There I go running my mouth, I guess I looked at a hybrid and did not realize it was not the gas only version.

 

I think I would have to agree with this.

 

Definitely an improvement, the off center badge on the grill really rubbed me the wrong way on the old one.

 

Yep... also gets proper LED strips front and back, and I would guess LED full headlights.

More important is pre-crash standard with all-speed cruise control standard.

Lots of cool things standard... it wont be cheap but competition isnt either.

This is going to sell really well, current model is breaking its own records as it is, so the question is only how much they can produce.

 

About time.

What 5 more horses?

 

wonder why the hybrid requires premium. people pay a 'premium' (ha) to get the hybrid, only to end up paying a lot more per gallon of gas to get better fuel economy. #fail

 

Awesome facelift! I've been on the fence with some recent Toyota/Lexus faces (IS, Camry), but this has all the right lines. Edgy, sporty, truckish, but still conservative and classy. I wish the company all the luck on this. It's well deserved.

 

I've been thinking that for years... It's about damn time.

 

Well, I haven't seen the interior yet, but safe to say that members here used to upscale interiors should be ready for a reality check, when the interiors surface. I can appreciate that the love for the Highlander probably has partly to do something with the polarizing RX looks. But the look should be easy to grow into, but much harder would be to accept the ho-hum (read: Economy Class) interior. We'll see.

With respect to LED's and other latest techs, I agree it's about time. Forum members must have noticed that mainstream cars like the latest Honda Civic has taken the charge to bring the latest higher end techs to mass market. LED's back and front, CarPlay, Android Auto, full range collision mitigation etc. We knew this was going to happen as a reaction to Luxury marques trying to woo mainstream customers.

So what's my point? Over time, the differentiation between mainstream and "near mainstream" luxury is going to get even slimmer, if it hasn't already. The separation will be/is in just in the name and the dollar premium for "refinement". Value proposition of refinement per dollar spent is and will remain subjective.

As for me, I have always liked the functionality of the Highlander, and wished for a third row affordable RX-esque Lexus. But with kids, thanks to forum member suggestions, I am happy with a Limited Premium Sienna for the time being. These changes to the Highlander and future Sienna are very welcome. My dream car: A Lexus Pacifica Will it ever build one? Likely not.

 

Yeah, my buddy works at Toyota and I was looking at his discount sheet. Noticed that the discount on a Highlander is a whopping $0. Can't meet demand.

 

Normal brands trying to be more premium has been happening for more than 10 years... but reality is that luxury brands are taking more and more of mainstream brand space and selling more vehicles at the expense of mainstream brands.

Corolla has had standard LED headlights for 2 years now... and yet, Lexus and its German competitors are all enjoying record sales and profits.

It is a fight that luxury brands are winning right now.

And Toyota can now hit competition from two direction now, with Highlander and RX. Overall it will make them sell even more cars and make them even more profitable.

 

Hopefully for this facelift, they can also optimize production at Highlander plant to get more vehicles, like they did with Tacoma.... I am thinking 15k per month might become new norm for Highlander.

 

I will consider it as a replacement to my 2005 Highlander.

 

Really happy to see this - lowered cost hybrid models!

 

I think you'll be very suprised at just how nice the new interior/dash will be. Heck the existing Highlander Limited is pretty posh IMO.