engine TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2023 Owner's Guide

2134-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
may be displayed. Use the EV drive
mode when it becomes available.
■If “EV Mode Deactivated” is
shown on the multi-information
display
The EV drive mode has been auto-
matically canceled. The reason the
EV drive mode is not available (the
battery charge is low, vehicle speed
is higher than the EV drive mode
operating speed range or accelera-
tor pedal is depressed too much)
may be displayed. Drive the vehicle
for a while before attempting to turn
on the EV drive mode again.
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, shift the shift lever
to D for normal driving.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control accelerat-
ing force and engine braking
force.
■When driving with dynamic
radar cruise control with
full-speed range activated
Even when switching the driving
mode to sport mode with the intent
of enabling engine braking, engine
braking will not activate because
dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range will not be can-
celed.
■Drive-Start Control (DSC)
 P.185
WARNING
■Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode,
pay special attention to the area
around the vehicle. Because
there is no engine noise, pedestri-
ans, people riding bicycles or
other people and vehicles in the
area may not be aware of the
vehicle starting off or approaching
them, so take extra care while
driving. Therefore, take extra care
while driving even if the acoustic
vehicle alerting system is active.
Hybrid transmission
Select the shift position
depending on your purpose
and situation.
Shift position purpose
and functions
Shift posi-
tionObjective or function
P
Parking the vehi-
cle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2
(  P.215)

2144-2. Driving procedures
: While the power switch is in
ON and the brake pedal
depressed
*, shift the shift lever
while pushing the shift release
button on the shift knob.
: Shift the shift lever while pushing the shift release button
on the shift knob.
: Shift the shift lever normally.
When shifting the shift lever
between P and D, make sure that
the vehicle is completely stopped
and the brake pedal is depressed.
*: For the vehicle to be able to be shifted from P, the brake pedal
must be depressed before the
shift release button is pushed. If
the shift release button is pushed
first, the shift lock will not be
released.
■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 power switch is in ON
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 brake pedal,
there may be a p roblem 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 ensure
that the shift lev er can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
1 Turn the power switch to ON and
check that the parking brake is
set. ( P.209, 217)
2 Turn the power switch to off.
3 Depress the brake pedal.
4 Pry the cover up with a flathead
screwdriver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damag e to the cover,
WARNING
■When driving on slippery
road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and
sudden acceleration, as this could
result in the vehicle skidding to
the side or spinning.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (traction bat-
tery) charge
If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid
battery (traction battery) will not
be charged even when the engine
is running. Theref ore, if the vehi-
cle is left with the shift lever in N
for a long period of time, the
hybrid battery (tr action battery)
will discharge, and this may result
in the vehicle n ot being able to
start.
Shifting the shift lever

2154-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
cover the tip of the screwdriver with
a rag.
5Press and hold the shift lock
override button.
The shift lever can be shifted while
both buttons are pressed.
 P.308 When the shift lever is in the S
position, the shift lever can be
operated as follows:
1
Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The selected shift range, from S1 to
S6, will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
The initial shift range in S mode is
set automatically to S4 or S5
according to vehicle speed.
■S mode
●You can choose from 6 levels of
accelerating force and engine
braking force.
●A lower shift range will provide
greater accelerating force and
engine braking force than a higher
shift range, and t he engine revolu-
tions will also increase.
●To prevent the engine from
over-revving, upshifting may auto-
matically occur when the shift
range is 4 or lower.
●When the shift range is 4 or lower,
holding the shift lever toward “+”
WARNING
■To prevent an accident when
releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock
override button, make sure to set
the parking brake and depress the
brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is acci-
dentally depressed instead of the
brake pedal when the shift lock
override button is pressed and the
shift lever is shifted out of P, the
vehicle may suddenly start, possi-
bly leading to an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury.
Selecting the driving
mode
Changing shift ranges in
S mode

