
OVERVIEW
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES
1
This Quick Reference Guide is a summary of basic vehicle 
operations. It contains brief descriptions of fundamental operations 
so you can locate and use the vehicle’s main equipment quickly 
and easily.
The  Quick Reference Guide is not intended as a substitute for the  
Owner’s Manual  located in your vehicle’s glove box. We strongly 
encourage you to review the  Owner’s Manual and supplementary 
manuals so you will have a better understanding of your vehicle’s 
capabilities and limitations.
Your dealership and the entire staff of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., 
Inc. wish you many years of satisfied driving in your Highlander 
Hybrid.
A word about safe vehicle operations
This  Quick Reference Guide is not a full description of Highlander 
Hybrid operations. Every Highlander Hybrid owner should review 
the  Owner’s Manual that accompanies this vehicle.
Pay special attention to the boxed 
  
information highlighted in
  
color throughout the Owner’s Manual. Each box contains safe 
operating instructions to help you avoid injury or equipment 
malfunction.
All information in this Quick Reference Guide is current at the 
time of printing. Toyota reserves the right to make changes at 
any time without notice.
2015 
Highlander Hybrid
INDEX
Engine maintenance 9
Fuel  tank door release and cap  8
Hood release  8
Indicator 
symbols  
4-5
Instrument 
cluster  
4
Instrument 
panel  
2-3
Keyless entry1    6
Light 
control-Instrument panel  9
Smart Key system1,2 7  Air Conditioning/Heating 24-25
Audio   23
Auto lock/unlock
1 13
Bluetooth® Device Pairing Section 35-44
Clock
  26
Cruise control
 
26-27
Door locks
 
12
Door-Power 
back (rear liftgate)  
15-16
Driver Easy Speak 24
EV Drive Mode
 
11
Garage 
door opener (HomeLink
®)3 27
Hybrid 
Synergy Drive System
 
10
Lights1 & turn signals 18-19
Moonroof  14
Multi-Information Display2 20
Pairing 
a Bluetooth Device
 22
Panoramic 
Moonroof 
 14
Parking 
Brake
 
13
Power outlets-12V 
DC
 
19
Power outlet-120V 
AC
 
19
Rear 
seat entertainment system  
22
Seat 
adjustments-Front
 
16
Seat 
adjustments-Rear
 
17
Seats-Head 
restraints
 
17
Seat 
heaters / Seat ventilators  
25-26
Seats-Returning 
third row seats  
17
Seats-Stowing 
third row seats  
17
Steering 
lock release
 
13
Steering 
wheel controls and Bluetooth
® 21
Tilt and 
telescopic steering wheel
 14
Transmission
  12
Windows-Power
  20
Windshield wipers & washers
 
18  Doors-Child safety locks 29
Floor  mat installation  32
Seat 
belts  
28
Seat 
belts-Shoulder belt anchor  
29
Spare 
tire & tools  
30
Star 
Safety System
TM 31-32
Third row center seat belt
 29
Tire Pres
sure Monitoring (warning) System
 
28
OVERVIEW
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY 
FEATURES
1 Visit your Toyota dealer for information on customizing this feature.2 Programmable by customer. Refer to the Owner’s Manual for instructions and more information.3 HomeLink® is a registered trademark of Gentex Corporation.    

OVERVIEW
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES
23
OVERVIEW
Instrument panel
Voice command button1
Audio remote control switches1 
Multi-Information Display button
Telephone controls1 
Cruise control switch
Meter control switches
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance button
2
Headlight, turn signal and front fog light controls
Multi-Information Display
Wiper and washer controls
Emergency flasher button
Power back door main switch (this is inside the glove box)
“POWER” switch
Tilt and telescopic steering lock release
Fuel filler door opener
Automatic High Beam switch
2
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) switch LDA (Lane Departure Alert) switch
2
Power back door button
Windshield wiper de-icer switch
Heated steering wheel switch
2
Intuitive parking assist switch (rear parking sonar)
Outside rearview mirror/Rear window defogger button
Air Conditioning controls
Audio System
1
VSC OFF switch
“ECO MODE” switch
EV drive mode switch
Seat heater/ventilator switches
2
1  
Refer to the “NAVIGATION AND MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM OWNER’S MANUAL ”2
 If equipped
Steering wheel controls Entune Premium JBL Audio ®
 with 
Navigation and App Suite 
HOME
APPS
AUDIO
NAVJBL
Type A
Type B
4
4
1
1
2
2
2
3
5
5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6
7
8910
8
9
12
131415
10
11
12
13
14
15
11
16
16171819
202122
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
2324
24
25
25
26
Lower center console switches
262728
29
27
28
29
Automatic Air Conditioning 

