TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2021 Owners Manual (in English)
Page 261 of 568
2614-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_UWhen the turn signal lever is operated and your vehicle moves to an over-
taking lane while driving at 50 mph (
80 km/h) or more, the vehicle will accel-
erate to help to overtake a passing vehicle.
The system’s identification of what  is an overtaking lane may be determined 
solely based on the location of the steering wheel in the vehicle (left side 
driver position versus right side driver  position.) If the vehicle is driven to a 
region where the overtaking lane is on a different side from where the vehi-
cle is normally driven, the vehicle may  accelerate when the turn signal lever 
is operated in the opposite direction to the overtaking lane (e.g., if the driver 
normally operates the vehicle in a region where the overtaking lane is to the 
right but then drives to a region where the overtaking lane is to the left, the 
vehicle may accelerate when the ri ght turn signal is activated).
Example of acceleration
When there are no longer any preceding vehicles driving slower 
than the set speed
The system accelerates until the set speed is reached. The system then 
returns to constant speed cruising.
1 Press the cruise control main 
switch to activate the cruise 
control.
Dynamic radar cruise control indi-
cator will come on and a message 
will be displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display. Press the switch 
again to deactivate the cruise con-
trol.
If the cruise control main switch is 
pressed and held for 1.5 seconds 
or more, the system turns on in 
constant speed control mode.  (
 P.265)
2 Accelerate or decelerate, 
with accelerator pedal opera-
tion, to the desired vehicle 
speed (at or above approxi-
mately 20 mph [30 km/h]) 
and press the “-SET” switch 
to set the speed.
Cruise control “SET” indicator will 
come on.
The vehicle speed at the moment 
the switch is released becomes the 
Setting the vehicle speed 
(vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance control mode) 
Page 262 of 568
2624-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER_Uset speed.
Adjusting the set speed by the 
switch
To change the set speed, press 
the “+RES” or “-SET” switch 
until the desired set speed is 
displayed.
1 Increases the speed (Except 
when the vehicle has been 
stopped by system control in 
vehicle-to-vehicle distance 
control mode)
2 Decreases the speed
Fine adjustment: Press the switch.
Large adjustment: Press and hold 
the switch to change the speed, 
and release when the desired 
speed is reached.
In the vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance control mode, the set  speed will be increased or 
decreased as follows:
For the U.S. mainland and 
Hawaii
Fine adjustment: By 1 mph (1.6 
km/h)
*1 or 1 km/h (0.6 mph)*2 each 
time the switch is pressed
Large adjustment: Increases or 
decreases in 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
*1 or 
1 km/h (0.6 mph)
*2 increments for 
as long as the switch is held
For Canada, Guam, Saipan, 
Puerto Rico and A.Samoa
Fine adjustment: By 1 mph (1.6 
km/h)
*1 or 1 km/h (0.6 mph)*2 each 
time the switch is pressed
Large adjustment: Increases or 
decreases in 5 mph (8 km/h)
*1 or 5 
km/h (3.1 mph)
*2 increments for as 
long as the switch is held
In the constant speed control 
mode ( P.265), the set speed 
will be increased or decreased 
as follows:
Fine adjustment: By 1 mph (1.6 
km/h)
*1 or 1 km/h (0.6 mph)*2 each 
time the switch is pressed
Large adjustment: The speed will 
continue to change while the switch 
is held.
*1: When the set speed is shown in  “MPH”
*2: When the set speed is shown in “km/h”
 Increasing the set speed by 
the accelerator pedal
Adjusting the set speed 
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1Accelerate with accelerator 
pedal operation to the 
desired vehicle speed
2 Press the “-SET” switch
Pressing the switch changes the 
vehicle-to-vehicle distance as 
follows:
1 Long
2 Medium
3 Short
If a vehicle is runni ng ahead of you, 
the preceding vehicle mark   will 
also be displayed.
Select a distance from the table 
below. Note that the distances 
shown correspond to a vehicle 
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h). 
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance  increases/decreases in accor-
dance with vehicle speed. When 
the vehicle is stopped by system 
control, the vehicle stops at a 
certain vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance depending on the situa-
tion.
