Launching a Highlander Prime Would Be a Layup for Toyota
A Toyota Highlander Prime might be a big win for the company. But will Toyota actually do it?
Written by Andrew Kidd
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
With the success of the
Toyota
RAV4 Prime, it's surprising that the automaker hasn't expanded its plug-in hybrid feature to other SUVs in its lineup.A Toyota Highlander Prime would make a ton of sense. He lists several reasons why a Highlander Prime would be a real winner for those in the market for a larger
plug-in hybrid SUV
.A Toyota Highlander Prime would offer more potential power than the RAV4 Prime
A Toyota Highlander Prime would be more powerful through a combination of its gas and electric motors as well as its plug-in capabilities. This is based on the precedent set by the RAV 4 Prime, which proved to be the fastest and most powerful RAV4 ever made, producing 302 horsepower.
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Better average fuel economy
Another reason is the fact that a plug-in hybrid option for the Highlander could improve fuel mileage for the midsize SUV. For instance, a RAV4 Prime gets a combined electric-gas mileage of 94 MPGe, whereas the regular RAV4 Hybrid gets a combined 40 mpg. The Highlander Hybrid currently gets around 36 mpg.
What would the Highlander Prime’s all-electric range be?
The RAV4 Prime can get about 42 miles on a single charge without using gas. It’s estimated a Highlander Prime could probably get around 35 miles on one charge, which would be perfect for a family SUV that's mostly driven locally.
Will Toyota ever make a Highlander Prime?
Possibly, but not anytime soon.
Green Car Reports
expects Toyota to bring Prime to the Highlander line, though Toyota has yet to confirm it and even hinted that larger vehicles wouldn't net the same range benefits as smaller offerings.And if you've tried buying a new vehicle lately, you'll notice that it's
exceedingly difficult
. Not just because demand is far outstripping supply, but because the basic inputs for that supply simply aren't making it to manufacturers.But the demand might be there. Toyota is going all-in on hybrid-electric vehicles; the automaker is ramping up its investment in hybrid powertrains in response to what it says is increased consumer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles in a time when fuel prices have reached historic highs.
According to Toyota, it's part of the company's plan to manage a transition to electrified vehicles by producing hybrids and plug-in hybrids until the market is ready for battery-electric vehicles. This investment is a continuation of that plan, he added.
Given supply chain constraints, it could be a way for Toyota to buy some time, as hybrid batteries are generally much smaller than those of pureBEVs and thus require fewer raw materials to manufacture.
But a Highlander Prime likely won't happen anytime soon if Toyota plans to ramp up production of only its extant hybrid-electric offerings. Time will tell if it actually happens—and we're sure Teague will be the first to let everyone know if it happens.
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