OVERVIEW
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES
45
OVERVIEW
Indicator symbols 
Instrument cluster
Charging system warning1
Brake system warning (red light)1
1 If indicator does not turn off within a few seconds of starting hybrid system, there may be a  
malfunction. Have vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.
2 If this light flashes, refer to “Cruise control,” Section 4-5, 2015 Owner’s Manual.   
Anti-lock Brake System warning1
Headlight low/high beam indicator
Turn signal indicator
Vehicle Stability Control OFF indicator
1
EV indicator
Cruise control/Cruise control “SET” indicator2
Tire Pressure Warning1
Open door warning
Airbag SRS warning1
Master warning1
Driver seat belt reminder (alarm will sound if speed is over 12 mph)
Low engine oil pressure warning1
Malfunction/Check Engine indicator1
Pre-collison warning system indicator1
Low fuel level warning
Electric power steering system warning1
Front fog light indicator
Slip indicator1
For details, refer to “Warning lights and indicators,” Section 2,  2014 Owner’s 
Manual .
123
Hybrid System Indicator
Multi-Information Display 
Speedometer 
Engine coolant temperature gauge
Meter panel lights control button
Shift position and shift range1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Odometer
Outside temperature
Trip meter reset knob
Fuel gauge
10
45678910Automatic high beam indicator
LDA (Lane Departure Alert) indicator
Intuitive parking assist indicator
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) outside rear view  indicator
Security indicator
READY indicator
Air Bag ON/OFF indicator
1
Brake system warning (yellow light)1
Vehicle proximity notification system warning1
“ECO MODE” indicator
Pre-collision system warning1
EV drive mode indicator 

OVERVIEW
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES
13
12
Transmission
* The “POWER” switch must be in ON mode and the brake pedal depressed to shift 
from Park.
Shift the shift lever to “S” position from “D” position.
 +: Upshift (push  and release)
  -: Downshift (pull and release)
Downshifting increases power going uphill, or provides engine braking downhill. 
For best fuel economy during normal driving conditions, always drive with the shift 
lever in the “D” position.
“S” (Sequential) mode
Park*
Reverse
Neutral
Drive
N
“S” mode
Steering lock release
Turn
Door locks
Push
Auto lock/unlock
Automatic door locks can be programmed to operate in two different modes, or 
turned OFF.
-Doors lock when shifting from Park.
-Doors lock when the vehicle speed goes above approximately 12 mph.
-Doors unlock when shifting into Park.
-Doors unlock when the “POWER” switch is set to OFF and driver’s door is opened.
Refer to the  Owner’s Manual  for more details.
Parking brake
LockUnlock
Set: Depress
Release: Depress againUnlock
Lock
FEATURES/OPERATIONS 

OVERVIEW
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES
1415
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
Hold wheel, push lever down, set angle and length, and return lever.
Angle
Length
Lock release lever
NOTE: Do not attempt to adjust while the vehicle is in motion.
Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
Moonroof
Sliding operationTilting operation
Tilt
Close
Door-Power back (liftgate) 
Push
Push and hold
Instrument panel Back door (liftgate) (open and close)
Open: Push and hold
Close: Push and hold again
NOTE:  If battery is disconnected, the power back door needs to be reinitialized.
Refer to the  Owner’s Manual  for more details.
Recommended open position to 
minimize wind noise.
Push once to open partway; 
again to open completely.
Panoramic Moonroof (if equipped)
Shade operationTilting operation
If the moon roof is open, pressing the 
switch closes it up to the tilt-up position.
If the shade is closed past the half-open 
position when the switch is pressed, it will 
open up to the half-open position.
To stop operation partway, quickly slide 
and release the switch again. 
Close
Open
Sliding operation
The moon roof stops slightly before the fully open position to reduce wind noise and the
shade opens fully. Slide the switch again to fully open or close the moon roof. 
Back door (liftgate) (open only)Remote
control 

