Used 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Consumer Reviews
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Low maintenance until you get the BIG BILL!
Scott Hodges, 02/22/2017
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
20 of 23 people found this review helpful
We purchased a 2008 Highlander Hybrid in 2013. The car was practically maintenance free until last week. All service except oil changes have been done by the local Toyota dealer. My wife was pulling out of the driveway when the ABS/VSC lights came on and the console said to pull over. A code scan said it was C1391, internal acc pressure leak. Took it to the dealer. They said it needed a new brake accumulator and a new brake booster for a total of OVER $5000! Researching the issue, I found it is a fairly common issue for these cars. When I called Toyota to ask if the cost of this repair, equal to 1/3 the cost of the vehicle, could be mitigated, I eventually got a woman who told me that since I didn't take the car in to the dealer for nearly a year in 2015, I was not a loyal Toyota customer and they have chosen not to help me. REALLY!!?? The car didn't NEED any service during that time! I own 5 other cars including a couple of BMWs and I have NEVER had a repair this expensive and have NEVER been admonished by an automobile company representative for not getting a car serviced when it didn't need it. This was our first Toyota and will be out last.
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Beware of hybrid battery
Matthew Fahy, 07/28/2017
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
25 of 30 people found this review helpful
Toyota doesn't have a proper alert system for the hybrid battery. The compartment can fill with water and ruin the hybrid battery, which is a $5k-$8k repair bill. With all the technology and alerts, why would they not have an alert for this critical and EXPENSIVE piece of the hybrid auto?
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Big, Comfortable, Roadworthy
Jerry Crain, 11/28/2017
updated 05/29/2018
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Traded the Highlander in with 127Kmi on the clock and got above wholesale trade-in value toward a new, 2017 Chevy Bolt. I envy the new owner of the Highlander as I will miss the commodious cockpit of the Highlander, but really wanted to go all-electric. This is one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned. The sheer size of the interior was intimidating when I first got it, but the electric controlled, heated front seats, the adjustable back seats and even the tolerable 3rd row seats offer comfort in a quiet and temperature controlled environment. Road and wind noise is low throughout the cabin and the sun-roof provides a bit of fun in good weather. Bought it for the low-end (electric) power and AWD available to haul my 1-ton sailboat in and out of the sometimes very steep launch ramps at lakes around here ... It outpulls any pick-up I've seen to date - even the diesels. Had my first mechanical failure this month (on it's 10th birthday) - the water pump began dripping at 116,000 miles.
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My Dream Car from the moment I test drove
brandoshido, 03/12/2009
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
14 of 17 people found this review helpful
I was in love with this vehicle from the moment I test drove it OVER A YEAR ago. So it took me a year to buy this vehicle. I am so glad i did (although my payments are wayyyy more than what I was wanting). It drives like a dream, has plenty of space for my mid-large size dog, and my workmates who I carpool with once a week. I am consistently getting 30.5 - 32 MPG off of my first 4 tanks so far. My buddies have all said the back seat is "cavernous" compared to my 2008 rav4 (I traded it in for this car). They also said the seats were "very comfortable". Get this car if you plan on keeping for 10+ years, the fuel savings won't catch up until then because of the price premium. I LOVE it!!!
Midsize SUV Space-V6 Power-Small SUV Fuel Economy!
jimmiegon, 10/13/2021
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/3rd Row (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I was hesitant to get a used hybrid, but back in March 2021, I ended up getting a good deal for a 2008 Highlander Hybrid with below average miles, Limited, fully loaded with leather seats, Nav system (way outdated but looks alright I guess, I still use Google Maps on my phone). Color is black with beige leather, silver roof rack, running boards, towing hitch and it still looks good for its age (obviously nothing compared to the current gen). It is now October 2021 and so far, I don’t regret my decision. I did have to replace the 12v battery, which isn’t as straightforward on this hybrid because the idle speed control has to be reset. Altogether it came out to less than 200 bucks. One thing I learned relatively quickly is that this vehicle will respond to your driving style which will determine whether you get below EPA estimated mileage or above. I was getting the former. In order to maximize fuel economy, I had to learn how to drive a hybrid (from You Tube videos). The techniques I found most effective obviously include using ECON mode and also coasting to stop signs or red lights about a quarter of a mile in advance, which shuts off the gas engine (anything longer will irritate drivers behind me and I’d end up crawling). Another technique is when I want to enable cruise control, I’ll go about 5 mph above my intended cruising speed, coast down those extra 5 mph and then engage the cruise. This is most effective when cruising around 50 mph or lower and I only do it if no one is on my tail. When warmed up and the hybrid battery is “fully charged” (it maxes out at 80% charge and drops no lower than 20% before recharging to extend the hybrid battery life), this 4500 lbs. bad boy will cruise at 40 mph in full EV mode for about 1.5 miles before the battery gets down to 20% and the gas engine kicks back on! I will say this caveat: that’s the max when the weather is nice out and the AC is off. I live in the Houston area and I noticed quickly that on the hottest days this past summer, it seemed to run more on the gas engine and the hybrid battery wasn’t charging as much, which understandably is a fail-safe because of the heat. But the difference wasn’t too drastic and I would imagine that extreme cold would affect it more. All in all, I average about the EPA estimated 25 mpg in highway driving and slightly above EPA estimates in the city at around 28 mpg. When I purposely use the techniques I mentioned, I can easily average around 30 mpg (city of course) and on one 10-mile city trip, the computer had me at 35 mpg, which is the best it’s recorded! Not bad at all. I will say this: regular short trips will kill fuel economy on this hybrid just like on any other vehicle. I work less than a mile from home (I know, lucky me, don’t hate!) and when I’m driving there and on other short trips like the grocery store, etc., I average about 18 mpg! But I also will say this: those same trips on my wife’s 2007 CR-V with a 4 cyl. gas engine will average about 16 mpg. Another factor to be aware of is that when cruising over 70 mph, you won’t get much benefit from the hybrid system and that’s about the point where fuel economy will begin to drop below the 25 mpg highway EPA estimate. Overall though, it is a pleasure to drive this Highlander. It handles well enough considering its weight, it’s smooth and quiet, the interior is comfortable and roomy, I love the stow-away middle seat in the 2nd row for “captains” chairs, my young daughter loves the 3rd row and yes, the storage space behind the 3rd row is very minimal. I love the fuel economy of the hybrid, but when you need this baby to go, it’s got plenty of power! I definitely recommend it.
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