After the vehicle ahead of you 
starts off, press the “+RES” 
switch.
Your vehicle will also resume 
follow-up cruising if the acceler-
ator pedal is depressed after the 
vehicle ahead of you starts off.
Changing the vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance 
(vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance control mode)
Vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance settings (vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance 
control mode)
Distance 
optionsVehicle-to-vehicle dis- tance
LongApproximately 160 ft. (50 m)
MediumApproximately 130 ft. (40 m)
ShortApproximately 100 ft. (30 m)
Resuming follow-up 
cruising when the vehicle 
has been stopped by sys-
tem control (vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance 
control mode) 
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2644-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER_U
1Pressing the cancel switch 
cancels the speed control.
The speed control is also canceled 
when the brake pedal is depressed. 
(When the vehicle has been 
stopped by system control, 
depressing the brake pedal does 
not cancel the setting.)
2Pressing the “+RES” switch 
resumes the cruise control 
and returns vehicle speed to 
the set speed.
When your vehicle is too close 
to a vehicle ahead, and suffi-
cient automatic deceleration via 
the cruise control is not possi-
ble, the display will flash and the 
buzzer will sound to alert the 
driver. An example of this would 
be if another driver cuts in front 
of you while you are following a 
vehicle. Depress the brake 
pedal to ensure an appropriate 
vehicle-to-vehicle distance.
■Warnings may not occur 
when
In the following instances, warn-
ings may not occur even when 
the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is 
small.
 When the speed of the pre-
ceding vehicle matches or 
exceeds your vehicle speed
 When the preceding vehicle is 
traveling at an extremely slow 
speed
 Immediately after the cruise 
control speed was set
 When depressing the acceler-
ator pedal
While driving in vehicle-to-vehi-
cle distance control mode, this 
function will r educe the vehicle 
speed, if it is determined to be 
necessary.
■Function operation
When the steering wheel begins 
to be turned, the vehicle speed 
will begin being reduced. When 
Canceling and resuming 
the speed control
Approach warning (vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance 
control mode)
Curve speed reduction 
function 
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2654-5. Using the driving support systems
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Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
the steering wheel is returned to 
the center position, the vehicle 
speed reduction will end.
Depending on the situation, the 
vehicle speed will then return to 
the vehicle-to-vehicle distance 
control mode set speed.
In situations where vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance control 
needs to operate, such as when 
a preceding vehicle cuts in front 
of your vehicle, the curve speed 
reduction function will be can-
celed.
■Operation display
Displayed when the vehicle 
speed is being reduced.
When the vehicle speed reduc-
tion ends, the display will disap-
pear.
■Changing the settings of 
the curve speed reduction 
function
The curve speed reduction func-
tion can be enabled/disabled 
and the vehicle speed reduction 
strength can be adjusted.
4.2-inch display
Press the  or   meter control 
switch to select  . Press   or   to select “Curve Speed 
Reduction” and then press 
.
7-inch display
Press the  or   meter control 
switch to select  . Press   or   to select “Curve Speed 
Reduction” and then press 
.
The setting will change each 
time the   meter control switch 
is pressed.
When constant speed control 
mode is selected, your vehicle 
will maintain a set speed without 
controlling the vehicle-to-vehi-
cle distance. Select this mode 
only when vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance control mode does not 
function correctly due to a dirty 
radar, etc.
1 With the cruise control off, 
press and hold the cruise 
control main switch for 1.5 
seconds or more.
Immediately after the switch is 
pressed, the dynamic radar cruise 
control indicator will come on. After-
wards, it switches to the cruise con-
trol indicator.
Switching to constant speed control 
mode is only possible when operat-
ing the switch with the cruise con-
Selecting constant speed 
control mode 
Page 266 of 568
2664-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER_Utrol off.
2
Accelerate or decelerate, 
with accelerator pedal opera-
tion, to the desired vehicle 
speed (at or above approxi-
mately 20 mph [30 km/h]) 
and press the “-SET” switch 
to set the speed.
