Pueblo Toyota - Smarter Cabin, Smoother Trips around Pueblo, CO — Inside the 2026 Toyota Highlander’s Connected Tech The 2026 Toyota Highlander is known for capability, but its cabin technology is what makes long days behind the wheel feel short. If you commute along I-25, run busy school-day routes around Pueblo, CO, or plan frequent trips up to trailheads and recreation areas, Highlander’s connected tech keeps your focus on the road and your mind at ease. This blog takes you on a tour of the displays, voice features, and practical touches that bring clarity and calm to every drive. The Display Duo: Big, Beautiful, and Purposeful Start with the screens. Highlander offers an available 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen that is crisp, responsive, and thoughtfully laid out. It pairs naturally with the available 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which places vital details—turn-by-turn prompts, safety alerts, and vehicle info—right where you want them. The experience is cohesive: you get the big map and media controls on the center display, while the cluster keeps navigation and key status summaries in your line of sight. That means fewer glances away from the road as you merge onto I-25 or thread through Pueblo’s downtown grid during peak hours. The interface itself is intuitive. Large on-screen tiles simplify hopping between navigation, audio, and vehicle settings, and the system responds quickly so you spend less time tapping and more time driving. Thoughtful touches—like pinch-to-zoom maps and reconfigurable gauge views—help the cabin feel personal and comfortable within a single day of driving. Seamless Smartphone Integration and Voice Assistance Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ are included, and they work the way you hope they will: no fumbling for cords, no juggling settings. You set it up once, and the phone-to-vehicle connection becomes part of your daily rhythm. For families, that means swapping drivers without a reset; CarPlay® or Android Auto™ connects to the right device as soon as you get in. If you are meeting friends near the Riverwalk or exploring local eateries, seamless app access makes it effortless to queue up your route and playlist as you pull out of the driveway. Voice capability is another quiet win. With natural language prompts, you can ask for directions, adjust climate settings, or find a nearby coffee stop—without taking your hands off the wheel. This is streaming-smooth technology that does not distract from what matters most: the drive. When directions update on the fly, both the gauge cluster and the center display keep you informed without clutter, so detours feel like a small change, not a big disruption. And when it is time to unwind on the way home, the available JBL® Premium Audio system with 11 speakers fills the cabin with clean, balanced sound. Spoken-word podcasts stay sharp, and music feels lively even at lower volumes. It is an honest upgrade that enhances daily drives and road trips alike. Charging, Convenience, and Everyday Practicality Technology is more than screens and sound. Highlander backs it up with practical touches: an available Qi-compatible wireless charging pad to cut cable clutter, well-placed USB ports for every row, and smart storage for keeping devices out of sight. It is the kind of detail you only notice after you have lived with a vehicle—and here, it is all dialed in. For families who juggle carpools and gear, the height-adjustable hands-free power liftgate is a difference-maker. Walk up, tap your foot at the bumper, and the cargo area opens—helpful when your hands are holding backpacks, a cooler, or camera equipment. Fold the seats to create a long, flat load floor for strollers, folding chairs, or skis, and you will see how well the tech and utility work together. Connectivity highlights: Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, Bluetooth, available Cloud Navigation features, over-the-air capability Display highlights: Available 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia, available 12.3-in. digital gauge cluster, clear map and media tiles Convenience highlights: Available Qi-compatible wireless charging, multiple USB ports, height-adjustable hands-free power liftgate Audio highlights: Available JBL® Premium Audio with 11 speakers for rich, balanced sound Highlander’s available Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) also deserves a nod. Parking by the riverfront, backing into a narrow garage, or lining up at a crowded event is easier when you have a stitched, overhead view of the vehicle and surroundings. If parallel parking feels stressful, PVM helps it feel routine. Tips to Get the Most from Highlander Tech Spend a few minutes in your driveway getting acquainted with the settings—this pays off on day one. Pair your phone, enable wireless CarPlay® or Android Auto™, and customize home screen tiles. Adjust your gauge cluster layout so navigation and driver-assistance icons appear where you instinctively look. Lastly, add a couple of favorite destinations to your nav system to make spontaneous trips smoother. Pair devices and enable wireless smartphone integration before your first commute. Customize gauge cluster info so key details stay in view. Set map and audio tiles on the home screen for quick access. Save favorite destinations like work, home, and regular weekend spots. Frequently Asked Questions: Can I use wireless Apple CarPlay® or Android Auto™ and the built-in navigation at the same time? Yes. You can keep your phone connected for media and calls while relying on the built-in navigation. The cluster and center screen work together to keep prompts clear and glanceable. Is the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster customizable? It offers multiple layouts so you can prioritize turn-by-turn directions, audio details, or driver-assistance status. It is designed to put your most important info up front. Does the available JBL® system make a difference at lower volumes? It does. The tuning and speaker placement help podcasts and audiobooks stay clear while giving music fuller presence without needing to turn things up. Are there USB ports for all rows? Highlander features multiple USB ports throughout the cabin, so front passengers and those in the second and third rows can charge or connect as needed. How does Panoramic View Monitor help in