2023 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER tow

1463-3. Adjusting the seats
■Second seats
1 Up
Pull the head restraints up.
2Down
Push the head restraint down while
pressing the lock release button .
■Third center seat
1 Up
Pull the head restraints up.
2Down
Push the head restraint down while
pressing the lock release button .
■Adjusting the height of the head
restraints Make sure that the head restraints
are adjusted so that the center of
the head restraint i
s 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 rest raint is folded forward,
make sure to return it to the upright
position. ( P.141)
Pull the head restraint up while
pressing the lock release button
.
If the head restrai nt touches the
ceiling, making the removal difficult,
change the seat height or angle.
(  P.136, 137)
Front seats
Removing the head
restraints

1573-4. Adjusting the steering wheel and mirrors
3
Before driving
SymptomLikely causeSolution
The image is diffi-
cult to see.
The mirror surface is dirty.
Clean the mirror surface
gently, using a soft dry
cloth.
Sunlight or headlights are
shining directly into the Dig-
ital Rearview Mirror.
Change to optical mirror
mode.
(If the light is coming
through the moon roof or
panoramic moon roof,
close the sunshade or
electronic sunshade.)
• The vehicle is in a dark area.
• The vehicle is near a TV tower, broadcasting sta-
tion, electric power plant,
or other location where
strong radio waves or
electrical noise may be
present.
• The temperature around the camera is extremely
high/low.
• The ambient temperature is extremely low.
• It is raining or humid.
• Sunlight or headlights are shining directly into the
camera lens.
• The vehicle is under fluo- rescent lights, sodium
lights, mercury lights, etc.
• Exhaust gas is obstruct- ing the camera.
Change to optical mirror
mode.
(Change back to digital
mirror mode when the
conditions have
improved.)

1613-4. Adjusting the steering wheel and mirrors
3
Before driving
mirror angle at a desired position
with the shift lever in R.
The adjusted angle will be memo-
rized and the mirror will automati-
cally tilt to the memorized angle
whenever the shift lever is shifted to
R from next time.
The memorized downward tilt posi-
tion of the mirror is linked to the nor-
mal position (angle adjusted with
the shift lever in other than R).
Therefore, if the normal position is
changed after adjustment, the tilt
position will also change.
When the normal position is
changed, readjust the angle in
reversing.
Push the mirror back in the
direction of the vehicle’s rear.
Automatic mode allows the fold-
ing or extending of the mirrors to be linked to locking/unlocking of
the doors.
Folds the mirrors
Extends the mirrors
■Using automatic mode in cold
weather
When automatic mode is used in
cold weather, the door mirror could
freeze up and automatic stowing
and return may not be possible. In
this case, remove any ice and snow
from the door mirror, then either
operate the mirror using manual
mode or move the mirror by hand.
■Customization
Some functions can be customized.
(  P.494)
WARNING
■When the mirror defoggers
are operating
Do not touch the rear view mirror
surfaces, as they can become
very hot and burn you.
Folding the mirrors (man-
ual type)
Folding and extending the
mirrors (power type)
WARNING
■When a mirror is moving
To avoid personal injury and mir-
ror malfunction, be careful not to
get your hand caught by the mov-
ing mirror.

173
4
4
Driving
Driving
.4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle....... 174
Cargo and luggage ..... 181
Vehicle load limits ....... 184
Trailer towing............... 185
Dinghy towing ............. 196
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch.................................. 197
Automatic transmission .................................. 201
Turn signal lever.......... 204
Parking brake .............. 205
Brake Hold .................. 208
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch .......... 210
Automatic High Beam . 213
Fog light switch ........... 216
Windshield wipers and washer....................... 216
Rear windshield wiper and washer....................... 219
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap.................................. 221
4-5. Using the driving support
systems
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 + .................................. 223
PCS (Pre-Collision System) .................................. 228LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
.................................. 239
Dynamic radar cruise con- trol with full-speed range.................................. 249
RSA (Road Sign Assist) .................................. 261
Stop & Start system .... 264
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) .................................. 270
Intuitive parking assist . 275
RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert) function ............ 283
PKSB (Parking Support Brake) ........................ 289
Parking Support Brake func- tion (static objects) .... 296
Parking Support Brake func- tion (rear-crossing vehi-
cles) ........................... 299
Driving mode select switch .................................. 300
Multi-terrain Select ...... 301
Snow mode switch ...... 304
Downhill assist control sys- tem ............................ 305
Driving assist systems .................................. 307
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips........ 314
Utility vehicle precautions .................................. 317

1754-1. Before driving
4
Driving
When the shift lever is shifted
to R
*.
 When the shift lever is shifted
from P or R to forward drive
shift position such as D
*.
When the system operates, a
message appears on the
multi-information display. Read
the message and follow the
instruction.
*: Depending on the situation, the shift position may not be
changed.
■When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assis t control will acti-
vate. ( P.307)
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully whe n it is raining,
because visibility will be reduced,
the windows may become
fogged-up, and the road will be
slippery.
●Drive carefully whe n it starts to
rain, because the road surface will
be especially 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 surface, 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 auto-
matic 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
●When the bra
ke pedal is
depressed
■Restraining the engine output
(Brake Override System)
●When the accelera tor and brake
pedals are depressed at the same
time, the engine output may be
restrained.
●A warning message is displayed
on the multi-information display
while the system is operating.
■Drive-Start Control (DSC)
When the TRAC is turned off
(  P.308), sudden start restraint
control also does not operate. If
your vehicle have trouble escaping
from the mud or fr esh snow due to
sudden start restraint control opera-
tion, deactivate TRAC ( P.308) so
that the vehicle may become able to
escape from the mud or fresh snow.
Also, sudden start restraint control
will not operate in the following con-
ditions:
●When Multi-terrain Select is
selected (AWD models)
■Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle,
observing the following precautions
is recommended:
●For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
●For the first 600 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.
■Operating your v ehicle in a for-
eign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle

1814-1. Before driving
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.184)
Cargo capacity
Total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight) ( P.474)
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

1824-1. Before driving
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.
WARNING
■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.

1844-1. Before driving
■Total load capacity and seating
capacity
These details are also described on
the tire and loading information
label. ( P.405)
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.474
Total load capacity means the
combined weight of occupants,
cargo and luggage.
 Seating capacity:  P.474
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.190, 474
TWR means the maximum gross
trailer weight (trailer 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.
WARNING
■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.