Cruise control “SET” indicator will 
come on.
The vehicle speed at the moment 
the switch is released becomes the 
set speed.
Adjusting the speed setting: 
P. 2 6 2
Canceling and resuming the speed 
setting:  P. 2 6 4
■Dynamic radar cruise control 
with full-speed range can be set 
when
●The shift lever is in D.
●The desired set speed can be set 
when the vehicle speed is approx-
imately 20 mph (30 km/h) or more. (However, when the vehicle speed 
is set while driving at below 
approximately 20 mph [30 km/h], 
the set speed will be set to 
approximately 20 mph [30 km/h].)
■Accelerating after setting the 
vehicle speed
The vehicle can accelerate by oper-
ating the accelerator pedal. After 
accelerating, the set speed 
resumes. However, during vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance control 
mode, the vehicle speed may 
decrease below the set speed in 
order to maintain the distance to the 
preceding vehicle.
■When the vehicle stops while 
follow-up cruising
●Pressing the “+RES” switch while 
the vehicle ahead stops will 
resume follow-up cruising if the 
vehicle ahead starts off within 
approximately 3 seconds after the 
switch is pressed.
●If the vehicle ahead starts off 
within 3 seconds after your vehicle 
stops, follow-up cruising will be 
resumed.
■Automatic cancelation of vehi-
cle-to-vehicle distance control 
mode
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control 
mode is automatically canceled in 
the following situations.
●VSC is activated.
●TRAC is activated for a period of 
time.
●When the VSC or  TRAC system is 
turned off.
●When snow mode is set.
●The sensor cannot detect cor-
rectly because it is covered in 
some way.
●Pre-collision braking is activated.
●The parking brake is operated.
●The vehicle is stopped by system 
control on a steep incline. 
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●The following are detected when 
the vehicle has been stopped by 
system control:
• The driver is not wearing a seat  belt.
• The driver’s door is opened.
• The vehicle has been stopped for 
about 3 minutes
If vehicle-to-vehicle distance control 
mode is automatically canceled for 
any reasons other than the above, 
there may be a malfunction in the 
system. Contact your Toyota dealer.
■Automatic cancelation of con-
stant speed control mode
Constant speed control mode is 
automatically canceled in the follow-
ing situations:
●Actual vehicle speed is more than 
approximately 10 mph (16 km/h) 
below the set vehicle speed.
●Actual vehicle speed falls below 
approximately 20 mph (30 km/h).
●VSC is activated.
●TRAC is activated for a period of 
time.
●When the VSC or TRAC system is 
turned off.
●Pre-collision brakin g is activated.
●The parking brake is operated.
If constant speed control mode is 
automatically canceled for any rea-
sons other than the above, there 
may be a malfunction in the system. 
Contact your Toyota dealer.
■Situations in which the curve 
speed reduction function may 
not operate
In situations such as the following, 
the curve speed reduction function 
may not operate:
●When the vehicle is being driven 
around a gentle curve
●When the accelerator pedal is 
being depressed
●When the vehicle is being driven 
around an extremely short curve
■Brake operation
A brake operation sound may be 
heard and the brake pedal response 
may change, but these are not mal-
functions.
■Warning messages and buzzers 
for dynamic radar cruise con-
trol with full-speed range
Warning messages and buzzers are 
used to indicate a system malfunc-
tion or to inform the driver of the 
need for caution while driving. If a 
warning message is shown on the 
multi-information di splay, read the 
message and follow the instructions. 
(  P.233, 468)
■When the sensor may not be 
correctly detecting the vehicle 
ahead
In the case of the following and 
depending on the conditions, oper-
ate the brake pedal when decelera-
tion of the system is insufficient or 
operate the accelerator pedal when 
acceleration is required.
As the sensor may not be able to 
correctly detect these types of vehi-
cles, the approach warning 
(  P.264) may not be activated.
●Vehicles that cut in suddenly
●Vehicles traveling at low speeds
●Vehicles that are not moving in the 
same lane
●Vehicles with small rear ends 
(trailers with no load on board, 
etc.)
