test drives

By Tim Saunders

The first thing that strikes me when I see the Toyota Highlander is that I haven’t driven a burgundy coloured vehicle for years. It really enhances this SUV. It’s a colour that holds a strong place in my heart because my parents had a 1988 Vauxhall Carlton with the same finish. Over the years various manufacturers have chosen this palette but it seems to have gone out of favour in recent times. That is until I get behind the wheel of the Highlander and then notice that it’s still a reasonably popular choice… Isn’t it funny how you only recognise certain things when they relate to you? Or is that just me?

The key facts about this vehicle are that it is a self-charging hybrid petrol electric. Already this scores highly with me because it will not interfere with my lifestyle like an electric vehicle will. I don’t need to worry about any aspect of charging because it does it itself. Then it will accommodate no less than eight occupants; that’s got to be a first – unless of course you have a van and even those would struggle to transport so many. And thirdly it has a nice large panoramic glass roof making it a very light vehicle.

The automatic gearbox complete with paddleshifts makes for easy, some might say boring, driving. For me the driver’s seat could do with a little more support – I’ve been hedge cutting and my back is feeling the strain so needs all the help it can get.

I quickly discover that it will travel in EV (electric vehicle) mode upto about 27mph and then no matter how light your right foot, the petrol engine will kick in. In theory it makes it ideal for travelling through town centres and situations where traffic moves more slowly. That makes it perfect for motorways then during rush hours and holiday getaways. As usual there are lots of roadworks and travelling through the New Forest we have to patiently wait in a queue for the best part of half an hour. The Highlander is great in situations like this because not only does the ignition automatically cut out when the car stops, reducing those pesky emissions but it then restarts when the traffic starts flowing again. At such low speeds EV mode then takes over which means that for about 30 minutes we are being as clean as can be. All the while the strong sunlight is shining through that enormous glass roof. A good proportion of this is also an electric tilt/slide sunroof, which is much appreciated on a warm day. Toyota claims that this vehicle will return upto 39mpg. I can report that we actually get 43mpg – this is a first for me – usually the vehicles I test prove to be less efficient than claimed. On a full tank it should easily travel 400 miles, if not more, depending on driving style. As far as I can tell these economy figures only take into account the petrol engine so adding the miles that might be travelled on EV mode should show a figure closer to 50mpg, I would think.

Externally, it is well designed, the back reminding me of a Lexus but that’s hardly surprising as Toyota owns that brand. In common with all other SUVs there’s a striking grille. That third row of seats is really only suitable for small children up to Henry’s six year old age. The second row has to be pushed forward to access it but it is not possible to slide the seat forward and fix it in that position – if that could be done older children with longer legs would be able to use this row comfortably. Another qualm is that things can fall out of that boot very easily. In my old Fiesta there is a lip preventing items from falling out but there isn’t any such fixture in the Highlander resulting in Henry’s football falling on the road when we arrive at grandma’s. That electric boot lid is a luxury I could live without for two reasons. One is that I find a traditional boot lid is so much quicker to open and close and secondly, safety. Children are too quick for ageing adults and impatient Heidi (9) gets her finger trapped underneath the boot lid as it shuts. And this is after a lecture from me on staying away from this boot because it is dangerous. She wasn’t there when I initiated this operation and then went to sit in the driver’s seat. But she had come back out from the house without me knowing and wanted to put something in the boot. We were lucky, there were no breakages but this is an added hassle that I can well do without.

It comes with lots of luxury goodies including heated seats, power folding wing mirrors, air conditioning, rear privacy glass and hardwearing black leather upholstery.

We enjoy our time with the Highlander.

By Tim Saunders

A unique car that arouses curiosity and introduces you to new people.

Traditionally those seeking the wow factor of owning a vehicle that few others do, had to spend a small fortune on the likes of a Bentley, an Aston or similar.

There is a new contender that is causing a real stir at a fraction of the price. Enter the Genesis. Hyundai’s luxury division. They’ve taken the lead from Toyota’s Lexus range but added something that you can’t quite put your finger on.

We sit in a car park at Battle and watch as passers-by of all ages stop and inspect the Genesis, digesting the emblem and the enormous chrome effect grille. One gentleman scratches his head as he appreciates the GV80. Men and women, boys and girls all take a shine to it. The youngsters particularly so, taking photos on their phones. While eating fish and chips inside it at another car park in New Milton, this time with grandma accompanying us, a man cannot take his eyes off it. He walks up to me and we have a natter through the window. “What is it then?” he enquires.

