
1974-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
Cargo capacity depends on the 
total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load 
capacity) — (Total weight of 
occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct 
Load Limit —
(1) Locate the statement “The 
combined weight of occupants 
and cargo should never exceed 
XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your 
vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined 
weight of the driver and passen-
gers that will be riding in your 
vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined 
weight of the driver and passen-
gers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals 
the available amount of cargo 
and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” 
amount equals 1400 lbs. and 
there will be five 150 lb passen-
gers in your vehicle, the amount 
of available cargo and luggage 
load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 −  750 (5 
 150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined 
weight of luggage and cargo 
being loaded on the vehicle. 
That weight may not safely 
exceed the available cargo and 
luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing 
a trailer, load from your trailer 
will be transferred to your vehi-
cle. Consult this manual to 
determine how this reduces the 
available cargo and luggage 
load capacity of your vehicle. 
( P.200)
Cargo capacity
Total load capacity (vehicle 
capacity weight) ( P.504)
When 2 people with the com-
bined weight of A lb. (kg) are rid-
ing in your vehicle, which has a 
total load capacity (vehicle 
capacity weight) of B lb. (kg), 
the available amount of cargo 
and luggage load capacity will 
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following 
information about storage 
precautions, cargo capacity 
and load.
Capacity and distribution
Calculation formula for 
your vehicle 

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. 

1994-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
●Even if the tota l load of occu-
pant’s weight and the cargo 
load is less than  the total load 
capacity, do not apply the load 
unevenly. Improper loading may 
cause deteriorat ion of steering 
or braking control which may 
cause death or serious injury.
■When using a roof luggage 
carrier (vehicles with roof 
rails)
Observe the following precau-
tions: 
●Place the cargo so that its 
weight is distributed evenly 
between the front and rear 
axles.
●If loading long or wide cargo, 
never exceed the vehicle overall 
length or width. (
P.504)
●Before driving,  make sure the 
cargo is securel y fastened on 
the roof luggage carrier.
●Loading cargo on the roof lug-
gage carrier will make the cen-
ter of gravity of the vehicle 
higher. Avoid high speeds, sud-
den starts, sharp turns, sudden 
braking or abrupt maneuvers, 
otherwise it may result in loss of 
control or vehicle rollover due to 
failure to operate this vehicle 
correctly and resu lt in death or 
serious injury.
●If driving for a long distance, on 
rough roads, or at high speeds, 
stop the vehicle now and then 
during the trip to make sure the 
cargo remains in its place.
●Do not exceed 165 lb. (75 kg) 
cargo weight on the roof lug-
gage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading cargo
Be careful not to scratch the sur-
face of the moon roof or pan-
oramic moon roof. 

2004-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■Total load capacity and seating 
capacity
These details are also described on 
the tire and loading information 
label. ( P.430)
Vehicle load limits
Vehicle load limits include 
total load capacity, seating 
capacity, trailer weight rat-
ing and cargo capacity.
 Total load capacity (vehicle 
capacity weight):  P. 5 0 4
Total load capacity means the 
combined weight of occupants, 
cargo and luggage.
 Seating capacity:  P.504
Seating capacity means the max-
imum number of occupants 
whose estimated average weight 
is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
 TWR (Trailer Weight Rat-
ing):  P.206, 504
TWR means the maximum gross 
trailer weight (tr ailer weight plus 
its cargo weight) that your vehicle 
is able to tow.
 Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or 
decrease depending on the 
weight and the number of occu-
pants.
WA R N I N G
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to 
the tires, but also degrade steer-
ing and braking ability, resulting in 
an accident. 