2864-5. Using the driving support systems
sounds.
• It might be difficult to hear the buzzer due to the volume of the
audio system or air flow noise of
the air conditioning system.
• It may be difficult to hear the
buzzer if buzzers for other sys-
tems are sounding.
■Objects which the system may
not be properly detected
The shape of the object may pre-
vent the sensor from detecting it.
Pay particular attention to the follow-
ing objects:
●Wires, fences, ropes, etc.
●Cotton, snow and other materials
that absorb sound waves
●Sharply-angled objects
●Low objects
●Tall objects with upper sections
projecting outwards in the direc-
tion of your vehicle
People may not be detected if they
are wearing certain types of cloth-
ing.
■Situations in which the system
may not operate properly
Certain vehicle conditions and the
surrounding environment may affect
the ability of a sensor to correctly
detect objects. Particular instances
where this may occur are listed
below.
●There is dirt, snow, water drops or
ice on a sensor. (Cleaning the
sensors will resolve this problem.)
●A sensor is frozen. (Thawing the
area will resolve this problem.)
In especially cold weather, if a
sensor is frozen the sensor dis-
play may be displayed abnormally,
or objects, such as a wall, may not
be detected.
●When a sensor or the area around
a sensor is extremely hot or cold.
●On an extremely bumpy road, on
an incline, on gravel, or on grass.
●When vehicle horns, vehicle
detectors, motorcycle engines, air
brakes of large vehicles, the clear-
ance sonar of ot her vehicles or
other devices which produce ultra-
sonic waves are near the vehicle.
●A sensor is coated with a sheet of
spray or heavy rain.
●If objects draw too close to the
sensor.
●When a pedestrian is wearing
clothing that does not reflect ultra-
sonic waves (ex. skirts with gath-
ers or frills).
●When objects that are not perpen-
dicular to the ground, not perpen-
dicular to the vehicle traveling
direction, uneven, or waving are in
the detection range.
●Strong wind is blowing.
●When driving in inclement weather
such as fog, snow or a sandstorm.
●When an object that cannot be
detected is between the vehicle
and a detected object.
●If an object such as a vehicle,
motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian
cuts in front of the vehicle or runs
out from the side of the vehicle.
●If the orientation of a sensor has
been changed due to a collision or
other impact.
●When equipment that may
obstruct a sensor is installed, such
as a towing eyelet, bumper pro-
tector (an additional trim strip,
etc.), bicycle carrier, or snow plow.
●If the front of the v ehicle is raised

2874-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
or lowered due to the carried load.
●If the vehicle cannot be driven in a
stable manner, such as when the
vehicle has been in an accident or
is malfunctioning.
●When a tire chains, compact
spare tire or an emergency tire
puncture repair kit is used.
■Situations in which the system
may operate even if there is no
possibility of a collision
In some situations, such as the fol-
lowing, the system may operate
even though there is no possibility of
a collision.
●When driving on a narrow road.
●When driving toward a banner,
flag, low-hanging branch or boom
barrier (such as those used at rail-
road crossings, toll gates and
parking lots).
●When there is a rut or hole in the
surface of the road.
●When driving on a metal cover
(grating), such as those used for
drainage ditches.
●When driving up or down a steep
slope.
●If a sensor is hit by a large amount
of water, such as when driving on
a flooded road.
●There is dirt, snow, water drops or
ice on a sensor. (Cleaning the
sensors will resolve this problem.)
●A sensor is coated with a sheet of
spray or heavy rain.
●When driving in inclement weather
such as fog, snow or a sandstorm.
●When strong winds are blowing.
●When vehicle horns, vehicle
detectors, motorcycle engines, air
brakes of large vehicles, the clear-
ance sonar of ot her vehicles or
other devices which produce ultra-
sonic waves are near the vehicle.
●If the front of the v ehicle is raised
or lowered due to the carried load.
●If the orientation of a sensor has
been changed due to a collision or
other impact.
●The vehicle is approaching a tall
or curved curb.
●Driving close to columns
(H-shaped steel beams, etc.) in
multi-story parking garages, con-
struction sites, etc.
●If the vehicle cannot be driven in a
stable manner, such as when the
vehicle has been in an accident or
is malfunctioning.
●On an extremely bumpy road, on
an incline, on gravel, or on grass.
●When a tire chains, compact
spare tire or an emergency tire
puncture repair kit is used.

