Your Free Guide to Toyota Highlander Features

Understanding Toyota Highlander Safety Features and Technology

The Toyota Highlander comes equipped with several safety systems designed to protect passengers and prevent accidents. One of the primary features is the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, a package of driver-assistance technologies that work together to monitor road conditions and vehicle behavior. This system includes adaptive cruise control, which maintains a set distance between your vehicle and the car ahead by automatically adjusting your speed. The pre-collision system uses cameras and radar to detect potential obstacles or other vehicles and can apply the brakes if a collision risk is detected.

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Lane departure alert is another component that monitors whether your vehicle is drifting out of its lane without signaling. If the system detects unintended lane departure, it alerts the driver through visual or audio warnings. Lane keeping assist goes one step further by providing gentle steering assistance to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane. The dynamic radar cruise control system is particularly useful on highways, as it can detect vehicles traveling at different speeds and automatically adjust your Highlander's speed to maintain safe spacing.

The Highlander also features eight airbags positioned throughout the cabin—front, side-impact, and curtain airbags that deploy from the roof line to protect heads during a collision. The vehicle's frame is designed with crumple zones that absorb impact energy, and the body structure uses high-strength steel in key areas. Electronic stability control helps prevent skidding and loss of control during emergency maneuvers or slippery road conditions.

• Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ combines multiple technologies into one integrated system
• Adaptive cruise control maintains distance from vehicles ahead automatically
• Pre-collision system can detect and respond to potential accidents
• Eight airbags provide coverage for front, side, and head protection
• Electronic stability control prevents skidding on slippery surfaces

Practical Takeaway: When reviewing your Highlander's safety features, take time to locate the airbag deployment zones and understand how the driver-assistance systems work. Read your owner's manual to learn the specific activation methods for features like adaptive cruise control, as these systems require your intentional engagement. These features work best when drivers remain attentive and maintain safe driving practices.

Interior Comfort and Convenience Features

The Toyota Highlander's interior design prioritizes comfort across all three rows of seating. The captain's chairs in the middle row—available on many trim levels—offer individual seats with their own armrests and climate controls, making them more comfortable for longer trips than bench seating. These seats typically have a wide range of adjustment, allowing passengers to find their ideal position. The third row can accommodate up to three passengers and includes its own heating vents, though legroom is more limited than the other rows, making it better suited for shorter trips or younger passengers.

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Climate control in the Highlander typically includes a dual-zone or tri-zone automatic climate system, depending on trim level. This means the driver and front passenger can set different temperature preferences, and some models allow the rear passengers to control their own zone. Heated seats are available on higher trim levels and provide warmth during cold weather without heating the entire cabin, which can improve fuel efficiency. Ventilated seats on some models circulate cool air through the seat surface, helpful during hot weather or long drives.

The steering wheel on most Highlanders adjusts for both reach and tilt, accommodating drivers of different heights and preferences. Premium models include a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated controls for audio, phone, and cruise functions, reducing the need to take your hands off the wheel. The Highlander offers a power liftgate that opens automatically at the touch of a button, which is particularly useful when carrying groceries or when your hands are full. Some models include a hands-free liftgate function that opens when you make a kicking motion under the rear bumper.

• Captain's chairs provide individual seating comfort in the middle row
• Dual-zone or tri-zone climate control allows different temperature settings
• Heated and ventilated seats adjust temperature for comfort
• Steering wheel adjusts for reach and tilt to accommodate different drivers
• Power liftgate with hands-free option improves convenience
• Third-row seating fits passengers but with less legroom than front rows

Practical Takeaway: Test all seating positions and climate controls when you first get your Highlander to understand which adjustments work best for your body and preferences. Save your preferred seat position settings in the vehicle's memory if your model includes this function—many Highlanders can store settings for multiple drivers, making it quick to adjust everything when different people drive the vehicle.

Infotainment System and Smartphone Integration

The Highlander's infotainment system serves as the central hub for entertainment, navigation, and vehicle information. Most modern Highlanders include an 8-inch touchscreen display as standard, with some premium models offering larger screens up to 12.3 inches. The system responds to touch inputs and includes physical buttons for common functions, so you're not entirely dependent on the touchscreen for basic operations. The display shows a customizable home screen where you can arrange shortcuts to frequently used features for quicker access.

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Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration allows you to connect your smartphone wirelessly or with a USB cable. Once connected, you can access your phone's maps application, messaging through voice commands, music streaming services, and phone calls through the vehicle's audio system. The voice recognition system understands natural language commands, meaning you don't need to memorize specific phrases—you can say things like "find the nearest gas station" or "call Mom" and the system will understand. Voice control works through the steering wheel button, keeping your attention on the road rather than on the screen.

Navigation through the built-in system or your smartphone's maps application provides turn-by-turn directions with real-time traffic information on compatible models. The system can display the route on the instrument cluster display behind the steering wheel, so you don't have to glance at the center screen as often. Audio controls include AM/FM radio, satellite radio (SiriusXM on some trims), and Bluetooth audio streaming from your phone. Newer models include a premium audio system from brands like JBL or Pioneer on higher trim levels, offering enhanced sound quality with multiple speakers positioned around the cabin.

• 8 to 12.3-inch touchscreen display serves as the system hub
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect your smartphone wirelessly or via USB
• Voice recognition understands natural language commands without memorized phrases
• Built-in or smartphone navigation provides turn-by-turn directions
• Steering wheel controls allow hands-free operation of most functions
• Premium audio systems available on higher trim levels with enhanced sound

Practical Takeaway: When setting up your Highlander's infotainment system, pair your smartphone via Bluetooth during your first drive and test the voice command function to understand how it interprets your speech patterns. If you frequently switch between Apple CarPlay and Android Auto or use different phones, practice connecting and disconnecting to understand the process. Familiarize yourself with the physical buttons on the steering wheel and dashboard, as using them while driving keeps your eyes on the road better than touchscreen interaction.

Cargo Space and Storage Organization

The Highlander is designed with cargo capacity as a primary feature, offering practical storage solutions throughout the vehicle. With all three rows of seating in place, the vehicle provides 16.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Folding down the third-row seats creates 42.3 cubic feet of space, adding room for larger items like furniture or sports equipment. When you fold both the second and third rows flat, the Highlander transforms into a cargo hauler with up to 83.7 cubic feet of space, making it suitable for major shopping trips or moving day tasks.

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The cargo area includes a built-in power outlet (available on higher trim levels) that you can use to power laptops, portable chargers, or other electronics while traveling. Tie-down cleats are positioned in the cargo floor to secure items with cargo straps, preventing shifting during acceleration or turns. A tonneau cover is available as an accessory—this roller shade covers the cargo area and provides security by concealing contents from view. Some owners also add roof