As previously mentioned, the 2021 Toyota Highlander is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With the help of these fantastic smartphone integration options, you can connect a compatible smart device to your Toyota Highlander and take advantage of a number of phone-like features. These advantages may be amusement- or information-based, keeping you connected to the outside world. You have access to things like:
- Features for Messaging and Calling
- Systems for navigation and mapping
- Applications for Audio Broadcasting (Spotify, Pandora, etc)
- Plus More!
These technologies enable you to access numerous phone features while driving by allowing you to use your car as a phone by proxy. However, a 2021 Toyota Highlander provides you more than just Apple CarPlay and Android Auto!
In This Article...
Toyota Highlander Additional Technologies
The 2021 Toyota Highlander is a fantastic car with a ton of innovative features for you to enjoy. These include a variety of audio and networking technologies in addition to the smartphone functions mentioned above. Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth Wireless Technologies, 11 JBL speakers with subwoofer and amplifier, and more are a few well-known examples of these systems.
You can profit greatly from these elements’ seamless integration to enjoy your drive in style and gain a ton of advantages. With the Toyota Highlander 2021, you’ll never short for connectivity, entertainment, or audio quality!
Will a Toyota Highlander be compatible with Android Auto?
There are a variety of reasons why Android Auto might not launch on your Highlander when you plug in the USB cable and there is no Android Auto icon in the list of apps on the infotainment system:
- Your Highlander’s infotainment system settings have Android Auto turned off.
- Make sure Android Auto is installed and has the appropriate permissions if it isn’t already on your phone.
- You’re using a faulty or unbranded USB data cable. A alternative cable, preferably the original, should be tried.
- Your Highlander’s attached USB port does not support Android Auto. Test several USB ports.
- Android Auto’s issue is a result of a software error. A factory reset of the Highlander’s infotainment system might help. Go to Settings > Apps > Android Auto > Storage on your phone to remove Android Auto’s data and cache.
- Your Highlander is an older model and does not support Android Auto. Android Auto is only compatible with Toyota Highlander models from the 2020 model year and beyond.
Get your Highlander checked out by a certified Toyota dealer if you’re still having trouble connecting Android Auto to your vehicle.
When did the Highlander get Android Auto?
Introducing our new Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Interface Systems. This system is made to work with the OEM Panasonic radio command system found in the 20142019 Toyota Highlander (FACEPLATE #510180, 510390 and MODEL #86140-OE241, 86140-OE231, 86140-OE291, 86140-OE293). When you install our straightforward plug-and-play solution, you’ll keep all OEM features and CarPlay features on your current screen. For the most OEM Integrated value for your money, upgrade with our system rather than replacing the entire radio command system.
Is Android Auto available on the 2018 Toyota Highlander?
With limited internet connections, the XLE trims and higher receive integrated navigation and connection to various apps. You might be disappointed to learn that the 2018 Toyota Highlander lacks an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto.
The 2017 Toyota Highlander is Android Auto compatible.
The 2017 Highlander is the most recent Toyota model to gain access to the automaker’s active safety tech package, which also features active cruise control, lane keeping assistance, and an automatic braking system with pedestrian detection. Although this technology is included in every 2017 Highlander, we still wish Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available.
Does the Toyota Highlander from 2022 support Android Auto?
With the arrival of the new Toyota Highlander in 2022, a party is in order. This SUV is technologically advanced and offers an available Driver Easy Speak feature that lets you express yourself (all the way to the rear seat). The entire family can have fun while the driver keeps their eyes on the road thanks to an available 12.3-inch touchscreen with Android AutoTM and Apple CarPlay and a 10-inch color Head-Up Display (HUD). With available second-row fold-down captain’s chairs, fold-down inboard armrests, and a maximum load volume of 84.3 cubic feet, comfort is a top consideration. Additionally, you can add optional leather upholstery to the sumptuous interior design and obtain heated front and second-row seats to keep you warm on frigid days. With the new 2022 Toyota Highlander, you could have just discovered what you’re searching for if you want a front-cabin that’s comfy, has plenty of interior space, and is technologically advanced.
Weight and distribution have an impact on the cargo and load capacity. Always keep the cargo area and cargo secure.
Is Android Auto available on the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
A few years ago, I took a brand-new Toyota Highlander for a test drive along California’s bright Pacific Coast Highway. I was thrilled by the vehicle’s new appearance and interior features, as well as its comfort and handling on the open road.
