Page 154 of 572

1543-3. Adjusting the seats
HIGHLANDER HV_U
WA R N I N G
●Manual seat only: After adjust-
ing the seat, make sure that the 
seat is locked in position.
Rear seats
The seat position and seat-
back angle can be adjusted, 
and the seatback can be 
folded by operating a seat-
back angle adjustment 
lever.
WA R N I N G
■Seat adjustment
●To reduce the risk of sliding 
under the lap belt during a colli-
sion, do not recline the seat 
more than necessary.
If the seat is too reclined, the lap 
belt may slide past the hips and 
apply restraint for ces directly to 
the abdomen, or your neck may 
contact the shoulder belt, increas-
ing the risk of death or serious 
injury in the event of an accident.
Adjustments should not be made 
while driving as the seat may 
unexpectedly move and cause 
the driver to lose control of the 
vehicle.
●Be careful that the seat does 
not hit passengers or luggage.
●Be careful not to get your hands 
or feet caught in the seat.
■After adjusting or returning 
the seats
Observe the following precau-
tions. Failure to  do so may result 
in death or serious injury.
●Make sure that the seat and 
seatback are securely locked in 
position by lightly rocking them 
back and forth.
●Check that the seat belts are 
not twisted or caught in the 
seatback. 
     
        
        Page 155 of 572
1553-3. Adjusting the seats
HIGHLANDER HV_U
3
Before driving
■Second seats
8-seat models Seatback angle adjustment 
lever
Seat position adjustment 
lever
WA R N I N G
■When folding the rear seat-
backs down
Observe the following precau-
tions. Failure to do so may result 
in death or serious injury.
●Do not fold the seatbacks down 
while driving.
●Stop the vehicle on level 
ground, set the parking brake 
and shift the shift lever to P.
●Do not allow anyo ne to sit on a 
folded seatback or in the lug-
gage compartment while driv-
ing.
●Do not allow child ren to enter 
the luggage compartment.
●Do not fold down a rear seat-
back when there are passen-
gers sitting in the rear seats or 
when there is luggage placed 
on the rear seats.
●Be careful not to catch your 
hand when folding the rear seat-
backs.
Adjustment procedure 
     
        
        Page 156 of 572
1563-3. Adjusting the seats
HIGHLANDER HV_U
7-seat modelsSeatback angle adjustment 
lever
Seat position adjustment 
lever
■Third seatsSeatback angle adjustment 
lever
■When entering/exiting the 
vehicle
Pull the seatback angle adjust-
ment lever   or   to tilt the 
seatback forward and then slide 
the seat forward.
Make sure that the second seat is 
free of passengers and obstruc-
tions before operating the lever.
■After passengers have 
entered/exited the vehicle
Lift up the seatback and slide 
the seat backward until it locks.
■Before folding down the 
second seats
1 Stow the armrest. ( P.376)
Moving a second seat for 
third seat access
Folding down the second 
seats 
     
        
        Page 157 of 572
1573-3. Adjusting the seats
HIGHLANDER HV_U
3
Before driving
2 Stow the second seat belt 
buckles.
3 Pass the outer seat belts 
through the seat belt hangers 
and secure the seat belt 
plates.
This prevents the shoulder belts 
from being damaged.
4Lower the head restraints to 
the lowest position. ( P.162)
■Folding down the second 
seats
1 Pull the seatback angle 
adjustment lever   or   to 
tilt the seatback forward.
Each seatback may be folded sep- arately.
2
Pull the seatback folding 
lever to unlock the seatback. 
The seatback will be folded 
down.
■After folding down the sec-
ond seats
Slide the folded second seats 
backward until they lock. 
     
