Updates - Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Over the last couple of years, because of a variety of reasons, we have all seen gas prices rise to previously unthinkable amounts. Also, the onset of the worry about how mach fossil fuels are left are getting people excited about hybrid vehicles. The hybrid movement started back in the late 1990's with the Honda Insight, an impractical 3-door coupe with a hybrid powertrain. Soon, Toyota followed with it's Prius with it's own take on hybrids which was promptly followed by the Honda Civic Hybrid. Now that automakers have proven their technology both to their customers and themselves, they have decided to take it up a notch.
Both Ford and Toyota have released a new hybrid SUV within the last year or two but Toyota has done an infinitely better job. If you can just disregard the higher price, more power, and that creepy silence when you pull away from a stoplight, then this Highlander would be indistinguishable from any normal Highlander. One obvious difference though is the fact that you wallet stays thicker. You will go a full 10-13 miles farther (depending on I-4 or V-6) on each gallon of gasoline in the city making this you feel great about your money and your environment considering your car will be releasing a lot fewer emmissions than the average car or SUV. And don't think that saving the environment will cost you anything in the comfort or power departments. The Hybrid puts out a total 268hp with it's smaller V-6 as well as two electric motors (one for the front axel, one for the rear making it an AWD vehicle). And the only difference that a driver can feel is a little more weight being thrown around from the battery system. The Interior is just as comfortable and is made out of the same super-high quality materials that one has come to expect from Toyota. The one place you might feel a little difference is in your back pocket, at least from your initial payment because the base Toyota Highlander Hybrid will cost you $33,030 with the Limited model getting $37,890 (compared to $24,530 and $30,460 respectively). That's is a solid $7,000 hike in price. For many, that will be hard to swallow but for those who do take the plunge, they will be comforted that every moment, they are contributing to saving the environment one little bit at a time. For more, keep watching below...