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My Toyota Journey: From Corolla to Highlander and Beyond

My Toyota Journey: From Corolla to Highlander and Beyond

Lately, I've found myself becoming quite the Toyota fanboy. My experience with the 2011 Toyota Corolla, followed by the 2015 Camry and 2016 Highlander, has really impressed me. These cars have offered a perfect mix of reliability, performance, and value. However, my experience with Lexus, specifically the 2007 IS250, wasn’t as smooth. I had some issues with the car, but I’m chalking that up to the challenges of Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and Direct Injection engines.

Keeping the Highlander and Camry Until 2035-2036

I’ve decided to hold onto both the Highlander and Camry for their 20th year, which will be in 2035 and 2036 respectively. Part of this decision is due to the skyrocketing prices of new cars, but it also comes from my desire to wait for the new turbo and hybrid powertrains to mature.

Take the Hybrid Max with the new T24A-FTS setup, for example. I’m certainly impressed with the 0-60 times and performance, but I’m cautious and want to see if this new technology can match the reliability I’ve come to expect from my Toyota vehicles.  It's a welcome sign Toyota is keeping both port & direct injectors as a nod to the problems they faced in purely direct injection motors.

I want to make sure that these new hybrid and turbocharged engines prove themselves over time before I make a leap into something new. As Toyota typically has to spend 2-3 years to improve on new technologies they launch like when they moved from the 6-speed to 8-speed automatic transmissions.  The Camry and Highlander have served me well, and I want to see if Toyota’s latest tech can live up to that legacy.

Next Step: A Third Car in 2028 - 2030

Looking ahead, I plan to add a third vehicle to the mix around 2028 - 2030. The Camry will continue to be my daily driver, while the Highlander will serve as my utility vehicle. But I’m already thinking about my next car, and I’m leaning toward a Mercedes Benz GLE450e.

I'm noticing MB's are getting better and I'm hoping by the 3rd or 4th year of the new 450e electric model should work out any issues.  I'm really interested in the electric only mode for short city drives and having the option to use conventional gas for longer trips.

Specs

Car Model Engine Horsepower Torque Transmission 0–60 mph Quarter-mile Fuel Efficiency Dimensions (L × W × H) Wheelbase
2016 Toyota Highlander LE 3.5L V6 2GR-FE 270 hp @ 6,200 RPM 248 lb-ft @ 4,700 RPM 6-speed automatic 6.9 seconds 15.2 seconds 19 MPG city / 25 MPG highway @ 89 mph 191.1 × 75.8 × 68.1 inches 109.8 inches
2015 Toyota Camry XLE 2.5L I4 2AR-FE 178 hp @ 6,000 RPM 170 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM 6-speed automatic 7.9 seconds 16.2 seconds 25 MPG city / 35 MPG highway @ 88 mph 190.9 × 71.7 × 57.9 inches 109.3 inches
2011 Toyota Corolla LE 1.8L I4 2ZR-FE 132 hp @ 6,000 RPM 128 lb-ft @ 4,400 RPM 4-speed automatic 9.8 seconds 17.8 seconds 26 MPG city / 34 MPG highway @ 81 mph 180.0 × 69.4 × 57.7 inches 102.4 inches
2007 Lexus IS250 2.5L V6 4GR-FSE, RWD 204 hp @ 6,400 RPM 185 lb-ft @ 4,800 RPM 6-speed automatic 7.4 seconds 15.4 seconds 24 MPG city / 32 MPG highway @ 88 mph 180.1 × 70.9 × 56.1 inches 107.5 inches
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