New Cars - June 2005

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• new cars
• Aston Martin
• Toyota
• Audi
• Hummer
• Mercedes-Benz
• Volkswagen
• Suzuki

They're Breeding
When Toyota's Lexus division launched the RX 400h in April, it, along with Ford's Escape Hybrid, broadcast to the world: You can have a politically correct SUV. And as we discovered in the hills above Santa Barbara, Calif., we can have fun while driving a hybrid. That's where we sampled the latest in Toyota's growing family of flower-friendly vehicles, the 2006 Highlander Hybrid. On the outside it's identical to the standard Highlander seven-seat SUV. With a towing capacity of 3500 pounds, the Highlander is available with either two- or four-wheel drive. It all works transparently, powered by a 3.3-liter V6 that produces 208 hp. But that's where the resemblance stops. Lurking under the Hybrid's second seat is a 288-volt battery pack that powers up to three AC electric motors, providing an extra 60 hp of short-term boost. We can attest that this brings passing ability on a par with a V8-powered SUV. At the same time, the electrically driven accessories have so little parasitic drain and the regenerative braking recycles energy so efficiently that the fuel economy is better than that of the average automotive malcontent's econocar.--Mike Allen

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OFF-ROAD ELECTRICITY: A separate electric motor powers the rear wheels for an unconventional but effective awd.

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TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID: Looks like a regular Highlander, but drives faster and uses less fuel.

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