Highlander Hybrid has quite a following, considering that it's not yet in Toyota showrooms! A record number of people have signed up on toyota.com to stay in touch with Toyota's first hybrid SUV. Hybrid Synergy View did some research to find out what motivates a Highlander Hybrid "handraiser"- someone who has expressed an interest in learning more.

Hybrid SUVs have been on the minds of many buyers. They want the size, versatility and performance of an SUV, but with better gas mileage and lower emissions. If Hybrid Synergy Drive® can do it for a car, why not for a sport utility? Research reveals a range of interests in Highlander Hybrid handraisers. Here are some interesting quotes:

"Safety tops my priority list, and because I live in a rural area and travel to the city daily, 4-wheel drive is also important. It's great to me that hybrids have lower emissions, and because I drive over 100 miles a day, fuel savings are also important. But arriving alive is the MOST important thing, which is why the SUV hybrid is my first choice for my next purchase."
- Janette Petersen, Port Republic, Maryland

"The 'cool' hybrid image idea is overblown for the average soccer mom or NASCAR dad, but the idea that we might be doing something to be more environmentally conscious isn't just a 'green' idea. Every sensible person is concerned about clean air and clean water. And I would definitely buy 200+ horsepower and a large trunk (read luggage and golf clubs here)."
- John M. Sullivan, Rancho Murieta, California

Research shows that Highlander Hybrid will deliver on many handraiser expectations. Hybrid Synergy Drive® will shift the SUV paradigm by providing V8-like power from a V-6 engine and electric motor, plus the rating of a "super ultra-low emissions" vehicle. Customers won't have to wait long for Highlander Hybrid to hit the market, and the items on their checklists will be covered. He can get 200+ horsepower (estimated at 270 hp) and room for golf clubs, and she can order the optional 4-wheel drive with intelligence. Highlander Hybrid will be on sale at Toyota dealerships across the country in mid-2005.

Highlander Hybrid handraisers also have words of praise for Prius and Prius drivers:
"There sits a forward-thinking driver who paved the way for me and this car."
"Without you, I wouldn't be here."
"There's something smart going on under the hood of the car that started it all."