Get behind the wheel of the 2017 Toyota Highlander, and you will have access to a feature that hasn’t previously been available on a Toyota vehicle in North America, stop-start. This feature will essentially turn the engine off when the vehicle isn’t moving as a way to save fuel. It seamlessly turns the engine back on when you hit the accelerator.
Available Engines
Impressively enough, there are four different powertrains available on the 2017 Toyota Highlander, several of which feature this stop-start system. The base 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine has 185 horsepower and 184 pound-feet. However, it is only available on the LE trim. There is also a 3.5-liter V6 engine available on the LE trim with 295 horsepower, 263 pound-feet, Dual VVT-I, and Atkinson cycle capabilities. The LE Plus, XLE, SE, Limited, and Limited Platinum trims will come standard with a variation of this engine that has the stop-start system. The hybrid powertrain combines the 3.5-liter V6 with an electric motor to get 306 net horsepower.
The fact that the 3.5-liter V6 engines are all Atkinson-cycle-capable is unusual. This is because these engines typically only come on hybrids. The 2017 Highlander will take advantage of extra efficiency while in Atkinson-cycle mode. It can also function in Otto mode to give you extra power. The combination of cycles allows you to warm up your vehicle quicker, get lower emissions, and get more power.
About Stop-Start
Now that you have a better idea of which 2017 Highlander models will come with stop-start, it is time to learn exactly what it is. The system turns off the engine and can still give your Highlander electrical power for two or three minutes. This is all you will ever need while waiting at a stoplight. The system turns on automatically during every ignition cycle. However, drivers who don’t want it just need to press a button to deactivate it.
The system won’t turn on in certain situations, such as when you are on high grades or the air conditioning is maximized. Thanks to the system, you will get an extra mpg on the Highlander. In the future, this technology will extend to other Toyota models, although the company hasn’t said which ones.
Get the 2017 Toyota Highlander at Thomasville Toyota and start taking advantage of its extra efficiency on your daily drives around Thomasville, Georgia. Take this SUV for a test drive before buying to confirm that you won’t even notice stop-start in action.
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