The Toyota Highlander has an array of innovative features that elevate the driving experience to newer heights. One of these impressive features is the snow button, which offers superior capabilities on snowy or slippery roads.
So, what does this feature do in your SUV, and how can you make the most of it? Many drivers may wonder how the Highlander snow mode affects the performance of their cars. Luckily, I’ll address all your concerns here.
I look into the Toyota Highlander snow button and how to use it. You’ll also learn its benefits and how it affects the performance of your SUV.
Question: What Does the Snow Button on Toyota Highlander Do?
The snow button (Snow Mode) is a safety feature that helps the SUV handle snowy or slippery conditions better. It lets the vehicle maintain a better grip to prevent slipping or spinning. The feature will help you navigate your Highlander through brutal snowy weather without getting stuck or causing accidents.
When you activate/press the snow button, your vehicle starts in second gear instead of the first. The 2nd gear gives your Highlander more traction, making it less likely to slip or spin when moving over the snow. The Snow Mode also works in tandem with the following features to boost traction:
- Traction control system: This feature prevents the wheels from losing traction when driving on slippery roads. It detects any tire that’s losing grip and works with the onboard computer to stop or slow the spinning.
- Anti-lock braking system: This feature prevents your Highlander’s wheels from locking when you apply brakes. Locked wheels on snowy roads can skid and cause accidents.
- Electronic brake force distribution: This feature works with the anti-lock braking system to ensure effective braking. It controls the braking pressure applied on each wheel. The feature comes in handy on slippery or snowy conditions to ensure each wheel gets the correct braking pressure.
Besides helping your vehicle maintain a better grip, the snow button has other roles. They include:
Increase Interior Temperature
When you activate the Snow Mode on your Highlander, the heater gets activated and warms your SUV’s cabin. You’ll need to press and hold the button to set your preferred temperature.
This feature will heat the cabin to 40°F regardless of the freezing weather or snow outside. It’ll also warm up the windshield to prevent fog from accumulating and limiting your visibility while driving.
Throttle Management
The snow mode button optimizes the throttle, making it more responsive and effective in slippery conditions. It will prevent your Highlander’s engine from bogging down when accelerating on snowy roads. It’s a great feature that allows steady driving regardless of the snow, ice, or mud.
When you activate this feature, you will only press the throttle pedal slightly to accelerate faster. The feature offers more control over the SUV to minimize wheel spinning and skidding.
Transmission Control
As highlighted earlier, the snow mode button lets your SUV start in 2nd gear. You can, therefore, enjoy safe driving without the wheels spinning on snowy roads. Besides, starting in 2nd gear prevents you from accidentally shifting into reverse, reducing the chances of getting stuck.
Wheel Control
Activating the snow button regulates power going to each wheel, thus balancing wheel movement. When this happens, each tire generates identical gripping capabilities to the surface. As a result, your Highlander wheels reduce the chances of spinning in snowy or slippery conditions.
Question: How To Use the Toyota Highlander Snow Button
Hopefully, we’ve answered, “What does the snow button do on a Toyota Highlander?” But knowing what this feature does is not enough without understanding how to use it. Below, we’ll discuss how to use the snow button on your SUV.
Start by locating the snow button on your vehicle’s center console. The button/switch has a snow sign and is between the shifter and the cup holder.
This button offers several driving modes like Snow/Ice, Mud/Sand, and Rock/Dirt. You will select the preferred driving mode to suit the terrain. If the road is snowy or slippery, select the Snow/Ice mode. Doing this will allow your SUV to start in 2nd gear.
The snow mode will adjust the throttle and transmission, allowing effective driving in slippery conditions.
You can adjust the cabin temperature by pressing and holding the snow button.
Question: When To Use the Snow Button on Toyota Highlander
As the name suggests, the snow button is useful when the road gets snowy. It improves your vehicle’s traction to help maintain control in snowy conditions.
Note that the feature may not be fully effective on its own. You may need to install snow tires and anti-skid chains to maintain a better grip. Ensure your SUV has properly inflated tires and plenty of treads.
Additionally, ensure the brakes and suspension system are in peak condition to make the SUV more drivable in the snow.
Driving slowly in snowy conditions makes the tires and brakes more effective. So, only drive as fast as the road conditions allow. Driving at higher speeds can cause skidding when you apply brakes, resulting in an accident.
Another situation to use the snow button is when the road becomes slippery or muddy. The feature will provide more traction to the wheel to ensure they grip better and keep the car in motion.
Note: Avoid leaving the Snow Mode activated for long, as this can blow out the transmission. A blown or damaged transmission is costly to repair or replace, so use this feature when necessary. Moreover, activating this feature when driving on smooth, dry roads makes your SUV feel sluggish.
Question: How Fast Can You Drive After Activating the Snow Mode?
If you’re driving your Highlander in the snow, you may wonder how fast you should drive the SUV. Some vehicle models have speed limits for driving in the snow with an activated snow mode. However, the Highlander doesn’t have speed limits when using this feature.
The snow mode button will allow the car to operate in 2nd gear, giving it more traction. Improved traction won’t limit your SUV’s top speed.
But for safety reasons, it’s wise to use your best judgment when driving in snow. The vehicle is more likely to skid when you apply brakes at top speed. So, only drive faster when the conditions allow you to avoid causing an accident.
Answer: Benefits of Using the Snow Mode
Here are the benefits of using the Toyota Highlander snow button:
Perfect for First-time Drivers
If you’re inexperienced in slippery or snowy conditions, this feature will help you handle such situations easily. You don’t need to wait for the weather to be friendly or the snow to disappear to start driving.
Makes the Vehicle Drivable
The Snow Mode makes your Highlander easier to operate on snowy or slippery roads. It increases traction to help you control the SUV in tricky conditions.
Regulates Power to the Wheels
The snow button ensures the wheels receive enough power to gain better traction. As a result, it balances wheel movement and a better grip to drive the vehicle out of snow.
Makes the Cabin Comfortable in Cold Weather
If you’re driving in cold weather, you can activate and adjust the Snow Mode to warm up the cabin. This will make the cabin warmer and more comfortable.
Improves Visibility in Snowy Conditions
Snow can accumulate on the windshield and impede the driver’s visibility. Thankfully, the Snow Mode will warm the cabin and defrost the windshield and windows. Doing this improves visibility and road safety.
Wrapping Up
The Toyota Highlander snow button is a reliable feature when driving in snowy, icy, or slippery conditions. When you activate this feature, your SUV gains more traction to avoid spinning or skidding. The wheels become more responsive, making the vehicle more drivable.
Activating the Snow Mode helps warm up the cabin and defrost the windshield. It, therefore, makes driving safer and more comfortable.