3104-5. Using the driving support systems
■Trail Mode
●Trail Mode is intended for use
when driving on bumpy roads. Do
not turn the switch on in other situ-
ations.
●Trail Mode controls the vehicle so
that it can use the maximum
amount of drive force when driving
on bumpy roads. As a result, fuel
efficiency may diminish when
compared to driving with Trail
Mode off.
●If Trail Mode is continuously used
for a long period of time, the load
on related parts increases and the
system may be un able to operate
effectively.
■When Trail Mode is canceled
In the following situations, Trail
Mode is automatically canceled
even if it is turned on.
●When the driving mode is
changed (P.308)
●When the power switch is turned
off
■During Trail Mode operation
The following types of situations
may occur, but they are not malfunc-
tions.
●Vibrations may be felt throughout
the vehicle or steering wheel
●Operating noise may be heard
from the engine compartment
■When an inspection at your
Toyota dealer is necessary
In the following si tuations, the sys- tem may be malf
unctioning. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer immediately.
●When the slip indicator illuminates
while Trail Mode is on
●When the Trail Mode indicator
does not illuminat e even though
the Trail Mode switch is pressed

3134-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
■Turning off both TRAC, VSC
and Trailer Sway Control sys-
tems
To turn the TRAC, VSC and Trailer
Sway Control systems off, press
and hold the switch for more
than 3 seconds while the vehicle is
stopped.
The VSC OFF indicator light will
come on and the “Traction Control
Turned OFF” will be shown on the
multi-information display.
*
Press the switch again to turn
the system back on.
*: On vehicles with PCS (Pre-Colli- sion System), PCS will also be
disabled (only Pre-Collision warn-
ing is available). The PCS warning
light will come on and a message
will be display ed on the
multi-informat ion display.
(  P.242)
■When the message is dis-
played on the multi-information
display showing that TRAC has
been disabled even if the
switch has not been pressed
TRAC is temporary deactivated. If
the information continues to show,
contact your Toyota dealer.
■Operating conditions of
hill-start assist control
When the following four conditions
are met, the hill-start assist control
will operate:
●The shift lever is in a position
other than P or N (when starting
off forward/backward on an
upward incline)
●The vehicle is stopped
●The accelerator pedal is not
depressed
●The parking brake is not engaged
■Automatic system cancelation
of hill-start assist control
The hill-start assist control will turn
off in any of the fo llowing situations:
●The shift lever is shifted to P or N
●The accelerator pedal is
depressed
●The parking brake is engaged
●2 seconds at maximum elapsed
after the brake pedal is released
■Sounds and vibrations caused
by the ABS, brake assist, VSC,
Trailer Sway Control, TRAC and
hill-start assist control systems
●A sound may be heard from the
engine compartment when the
brake pedal is depressed repeat-
edly, when the hybrid system is
started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This sound does
not indicate that a malfunction has
occurred in any of these systems.
●Any of the following conditions
may occur when the above sys-
tems are operating. None of these
indicates that a malfunction has
occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the
vehicle body and steering.
• A motor sound may be heard also
after the vehicle comes to a stop.
■ECB operating sound
ECB operating sound may be heard
in the following cases, but it does
not indicate that a malfunction has
occurred.
●Operating sound heard from the
engine compartment when the
brake pedal is operated.
●Motor sound of the brake system
heard from the f ront part of the
vehicle when the driver’s door is
opened.
●Operating sound heard from the
engine compartment when one or
two minutes passed after the stop
of the hybrid system.

3184-6. Driving tips
4-6.Driving tips
When using Eco drive mode, the
torque corresponding to the
accelerator pedal depression
amount can be generated more
smoothly than it is in normal
conditions. In addition, the oper-
ation of the air conditioning sys-
tem (heating/cooling) will be
minimized, improving the fuel
economy. (P.308)
Eco-friendly driving is possible
by keeping the Hybrid System
Indicator within the Eco area.
( P. 8 8 )
Shift the shift lever to D when
stopped at a traffic light, or driv-
ing in heavy traffic, etc. Shift the
shift lever to P when parking.
When using N, there is no posi-
tive effect on fuel consumption.
In N, the gasoline engine oper-
ates but electricity cannot be
generated. Also, when using the
air conditioning system, etc., the hybrid battery (traction battery)
power is consumed.

