New Highlander owner with question - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Wickersham · 03-03-2010, 11:58 AM

Recently purchased a new 2010 Highlander with "J" Vin number (had to search around for it since 90% of dealer stock appears to be made in N. America).

Anyway,

I have thus far averaged 22.7 MPG in mixed driving. What kind of MPG improvement should I expect once its fully broken in (and at while mileage does this occur?)

***TrailDust*** · 03-03-2010, 12:07 PM

Let me be the first to welcome you to Toyota Nation, and to the Highlander forum too!

For me it took about six months to get to better mileage after the Highlander had been broken in, which I suppose is about average for most vehicles. Maybe some of the other members have had different experiences. Also, here's a link to a past thread about mileage you may be interested in reading, and there are also a few others you may like to read through and can find them by using the forum's search tool. Glad to have you join up with us.

AXMACD · 03-03-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wickersham

Recently purchased a new 2010 Highlander with "J" Vin number (had to search around for it since 90% of dealer stock appears to be made in N. America).

Anyway,

I have thus far averaged 22.7 MPG in mixed driving. What kind of MPG improvement should I expect once its fully broken in (and at while mileage does this occur?)

Congrats on getting one of the last "good" Highlanders! In the summer I was averaging around 600KM to the tank (all highway) with A/C and cruise on. City driving MPG is not one of my Highlander's strong points, but get that thing on the highway and not only will it fly, the MPG isn't bad either.

I think my Highlander was still being broken in last summer (not sure of the KM's on it) and I have my winter tires on now which absolutely RAPE MPG's so no comment there. I can't wait to put my summer tires on again, the Highlander is going to look 10x better and ride 10x nicer and hopefully get better MPG's too.

What color/trim package did you get?

novs25 · 03-03-2010, 02:03 PM

Please tell how you guys get this gas mileage. We have a 09 HL awd with 5k miles on it and my wife drives it to and from work which is all city driving (downtown Chicago) and we average between 14-15mpg. Is this normal?

I am taking a trip next week to NY and will report back on the mpgs i get with 4 passengers and trunk full of stuff.

Any ideas will help

Wickersham · 03-03-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXMACD

Congrats on getting one of the last "good" Highlanders! In the summer I was averaging around 600KM to the tank (all highway) with A/C and cruise on. City driving MPG is not one of my Highlander's strong points, but get that thing on the highway and not only will it fly, the MPG isn't bad either.

I think my Highlander was still being broken in last summer (not sure of the KM's on it) and I have my winter tires on now which absolutely RAPE MPG's so no comment there. I can't wait to put my summer tires on again, the Highlander is going to look 10x better and ride 10x nicer and hopefully get better MPG's too.

What color/trim package did you get?

Thanks. To be honest, I was kind of on the fence with Toyota considering the mess, but thought I would be safe (or at least safer) sticking with a J Vin. There were only two to choose from in the area - Base 2WD or a full blown limited. I was turned off to the limited becase of the fake wood trim, the 19" tires (ridiculous) and sunroof (I am tall and have yet to find a vehicle with a sunroof I could fit in due to the roof line drop). AWD would have been nice, but again - lack of availibility for one made in Japan.

Also drove a Pilot, Traverse, Veracruz, Acadia and the only one that came close was the Veracruz (surprised me). The GM products were more of a curiousity as I don't think I could ever convice myself to buy one no matter how good the deal or ride.

So, we have a gold FWD V6 - actually got it this past Saturday after convincing the dealer to give me 0% incentive early.

***TrailDust*** · 03-03-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novs25

Please tell how you guys get this gas mileage. We have a 09 HL awd with 5k miles on it and my wife drives it to and from work which is all city driving (downtown Chicago) and we average between 14-15mpg. Is this normal?

I am taking a trip next week to NY and will report back on the mpgs i get with 4 passengers and trunk full of stuff.

Any ideas will help

Click on the link posted in reply #2 above, which will take you to a thread about the subject. There are other threads you should read, just put "mileage" into the search bar. In short, make sure your tires are inflated, keep your speed under 70 (preferably 65 which, IMO after many road trips at various speeds, is the HL's most fuel efficient speed), and use cruise control except in hilly terrain. Although being from Illinois I believe you guys have ethanol too, which saps mileage by several percent.

gturcotte · 03-03-2010, 09:18 PM

I would also add to be gentle on the gas pedal when you start. The engine has a lot of guts (to me) and when you start from a complete stop, it's when it take a lot of gas. My wife is not very gentle at stop signs and we get 15L /100km city driving 80%. She drives the HL everyday and I use it only weekends, as I have a company truck. I, most of the time, depress the gas pedal like it thewe was an egg between the pedal and my feet.

I'm sure if I were to drive it everyday, I could get better gas mileage. We'll see next summer when we go in vacation!

Camread · 03-04-2010, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novs25

Please tell how you guys get this gas mileage. We have a 09 HL awd with 5k miles

FWD gets better mileage and driving habits is a factor too.

***TrailDust*** · 03-04-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novs25

Please tell how you guys get this gas mileage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camread

FWD gets better mileage and driving habits is a factor too.

And I'd add that in the city you've got to take your foot off the gas and coast up to lights and stop signs as much as possible. Wind resistance isn't much of a factor below 45 MPH, and the HL has a lot of weight to keep it rolling. Energy management, that's the key to city mileage.

novs25 · 03-04-2010, 03:05 PM

Yeah, I think its my wifes driving happens. No coasting in her. These women I tell you. I will report back on the mpg when i drive to NY next week

***TrailDust*** · 03-04-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novs25

Yeah, I think its my wifes driving happens. No coasting in her. These women I tell you. I will report back on the mpg when i drive to NY next week

I know what you're saying. I've got a friend who owns a tire and brake store and he just shakes his head about brakes. He says the worst are soccer moms driving SUVs and minivans, and it's not uncommon to see them chew through a set in 10,000-15,000 miles.

My Dad has always said, if they (women) only understood the energy of the machine.

naturoses · 03-04-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrailDust

I know what you're saying. I've got a friend who owns a tire and brake store and he just shakes his head about brakes. He says the worst are soccer moms driving SUVs and minivans, and it's not uncommon to see them chew through a set in 10,000-15,000 miles.

My Dad has always said, if they (women) only understood the energy of the machine.

I would like to say women are more careful and responsible

***TrailDust*** · 03-04-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturoses

I would like to say women are more careful and responsible

I don't know, the minivan driving soccer mom I watched yesterday who drove straight through a 4-way stop outside an elementary school wasn't very careful.

But honestly, men and women both have their issues behind the wheel: Women tend to be hard on brakes and can wear out a set of piston rings lickety split, and men are hard on tires by cornering like Mario Andretti at every turn and burn through clutches by driving aggressively. Both sexes have their good and bad points driving their vehicles.

naturoses · 03-05-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrailDust

I don't know, the minivan driving soccer mom I watched yesterday who drove straight through a 4-way stop outside an elementary school wasn't very careful.

But honestly, men and women both have their issues behind the wheel: Women tend to be hard on brakes and can wear out a set of piston rings lickety split, and men are hard on tires by cornering like Mario Andretti at every turn and burn through clutches by driving aggressively. Both sexes have their good and bad points driving their vehicles.

I agree with you..