Advice about 2011 Highlander and AWD

[BIOSMonkey]

I am in the market to move from my Tundra back to an SUV, mainly due to kids and the desire to have a better ride for commuting. I need a foldable 3rd row seat, and would strongly prefer a vehicle with 4wd capability for camping/beach/ski purposes, and the very occasional snow. I live in Atlanta, though, so the need for 4wd in bad weather will be minimal. However, when I need it, well, I really need it. Given the large discrepancies in AWD capability that I have read, I am leery about getting a vehicle with full-time awd.
The 4runner sounds like a good option also, but I have read that it is very truck like, which is kindof what I want to get away from?
The Highlander sounds like what I need, if it only had a 4wd on-demand option, which it doesn't.
I also saw this video on youtube

You Tube

You Tube

around 3:10 they test a 2007 AWD Highlander, and the results are concerning. Not sure how much the awd system has been changed up to 2011.

I will be test driving both of these soon, but wanted some advice/opinions on getting AWD in my situation, and how well it works in 2011 Highlander for snow and sand.

I should also mention that I am concerned about extra maintenance and care that goes with AWD and tire rotation/inflation/differential servicing. I have never owned an awd car, and a lot of the info I have read talks about possibly damaging the system with even a difference in tire tread height??

[arabianobsession]

You have to remember that the 2008 model year Highlander was a completely redesigned model. Check out videos of 2008's and newer, and you'll get a better picture. Highlanders are very versatile vehicles in stickier situations and they even come with a "snow" mode.

As for tire rotation, it is the same intervals as a non-AWD vehicle, and just keep up with inflation as you would any other car. Differential services aren't very frequent either.

Yes you can damage the system with different tire tread depths. When you get a flat tire in an AWD vehicle you will have to get 2 minimum so the axles match, and if the other 2 tires are lower on tread you will have to get 4 tires so they're closer in tread wear. I have always suggested to keep those other 2 or 3 tires if they're still decent and that way you'll have backup tires next time you get a flat.

If you feel you really need AWD, then get it. It's a great feature and isn't as much of a hassle to deal with as you may think.

[TrailDust]

Here is a past thread regarding the Highlander and off-road use. Also, here's a thread discussing the Highlander in snow. There are other threads too that discuss these topics at length, and due to limitations with the forum's search feature I'd recommend using only "sand" or "snow" as your search term when looking for them.

I can vouch for the Highlander in all conditions. It'll take you easily to 90% of all the places you want to go, and then some. It's turned my Samurai into a garage queen because it gets me to most places with mucho comfort, and only once in a great while when I need more technical driving and my ride's gonna probably get scratched terrain , then the Samurai pulls the duty.

[05Moose]

Interesting that the test vehicle in the video was older and didn't have traction control as is standard now. That shouldn't be able to happen with a current model as the front wheels wouldn't be allowed to spin while the rears sat there.

And having had a 2005 and now a 2010 in snow, I will tell you that it's like comparing apples to oranges. The 2005 sucked compared to the 2010. After having driven the 2010 in a lot of snow (2+ feet just over a week ago and more today with temps staying in the 20's since that first storm), I'd rate it a 9. Get rid of the stock dunlops for an all-terrain tire (like the Michelin LTX AT2 I have on my Tacoma), and it would be a perfect 10. The stock dunlops cause the ABS to kick in when stopping, but ABS on my truck isn't kicking in at all with the AT2's on it (dunlops caused the ABS to kick in on the Tacoma all the time too). Compare that to the 2005, and the 2005 HL gets probably a rating of 3 or 4 from both my wife and myself. The highlander outperforms my 4wd Tacoma in everything except stopping. Of course, that's comparing to a 2005 Tacoma that doesn't have the traction control (just like the 2007 Highlander being compared to in the video).

[tht1gurl]

I have AWD and have yet to go through problems, so I don't think you should worry about getting an AWD SUV.

[Yazon]

All of these videos are done to promote a specific system. You think Subaru can get you out of two wheels slipping? I guess depends if it has all the electronics and which two wheels are with traction

You Tube

You Tube

The only reason it got off the rollers is because the driver turned the wheels and got grip on the solid edge of the roller stand

[lets456]

Originally Posted by 05Moose

Interesting that the test vehicle in the video was older and didn't have traction control as is standard now. That shouldn't be able to happen with a current model as the front wheels wouldn't be allowed to spin while the rears sat there.

And having had a 2005 and now a 2010 in snow, I will tell you that it's like comparing apples to oranges. The 2005 sucked compared to the 2010. After having driven the 2010 in a lot of snow (2+ feet just over a week ago and more today with temps staying in the 20's since that first storm), I'd rate it a 9. Get rid of the stock dunlops for an all-terrain tire (like the Michelin LTX AT2 I have on my Tacoma), and it would be a perfect 10. The stock dunlops cause the ABS to kick in when stopping, but ABS on my truck isn't kicking in at all with the AT2's on it (dunlops caused the ABS to kick in on the Tacoma all the time too). Compare that to the 2005, and the 2005 HL gets probably a rating of 3 or 4 from both my wife and myself. The highlander outperforms my 4wd Tacoma in everything except stopping. Of course, that's comparing to a 2005 Tacoma that doesn't have the traction control (just like the 2007 Highlander being compared to in the video).