●Motorcycles traveling in the same 
lane
●When water or snow thrown up by 
the surrounding vehicles hinders  
Page 268 of 568
2684-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER_Uthe detecting of the sensor
●When your vehicle is pointing 
upwards (caused by a heavy load 
in the luggage compartment, etc.)
●Preceding vehicle has an 
extremely high ground clearance
■Conditions under which the 
vehicle-to-vehicle distance con-
trol mode may not function cor-
rectly
In the case of the following condi-
tions, operate the brake pedal (or 
accelerator pedal, depending on the 
situation) as necessary.
As the sensor may not be able to 
correctly detect vehicles ahead, the 
system may not operate properly.
●When the road curves or when the 
lanes are narrow
●When steering wheel operation or 
your position in the lane is unsta-
ble
●When the vehicle ahead of you 
decelerates suddenly
●When driving on a road sur-
rounded by a structure, such as in 
a tunnel or on a bridge
■Situations in which the curve 
speed reduction function may 
not operate properly
In situations such as the following, 
the curve speed reduction function 
may not operate properly:
●When the vehicle is being driven 
around a curve on an 
incline/decline
●When the course of the vehicle 
differs from the shape of the curve
●When the vehicle speed is exces-
sively high when entering a curve
●When the steering wheel is sud-
denly operated 
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Driving
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*: If equippedWhen the front camera recog-
nizes a sign and/or information 
of a sign is available from the 
navigation system, the sign will 
be displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display.
When the driving support sys-
tem information is selected, a 
maximum of 3 signs can be 
displayed. ( P.84, 93)
 When a tab other than the 
driving support system infor-
mation is selected, the follow-
ing types of road signs will be 
displayed. ( P.84, 93)
• Speed limit sign
• Do Not Enter sign (when notifica-
tion is necessary)
If signs other than speed limit signs 
RSA (Road Sign 
Assist)*
The RSA system recognizes 
specific road signs using 
the front camera and/or nav-
igation system (when speed 
limit information is avail-
able) to provide information 
to the driver via the display.
If the system judges that the 
vehicle is being driven over 
the speed limit, performing 
prohibited actions, etc. 
according to the recog-
nized road signs, it notifies 
the driver through a visual 
notification and notification 
buzzer.
WARNING
■Before using the RSA
Do not rely solely upon the RSA 
system. RSA is a system which 
supports the driver by providing 
information, but it is not a replace-
ment for a driver’s own vision and 
awareness. Drive safely by 
always paying careful attention to 
the traffic rules.
Indication on the 
multi-information display 
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2704-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER_Uare recognized, they will be dis-
played in an overlapping stack 
under the current speed limit sign.
The following types of road 
signs, including electronic signs 
and blinking signs, are recog-
nized.
A non-official or a recently intro-
duced traffic sign may not be recog-
nized.
In the following situations, the 
RSA system will notify the 
driver.
When the vehicle speed 
exceeds the speed notifica-
tion threshold of the speed 
limit sign displayed, the sign 
display will be emphasized 
and a buzzer will sound.
 When the RSA system recog-
nizes a do not enter sign and  determines that your vehicle 
has entered a no-entry area, 
the displayed sign will flash 
and a buzzer will sound.
Depending on the situation, a 
notification function may not 
operate properly.
■Setting procedure
4.2-inch display
1 Press  or   of the meter 
control switches and select  .
2 Press   or   of the meter 
control switches and select  , 
then press  .
7-inch display
1 Press  or   of the meter 
control switches and select  .
2 Press  or   of the meter 
control switches and select  , 
then press  .
■Automatic turn-off of RSA sign 
display
In the following situations, a dis-
played speed limit sign and/or do 
not enter sign will stop being dis-
played automatically:
●No sign has been recognized for a 
certain distance.
●The road changes due to a left or 
right turn, etc.
In the following situations, stop and 
yield signs will stop being displayed 
automatically:
●The system determines that your 
vehicle has passed the sign.
●The road changes due to a left or 
right turn, etc.
Supported types of road 
signs
Speed limit
Do Not Enter
Stop
Yield
Notification function