Toyota Highlander: Hybrid vs. Gas

Answering this question depends a great deal on what you’re looking for in a vehicle. We’ll help you to decide if a Toyota Highlander is the right car for you and, more broadly, whether a hybrid car is the best choice to fit your needs.

Hybrid Cars: How They Work

Most cars are powered by internal combustion engines. These burn gasoline to power pistons, which in turn rotate crankshafts that finally turn the wheels of the vehicle. The downside of this type of engine is that it must constantly be burning a great deal of gas to keep the engine running. Continuously burning fuel like this, of course, is both expensive and has a heavy environmental impact.

Hybrid vehicles still have internal combustion engines and require gasoline to operate, however, they feature a greatly reduced need for fuel due to the use of an electric battery. The hybrid battery is different than the 12-volt battery that all cars feature. It utilizes advanced technology to capture waste heat that is generated during braking. This energy then recharges the battery, and that extra energy can then be used to power the vehicle’s auxiliary functions. The hybrid battery can even take over powering the engine entirely at times, such as when the vehicle is traveling on long stretches of highway.

Advantages Over Gas-Powered Cars

What sets hybrid cars apart from other types of vehicles is their fuel efficiency and convenience. A traditional gas-powered vehicle must, of course, be refueled constantly, and with gas prices reaching record highs, this can be an expensive prospect. On longer drives, this can also be a major inconvenience. Having to stop frequently for fuel can slow down road trips immensely.

A hybrid vehicle still requires gas, of course, but utilizes it far more efficiently in order to cut down on your fuel costs. A hybrid car also has a benefit over fully electric vehicles, as the latter must be regularly recharged in a dedicated charging area. This means that these cars are not usually able to be taken on long road trips, as charging areas are often few and far between.

For road trips or any commute that requires extended periods spent driving on highways or other long stretches of road, there is no option better than a hybrid vehicle. It combines the convenience of a gas-powered car with the fuel efficiency of an electric one, ensuring that you will not spend more on gasoline than you absolutely have to.

Are There Any Downsides?

Hybrid cars are not without their disadvantages, however. The largest one is the maintenance costs. While regular, routine maintenance, such as oil changes, is not more expensive than they are with any other vehicle, the hybrid battery itself can prove to be costly to repair and replace when the time comes. If you have a dedicated warranty with your dealer, you may be able to reduce this cost. Otherwise, however, it can be a large expense, although it is not one that you are likely to incur often.

It is worth noting that the hefty cost of a battery replacement can be somewhat lessened by the savings you’ll have in fuel. You may also require less maintenance on the engine itself, as the fact that there are two sources of power for the vehicle, as opposed to only one, means that less overall wear and tear will be put on each individual element of the vehicle.

Why Choose the Toyota Highlander?

There are plenty of hybrid vehicles out there, but the Toyota Highlander is one of the most popular models in recent years. This is partly due to the fact that it takes the already famous efficiency of a hybrid to the next level, thanks to a series of innovative features unique to this model of car.

For example, the Toyota Highlander allows you to switch between several hybrid drive modes, depending on your needs at the present moment. You are also able to choose between a Front Wheel Drive model or an All-Wheel Drive one, depending on how you expect to be using the car, Front Wheel Drive being more efficient and All Wheel Drive being more powerful, should you expect to do any offroad driving.

Advanced technology also takes the Toyota Highlander to the next level with regard to safety features. Blind Spot Monitors allow your car to ensure you are aware of your surroundings, even if you cannot immediately see them, while Emergency Brake Assist can help to bring your vehicle to a quick stop if necessary. Lane Departure Warnings and Lane Keep Assist will keep your car in its lane and prevent swerving during long drives, while Automatic High Beams will help you to always have an eye on the road, regardless of the time of day or night.

Where Can You Buy One?

Buying directly from a Toyota Highlander dealer such as Beaverton Toyota in the Portland area of Oregon is always your best option. This is because dealers can offer extended warranties and other service packages that other sellers cannot. For example, Beaverton Toyota offers CLEAR Care as a standard feature with all of our new Toyotas, as well as many of our used ones. This program includes free annual maintenance, certified Powertrain warranties, and even guaranteed paint protection to keep your car looking shiny and new for years.

Tags: Toyota Highlander, Toyota Highlander Gas, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Toyota Hybrid
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