among V6 gas engines in its segment. The full-time 4WD-i Highlander Hybrid, equipped with a V6 powerplant with front and rear electric motors, stands above all others for fuel efficiency among all mid-size SUVs.
Since it first launched in 2001, Highlander has been one of Toyota's most popular vehicles, setting the standard for car-based SUVs in innovation, comfort and sales. Driver and passenger comfort is accomplished with segment leading seating versatility through innovative flexible seating functions for up to seven people. Comfort is complemented with one of the highest levels of standard safety features in the small- and mid-size SUV market including a segment-leading total of seven airbags.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
freckles 8:46AM (8/15/2008)
this is good news. let me go out on a limb and say that if the rav4 wasn't so big the highlander wouldn't have grown etc...
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Michael Sin 1:14PM (8/15/2008)
Agreed... the RAV4 is practically the size (and nearly the price) of the old Highlander but with a cheapo interior.
I'm fine with the idea of a four-cylinder. The 3825 lb VUE XE gets 19/26 mpg with just a four-speed automatic, and apparently, power is fine for normal driving conditions.
Luis 1:56PM (8/15/2008)
Kudos to Toyota for providing a smart choice...Big Three,are you reading this?...
mike 8:47AM (8/15/2008)
If the current model gets 18/24 and we expect an improvement of a few MPG, 20/26 would be a reasonable increase.
Folks do you see what is happening here? We are seeing SUVs getting respectable MPGs and still being...an SUV.
That is exactly why we have CAFE, consumer buys what he wants while not polluting the air and not making the country a whore of some arab guy.
Now can we all please forward this story to Rick Wagoner, because i am not sure he is familiar with a word PROGRESS.
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TJ 8:56AM (8/15/2008)
Right. Toyota developed a new 4 banger in the four months since CAFE increased. And they did it all as a result of our politicians.
The intellect on this board diminishes every day.
The Other Bob 8:58AM (8/15/2008)
Thanks TJ. You nailed it.
Just wait everyone will give CAFE credit for all the new small cars rolling out of the showrooms in the next couple years, all of which were on the drawing board before the recent CAFE increase.
Tom the Wombat 9:12AM (8/15/2008)
SUV?? Try minivan with oversize tires. Isn't this thing car based? Remember the mid-80's when even minivans had 4bangers and turbos? This isn't innovation. It is marketing adaptation.
Rob 9:20AM (8/15/2008)
This is simply Toyota reacting to current market conditions, namely $4/gallon gas. Fedzilla regulations are not needed - the market works just fine...
Jared 9:22AM (8/15/2008)
Sorry, but the Highlander is NOT an SUV. It is a car-based, unibody crossover. It has very limited ground clearance. The so-called all-wheel-drive version only sends power to the rear wheels after the front wheels have already slipped. That is fine if you are trying to get to the mall in 2" of snow, but it won't help you off-road.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:15AM (8/15/2008)
Toyota has offered a 2.7L I4 in the Tacoma for years. Lets not overstate how difficult it is to tune it up and drop it in the Highlander.
I don't see it getting 20 city. The low city figure for this vehicle is due to its weight, not due to the engine size. And the weight isn't going to go down much with this version.
LMBVette 11:49AM (8/15/2008)
No way that big vehicle gets 20/26 in the real world with the 4 cylinder.
That 4 cylinder will have to be in it's upper RPMs almost all the time to lug that beast around.
Louis Duran 4:13PM (8/18/2008)
@TJ
Whether it was CAFE that caused Toyota to do this or not, is actually irrelevant. Personally I think was high-fuel prices. Another point; even though the actual CAFE legislation didn't pass until recently, there was tons of evidence, even to people who read Autoblog, that it was a matter of time before passing. I suspect insiders had even more information. Toyota is a smart company, they probably anticipated that CAFE was going to pass and combined with the trend in fuel prices decided that this 2.7L motor was a good hedge against their other bets. I wouldn't be surprised if GM and Ford made similar hedges when they saw the writing on the wall. Any company that actually waited to start planning for new CAFE until the legislation actually passed was living in a fantasy world. So I would think Mike's comment is more accurate than you give credit. If TJ were running Toyota, he would react only when legislation passed and then have more efficient engines on the market a couple years later. Sorry TJ, you don't get to be CEO of Toyota since you don't know how to anticipate. You lose.
Whatever it was, the fact remains that the auto industry was fighting the mandate by saying it was impossible, impractical and would end up bankrupting them. As we can see, it isn't impossible and the carmakers with the most efficient cars (Toyota and Honda) are far from bankrupt.
In the end a CAFE increase will force the automakers (especially GM/Ford/Chrylser) to actually do some long range planning and think about their product mix 8 years down the line and plan for higher fuel prices. Otherwise, they will repeat past mistakes of creating large, inefficient SUVs right up to the point where the maket for those vehicles craters. Ironically enough, CAFE may actually end up helping GM and Ford by forcing them to rethink their market.
MikeW 3:16PM (8/15/2008)
20/26 for front drive seems reasonable
19/25 for the non front drive. (did toyota give up the center differential, and utilize the RAV4 drivetrain?)
Is this a highly modified 2tr-fe (longitudinal) from the tacoma, or a new engine design common with the new 2.5? (transverse)
Is the 6 speed auto the same as the Camry?
How short will the axle ratio will be? Top gear shouldn't be any taller than the V6 / 5 speed auto.
That would an increase from 3.685 to something like 4.255
That would give good enough gearing. 1-30, 2-65, 3-90, 4-(125 4x4, 130 4x2), 5-(115 4x4, 120 4x2), 6-(105 4x4, 110 4x2)
iSpec 8:52AM (8/15/2008)
Toyo's competitor the Santa Fe will be offering the Theta II 4-banger with 175hp and achieving near 30 mpg highway. The 2.7 is simply still not enough. Hyundai is beating Toyota to the punch. Toyota is the new GM and Hyundai is the new Toyota
Toyota and GM one of the first to buy new Genesis?!
http://wot.motortrend.com/6284154/auto-news/2009-hyundai-genesis-attracts-two-very-high-profile-buyers/index.html
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Frylock350 12:09PM (8/15/2008)
The Chevy Equinox will have a 2.4L with 200hp (thanks to DI) that will probably achieve better mileage than either (especially since GM will probably use a 6sp auto)
why not the LS2LS7? 2:25PM (8/15/2008)
That's pretty low-class what Hyundai did there.
Toyota bought a Neon and took it apart. Did Dodge make press releases that Toyota bought Neons?
Ridiculous.
MikeW 3:28PM (8/15/2008)
I'd be impressed if GM could get 175hp 175ft-lbs (on regular instead of premium for the current 2.4) from the new DI 2.3 I4.
Frylock350 3:41PM (8/15/2008)
@MikeW,
GM has been tuning their naturally aspirated DI engines for 87 octane. I'm sure the 2.3L (typo on the displacement on my part ;D) will live up to its 200hp claim.
Toyota's 4-cyl engines are falling behind. The next gen Ecotec's look to be better and Honda's 4cyls are already better.
TJ 8:54AM (8/15/2008)
So, a 2.7 I4 gets (estimated) the same or less gas mileage as my 2.7 v6, but does it with ~20 less HP and ~20 less tq.
Why am I supposed to be impressed here?
Instead of a strained 4 banger with an oversize block, how about downsizing a v6 for a better torque curve?
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f650 10:03AM (8/15/2008)
I assume you have a Tiburon? I believe your car weighs a bit less than 4000lbs. Apples != Oranges