2064-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
Certification Label. (P.504)
 If the gross trailer weight is 
over the unbraked TWR, 
trailer service brakes are 
required. 
If the gross trailer weight is 
over 2000 lb. (900 kg), a sway 
control device with sufficient 
capacity is required.
Confirm that the gross trailer we ight, gross combination weight, 
gross vehicle weight, gross axle weight and tongue weight are all 
within the limits.
■GCWR*1 and TWR*1
■Unbraked TWR*1
1000 lb. (450 kg)
*1: These models meet the tow-vehicle trailering requirement of SA E Inter-
national per SAE J2807.
*2: The model code is indicated o n the Certification Label. (P.504)
*3: For 7-seat models
*4: For 8-seat models
A recommended tongue 
weight varies in accordance 
with the types of trailers or 
towing as described below. 
To ensure the recommended 
values shown below, the 
trailer must be loaded by 
referring to the following 
instructions.
• Tongue Weight
GCWR, TWR and Unbraked TWR
Model code*2EngineDriving 
systemGCWRTWR
 AXUH70L-ARXNHA
 AXUH70L-ARXMHA
 AXUH70L-ARXGHA
2.5L L4 
(A25A-FX
S) engine
2WD9460 lb. 
(4290 kg)
3500 lb. 
(1590 kg) AXUH78L-ARXNHA
 AXUH78L-ARXMHA
 AXUH78L-ARXGHA
*3AWD
9500 lb. 
(4310 kg)
AXUH78L-ARXGHA*49565 lb. 
(4340 kg)
Trailer Tongue Weight 

3234-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
●When driving on d irt, gravel or 
snow-covered roads
●When driving with tire chains
●When driving over bumps in the 
road
●When driving over roads with 
potholes or uneven surfaces
■TRAC/VSC may not operate 
effectively when
Directional control and power may 
not be achievable while driving on 
slippery road surfaces, even if the 
TRAC/VSC system is operating. 
Drive the vehicle carefully in con-
ditions where st ability and power 
may be lost.
■Active Cornering Assist does 
not operate effectively when
●Do not overly rely on Active 
Cornering Assist. Active Corner-
ing Assist may not operate 
effectively when accelerating 
down slopes or driving on slip-
pery road surfaces.
●When Active Cornering Assist 
frequently operates, Active Cor-
nering Assist may temporarily 
stop operating to ensure proper 
operation of the brakes, TRAC 
and VSC.
■Hill-start assist control does 
not operate effectively when
●Do not overly rely on hill-start 
assist control. Hill-start assist 
control may not operate effec-
tively on steep inclines and 
roads covered with ice.
●Unlike the parking brake, 
hill-start assist  control is not 
intended to hold the vehicle sta-
tionary for an extended period 
of time. Do not attempt to use 
hill-start assist  control to hold 
the vehicle on an incline, as 
doing so may lead to an acci-
dent.
■When the 
TRAC/ABS/VSC/Trailer Sway 
Control is activated
The slip indicator  light flashes. 
Always drive carefully. Reckless 
driving may cause an accident. 
Exercise particula r care when the 
indicator light flashes.
■When the TRAC/VSC/Trailer 
Sway Control systems are 
turned off
●Be especially careful and drive 
at a speed appropriate to the 
road conditions. As these are 
the systems to help ensure 
vehicle stability and driving 
force, do not turn the 
TRAC/VSC/Trailer Sway Con-
trol systems off unless neces-
sary.
●Trailer Sway Control is part of 
the VSC system and will not 
operate if VSC is turned off or 
experiences a malfunction.
■Replacing tires
Make sure that all  tires are of the 
specified size, brand, tread pat-
tern and total load capacity. In 
addition, make sure that the tires 
are inflated to the recommended 
tire inflation p ressure level.
The ABS, TRAC, Trailer Sway 
Control and VSC systems will not 
function correctly if different tires 
are installed on the vehicle.
Contact your Toyota dealer for fur-
ther information when replacing 
tires or wheels. 

