The 2006 and 2007 Toyota Highlander
Welcome to the 2006 and 2007 Toyota Highlander page
The Toyota Highlander (called the Kluger in Japan and Australia) is an SUV assembled by the Toyota Motor Corporation under the Toyota brand name in its Kyushu, Japan assembly plant. It was announced in April 2000 at the 2000 New York Auto Show and introduced as a 2001 model, arriving in late 2000 in Japan and in January 2001 in North America. Originally filling the market segment between the Toyota RAV4 and the Toyota 4Runner, the Highlander today slots in between the RAV4 and FJ Cruiser and has become Toyota's best-selling SUV.
A new larger redesigned Highlander is expected in the 2008 model year.
Highlander Overview
The Highlander/Kluger shares the Toyota Camry platform with its Lexus RX/Toyota Harrier cousin and comes in 5 and 7-seater configurations.
The Highlander is available in three trim lines: the Base model, the Sport model, and the Limited model. The Base and Limited models were present when the Highlander was initially introduced, while the Sport model was introduced in March of 2006.
Engines:
* 2001-present 2.4 L 2AZ-FE I4, 160 hp (119 kW)
* 2001-2003 3.0 L 1MZ-FE V6, 220 hp (164 kW)
* 2004-present 3.3 L 3MZ-FE V6, 230 hp (172 kW)
The 3.0 L engine was able to propel the car from 0-60 mph in approximately 8.8 seconds. In 2004 the Highlander was given a new 3.3 L V6 engine to compete with the more powerful V6 offerings from its competitors, mainly the Nissan Murano and the Honda Pilot. The 3.3 L engine made it possible for the Highlander to reach 0 to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds.
In addition to the 3.3 L engine, 2004 V6-powered models were equipped with a new 5-speed automatic transmission, replacing a 4-speed automatic transmission, while the 4-cylinder models continue to use the old 4-speed automatic transmission. This year also saw the introduction of the optional third row seat. The unibody was slightly modified behind the second row seats to include a depression on the trunk floor to accommodate the optional third row seating. On models without third row seating, the depression on the trunk floor was made into a storage compartment. (Prior to 2004 the spare tire was accessible from inside the vehicle where the third row seating would subsequently be located; beginning in 2004 the spare tire is accessible from underneath the vehicle.) Subtle changes to the front grille, front and rear bumpers, and headlights round-out the major changes for 2004.
The Highlander is available with front-wheel drive or full-time four-wheel drive. Beginning in 2006, U.S.-market 4-cylinder-powered Highlanders are offered only with front-wheel drive, while Canadian Highlanders are offered only in a V6 four-wheel drive configuration. Hybrid models are available with part-time four-wheel drive which Toyota refers to as "4WD-i". In 2006, another facelift gave the Highlander a redesigned grille.
Base models are equipped with a limited slip differential, while upscale models have a stability control system.
The Japanese Kluger was released with a center console integrated with the dashboard, while the North American Highlander initially lacked this integrated center console. The integrated center console was introduced in all U.S. Highlanders and in Canadian Limited Highlanders in the 2002 model year, and in all Canadian Highlanders in the 2003 model year. However, for these early Highlanders without the integrated center console, a smaller non-integrated stand-alone center console was available as an option, which was installed at the factory or could be installed by the dealer.
Our single goal is to make this page your one stop resource for all things Toyota Highlander related.
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