2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Owners Manual (in English)

2334-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
Vehicles without a smart key system:
While the engine switch is in the “ON” position, depress the
brake pedal and move the shift lever.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the
vehicle is completely stopped.
Vehicles with a smart key system:
While the engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode, depress the
brake pedal and move the shift lever.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that t he
vehicle is completely stopped.
Automatic transmission
Shifting the shift lever

2344-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U
*1: Shifting the shift lever to D allows the system to select a gear suitable for
the driving conditions.
Setting the shift lever to D is recommended for normal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of the possible
gear ranges, controls engine braking force, and prevents unnece ssary
upshifting.
■
Snow mode
Use snow mode for accelerating and driving on slippery road sur -
faces, such as on snow.
Press the “SNOW” button to
select snow mode.
The “SNOW” indicator will be
displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display.
Press the button again to cancel
snow mode.
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( P. 235)
Selecting the driving mode

2354-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U■
Power mode (if equipped)
Use power mode for powerful acceleration or driving in mountain
-
ous regions.
Press “<” or “>” of the meter
control switches, select .
Press “ ” or “ ” of the meter
control switches, select
“PWR MODE”.
The “PWR MODE” indicator will
be displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display.
Select “PWR MODE” again to
cancel power mode.
To enter S mode, shift the shift lever to S. Shift ranges can be selected
by operating the shift lever, allowing you to drive in the shif t range of
your choosing. The shift range can be selected by the shift lev er.
Upshifting
Downshifting
8-speed models: The selected shift
range, from 1 to 8, will be dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play.
The initial shift range in S mode is
set automatically to 6, 5 or 4
according to vehicle speed. How-
ever, the initial shift range may be
set to 3 if AI-SHIFT has operated
while the shift lever was in D.
( P. 240)
6-speed models: The selected shift
range, from 1 to 6, will be dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play.
The initial shift range in S mode is set automatically to 5 or 4 according to
vehicle speed. However, the initial shift range may be set to 3 if AI-SHIFT
has operated while the shift lever was in D. ( P. 238)
1
2
Selecting shift ranges in the S position
1
2

2364-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U■
Shift ranges and their functions
A lower shift range will provide greater engine braking forces
than a higher
shift range.
■ Message displays
Message illustrations used in this section are intended as exam ples, and may
differ from the image that is actually displayed on the multi-information dis-
play.
■ S mode
●8-speed models: When the shift range is 7 or lower, holding the shift lever
toward “+” sets the shift range to 8.
6-speed models: When the shift range is 5 or lower, holding the shift lever
toward “+” sets the shift range to 6.
● To prevent excessive engine speed, a function was adopted that automati-
cally selects a higher shift range before engine speed becomes too high.
● To protect the automatic transmission, a function is adopted that automati-
cally selects a higher shift range when the fluid temperature i s high.
■ Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting ope ration may
sometimes be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting ma y not be
possible even when the shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■ Deactivation of snow mode
Snow mode will be canceled if the engine is turned off after dr iving in snow
mode.
■ Deactivation of power mode (if equipped)
Power mode will be canceled if the engine is turned off after d riving in power
mode.
■ If both snow mode and power m ode (if equipped) are selected
Snow mode will be selected and power mode will be suspended unt il snow
mode is canceled.
■ When driving with dynamic radar cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of e nabling engine
braking, engine braking will not activate while driving in S mo de and down-
shifting to 5 or 4 because dynamic radar cruise control will no t be canceled.
( P. 291)
Meter displayFunction
S2 - S8
(8-speed models)A gear in the range between 1 and the selected
gear is automatically chosen depending on vehicle
speed and driving conditions
S2 - S6
(6-speed models)
S1Setting the gear at 1

2374-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U■
Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent accidental operation of the shift
lever in starting.
The shift lever can be shifted from P only when the engine switch is in the
“ON” position (vehicles without a smart key system) or IGNITION ON mode
(vehicles with a smart key system) and the brake pedal is being depressed.
■ If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
First, check whether the brake pedal is being depressed.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted with your foot on the brak e pedal, there may
be a problem with the shift lock system. Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer immediately.
The following steps may be used as an emergency measure to ensu re that
the shift lever can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
Set the parking brake.
Vehicles without a smart key system: Turn the engine switch to the “LOCK”
position.
Vehicles with a smart key system: Turn the engine switch off.
Depress the brake pedal.
■ If the S indicator does not come on or the D indicator is displayed even
after shifting the shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in the automatic transmission s ystem. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same m anner as when
the shift lever is in D.) Pry the cover up with a flathead screw-
driver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover, cover
the tip of the screwdriver with a rag.
Press the shift lock override button.
The shift lever can be shifted while the
button is pressed.
1
2
3
4
5

2384-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U■
If the automatic transmission fl uid temperature warning message is dis-
played
When the warning message goes out, the vehicle can be driven ag ain.
If the warning message does not go out after waiting a while, h ave your vehi-
cle inspected by your Toyota dealer.
■ AI-SHIFT
The AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to driver per-
formance and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in D. (Shifting the
shift lever to S cancels the function.) If the automatic transmission fluid tem-
perature warning message is displayed
while driving, make sure to return to D
position driving and reduce speed by eas-
ing off the accelerator pedal. Stop the
vehicle in a safe place, shift the shift lever
to P and let the engine idle until the warn-
ing message goes out.
WARNING
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause the vehicle to spin or skid,
resulting in an accident.
■ To prevent an accident when releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override button, make sure to se t the parking
brake and depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed instead of t he brake pedal
when the shift lock override button is pressed and the shift le ver is shifted
out of P, the vehicle may suddenly start, possibly leading to a n accident
resulting in death or serious injury.

2394-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
Right turn
Lane change to the right (move
the lever partway and release
it)
The right hand signals will flash 3
times.
Lane change to the left (move
the lever partway and release
it)
The left hand signals will flash 3
times.
Left turn
■Turn signals can be operated when
Vehicles without a smart key system
The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
Vehicles with a smart key system
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■ If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or rear turn signal lights has not burned
out.
■ Customization
The number of times the turn signals flash during a lane change can be
changed. (Customizable feature P. 690)
Turn signal lever
Operating instructions
1
2
3
4

2404-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U
To set the parking brake, fully
depress the parking brake pedal
with your left foot while depress-
ing the brake pedal with your right
foot.
(Depressing the pedal again
releases the parking brake.)
*1: For U.S.A.
*2: For Canada
■Parking the vehicle
P. 192
■ Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
P. 596
■ Usage in winter time
P. 346
Parking brake
Operating instructions
*1*2
NOTICE
■Before driving
Fully release the parking brake.
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake set will lead to bra ke components
overheating, which may affect braking performance and increase brake
wear.