I test drove a Platinum last week for a better part of the day (great vehicle btw). I did not get to experience pre-collision avoidance, but I tested lane departure several times and it worked flawlessly. Like you said there is an audible tone that is not too intrusive, just loud enough that you can hear. In addition to that a visual display comes up on the MID (screen in the middle of the gauge cluster), that shows a picture of your vehicle and whichever lane you are veering into flashes an orangish color. I would imagine pre-collision does basically the same with audible tone and visual display on the MID.
Radar cruise control worked excellent as well. Cant wait to get one of these things for my wife!!

 

I just don't know other than hearing the audible tone with the lane departure once. I just haven't had lane departure on much. Pre-collision is tougher to test, but I think it engaged one time when I was coming up on a vehicle in front of me that had stopped. I felt the brakes engage and I don't think I had the cruise control on at the time but I may have.

 

Yes and yes. The visual comes up in the driver console and has audible tone as well. There may be a youtube video showing the system in action.

 

Good idea - I will do a quick YouTube search....

 

This is a few years old... and seems to be for Lexus.... but wonder if it is the same used now in the Highlander? It also shows there being a sensor which detects if you start 'dozing'.... and it will apply the brakes if it detects this.... wonder if this is integrated into the Highlander system?

Then, this newer video also has 'pedestrian' avoidance built in..... wonder if that is integrated also?

Not seeing one specifically for the Highlander.

 

There is a description in the owner's manual online here:
http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM48A12U/pdf/sec_04-05.pdf

Lane Departure Alert is on page 280. There are illustrations of what should be shown on the dash display. Interestingly, they show one for the monochrome display found in the LE and one for the color display, even though it's only currently available on the Limited a/a tech or Platinum.

 

Toyota has different systems and I'm a little disappointed that the one for the highlander is not as advance as what is available or out there. Lexus and some other Toyota models have an advance pre-collision system. The highlander only has the basic one. The lane departure is just as what has already been stated. The pre-collision system (PCS) pre-loads the brakes for you and slow the car down a little but it will not stop the car. According to the IIHS test (they tested a limited platinium) "Low-speed autobrake:" "In the 12 mph IIHS test, impact speed was reduced by 7 mph." "High-speed autobrake:" "In the 25 mph IIHS test, impact speed was reduced by 6 mph."

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/toyota/highlander

the radar cruise will also deactivate if speeds are below 35mph. This is the Toyota video of how our PCS works :

Our system is pretty much the same as the 2010 Prius. See it in action here:

 

Thanks Ex.... it seems like the PCS should have engaged sooner.... and it appeared to only shave about 5 mph off the impact.... which I suppose is somewhat significant??

Good that it locks up the seatbelts for possible impact though!

 

I'm not sure if it is helpful to shave off 5ish mph, maybe it is more for marketing purpose. It would be nice if the system actually stopped the car for you. I was looking at the IIHS website and Hyundai has a system that totally avoided the collision.

"Low-speed autobrake
In the 12 mph IIHS test, this vehicle avoided a collision. 2 points

High-speed autobrake
In the 25 mph IIHS test, this vehicle avoided a collision. 3 points "



http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/hyundai/genesis

 

I drove with the Lane Departure on today and purposely went out of bounds to see whazzup. Yes, there is a quick ringing tone to let you know plus the center info screen between the guages lights up and highlights the side of the lane which you are offending.

 

My thoughts on the pre-collision system are mixed. On the one hand it really could help you if you were not paying attention. On the other hand, on a very windy road, I could see it going off unnecessarily. There is a switch to turn it off, but 99% of the population wouldn't know how or when to use it even if they knew it existed. Most people just buy cars and are mostly clueless to the technology.

I can also see it being a problem while trying to take a left across traffic.

 

My understanding of the system is that it only works when cruise control is on. If that is correct, I shouldn't think that someone would be using cruise control while turning and crossing traffic.

Not that it would never happen, or has never happened. Stranger things have been attempted by others. I, on the other hand, have never done anything stupid behind the wheel. :>)

 

I assume the Lane Departure works like the LD in my 2013 Equinox; it only sounds the alarm if you start to cross a painted line WITHOUT using your blinker.....it assumes since you didn't use a turn indicator you were either d4ifting due to distraction or sleeping. Worked flawlessly.....to those who don't use thie turn signals? Shame on you - it's rude and dangerous and where did you learn how to drive?

I did experience occasional times where the pre-collision system engaged with no cars around me whatsoever. ..

 

Both display in the center HUD behind the steering wheel. Lane drifting (as I like to call it) shows a representation of the road and flashes the side you are drifting over. Collision avoidance flashes yellow or red warning sign with BRAKE BRAKE warning lettering




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From the manual (p.306):

PCS (Pre-Collision System)
When the radar sensor detects that a frontal collision is highly
likely or even unavoidable, safety systems such as the brakes
and seat belts are automatically engaged to lessen impact as
well as vehicle damage.
The pre-collision system can be turned on and off as necessary by
operating the switch. (→P. 307)

◆ Pre-collision warning
When a high possibility of a
frontal collision is detected, the
pre-collision system warning
light flashes, a buzzer sounds
and a message is shown on the
multi-information display to
urge the driver to take evasive
action.

