Ever since the invention of the seat belt, automakers have looked for ways to improve the safety of their vehicles. For many years, this was focused on weight, body style, materials, and more. However, safety features have become much more technologically advanced over the past decade. Toyota, an automaker that has always been focused on safety, leads the pack with its set of standard safety features for its Highlander SUV.
The "safest SUV" title is not thrown around lightly--Toyota has shown its dedication to safety over the years, including being one of the first automakers to include a suite of driver-assist technologies standard on every model that it manufactures. But the 2022 Toyota Highlander is an exceptional midsize, three-row SUV that deserves that title.
Here are the top eight reasons why the 2022 Toyota Highlander has the best suite of safety features for an SUV in Canada.
The 2022 Highlander is the first Toyota in Canada to feature Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which is the automaker's next evolution of its advanced suite of active safety technologies and capabilities. For 2022, Toyota included new features exclusive to TSS 2.5+, including enhancements that support awareness and decision making at intersections, as well as when making left hand turns.
The Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection & Bicycle Detection is an included feature of TSS 2.5+. The system warns drivers of oncoming pedestrians or vehicles when making a turn at an intersection and provides emergency braking in certain conditions. Emergency steering assist is also included, which is designed to stabilize the driver's emergency steering maneuver and keep the Highlander in its lane when avoiding a pedestrian, cyclist, or other vehicle.
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (with enhanced line and road recognition) is an included feature of TSS 2.5+. Toyota designed the Highlander to alert drivers with a sound when their vehicle crosses over an outside or centre line of the roadway.
Automatic High Beams are an included feature of TSS 2.5+, eliminating the need for drivers to manually switch from high-eam to low-beam. The 2022 Toyota Highlander's automatic high beam system reacts to oncoming headlamps or preceding taillamps, automatically switching from one to another and back again when the coast is clear.
Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) works in conjunction with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control to keep the Highlander centered within its visibly marked lane, preemptively avoiding unintended lane departures. LTA is not a smart driving system, but it does help reduce lane departures due to distractions.
Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control is an included feature of TSS 2.5+. With this feature, Highlander drivers can easily set the cruise control and forget it, as the SUV will automatically slowdown when it approaches a slow-moving car ahead, even stopping suddenly if necessary. The system is enhanced for 2022 Highlanders with a Curve Speed Management function that will, when necessary, reduce speed when approaching a curve on the road.
Road Sign Assist uses a forward-facing intelligent camera to detect speed limit signs, stop signs, yield signs, and more, displaying them on the Highlander's multi-information display (MID). In equipped vehicles, the speed limit signs displayed on the MID will have a red outline when drivers go above the speed limit.
Automatic Collision Notification
Toyota's Connected Services are an advanced suite of smart technologies designed to not only simplify your everyday life but keep you safe in the process. This includes Safety Connect, which is ready to respond to whatever drivers might need.
The SOS button located on the Highlander's roof can be pressed to alert Emergency Assistance that you require emergency services in the event of an accident or incident. Enhanced roadside assistance is also available via the SOS button and will be sent directly to your vehicle's exact location. In the event of an accident, Safety Connect also includes an Automatic Collision Notification, which takes action to assist you if the Highlander's airbags ever deploy or if a severe rear-end collision is detected.
In addition, the Stolen Vehicle Locator that is part of Safety Connect can work with local authorities to help with the recovery of your Highlander.
These are the top eight reasons why the 2022 Toyota Highlander is the safest SUV model available in Canada, but there are so many other reasons as well, including eight standard airbags, intelligent clearance sonar, rear cross traffic braking, bird's eye view camera, blind spot monitor, and more. Do not miss your opportunity to get into a 2022 Toyota Highlander, the safest SUV in Canada.
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