I still have the same opinion about the most recent model of Toyota’s family hauler nowadays. There isn’t much not to like about the Highlander, which has a ton of interior space and clever touches on the center stack that make it pretty comfortable to live with.
Stylish modernity with character The 2014 redesign of the Toyota Highlander, which took it firmly into the current era and gave it a look that appeals to both seasoned buyers and brand-new families, is still evident in the 2016 model. The 8-passenger SUV stands out on the road unlike the previous model thanks to its striking front grille and optional LED daytime running lights. The Highlander was effectively given some personality by Toyota’s designers just as the rivals (read: Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder) were doing all of that and more.
The 2016 Highlander has an angular look on the back that matches the rest of the Toyota lineup. Additionally, a height-adjustable hydraulic liftgate is an option, so you never have to be concerned about the back hatch slamming against a low-hanging roof in a garage. It even includes a very useful option to just open the back window.
Stunning cabin My favorite parts are located inside the 2016 Toyota Highlander, so go inside. The dash and center stack on the Highlander are without a doubt the nicest updates. The designers at Toyota did a great job creating a space that is both very useful and attractive. The design appears straightforward, which it actually is, and that’s what really makes it so appealing. The radio and navigation system are simple to operate thanks to its large buttons and knobs. Additionally, the Toyota onboard infotainment system is simple to use (probably one of my favourite to use at the moment). It’s still a fantastic device to use even though neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto are currently available.
My favorite quality, without a doubt? Toyota included a clever little shelf that runs from the glove box to just below the 6″ to 8″ entertainment screen and HVAC controls. It even has apertures that are conveniently placed directly above the USB ports to ensure everyone can easily charge their devices. It is the ideal size for iPhones and keys. Even though it’s a very straightforward design feature, it caught my attention and enhanced my enjoyment of the Highlander.
The 2016 Toyota Highlander’s seating is supportive and suitable for all sizes. The second and third rows provide plenty of room; my tiny son had plenty of legroom in those seats. Additionally, Toyota has a very cool technology that projects the conversation between the driver and front-seat passenger to the backseat, allowing you to “speak” to the third row without shouting. Now you may ask the youngsters in the third row to behave themselves without shouting at them; at least, that’s what Toyota hopes.
How’s the drive going? My front-wheel-drive LE Convenience tester for the 2016 Highlander came equipped with the same 3.5L V6 Toyota engine that generates 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. When required, this engine provides a lot of punch and pep. It is not, however, nor is it need to be, a motor with obvious power. Driving the Highlander isn’t as boring as you might assume because it has exactly the proper amount of performance and communication between the front wheels. It was so unbelievably comfy and smooth on the open road that I actually genuinely liked my time behind the wheel and looked forward to longer trips.
My only issue with the 2016 Toyota Highlander is its lack of visibility. In a car of size, visibility ought to be no problem at all, and I had the same expectation. The A- and B-pillars, on the other hand, are incredibly enormous and completely obstruct my side views as a driver. When I was at a 4-way stop, I frequently began moving only to realize there was an approaching car on my left (thinking no one was there). It was such a surprise! I quickly realized that in order to see past the pillars and avoid running into anyone, I needed to turn my head.
However, the Highlander is fully equipped with both active and passive safety measures, such as a back-up camera and eight airbags as standard features, as well as available blind spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alert and of course all the necessary onboard safety features (such as LATCH hook-ups in both the second and third rows).
One last thing about Highlander Overall, if you’re looking for a family hauler that’s beautiful, comfortable, dependable, and not completely boring to drive, the recently redesigned 2016 Toyota Highlander provides a fantastic alternative. In my perspective, the Highlander’s interior spaciousness, comfort, and design truly put it at the top of the heap.
The Bottom Line
This three-row SUV isn’t the most exciting, but it’s dependable and will likely survive until the kids are grown and living on their own.
Last Monday, I turned on the Highlander, Toyota’s three-row crossover, inserted my favorite Super Big Gulp, and set off on my journey. I directed my SBG (as I affectionately refer to it) at the cup holder after taking a sip of my soda, but it got stuck on the small lever that accommodates various cup sizes. Just as I started to accelerate, the automobile in front of me abruptly stopped.
