
1743-4. Adjusting the steering wheel and mirrors
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
Auto anti-glare inside rear view mirror
Responding to the level of brightne ss of the headlights of vehicles
behind, the reflected light is automatically reduced.
Changing automatic anti- glare function mode
ON/OFF
When the automatic anti-glare
function is in ON mode, the indica-
tor illuminates.
The function will set to ON mode
each time the power switch is
turned to ON mode.
Pressing the button turns the func-
tion to OFF mode. (The indicator
also turns off.)
■ To prevent sensor error (vehicles with an auto anti-glare inside rear view
mirror)
Indicator
To ensure that the sensors operate prop-
erly, do not touch or cover them.
WARNING
Do not adjust the position of the mirror while driving.
Doing so may lead to mishandling of the vehicle and cause an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.

1803-5. Opening and closing the windows
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■Closing the windows
● The driver is responsible for all the power window operations, including the
operation for the passengers. In order to prevent accidental operation,
especially by a child, do not let a child operate the power windows. It is
possible for children and other passengers to have body parts caught in
the power window. Also, when riding with a child, it is recommended to use
the window lock switch. ( →P. 178)
● Check to make sure that all passengers do not have any part of their body
in a position where it could be caught when a window is being operated.
● When using the wireless remote control or mechanical key and operating
the power windows, operate the power window after checking to make
sure that there is no possibility of any passenger having any of their body
parts caught in the window. Also do not let a child operate window by the
wireless remote control or mechanical key. It is possible for children and
other passengers to get caught in the power window.
● When exiting the vehicle, turn the power switch off, carry the key and exit
the vehicle along with the child. There may be accidental operation, due to
mischief, etc., that may possibly lead to an accident.
■ Jam protection function (windows with one-touch closing function
only)
● Never use any part of your body to intentionally activate the jam protection
function.
● The jam protection function may not work if something gets caught just
before the window fully closes.

1843-5. Opening and closing the windows
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
■Opening the moon roof
● Do not allow any passengers to put their hands or heads outside the vehi-
cle while it is moving.
● Do not sit on top of the moon roof.
■ Closing the moon roof
● The driver is responsible for moon roof opening and closing operations.
In order to prevent accidental operation, especially by a child, do not let a
child operate the moon roof. It is possible for children and other passen-
gers to have body parts caught in the moon roof.
● Check to make sure that all passengers do not have any part of their bod-
ies in a position where they could be caught when the moon roof is being
operated.
● When using the wireless remote control or mechanical key and operating
the moon roof, operate the moon roof after checking to make sure that
there is no possibility of any passenger having any of their body parts
caught in the moon roof. Also, do not let a child operate moon roof by the
wireless remote control or mechanical key. It is possible for children and
other passengers to get caught in the moon roof.
● When exiting the vehicle, turn the power switch off, carry the key and exit
the vehicle along with the child. There may be accidental operation, due to
mischief, etc., that may possibly lead to an accident.
■ Jam protection function
● Never use any part of your body to intentionally activate the jam protection
function.
● The jam protection function may not work if something gets caught just
before the moon roof fully closes.

1893-5. Opening and closing the windows
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■Closing the shade
● Check to make sure that all passengers do not have any part of their body
in a position where it could be caught when the shade is being operated.\
● Do not allow children to operate the shade.
Closing a shade on someone can cause death or serious injury. The driver
is responsible for instructing children not to operate the shade.
■ Opening the moon roof
● Do not allow any passengers to put their hands or heads outside the vehi-
cle while it is moving.
● Do not sit on top of the moon roof.
■ Closing the moon roof
● The driver is responsible for moon roof opening and closing operations.
In order to prevent accidental operation, especially by a child, do not let a
child operate the moon roof. It is possible for children and other passen-
gers to have body parts caught in the moon roof.
● Check to make sure that all passengers do not have any part of their body
in a position where it could be caught when the moon roof is being oper-
ated.
● When exiting the vehicle, turn the power switch off, carry the key and exit
the vehicle along with the child. There may be accidental operation, due to
mischief, etc., that may possibly lead to an accident.
■ Jam protection function
● Never use any part of your body to intentionally activate the jam protection
function.
● The jam protection function may not work if something gets caught just
before the shade or moon roof is fully closed.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the moon roof
● Before opening, make sure that there are no foreign objects such as
stones or ice around the opening.
● Do not hit the face or edge of the moon roof with hard objects.

