How much is auto insurance for a Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the only alternative fuel vehicle in its category.

Some reviewers say it has a long way to go before it represents a good value, though, since its sticker price is so high relative to the fuel savings that it offers.

Read on to find out how much you can expect to pay for Toyota Highlander Hybrid auto insurance, repairs, and maintenance.

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Toyota Highlander Hybrid Auto Insurance

Auto insurance premiums for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid typically add up to about $1,523 annually for full coverage to good drivers. Compared to other affordable midsize SUVs, the cost of insuring the Highlander Hybrid is fairly high.

Estimated annual auto insurance premiums for the GMC Acadia are $1,317 according to Edmunds, and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) projects only $1,128 in annual auto insurance cost for the Buick Enclave.

The NADA reports that drivers of the 2011 Mazda CX-9 and the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse will pay about $1,120 and Dodge Durango can expect an auto insurance bill around $1,084 annually.

The typical Ford Explorer owner will pay just $1,003 in auto insurance premiums.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid Maintenance Costs

According to Edmunds, scheduled maintenance costs for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid will total about $3,658 over five years.

Routine maintenance costs for the first two years of ownership are projected to be under $400 per year, while the Highlander Hybrid’s third-year tune up will cost just over $1,500.

The anticipated fourth-year scheduled maintenance bill will be about $760, and the fifth-year bill will be just over $600.

Warranty and Repair Costs for the Highlander Hybrid

Toyota’s basic warranty for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid extends for 36,000 miles or three years, and the vehicle’s powertrain is covered for 60,000 miles or five years.

The components that comprise the hybrid powertrain, including the battery control module and the HV battery itself, are protected for 100,000 miles or eight years.

According to Edmunds, the typical driver will hit the 36,000-mile mark sometime during the second year of ownership, and will incur just over $100 in repair costs that year.

During the third year of ownership, the average driver will pay just under $300 for repairs, and the repair bill for year four will be about $417. Edmunds expects that the typical driver’s fifth-year repair bill will be approximately $487.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rates vehicles’ reliability on a 10-point scale, and it gave the 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid a score of 8.0. This is the highest score among affordable midsize SUVs.

The Highlander Hybrid shares this honor with the other four Toyota models in this category: the Venza, the FJ Cruiser, the 4Runner, and the gasoline-powered Highlander. The Ford Edge and the Honda Pilot also earned scores of 8.0.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid Fuel Economy

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid gets 28 mpg in the city and the same mileage in highway driving.

Although this rating makes it by far the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class, some reviewers question whether this hybrid’s additional eight city miles per gallon and three highway miles per gallon are worth the approximately $7,000 price premium over the base model.

If you’re determined to go hybrid, the compact Ford Escape SUV gets 34 city mpg and 31 highway mpg, and comes with a lower MSRP.

For drivers who need more power than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers, and are willing to pay for it, the Volkswagen Touareg TDI Diesel model gets 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

The Toyota Venza gets 21 city mpg and 27 highway mpg, which makes it a good choice for drivers who want strong fuel economy, but who don’t want to deal with the hassle of switching over to a hybrid.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid Safety Ratings

The federal government’s ratings agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, hasn’t crash tested the 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, but it gave the 2010 model 4- or 5-star ratings in all categories.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Toyota Highlander Hybrid its highest rating, “Good,” for its performance in four critical safety tests, and tapped it as a Top Safety Pick in its category.

The tests that were performed include front impact and side impact collision tests, as well as a roof strength test.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid Safety Features

You’ll find an extensive list of safety features on the 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, including brake-related safety equipment like anti-lock braking mechanisms and electronic brake force distribution.

Emergency brake assist primes the brakes when a crash is likely, which decreases stopping distance to help prevent collisions. Electronic systems constantly monitor the Highlander Hybrid’s traction and overall stability, and make adjustments to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle in less-than-ideal driving conditions.

Additional safety features that you’ll find on the 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid include the following:

• Active head restraints
• Post-collision safety system
• Front-side air bags
• Tire pressure monitoring

2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Interior

The Highlander Hybrid features a standard third-row bench seat that receives mixed reviews from the auto press, but the center stow seat in the second row has been well-received. This seat can be reconfigured into a center console that sits between two captain’s chairs.

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo bay is adequate, but its 10.3-cubic foot area is less than what some competitors offer. For instance, the 2011 Honda Pilot offers 18 cubic feet behind the third-row seat.

Compare Auto Insurance Quotes for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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