This past week I towed my 3,000 lb boat with my 2024 Highlander XLE (not hybrid) on a 400 mile round trip vacation. Here are my impressions of how the Highlander did.
Background
I have been a boat owner for many decades, and I’ve towed with 5 different vehicles over the years. Before purchasing my 24 Highlander I was towing with a 2008 GMC Envoy, which now has over 200,000 miles on it. I decided that the Envoy was getting long in the tooth, so I decided to buy the Highlander to replace it.
The 2 vehicles could not be more different. The Envoy is a rear wheel drive 4x4 body on frame SUV with a 4.2 liter inline 6 cylinder engine matched to a 4 speed automatic transmission. As you are aware, the Highlander is primarily front wheel drive with all wheel drive added unibody SUV with a 2.4 liter turbocharged 4 cylinder mated to an 8 speed automatic.
Boat
My boat is an 18 foot bow rider with a 115 HP 2 stroke outboard sitting on a fully welded tubular frame single axle trailer with surge brakes. The entire package weighs 3000 - 3300 pounds depending on fuel and other extras that are in the boat.
Towing impressions
I have always been pleased with how my Envoy towed the boat, but I am truly surprised at how much better the Highlander is. The turbo 4 has more torque at a lower rpm than the Envoy’s inline 6. Between the additional torque and an 8 speed vs 4 speed transmission, the Highlander pulled the boat effortlessly.
When the Envoy’s 4 speed transmission downshifts to 3rd gear it is a big jump and the engine speed spikes. With the Highlanders 8 speeds, each downshift is a small, barely noticeable change.
The brakes on the Highlander are better than the Envoy
The Highlander felt a little floaty (or at least more than my Envoy) over rough pavement, but it wasn't a problem and after a short while I didn’t even think about it.
There is no denying that the turbo 4 is rougher than the inline 6. That’s just physics. While I’m aware of the difference, and prefer the silky smoothness of the inline 6, I accept what the inline 4 cylinder is and it doesn’t bother me.
I used a scan tool to monitor coolant, oil, and transmission fluid temperatures, and for the most part everything stayed in control. On the highway the transmission temp stayed in the low 200’s - 200 to 205 degrees. In stop and go traffic the temp spiked to 219 and it seemed that the system was not able to lower that temp much until I got back on the highway. That’s a little higher than I prefer, but it is acceptable.
One interesting observation is that while on flat sections of highway driving the coolant temp would be just over 200 degrees. When I would start up a hill and give it some gas to maintain speed the coolant temp would quickly drop to 185 or so. Once it dropped into the high 170’s. From what I have been able to find online it seems that there is a single, electronically controlled coolant flow valve for the engine coolant, and the oil and transmission coolers. My guess is that the ECU could tell I was going uphill and was giving more throttle so it opened the coolant valve more to keep everything (maybe especially the transmission) cool. Once I crested the hill the engine coolant went back up to 205 or so. During the afternoon the outside temp was 91 degrees.
The big question
So I am very pleased with the towing ability of my Highlander, but - is it hearty enough to hold up over time doing occasional towing ? In view of recent discussions on the forum I’m especially concerned about the long term health of the transmission.
After a lot of thought I decided that I bought the Highlander, in part, to tow my boat and Toyota says that it can do so. I have a 10 year/100,000 mile extended warranty so I’m going to use the vehicle for what I bought it for and what it was represented to do. If I have problems in the next 10 years or 100,000 miles it’s Toyota’s problem.
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Background
I have been a boat owner for many decades, and I’ve towed with 5 different vehicles over the years. Before purchasing my 24 Highlander I was towing with a 2008 GMC Envoy, which now has over 200,000 miles on it. I decided that the Envoy was getting long in the tooth, so I decided to buy the Highlander to replace it.
The 2 vehicles could not be more different. The Envoy is a rear wheel drive 4x4 body on frame SUV with a 4.2 liter inline 6 cylinder engine matched to a 4 speed automatic transmission. As you are aware, the Highlander is primarily front wheel drive with all wheel drive added unibody SUV with a 2.4 liter turbocharged 4 cylinder mated to an 8 speed automatic.
Boat
My boat is an 18 foot bow rider with a 115 HP 2 stroke outboard sitting on a fully welded tubular frame single axle trailer with surge brakes. The entire package weighs 3000 - 3300 pounds depending on fuel and other extras that are in the boat.
Towing impressions
I have always been pleased with how my Envoy towed the boat, but I am truly surprised at how much better the Highlander is. The turbo 4 has more torque at a lower rpm than the Envoy’s inline 6. Between the additional torque and an 8 speed vs 4 speed transmission, the Highlander pulled the boat effortlessly.
When the Envoy’s 4 speed transmission downshifts to 3rd gear it is a big jump and the engine speed spikes. With the Highlanders 8 speeds, each downshift is a small, barely noticeable change.
The brakes on the Highlander are better than the Envoy
The Highlander felt a little floaty (or at least more than my Envoy) over rough pavement, but it wasn't a problem and after a short while I didn’t even think about it.
There is no denying that the turbo 4 is rougher than the inline 6. That’s just physics. While I’m aware of the difference, and prefer the silky smoothness of the inline 6, I accept what the inline 4 cylinder is and it doesn’t bother me.
I used a scan tool to monitor coolant, oil, and transmission fluid temperatures, and for the most part everything stayed in control. On the highway the transmission temp stayed in the low 200’s - 200 to 205 degrees. In stop and go traffic the temp spiked to 219 and it seemed that the system was not able to lower that temp much until I got back on the highway. That’s a little higher than I prefer, but it is acceptable.
One interesting observation is that while on flat sections of highway driving the coolant temp would be just over 200 degrees. When I would start up a hill and give it some gas to maintain speed the coolant temp would quickly drop to 185 or so. Once it dropped into the high 170’s. From what I have been able to find online it seems that there is a single, electronically controlled coolant flow valve for the engine coolant, and the oil and transmission coolers. My guess is that the ECU could tell I was going uphill and was giving more throttle so it opened the coolant valve more to keep everything (maybe especially the transmission) cool. Once I crested the hill the engine coolant went back up to 205 or so. During the afternoon the outside temp was 91 degrees.
The big question
So I am very pleased with the towing ability of my Highlander, but - is it hearty enough to hold up over time doing occasional towing ? In view of recent discussions on the forum I’m especially concerned about the long term health of the transmission.
After a lot of thought I decided that I bought the Highlander, in part, to tow my boat and Toyota says that it can do so. I have a 10 year/100,000 mile extended warranty so I’m going to use the vehicle for what I bought it for and what it was represented to do. If I have problems in the next 10 years or 100,000 miles it’s Toyota’s problem.