The Highlander precharged its brakes as the warning light and alarm for a forward collision went off. When the lead car’s bumper was only millimeters away, I slammed on the brakes, glanced up, yelled a series of NSFW expletives, and felt the ABS pulse.
I silently thanked Toyota for including its suite of collision prevention technologies in all of its vehicles as adrenaline pumped through my veins. That decision made in the boardroom spared me from making a humiliating call to my boss.
Safety dance
The Highlander sits between the more capable 4Runner and the two-row RAV4 crossover. Although the Highlander has a maximum seating capacity of seven or eight depending on the trim level, the third row is more suitable for tiny children in car seats than any kind of average-sized adult. For 2017, the Highlander had a significant update. This midsize crossover now has a sharper front and updated LED taillights, and Toyota added the SE level with some subtle sporty features like 19-inch black finish wheels and a dark painted front grille and roof rails.
The following features, which are now considered standard across all Highlander trim levels thanks to Toyota’s Safety Sense P (TSS-P) package, include: lane-keeping assistance to prevent lane drift and dynamic radar cruise control to maintain a predetermined distance from a lead vehicle. While lane-keeping assistance functions flawlessly, dynamic radar cruise control is useless in stop-and-go traffic because it is ineffective at speeds below 30 mph. However, Toyota has an advantage thanks to these features and the career-saving forward collision warning I used.
The Entune infotainment system from Toyota is serviceable but not my favorite. Toyota has not indicated if it would integrate Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and these features are not currently accessible. Instead, Toyota integrates third-party apps into the Highlander through its own App Suite. You can access apps like Pandora, Slacker, and Yelp as well as real-time traffic and weather by connecting your Android or iOS phone to Entune and installing the Entune app. Lower trim lines require Scout GPS through the Entune app, although the integrated navigation proved quite simple to use. When the car was started, the optional 8-inch touchscreen interface booted up fast and provided quick inputs.
An optional rear-seat DVD system with a 9-inch screen, Bluetooth headphones, and a remote control was included with my test vehicle. Given that so many children now own their own iPads, it increases the bottom line by $1,810, making it difficult to sell. The Highlander now comes with five USB ports as standard, with three in the front and two in the second row for the kids who need their juice.
In the high country
In Denver, Colorado, I spent my time driving the Highlander in the somewhat sportier SE trim. The thinner air makes many vehicles feel slower at a height of just over 5,000 feet, but the Highlander’s new optional 3.5-liter V6 engine provided plenty of acceleration. The Highlander was easily propelled up and over some winding mountain roads by the 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque.
The SE is designed for people who prefer to tackle back roads a little bit recklessly thanks to its revised suspension. It’s not quite as good as my go-to sporty three-row family transporter, the Mazda CX-9, but it’s still better than most. The eight-speed automatic transmission is a baby bear in the middle of the road, not upshifting at the first sign of acceleration or holding the rpm for too long. Although rather firm, the ride is still pleasant. You can’t always win the press car lottery, even though I wish my tester had the available all-wheel drive.
Toyota asserts that the EPA rates its fuel economy at 23 miles per gallon overall, 27 miles per gallon on the interstate, and 21 miles per gallon in the city. For once, I correctly predicted the combined rating: 23.0.
The regular 2.7-liter engine in the base Highlander produces 185 horsepower. Although I didn’t get a chance to drive it, several two-row crossovers have that amount of horsepower. With the lesser engine, I would anticipate the larger three-row Highlander to seem lackluster. To make matters worse, it has a poorer fuel economy rating than the larger 3.5-liter engine, with city and highway ratings of 20 and 24 miles per gallon, respectively.
A hybrid Highlander is another environmentally friendly option. Two electric motors are mated with the 3.5-liter V6 to produce a combined 306 horsepower. With this setup, the hybrid achieves an EPA fuel rating of 29 miles per gallon in the city, nine more than the front-wheel-drive V6 but maintaining the same highway mileage of 27 miles per gallon.
The Highlander outperforms the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, and Mazda CX-9 with a basic towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Given that it is the smallest of the four spaces behind the third row of seats, it doesn’t score well in terms of cargo capacity. However, when all of the back seats are folded down, the inside becomes practically gigantic, offering 83.7 cubic feet of roomnearly 350 12-packs of Diet Dr. Pepper.