At the bottle bank a fellow recycler again asks: “What is it then? An Aston?”

Not one of the 200 cars I have driven has ever created so much interest. This is the car to get if you want to become more popular and widen your social circle. Hats off to Hyundai because this car has something that all others do not. It’s like hanging around with the most popular kid in school. That charisma, charm. And the Genesis has it in spades.

Driving the GV80 is a pleasant experience, too. The driver’s seat seems to hug you the faster you go and then releases its embrace as you slow down. The seatbelts seem to tighten and loosen in a similar way to the Bentley Flying Spur, too. The eight-speed automatic gearbox is responsive and it will hurtle from standstill to 60mph in just over seven seconds, which for a vehicle of this size and weight is quite an achievement. The children seem comfortable enough and Henry (6) likes to sit in the third row of seats where there is a good amount of legroom.

Sit in the driver’s seat and start the ignition and there’s a welcome theme tune similar to that of some washing machines when they finish their cycle. The interior is well put together but very black. It would be nice to see some real wood. The dial to operate the gearbox in the Genesis feels cheap when compared to the ones in a Jaguar or Land Rover – both competitors to this vehicle.

When I open the power boot to put the third row of seats up and to clean the boot the lid comes back down without any warning and nearly knocks my block off. This makes me particularly wary when my children are anywhere near.

“It’s packed with technology,” says David, the enthusiastic delivery driver, who has just retired from JLR after more than 30 years. “Do you know you can even press a button on the keyfob and drive the vehicle remotely?” He pushes the buttons but they refuse to work. “There’s a video that shows it in action,” he adds. I try throughout the test but cannot get it to work either. Annoying. Apparently it’s ideal for extricating it from tight spots where the driver can’t open the door. Is there really such a need for this? When would a driver park in such a stupid fashion? Another piece of flash technology to wow the other senseless accountants and solicitors in the car park at lunch time, I suspect!

It takes time for me to familiarise myself with the Genesis. Naturally everything is electrically operated, making light work of adjusting the driver’s seat. There’s a heated steering wheel, all round heated seats and air conditioning that Henry enjoys operating. “Can you remove the blind?” asks Heidi (9) as I set off. Her blind goes down by pushing the switch for her electric window. Push it down once and the blind descends, push it down twice and the window goes down. Neat. Another interesting feature is that when an indicator is engaged a camera view of that side of the vehicle is displayed on the dashboard in front of the steering wheel. Fancy. But is it actually necessary? It’s the same view I get by simply looking in a wing mirror. Yes, it’s clever but increasingly I find that technology is taking over and I fear that this is actually creating a generation of morons.

There’s a head up display for the driver displaying speed on the windscreen. The cruise control is pretty easy to operate. It will go fast, if required. The 8-speed automatic with shift-by-wire and paddle shifters isn’t too demanding for the driver.

Externally, it’s a striking vehicle. “It’s a Bentley,” insists my son Henry. “Look it’s got the same logo.”

“Or Aston Martin,” I add. Then the in-yer-face Range Rover-like grille is another copy. Good idea. We know who Hyundai has their sights set on. Perhaps those financial sector types watching their stocks rising and falling, might be tempted to trade in their year old Aston or Bentley SUVs and replace them with this. There’s a smattering of something pretending to be chrome, I suspect. Finished in tasteful British Racing Green it does cut a striking presence, demanding a second glance. The interestingly designed alloy wheels look good, too.

As usual the power boot can be operated from inside the vehicle. When outside the button can be found near the rear wiper.

From a family perspective, a wealthy family admittedly with the £56,000 plus price tag, this luxury 25mpg vehicle is appealing because of the third row of seats, which is so easy to operate. And once the children have quietened down, it does deliver peace and tranquillity for a time. The troublesome trio savouring the experience. But as I write, Putin is trying to carve out more of the world for himself, sending oil prices sky high.

We visit Southwick and go into St James’ Church where the Bible is open on Genesis and Heidi (9) questions: “Is that where the name for the car came from?” Hyundai would certainly welcome a religious following.

Or was Phil Collins more the inspiration?

Facts at a glance