2008 HyHi is a New Beast
 

Today I traded the Camry Hybrid for a Highlander Limited Hybrid.

Depreciation: ouch. More room for family hauling and more power: yay.

80-mile drive home.

The ICE cut out at 60 miles per hour at one point: both displays indicated power from the electric motor to the front wheels, no power from the ICE, at 60 MPH.

The 2008 HyHi has an "ECO" mode switch - not just for climate control. The thing stays in " electric only" mode far more often than the 2007 Camry Hybrid did.

I tried to take it easy and drive it like my 44-MPG Camry. We got 25-33 MPG but it's too early to tell for sure.

I was gliding along 10MPH below speed limit on I-25 (yeah, that was me, sorry) (actually there was almost no traffic). I think my non-standard speed caused a driver entering the highway to MIS-judge, so anyway I stomped on it and that large, soccer-mom SUV smoked the Pontiac. Har, har... Next time I'll back off and yield the right-of-way if possible. But that power comes on quick!

Finally, between today and yesterday I was driving a Toyota Camry hybrid, the Highlander, and a Lexus RX400h. Wow. If you don't need a family barge go for the Lexus. It will be fun to see the re-model of the RX400h.

But at this moment, I'd say the 2008 Highlander is the flagship HSD platform. (no, I haven't owned a LS600h. Have you?)