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Have a load to haul but a Prius won’t work? Rent a Hybrid Highlander
The Toyota Prius is the most popular hybrid car in America and for good reason. It gets exceptional gas mileage and is a pleasure to drive. If you need an all around vehicle or want to give a hybrid an extended test drive, the Prius is an excellent choice. However, it is not the perfect vehicle for all occasions. This is especially true if you have a large amount of luggage or a load to haul.
If you have a lot to carry and are worried about the amount of storage space available in the Prius, a Toyota Highlander hybrid would be an excellent alternative. The Highlander is a hybrid SUV manufactured by Toyota to fill the market niche of environmentally minded consumers in need of a larger vehicle. The Highlander is a crossover SUV, meaning it is a bit smaller than a full size truck or SUV, but it is often described as roomy for a vehicle of its class.
Another reason to look into a Highlander is if you have a load that needs towing. While an excellent vehicle, the Prius is in no way built to handle serious towing. As a crossover SUV, the highlander is capable of light to medium duty towing. The Highlander features an all wheel drive system that is powered by a gasoline engine and two electric motors. The gasoline engine is a 3.3 liter, 209 horsepower V6 engine. While this seems a little low for a SUV of this size, the combined horsepower of the gasoline engine and electric motor averages 270 horsepower. The second electric motor engages when the wheels slip or to provide additional torque, which will often be the case when towing.
While not as efficient as the smaller Prius, the Highlander hybrid gets between 25 an 37 miles per gallon. This can be compared to an average of 15 to 20 miles per gallon for a standard, full fuel, Highlander. Of course, when fully loaded or towing a load, the fuel efficiency will be reduced.
Though not available from all rental agencies, the Toyota Highlander hybrid is included in some company’s fleets. Fox Rent a Car was the first agency to introduce Highlander hybrid rentals and would be a good first place to look. While not one of the largest rental chains in the country, Fox has a surprisingly large number of hybrid vehicles, including the Highlander hybrid, at many of their offices.
If Fox Rent a Car is inconvenient for your location, or they do not have a Highlander hybrid available, you might want to search the Toyota dealership rental program. With participating dealerships around the country, this may be the easiest way to find a Highlander hybrid available for rent. The program allows you to rent most models available at the dealership, charges competitive rates, and allows renters to drive up to 150 miles per day with their vehicles.
If you need a rental car the with the size and power of an SUV, but you like the fuel savings and environmental friendliness of a hybrid, a Toyota Highlander hybrid rental will be right for you.
Topics: Toyota Highlander |