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The 2014 Toyota Highlander will mark the company’s third generation of hybrids in its popular family crossover. Capable of comfortably transporting seven passengers in any weather, the Highlander is considered mid-size by some metrics, but it is now a very large vehicle. It has stretched three inches in length over the previous generation, which was not a small vehicle. For those not up to speed on Highlander Hybrids they come with a powerful V6 coupled to an electric drive and CVT transmission. There is very little sacrifice in power, unlike most hybrids.

The 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid weighs in at just under 5,000 pounds. This is a very big, very heavy vehicle. However, the weight does not hurt the fuel economy. Toyota estimates the Highlander Hybrid will again hit a combined 28 MPG. If it does get that rating, and Toyota is conservative about these sorts of things (unlike Hyundai and Ford) It will be significantly better than the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid which gets “only” 26 MPG. If 28 MPG does not sound that impressive, one must consider that this is an all-wheel drive vehicle of considerable size. The same Highlander with its V6 gasoline only engine only gets 20 MPG, which is about average for its category. That means this Highlander Hybrid gets fully 40% better fuel economy than the regular version.

However, huge weight and a big fuel economy number are not the only large numbers that the Highlander Hybrid comes with. There is no “base” Highlander Hybrid anymore. Toyota never actually built many anyway. Now the Highlander only comes loaded. The entry price for this vehicle is $49,000 including destination and dealer documentation fees. If you want the best one, figure on $51,000 not including a couple of more costly packages. Toyota does point out that is a grand less than one would have paid for a 2013 Highlander Hybrid with similar features. That should make everyone happy except the suckers that just bought one of the last 2013s.

For more money you can add a rear second-row entertainment package, a safety package with pre-collision, parking sonar, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and rear cross traffic monitoring. There was a time when Toyota bragged that every Highlander had the highest level of safety available. No more. Now you pay extra. A fully loaded Highlander Hybrid with all the added packages will creep into the $55,000 range.

2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrids can come with heated steering wheels, panoramic moon-roofs, and perforated leather captains’ chairs. Setting aside the badge, this vehicle would be very at home in any Lexus showroom.

It is hard to see the economics of the Hybrid making sense. A very well appointed 2014 Highlander XLE gasoline only with the ability carry an extra passenger (8) with navigation will cost about $38,000. At that point one would never get the money back the Hybrid drive saves. However a more fair comparison is a fully loaded Highlander with no hybrid drive which will run about $44,000. That said, we realize it isn’t all about the Benjamins when it comes to Hybrids and other green car choices. For those who want a hybrid badge, seating for 7 in a big, safe, plush, all-wheel-drive vehicle, there is no better value than the 2014 Toyota Highlander.

Note: Large story image is a 2014 Highlander Hybrid. Smaller gallery images below are of the standard 2014 Highlander.