Toyota Highlander Hybrid - Discount Auto Sales
| Consumer Reports | Specials | Safety Notes | Price Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Fuel Economy | Hybrid Reliability | Road Test |
Consumer Reports Toyota Auto Sale
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SAFETY NOTES
Seatback-mounted side air bags in the front and curtain head-protection air bags
-- extending to protect the outboard occupants in all three rows -- are all
standard in the Highlander. These air bags supplement required front air bags
and three-point seatbelts in all seats. The curtain air bags are designed to
deploy in either side impact or rollover events. A driver's-side knee air bag
also provides additional protection for the driver's legs. Front seatbelts have
adjustable upper anchors for helping to provide a more comfortable and safe fit;
they're equipped with pretensioners and force limiters to reduce belt slack and
forces in the event of a crash. Though children are always safest when
transported in the rear seats, an occupant detection system for the front
passenger's seat determines if a child is seated there or if the seat is
unoccupied. The system disables the front- and side-air bag for that seat. The
position of the driver's seat also influences the appropriate level of front air
bag deployment. There are adjustable and locking head restraints in the front
and second-row seats. All but the center second-row versions are tall enough,
even when lowered, to limit rearward head travel and whiplash injury for most.
The center second-row restraint must be raised for taller passengers. Third-row
restraints flip forward when the seats are folded but must be raised to their
full and sufficiently tall height if someone is seated there. Daytime running
lights are optional. Driving with kids: Rear-facing seats will likely not fit in
the third row of the Highlander behind the raised second-row seatbacks.
Front-facing seats will fit there, but the third row lacks top-tether anchor
points. Though the pass-through at the center second-row seat is nice for
accessing the third row, the narrow belt spacing and the rigid plastic cover
that protects the hinges of the folding portion can prevent getting a secure fit
for either rear- of front-facing seats. Front- and rear-facing seats should
prove secure in the second row outboard seats using either belt or LATCH
installation. There are lower LATCH anchors in the outboard second-row seats and
three top-tether anchors on the second-row seatbacks.