◆ Pre-collision brake assist
When there is a high possibility of a frontal collision, the system
applies greater braking force in relation to how strongly the brake
pedal is depressed.
The system may not warn the driver using a warning light, warning
display and buzzer when the system detects and judges braking
operations.

◆ Pre-collision braking
When there is a high possibility of a frontal collision, the system
warns the driver using a warning light, warning display and buzzer.
If the system determines that a collision is unavoidable, the brakes
are automatically applied to reduce the collision speed.

■The pre-collision system is operational when

The PCS OFF switch is not pressed and the following conditions are met:

●Pre-collision warning:
• Vehicle speed is greater than about 10 mph (15 km/h).
• The speed at which your vehicle is approaching the obstacle or the vehicle
running ahead of you is greater than about 10 mph (15 km/h).

●Pre-collision brake assist:
• The VSC OFF switch is not pressed.
• Vehicle speed is greater than about 19 mph (30 km/h).
• The speed at which your vehicle is approaching the obstacle or the vehicle
running ahead of you is greater than about 19 mph (30 km/h).
• The brake pedal is depressed.

●Pre-collision braking:
• The VSC OFF switch is not pressed.
• Vehicle speed is greater than about 10 mph (15 km/h).
• The speed at which your vehicle is approaching the obstacle or the vehicle
running ahead of you is greater than about 10 mph (15 km/h).

■Conditions that may trigger the system even if there is no danger of a
collision

●When there is an object by the roadside at the entrance to a curve
●When passing an oncoming vehicle on a curve
●When driving over a narrow iron bridge
●When there is a metal object on the road surface
●When driving on an uneven road surface
●When passing an oncoming vehicle on a left-turn
●When your vehicle rapidly closes on the vehicle in front
●When a grade separation/interchange, sign, billboard, or other structure
appears to be directly in the vehicle’s line of travel
●When there is a metal plate in the road in front of the vehicle on a downhill
slope
●When climbing a steep hill causes an overhead billboard or other metallic
structure to appear directly in the vehicle’s line of travel
●When driving under an overpass
●When an extreme change in vehicle height occurs
●When passing through certain toll gates
●When passing through a tunnel
●When the radar sensor moves off position due to its surrounding area being
subjected to a strong impact

When the system is activated in the situations described above, there is also
a possibility that the brakes will be applied with a force greater than normal.

■Obstacles not detected
The sensor cannot detect plastic obstacles such as traffic cones. There may
also be occasions when the sensor cannot detect pedestrians, animals, bicycles,
motorcycles, trees, or snowdrifts.

■Situations in which the pre-collision system does not function properly

The system may not function effectively in situations such as the following:
●On roads with sharp bends or uneven surfaces
●If a vehicle suddenly moves in front of your vehicle, such as at an intersection
●If a vehicle suddenly cuts in front of your vehicle, such as when overtaking
●In inclement weather such as heavy rain, fog, snow or sand storms
●If the vehicle is skidding when VSC is not operating
●When an extreme change in vehicle height occurs
●When only part of your vehicle’s front end collides with, or contacts, a vehicle
or object in a frontal collision
●When the radar sensor moves off position due to its surrounding area being
subjected to a strong impact

■Automatic cancelation of the pre-collision system
When a malfunction occurs due to sensor contamination, etc. that results in
the sensors being unable to detect obstacles, the pre-collision system will be
automatically disabled. In this case, the system will not activate even if there
is a collision possibility.

■When there is a malfunction in the system
The pre-collision system warning light will flash and warning messages will be
displayed. (→P. 564, 579)

 

Pre collision
The center display lights up red with some word on it. Don't know didn't have time to read it .
On a different occasion I was doing about 45 down a back road with alot of humps close together and noticed for a split second that the center display lit up red but it went right away. It didn't beep or try to apply the breaks.

 

It says SHIT

 

it says OH SHIT, I believe. :>)

 

Does the lane departure warning work during heavy periods of rain or downpours; or on a night when it's raining hard and you are blinded by oncoming lights or on those narrow city roads and highways when drifitng out of the lane will occur?

 

Good question. I cannot answer this specifically.... haven't had a chance to test it under those conditions. I am also wondering if snow covered roads will affect it - which I would assume that it would.

I had lane departure on my 2013 Equinox and it worked very well... as it does on the Highlander. But Lane Departure is dependent upon the camera/eye being able to 'see' the lines of the road.... because it literally reads the position of the lines in comparison to the position of the vehicle within the lines to alert you when you are about to pass over them.

Pre-Collision is dependent on the vehicle being able to see the vehicle in front of you. I *think* that may come from the radar which projects from the Toyota logo on your grille. Probably less dependent on weather than the Lane Departure.

This is only my guess - please don't base your driving habits and life on my response - I could be wrong. Best answer is to give Toyota Care... or your dealer a quick call and ask them. I believe some of this may be covered in the owners manual too.... there are certain conditions where Lane departure, radar cruise, etc can be adversely affected.