1934-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
Make sure that the parking brake is set and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■When starting off on an uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate. ( →P. 329)
■ For fuel-efficient driving
Keep in mind that hybrid vehicles are similar to conventional vehicles, and it
is necessary to refrain from activities such as sudden acceleration. ( →P. 334)
■ Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the win-
dows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
● Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be espe-
cially slippery.
● Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain,
because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road sur-
face, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
■ Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driving.
This is due to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implementation to
meet driving conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.
●The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill
● When the accelerator pedal is released
■ Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recom-
mended:
●For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
● For the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
● For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
Starting off on a steep uphill
1
2
3

1954-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the “READY”
indicator is illuminated. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■ When driving the vehicle
● Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and ac\
cel-
erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake
pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a diffi- culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle only slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and accelera-
tor pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-
ing in an accident.
● The driver should pay extra attention to pedestrians when the vehicle is
powered only by the electric motor (traction motor). As there is no engine
noise, the pedestrians may misjudge the vehicle’s movement. Even
though the vehicle is equipped with the vehicle proximity notification sys-
tem, drive with care as pedestrians in the vicinity may still not notice the
vehicle if the surrounding area is noisy.
● Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot
parts may cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
● During normal driving, do not turn off the hybrid system. Turning the hybrid
system off while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control,
however, power assist to the steering will be lost. This will make it more
difficult to steer smoothly, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so.
In the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the
vehicle in the normal way: →P. 561

2174-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. Help to avoid
an accident, death or serious injury, keep the following in mind when
towing:
● Speed limits for towing a trailer vary by state or province. Do not
exceed the posted to wing speed limit.
● Toyota recommends that the vehi cle-trailer speed limit is 65 mph
(104 km/h) on a flat, straight, dry road. Do not exceed this limit, the
posted towing speed limit or the spe ed limit for your trailer as set
forth in your trailer owner’s manual, whichever is lowest. Instability
of the towing vehicle-trailer combination (trailer sway) increases as
speed increases. Exceeding speed limits may cause loss of control.
● Before starting out, check the tr ailer lights, tires and the vehicle-
trailer connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
● Practice turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel
of the vehicle-trailer combination.
● Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires practice.
Grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the
left to move the trailer to the left . Move your hand to the right to
move the trailer to right. (This is generally opposite to reversing
without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.
● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h)
of speed, allow at least one vehicle and trailer length.
● Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in the trailer jack-
knifing and a loss of vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or
slippery surfaces.
● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before making
turn.
Trailer towing tips

2224-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
WARNING
■Trailer towing precautions
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in accordance
with the trailer’s characteristics and operating conditions. Failure to do so
could cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury. Vehicle stability
and braking performance are affected by trailer stability, brake setting and
performance, and the hitch. Your vehicle will handle differently when towing
a trailer.
■ To avoid accident or injury
● Do not exceed the TWR, unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR.
● If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (900 kg), a sway control device
with sufficient capacity is required.
● Adjust the tongue weight within the appropriate range. Place heavier loads
as close to the trailer axle as possible.
● Do not exceed 65 mph (104 km/h), the posted towing speed limit or the
speed limit for your trailer as set forth in your trailer owner’s manual,
whichever is lowest. Slow down sufficiently before making a turn, in cross
winds, on wet or slippery surface, etc. to help avoid an accident. If you
experience a vehicle-trailer instability from reducing a certain speed, slow
down and make sure you keep your vehicle speed under the speed of
which you experience the instability.
● Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns.
● Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and loss of vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or slippery sur-
faces.
● Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight,
gross axle weight and trailer tongue weight capacities.
● Do not use dynamic radar cruise control when towing.
● Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long
downhill grades.
● Vehicle-trailer instability is more likely on steep long downhills. Before
descending steep or long downhill grades, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts when descending steep or long downhill
grades. Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the
brakes too frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and result
in reduced braking efficiency.
● Do not tow a trailer when the compact s pare tire is installed on your vehi-
cle.