That is great news as I was a little concerned coming from a 4X4 Explorer. I took the Explorer out last year in 30+ inches and it did very well and this gives me hope for the Highlander. Especially after seeing videos and reading conflicting reports online. If this is the case I will be one happy camper as 99.9% of the time I am on the road and SNOW is the main concern for AWD/4X4. However, the gas mileage on the Explorer was horrible... got about 12 MPG around town. I am getting about 18 MPG around town with the Highlander. Like night and day.


Thanks for the report. BTW, how would you compare the handling of the Highlander to a TRUE 4x4 in deep snow? Starting off from a dead stop in deep snow as well? 30 MPH in deep snow?

[05Moose]

Originally Posted by lets456

Thanks for the report. BTW, how would you compare the handling of the Highlander to a TRUE 4x4 in deep snow? Starting off from a dead stop in deep snow as well? 30 MPH in deep snow?

Depends on the snow and tires! Unless you're running similar tires, you just can't compare (look at the stopping power of dunlops versus an all terrain tire on snow in my example). I'm seeing a difference this year on my Tacoma just because I'm running different tires this year than in previous years. Previous years I was running BFG AT KO tires and they handled the deep "driven in" snow (where it turns almost to a deep icy slush with lots of tire tracks through it) a lot better than the Michelins I have on now. And I do notice these Michelins don't handle it as well if I try and drive faster in deep snow. I'd need a tire with a more agressive tread patter (more like a MT tire or the pattern on the BFG AT KO) to do better at higher speeds in the deep stuff. So in that respect, the odds of putting a tire like that on the HL are probably nil. In which case, a true 4x4 is going to handle it better. It goes right back to the tires. Same goes with the Dunlops on the HL now. If I take it at a reasonable speed, they're fine. If I try and push it and drive faster in the snow (something I can do on the uphills because stopping isn't much of a problem safety-wise), then I feel the Dunlops losing traction to where the vehicle moves sideways more (less straight-line tracking).

[ROMAFERN]

Glad you are happy with your HL. The wife has a 2011 with all the trimmings. Just do not believe all the bs videos you see in you tube.

Toyota's are strong and would be even stronger if the corporate stopped getting mediocre parts and engineers. I will die owning toyotas my entire life.

I am in nasty disgusting Augusta, GA and I got the HL with AWD option and towing. The way I see it, is better to have it and only use it once a year than not having it. I am military and I just want the wife to have the AWD option ready at any time. It would be great if it came with on demand 4x4 like my Tacoma. Perhaps it will on later models.

See you on the road and don't get suckered with all the bs when you take it to the dealer. They are not your friends and will tell you anything to get you to have you dump some money into their registers.

[JMSinMD]

I've had our old 2006 and current 2009 through everything (both AWD) and never had any problems whatsoever with the AWD system. The weakest link for both vehicles is the factory tires. Something I resolve within the first 500 miles.

[lets456]

Originally Posted by ROMAFERN

Glad you are happy with your HL. The wife has a 2011 with all the trimmings. Just do not believe all the bs videos you see in you tube.

Toyota's are strong and would be even stronger if the corporate stopped getting mediocre parts and engineers. I will die owning toyotas my entire life.

I am in nasty disgusting Augusta, GA and I got the HL with AWD option and towing. The way I see it, is better to have it and only use it once a year than not having it. I am military and I just want the wife to have the AWD option ready at any time. It would be great if it came with on demand 4x4 like my Tacoma. Perhaps it will on later models.

See you on the road and don't get suckered with all the bs when you take it to the dealer. They are not your friends and will tell you anything to get you to have you dump some money into their registers.

Words are not enough, but Thank you for your service....


Regarding the question earlier. I have two new tires on the rear. Both same exact size but different brands... will that hurt it? It came like that when I bought it used.

[ROMAFERN]

You are quite welcome.

In all honesty, this is the first car/Toyota that we own with AWD option. With that said, I will let the experts chime in here as I am curious as to how tires with different thread depth on the same axle can hurt/affect the vehicle.

If anyone has links with more data as to how an AWD system works, do's and don't's and maintenance required, pls share them. I am in here almost daily and I am looking for more info on the HL as it is a new model in my many years of Toyota ownership.

Carry on!

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by ROMAFERN

If anyone has links with more data as to how an AWD system works, do's and don't's and maintenance required, pls share them. I am in here almost daily and I am looking for more info on the HL as it is a new model in my many years of Toyota ownership.

Check out the associated links in the Common Problems & Solutions sticky thread.

[ROMAFERN]

I did that already. Thanks for the reply TrailD.