Toyota announced the pricing on the 2009 Toyota Highlander SUV today. With a new entry level 187-hp 4-cylinder engine, the 2009 Highlander will have a starting price of $26,450. The 2009 front-wheel-drive 3.5L V6 Highlander will start at $28.345. Sales of the 2009 Toyota Highlander will begin next month.

Toyota also announced six new extra value packages on the Base, Sport and Limited Grade models for the new Highlander. According to Toyota spokesman, one of the new packages on the Highlander Hybrid bundles automatic front and rear-air conditioning and a sunroof and carries a price tag of just $1,310. Normally those packages run for about $2,010.

Toyota says that its new 2.7L 4-cylinder engine will return an estimated fuel-economy of 20/27 mpg (city/highway). The 3.5L V6 will return 18/24 mpg. Competitors, the 2009 Nissan Murano and the 2009 Honda Pilot, do not offer a 4-cylinder engine.

Source: InsideLine

Update: The Detroit Free Press has corrected its story. Highlander sales were down 36 percent. It was actually the Toyota Sequoia, one of Toyota’s largest SUV, that was up 51.9 percent.

Honda, which has been pretty well cushioned from huge sales declines than other automakers, said that November sales fell 31.6 percent. Honda said that sales of its Honda and Acura brands dropped 76,233 from 111,431 during the same period last year. The sales drop affected Honda’s entire lineup besides the Pilot which was up 4.5 percent to 5,601. Civic sales however fell 29.6 percent to 17,690.

Rival Toyota also reported sales drop in the U.S. of 33.9 percent for a total of 130,307 units from both Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles. Lexus sales were down 34.7 percent to 16,223 while Toyota sales were down 33.4 percent to 114,084. For Toyota, Yaris sales were down 16.6 percent to 4,545 units while the Highlander Sequoia was up 51.9 percent to 1,873.

A pretty awkward mix for a market that is moving away from SUVs to compact cars. Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Source: The Detroit Free Press

When the new 2009 Toyota Highlander arrives in showrooms mid-to-late January, it will be offered with a new 2.7L 4-Cylinder engine that will help make the mid-size SUV one of the best in its segment in terms of fuel-economy.

The new 4-cylinder 2009 Highlander has an EPA fuel-economy estimate of 27 mpg highway, 20 mpg city and 22 mpg combined. Running on regular 87 octane fuel, the 2.7L 4-cylinder engine will produce 187-hp with a maximum torque of 186 lb-ft. Not that you probably care when buying a vehicle in this segment, but 0 to 60 mph is said to come in 9.7 seconds. The engine will be mated to a new 6-speed automatic.

The 2009 Toyota Highlander 4-cylinder model will come with Toyota’s two-wheel-drive mode. Other standard features include a AM/FM/CD audio system with six-speakers; front seats with height-adjustable active head rests and eight-way adjustable driver’s seat; power door locks and windows with auto-up/down feature; cruise control; a multi-function keyless entry system; rear privacy glass; and much more. When equipped with a towing package the 4-cylinder Highlander has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.