Drive your vehicle smoothly.
Avoid abrupt acceleration and
deceleration. Gradual accel-
eration and deceleration will
make more effective use of
the electric motor (traction
motor) without having to use
gasoline engine power.
 Avoid repeated acceleration.
Repeated acceleration con-
sumes hybrid battery (trac-
tion battery) power, resulting
in poor fuel consumption. Bat-
tery power can be restored by
driving with the accelerator
pedal slightly released.
Make sure to operate the brakes
gently and in a timely manner. A
greater amount of electrical
energy can be regenerated
when slowing down.
Repeated acceleration and
deceleration, as well as long
waits at traffic lights, will lead to
bad fuel economy. Check traffic
reports before leaving and avoid
delays as much as possible.
When driving in a traffic jam,
Hybrid Electric Vehi-
cle driving tips
For economical and ecolog-
ical driving, pay attention to
the following points:
Using Eco drive mode
Use of Hybrid System
Indicator
Shift lever operation
Accelerator pedal/brake
pedal operation
When braking
Delays

3194-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
gently release the brake pedal
to allow the vehicle to move for-
ward slightly while avoiding
overuse of the accelerator
pedal. Doing so can help control
excessive gasoline consump-
tion.
Control and maintain the vehicle
at a constant speed. Before
stopping at a toll booth or simi-
lar, allow plenty of time to
release the accelerator and gen-
tly apply the brakes. A greater
amount of electrical energy can
be regenerated when slowing
down.
Use the air conditioning only
when necessary. Doing so can
help reduce excessive gasoline
consumption.
In summer: When the ambient
temperature is high, use the
recirculated air mode. Doing so
will help to reduce the burden on
the air conditioning system and
reduce fuel consumption as
well.
In winter: Because the gasoline
engine will not automatically cut
out until it and the interior of the
vehicle are warm, it will con-
sume fuel. Also, fuel consump-
tion can be improved by
avoiding overuse of the heater.Make sure to check the tire infla-
tion pressure frequently.
Improper tire inflation pressure
can cause poor fuel economy.
Also, as snow tires can cause
large amounts of friction, their
use on dry roads can lead to
poor fuel economy. Use tires
that are appropriate for the sea-
son.
Carrying heavy luggage will lead
to poor fuel economy. Avoid car-
rying unnecessary luggage.
Installing a large roof rack will
also cause poor fuel economy.
Since the gasoline engine starts
up and cuts out automatically
when cold, warming up the
engine is unnecessary. More-
over, frequently driving short
distances will cause the engine
to repeatedly warm up, which
can lead to excess fuel con-
sumption.
Highway driving
Air conditioning
Checking tire inflation
pressure
Luggage
Warming up before driv-
ing

3204-6. Driving tips
Use fluids that are appropriate
to the prevailing outside tem-
peratures.
• Engine oil
• Engine/power control unit coolant
• Washer fluid
Have a service technician
inspect the condition of the
12-volt battery.
 Have the vehicle fitted with
four snow tires or purchase a
set of tire chains for the front
tires.
Ensure that all tires are the same
size and brand, and that chains
match the size of the tires.
Perform the following according
to the driving conditions:
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary
preparations and inspec-
tions before driving the
vehicle in winter. Always
drive the vehicle in a man-
ner appropriate to the pre-
vailing weather conditions.
Pre-winter preparations
WARNING
■Driving with snow tires
Observe the following precautions
to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so m ay result in a
loss of vehicle control and cause
death or serious injury.
●Use tires of the specified size.
●Maintain the recommended
level of air pressure.
●Do not drive in excess of 75
mph (120 km/h), regardless of
the type of snow tires being
used.
●Use snow tires on all, not just
some wheels.
■Driving with tire chains
Observe the following precautions
to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in the
vehicle being unable to be driven
safely, and may cause death or
serious injury.
●Do not drive in excess of the
speed limit specifi ed for the tire
chains being used, or 30 mph
(50 km/h), whichever is lower.
●Avoid driving on bumpy road
surfaces or over potholes.
●Avoid sudden acceleration,
abrupt steering, sudden brak-
ing and shifting operations that
cause sudden engine braking.
●Slow down sufficiently before
entering a curve to ensure that
vehicle control is maintained.
●Do not use the LTA (Lane Trac-
ing Assist) system.
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing snow
tires
Request repairs or replacement of
snow tires from Toyota dealers or
legitimate tire retailers.
This is because the removal and
attachment of snow tires affects
the operation of the tire pressure
warning valves and transmitters.
Before driving the vehicle