OVERVIEW
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES
21
20
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
Multi-Information Display
Windows-Power
Up
Down
Driver sideWindow lock switch
Automatic operation front row or all-position (if equipped)  Push the switch 
completely down or pull it completely up and release to fully open or close. To 
stop the window partway, operate the switch in the opposite direction.
Window lock switch  Deactivates all passenger windows. Driver’s window 
remains operable. 
MicrophoneSteering wheel telephone controls
Volume control
“       < > ” switch
Use to search within the selected audio medium (radio, CD, iPod
®, etc.).
Start call
End call
vv
Push “meter control switches” to change information in the following:
(1) Drive information
(2) Navigation system linked display
(3) Audio system linked display
(4) Dynamic radar cruise control
1
(5) LDA (Lane Departure Alert) status1
(6) Warning messages
(7) Settings display
1 If equipped
Steering wheel switches 
and Telephone controls (Bluetooth®)*
Bluetooth® technology allows dialing or receipt of calls without taking hands from 
the steering wheel or using a cable to connect the compatible telephone and the 
system. Refer to “Bluetooth
® audio/phone,” in the  Owner’s Manual, for more 
information about phone connections and compatibility.
* Position of buttons may vary on some vehicles, for more details please refer to the  Owner’s Manual
1
2
3
4
1223
45
5 

OVERVIEW
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES
31
30
Spare tire & tools
Tool location
Removing the spare tire
(1)(3)(2)
Spare tire
Jack handles
Wheel nut wrench
Jack
Adapter socket
(1) Remove the cover under the center deck board to find the spare tire clamp bolt.
(2) Assemble the jack handle.
(3) Put the socket adapter on the spare tire clamp bolt. Loosen the bolt by turning  it counterclockwise with the jack handle.
Refer to the  Owner’s Manual  for tire changing and jack positioning procedures.1
2
3
4
5
12345
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES 
Star Safety SystemTM
VSC helps prevent loss of traction during cornering by reducing Hybrid System 
output and applying brake force to selected wheels. 
Toyota’s VSC monitors steering angle and the direction your vehicle is traveling. 
When it senses that the front or rear wheels begin to lose traction, VSC reduces 
Hybrid System output and applies braking to selected wheels. This helps restore 
traction and vehicle control.
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS helps prevent brakes from locking up by “pulsing” brake pressure to each 
wheel. This limits brake lockup and helps provide directional control for the 
current road conditions. 
Toyota’s ABS sensors detect which wheels are locking up and limits wheel lockup 
by “pulsing” each wheel’s brakes independently. Pulsing releases brake pressure 
repeatedly for fractions of a second. This helps the tires attain the traction that 
current road conditions will allow, helping you to stay in directional control. VSC helps prevent loss of traction during cornering by reducing Hybrid System 
output, and Traction Control helps maintain traction on loose gravel and wet, icy, 
or uneven surfaces by applying brake force to the spinning wheel(s). 
Toyota’s TRAC sensors are activated when one of the drive wheels starts to slip. 
TRAC limits Hybrid System output and applies the brakes to the spinning wheel. 
This transfers power to the wheels that still have traction to help keep you on 
track.
Traction Control (TRAC)
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
Toyota’s ABS technology has Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to help 
maintain control and balance when braking. Abrupt stops can cause a vehicle 
to tilt forward, reducing the braking power of the rear wheels. EBD responds to 
sudden stops by redistributing brake force to enhance the braking effectiveness of 
all four wheels.
All new Toyota vehicles come standard with the Star Safety System
TM, which 
combines Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock 
Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) 
and Smart Stop Technology (SST).
Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM)
Provides integrated control of the ABS, brake assist, TRAC, VSC, hill-start assist 
control, and EPS systems. Helps to maintain vehicle stability when swerving on 
slippery road surfaces by controlling the brakes and hybrid system output.