        
        Page 158 of 572
1583-3. Adjusting the seats
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■Returning the second seats
Lift up the seatbacks until they 
lock.
Remove the secure d seat belts 
from the seat belt hangers before 
using them.
■Before folding down the 
third seats
1 Stow the third seat belt buck-
les.
2 Pass the outer seat belts 
through the seat belt hangers 
and secure the seat belt 
plates.
This prevents the shoulder belts  from being damaged.
3
Lower the center head 
restraint to the lowest posi-
tion. ( P.162)
■Folding down the third 
seats
While pulling the the seatback 
angle adjustment lever, fold 
down the seatbacks.
The outer head restraints will fold 
forward.
■Returning the third seats
1 Returning the seatbacks
From inside
Lift up the seatbacks until they lock.
Folding down the third 
seats 
     
        
        Page 163 of 572
1633-3. Adjusting the seats
HIGHLANDER HV_U
3
Before driving
Make sure that the  head restraints 
are adjusted so that the center of 
the head restraint is closest to the 
top of your ears.
■Adjusting the third center seat 
head restraint
Always raise the  head restraint one 
level from the stowed position when 
using.
■When using the outboard third 
seats
If a head restraint is folded forward, 
make sure to return  it to the upright 
position. ( P.158)
Pull the head restraint up while 
pressing the lock release button 
.
If the head restraint touches the 
ceiling, making the removal difficult, 
change the seat height or angle. 
( P.153, 154)
Front seats
Second seats
Third center seat
Align the head restraint with the 
installation holes and push it 
down to the lock position.
Press and hold the lock release 
button   when lowering the 
head restraint.
Front seats
Removing the head 
restraints
Installing the head 
restraints 
     
        
        Page 198 of 572

1984-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
be C lb. (kg) as follows:
B
*2 lb. (kg) - A*1 lb. (kg) = C*3 lb. 
(kg)
*1: A =Weight of people
*2: B =Total load capacity
*3: C =Available cargo and luggage  load
In this condition , if 3 more passen-
gers with the combined weight of D 
lb. (kg) get on, the available cargo 
and luggage load  will be reduced E 
lb. (kg) as follows:
C lb. (kg) - D*4 lb. (kg) = E*5 lb. 
(kg)
*4: D =Additional weight of people
*5: E =Available cargo and luggage  load
As shown in the example above, 
if the number of occupants 
increases, the cargo and lug-
gage load will be reduced by an 
amount that equals the 
increased weight due to the 
additional occupants. In other 
words, if an increase in the num-
ber of occupants causes an 
excess of the total load capacity 
(combined weight of occupants 
plus cargo and luggage load), 
you must reduce the cargo and 
luggage on your vehicle.
WA R N I N G
■Things that must not be car-
ried in the luggage compart-
ment
The following things may cause a 
fire if loaded in the luggage com-
partment:
●Receptacles containing gaso-
line
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may prevent the 
pedals from being depressed 
properly, may block the driver’s 
vision, or may res ult in items hit-
ting the driver or passengers, pos-
sibly causing an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the 
luggage compartment when-
ever possible.
●Do not stack cargo and luggage 
in the luggage compartment 
higher than the seatbacks.
●When you fold down the rear 
seats, long items should not be 
placed directly behind the front 
seats.
●Never allow anyon e to ride in 
the luggage compartment. It is 
not designed for passengers. 
They should ride in their seats 
with their seat belts properly 
fastened.
●Do not place cargo or luggage 
in or on the follo wing locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear  seats (when stacking items)
• On the luggage cover
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
●Secure all items in the occupant 
compartment.
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum 
axle weight rating or the total 
vehicle weight rating. 
     
        
        Page 364 of 572
3645-4. Using the storage features
HIGHLANDER HV_U
Pull down the hook to use.
The cargo hooks are provided for 
securing loose items.
To hang the cargo net, use the 
cargo net hooks and cargo 
hooks.
■Removing the luggage 
cover unit (vehicles with-
out side deck board)
1 Fold down the third seats. 
( P.158)
Luggage compart-
ment features
Cargo hooks
WA R N I N G
■When cargo hooks are not in 
use
To avoid injury, always return the 
hooks to their stowed positions 
when not in use.
Cargo net hooks
WA R N I N G
■When the cargo net is not in 
use
To   a v o i d   i n j u r y , always return the 
hooks to their stowed positions 
when not in use.
Grocery bag hooks
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the gro-
cery bag hooks
Do not hang any object heavier 
than 6.6 lb. (3 kg) on the grocery 
bag hooks.
Luggage cover (if 
equipped)