The 2022 Highlander’s basic compatibility with Apple CarPlay is one of its most appealing features. With a compatible iPhone and Toyota’s multimedia system, making calls, getting directions, and listening to music is now as simple as ever.
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When was the Toyota Highlander equipped with CarPlay?
One of the most popular family crossover SUVs in America over the last few years is the Toyota Highlander. If the Highlander is one of your top contenders for your future vehicle, you may already be looking into its technological and comfort features. You’ve come to the correct place if you’ve been wondering whether the Highlander supports Apple CarPlay. We conducted the research so you may enjoy reading it.
Apple CarPlay compatibility is a standard feature on the audio and multimedia system of the Toyota Highlander for model year 2022.
Sounds intriguing, no? Continue reading to learn a lot more about the Toyota Highlander, its compatibility with Apple CarPlay, and its other features.
Does the Toyota Highlander from 2021 support Apple CarPlay?
Drivers may enjoy a number of standard technological features and conveniences in the 2021 Toyota Highlander, including support for popular smartphone integration services like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. This SUV also includes an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, a six-speaker music system, an infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen display, and emergency communications via Toyota Safety Connect as standard equipment in addition to these smartphone services.
What Optional Technology Features are Available for the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
The higher trim levels of this SUV come with even more technological systems and amenities. The infotainment system’s bigger touchscreen and a wireless charging pad for compatible smart gadgets are also added with the XLE trim. A domestic power outlet, an intercom system, and an eleven-speaker audio system are added in the Limited trim. The 12.3-inch touchscreen display, digital rearview mirror, and head-up display are all included with the Platinum package.
Can Apple CarPlay be used wirelessly in a Toyota Highlander?
Finally available as standard equipment, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now available for the Highlander.
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.
On my 2021 Highlander, how can I install CarPlay?
Use a Lightning connector to connect your iPhone to the Toyota USB port. On the Toyota EntuneTM 3.0 touchscreen, select “Apple CarPlay.” To access Apple CarPlay, select Menu > General. Apple CarPlay ought to be connected as soon as your phone is plugged in with a USB cord.
What distinguishes Highlander 2021 from 2022?
What Differs Between the Toyota Highlander Models of 2022 and 2021? The 2022 Toyota Highlander is anticipated to mostly resemble the 2021 Toyota Highlander variants. The addition of an exterior paint color, Wind Chill Pearl, which will take the place of Blizzard Pearl, is the only significant change made public thus far.
Is Apple CarPlay compatible with the 2019 Toyota Highlander?
Introducing our new Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Interface Systems. This system is intended for the TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (MODEL #86100-0E293 & #86100-0E291) with the OEM PANASONIC radio command system from 2014 to 2019. Additionally, this system works with face-plate models 510180 and 510390. Once our straightforward plug-and-play technology is installed, you can continue to use all OEM features and CarPlay capabilities 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.
The 2016 Highlander is Apple CarPlay compatible.
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.
Can I add CarPlay to my Toyota?
Toyota is happy to inform owners of Corolla and RAV4 models produced after 2019* that they now have the option to upgrade their Toyota Touch 2 multimedia system to include mobile integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Toyota is able to install Apple CarPlay.
Your Toyota dealer will install new software on your Audio Multimedia system to enable CarPlay compatibility and Toyota+Alexa support for eligible vehicles (2018 Camry and 2018 Sienna). To arrange an appointment or inquire about the improvement at your upcoming scheduled service, just call your Preferred Servicing Dealer.