Toyota’s most powerful hybrid SUV bridges the gap between traditional motoring and emissions-free electric. A hybrid rookie gives it a whirl.

Tested and driven for Toyota by Cari Johnson

‘Is it on’ I hear little more than a warbling tūī and the parp of a motorist as I settle into a Toyota Hybrid Highlander Limited ZR, press ‘power’, and pause. The dashboard says she’s ready to rock. And yet not a peep from the SUV’s brawny hybrid engine.

Take it from this now-enlightened hybrid newbie — she’s on, just not roaring. Think of a hybrid as a cross-breed of sorts, a marriage of old and new that seamlessly bounces between its electric motor and petrol-run engine. It is ironically cool, calm and collected for a seven-seater SUV cleverly designed for a venturesome family and brood of rugrats. This is relaxed motoring indeed — I feel as if I’m about to fly.

Heading west on the motorway, I am tall, mighty even, as the SUV positions me ever-so-slightly above my neighbours. I float above traffic as if in my own lane. Accelerating, the petrol engine and electric motor tango in unison to thrust me closer to the edge of the Waitākeres. It’s empowering to be less reliant on petrol power; for a vehicle to make the inevitable daily drive for everyday Kiwis easier on both wallet and planet.

‘I imagine the electric motor trumpeting in delight as it laps up the surplus energy’

Light streams through the sunroof, dappling the seats with shadows of ponga and ferns. Narrow roads like this are at the heart of many Kiwi road trips and where vehicles such as the Toyota Hybrid Highlander can’t help but show off.

See, here’s the thing about hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) — with the ability to self-charge on the road, there’s no need to visit a charging station. This becomes apparent each time I tap the brakes, which is called regenerative braking in the EV world. Welcome to the sweet spot, the dashboard informs me — tap, tap, tap. I imagine the electric motor trumpeting in delight as it laps up the surplus energy.

When I crest the hillside overlooking Piha, a panorama of the coastline spreads across this gloriously blue summer’s day. The speed limit reduces. Toyota’s road-sign assist programme turns red, informing me I’m a smidgeon over the speed limit. It’s all so very Toyota — safe, smart and secure. Later, I learn Toyota’s safety suite is one of the reasons its Hybrid Highlander earned the top gong for safety in 2021. It doesn’t get better than a five-star ANCAP rating.

I cruise down to Piha’s beachfront and halt my trusty steed next to a sand dune. Curiosity drags my eyes to the fuel gauge. It’s perhaps not surprising that the needle has just barely drifted from ‘full’. This fills me with hope — hope that more Kiwis can confidently jump on Toyota’s hybrid bandwagon, which has been tooting along since the 1990s.

Remember when hybrids were thought to be reserved for compact, zippy little things? This Toyota Hybrid Highlander, with all-wheel drive and 2000kg of braked towing capacity, proves that hybridization has no limits.

Take it from this Toyota Hybrid convert: going electric, thereby cutting CO2 emissions and saving on fuel, has never been easier.

HYBRIDS AND BEYOND

When Toyota launched the Prius in 1997, the pioneering model became an icon for its fuel-efficiency and low CO₂ emissions. Building on its hybrid technology, Toyota aims to have an electrified option for every car model by 2030.

Its global portfolio of electrified vehicles (EV) includes zero-emission battery EVs (BEVs), fuel-cell EVs (FCEVs, an innovative hydrogen-powered vehicle) and, of course, hybrids.

Toyota offers two types of hybrids — plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and hybrids (HEVs). Both have a two-in-one engine that can switch to petrol-powered mode when needed; PHEVs differ with the ability to recharge at a charging station or at home. toyota.co.nz

FUEL-PROOF

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) use about one-third less fuel than their petrol-only counterparts. With the cost of petrol predicted to rise, hybrids are a practical option for a motorist to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. Win-win.

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