4206-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_Udriving on snow-covered or icy 
roads. For driving on snow-covered 
roads or icy roads, the use of snow 
tires is recommended. When install-
ing snow tires, be sure to replace all 
four tires.
●All season tires
All season tires are designed to pro-
vide better traction in snow and to 
be adequate for driving in most win-
ter conditions a s well as for use 
year-round. All season tires, how-
ever, do not have  adequate traction 
performance compared with snow 
tires in heavy or loose snow. Also, 
all season tires fall short in accelera-
tion and handling performance com-
pared with summer tires in highway 
driving.
●Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads 
or icy roads, we recommend using 
snow tires. If you need snow tires, 
select tires of the same size, con-
struction and load  capacity as the 
originally installed tires. Since your 
vehicle has radial t ires as original 
equipment, make sure your snow 
tires also have radial construction. 
Do not install stud ded tires without 
first checking local regulations for 
possible restrictions. Snow tires 
should be installed on all wheels. 
(  P.327)
■If the tread on snow tires wears 
down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the tires as 
snow tires is lost.
WA R N I N G
■When inspecting or replacing 
tires
Observe the following precautions 
to prevent accidents.
Failure to do so may cause dam-
age to parts of the drive train as 
well as dangerous handling char-
acteristics, which may lead to an 
accident resulting in death or seri-
ous injury.
●Do not mix tires of different 
makes, models or tread pat-
terns.
Also, do not mix tires of remark-
ably different treadwear.
●Do not use tire sizes other than 
those recommended by Toyota.
●Do not mix differently con-
structed tires (rad ial, bias-belted 
or bias-ply tires).
●Do not mix summer, all season 
and snow tires.
●Do not use tires  that have been 
used on another vehicle.
Do not use tires if you do not 
know how they were used previ-
ously.
●Do not tow if your vehicle has a 
compact spare tire installed.
NOTICE
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving 
on roads with loose surfaces or 
potholes.
These conditions may cause 
losses in tire inflation pressure, 
reducing the cush ioning ability of 
the tires. In addition, driving on 
rough roads may cause damage 
to the tires themselves, as well as 
the vehicle’s wheels and body. 

4326-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
When replacing wheels, care 
should be taken to ensure that 
they are equivalent to those 
removed in load capacity, diam-
eter, rim width and inset
*.
Replacement wheels are avail-
able at your Toyota dealer.
*: Conventionally referred to as off- set.
Toyota does not recommend 
using the following:
 Wheels of different sizes or 
types
 Used wheels
 Bent wheels that have been 
straightened
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your vehicle are 
equipped with tire pressure warning 
valves and transmit ters that allow 
the tire pressure warning system to 
provide advance warning in the 
event of a loss in tire inflation pres-
sure. Whenever wheels are 
replaced, tire pressure warning 
valves and transmitters must be 
installed. ( P.423)
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or 
heavily corroded, it should 
be replaced. Otherwise, the 
tire may separate from the 
wheel or cause a loss of 
handling control.
Wheel selection
WA R N I N G
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a dif-
ferent size from  those recom-
mended in the Owner’s Manual, 
as this may result in a loss of 
handling control.
●Never use an inner tube in a 
leaking wheel which is designed 
for a tubeless tire.
Doing so may result in an acci-
dent, causing death or serious 
injury.
■When installing the wheel 
nuts
Never use oil or grease on the 
wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the 
wheel nuts to be excessively tight-
ened, leading to bolt or disc wheel 
damage. In addition, the oil or 
grease can cause the wheel nuts 
to loosen and the wheel may fall 
off, causing an accident and 
resulting in death or serious injury. 
Remove any oil or grease from 
the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
■Use of defective wheels pro-
hibited
Do not use cracke d or deformed 
wheels. Doing so could cause the 
tire to leak air during driving, pos-
sibly causing an accident.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warn-
ing valves and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replace-
ment may affect the tire pres-
sure warning valves and 
transmitters, make sure to have 
tires serviced by your Toyota 
dealer or other qualified service 
shop. In additio n, make sure to 
purchase your tire pressure 
warning valves  and transmit-
ters at your Toyota dealer.