daily life? By stitching camera angles into an overhead view, it makes tight parking spots and garage entries less stressful, giving you more context than a single camera alone. When a vehicle’s technology fades into the background and simply supports your day, you know the cabin is well designed. The 2026 Toyota Highlander gets this right with clear displays, smart phone integration, and convenience features that remove friction from common tasks. For drivers navigating Pueblo’s mix of city streets and regional routes, that thoughtful integration matters. If you are mapping out your next three-row SUV and want a hands-on look at how Highlander tech feels in real traffic, our team is ready to help—serving Pueblo, Florence, and Penrose with guidance tailored to local roads, commutes, and weekend adventures. From setting up your phone to exploring the available Panoramic View Monitor and JBL® audio, we will walk you through the features you care about most. Pueblo Toyota is here to make the entire process straightforward—so your new SUV feels familiar from day one. Request more 2026 Toyota Highlander information

Pueblo Toyota - Can the 2026 Toyota Highlander tow a small camper over Monument Hill near Colorado Springs, CO? Plenty of families in and around Colorado Springs, CO want one SUV that can handle the daily school-and-activities routine and also pull a small camper for weekend getaways. If you are eyeing the 2026 Toyota Highlander, the big question is whether it can confidently tow over Monument Hill on I-25—the stretch of the Palmer Divide known for steep grades and gusty crosswinds—while keeping everyone comfortable and in control. The short answer is that the gas-powered 2026 Highlander, when properly equipped, is engineered for exactly this kind of trip, and our team at Pueblo Toyota can help you set it up the right way. Why this question matters around Colorado Springs Local towing is not flat, straight, or predictable. From Pueblo to Colorado Springs and on toward Castle Rock, Monument Hill introduces elevation, wind, and steady climbs that test engines, drivetrains, and driver confidence. That is why we talk about real-world capability, not just brochure numbers. Our goal is to help you understand how the Highlander’s powertrain, available systems, and smart packing strategies work together so you can tow your teardrop, pop-up, or small fishing boat without drama. Powertrain and towing fundamentals The 2026 Highlander’s available 2.4-liter turbocharged engine delivers 265 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. More importantly for towing, it is rated for up to a 5000-lb. towing capacity when properly equipped. That combination—strong low- and mid-range torque with an engineered tow rating—gives you the thrust you want when merging onto I-25 and the stamina to maintain pace on extended grades. Drive Modes let you tailor the feel. Sport Mode provides sharper acceleration for highway on-ramps and passing, while Normal Mode balances response and composure over long hauls. Eco Mode helps maximize fuel efficiency when cruising unloaded around town; when towing, most drivers prefer Normal or Sport for the more direct throttle mapping. If maximum towing is a top priority for you, we typically steer shoppers to the gas model for its up to 5000-lb. rating. Highlander Hybrid focuses on efficiency—up to an EPA-estimated 35 combined mpg rating—making it a standout for daily driving; if you are considering towing with a hybrid, ask our product specialists to walk you through the specifics for your trailer and cargo setup. Matching your camper to Highlander’s capability Think about your real trailer weight, not just the empty number. A teardrop or lightweight travel trailer that lists 3000 to 3800 lb. dry can quickly approach the 4000 to 4500 lb. range once you add water, propane, battery, food, and gear. That still leaves a comfortable margin under the Highlander gas model’s up to 5000-lb. rating, but you also need to account for tongue weight and payload. A common rule of thumb is that tongue weight should be about 10 to 15 percent of the loaded trailer weight, and that tongue weight counts against the Highlander’s available payload alongside passengers and cargo in the cabin. If you are unsure how your camping setup pencils out, bring your trailer specs and a quick list of what you pack on trips. We will help you think through loaded weights and how to distribute gear for balance. It is one of the simplest ways we help local customers dial in a confident Monument Hill run. Traction and control when the climb gets real Available Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (AWD) improves responsiveness and stability by sending up to 50 percent of the power to the rear and then distributing more power to the wheel that needs it. On long grades or when you encounter mixed traction near the summit, that precision helps the Highlander feel settled and predictable. On AWD models, Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) adds modes for Snow, Rock & Dirt, and Mud & Sand. For paved climbs, leave it in Normal, but if you are pulling a small camper onto a gravel campsite outside Woodland Park or near Rampart Range Road, MTS can add the extra grip to get rolling without spinning a tire. Chassis tuning matters too. Highlander’s suspension is calibrated for a smooth and confident ride, and the XSE grade adds sport-tuned shock absorbers, high-rate springs, and a rear stabilizer bar for enhanced on-road handling. If you value a tauter feel while towing, we can help you compare how XSE stacks up against other grades on a back-to-back test drive. Pack smart: people, cargo, and payload 101 Highlander seats up to eight, so it is easy to load both passengers and gear—and just as easy to exceed payload if you do not plan. We recommend packing heavy items low and centered in the cargo area and using the underfloor storage to keep smaller dense items from shifting. Keep bikes, coolers, or extra totes in the trailer if it helps you balance tongue weight without overloading the SUV. Our team can show you quick ways to use the flexible storage spaces so your crew stays comfortable while you maintain a safe, well-balanced setup. Make hitching and hauling easier with available tech The Highlander Platinum adds a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) and a backup camera with dynamic gridlines. That combination is a genuine time saver for solo hitching—you can line up the coupler cleanly on the first try. Once on the road, the available 12.3-in. digital gauge cluster keeps vital info front and center, while the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility helps you manage navigation and music hands-free so you stay focused on the drive. Safety remains central. Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ brings driver-assist features designed to support your awareness. While you should always remain attentive and in control—especially when towing—these systems can help reduce fatigue during long travel days between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. Pre-trip checklist for towing Pueblo to Colorado Springs Before you point the Highlander toward Monument Hill with a camper in tow, give yourself a few extra minutes to run through this quick list. Most of these items take seconds and pay off in a calmer, more confident climb. Tire pressures: Set SUV and trailer tires to the recommended pressures when cold. Lighting and connections: Confirm brake lights, turn signals, and the 7-pin/4-pin connector are working. Hitch height and level: Aim for a level trailer; adjust the ball mount or weight distribution setup as needed. Load distribution: Place heavy gear low and centered; verify tongue weight is within the recommended range. Mirrors and visibility: Adjust mirrors for a clear view down both trailer sides; stow loose interior items. Route and weather: Check I-25 conditions over the Palmer Divide and plan fuel and rest stops. Once your checklist is complete, select the drive mode that feels best for your route, give yourself extra following distance, and settle into a steady pace. The Highlander’s torque-rich 2.4L turbo makes it easy to maintain momentum without frequent downshifts. Plan your test drive and tow talk at Pueblo Toyota We recommend a two-part visit. First, take a Highlander gas model on our extended test loop that includes highway merges and steady grades so you can feel the power delivery and braking composure. Next, sit down with our product specialists to review your trailer’s loaded weight, tongue weight goals, and cargo plan. We can walk you through grades and trims, explain the benefits of Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD for your routes, and show how features like Panoramic View Monitor on Platinum simplify hitching. If you want, we can also review accessories like hitch mounts and wiring to match your specific camper. Whether your destination is Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Mueller State Park, or a weekend at Lake Pueblo, our team will help you build a Highlander setup that fits your family and your favorite places—without overcomplicating your driveway routine. Frequently Asked Questions: Do I need Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD to tow over Monument Hill? Front-wheel-drive Highlander models can tow within their ratings in good conditions, but available Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (AWD) adds confidence when roads get slick or windy. It can send up to 50 percent of power to the rear and then distribute more power to the wheel that needs it, helping the SUV feel planted on climbs and descents. Which 2026 Highlander grades are best if towing is a priority? If your goal is towing up to 5000 lb., focus on the gas grades and talk with us about the equipment you plan to use. Many shoppers also appreciate the XSE’s sport-tuned suspension for its controlled feel, and the Platinum’s Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) for easier hitching. We will help you compare the drive feel across XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum to see which one matches your style. What drive mode should I use while towing? Normal Mode is a great all-around choice for most towing scenarios, offering smooth power delivery and predictable response. If you want snappier throttle for merges and passes, switch to Sport Mode. On loose surfaces at campsites, AWD models also offer Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) with modes like Snow, Rock & Dirt, and Mud & Sand to help with traction when you are moving at low speed. How do I know if my camper is within the Highlander’s limits? Start with the trailer’s gross weight when loaded for travel—not just the dry number. Then estimate tongue weight at 10 to 15 percent of that figure and make sure your total payload (passengers plus cargo plus tongue weight) stays within limits. Bring your trailer specs to our showroom, and we will walk you through the math and help you plan a safe loadout. Can the Highlander Hybrid tow a small camper, or should I stick with the gas model? Highlander Hybrid prioritizes efficiency—up to a 35 EPA-estimated combined mpg rating—making it an excellent daily driver. If towing is your main use case, we recommend the gas 2.4L turbo for its up to 5000-lb. towing capacity and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. We are happy to compare both with your specific trailer in mind. What tech helps with hitching and visibility? On Highlander Platinum, the Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) and backup camera with dynamic gridlines are especially helpful when lining up to a trailer coupler. Across the lineup, the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility can help you manage navigation and calls hands-free as you tow. Ready to see how the 2026 Toyota Highlander fits your camping plans around Colorado Springs, CO? Visit Pueblo Toyota in Pueblo, or call us to set up an extended test drive and a tow-planning session. We will help you choose the right grade and equipment—and we will be here with Genuine Toyota parts and maintenance to keep your Highlander ready for your next Monument Hill climb. Request more 2026 Toyota Highlander information

Pueblo Toyota - Why Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD on the 2026 Toyota Highlander Matters for Penrose, CO Trails and Everyday Drives When roads tilt from sunshine to slush in a single afternoon, capability becomes more than a spec sheet—especially around Penrose, CO where a morning errand can turn into an impromptu run up Highway 50 or a dusty detour near the foothills. The 2026 Toyota Highlander’s available Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (AWD) is engineered for precisely these shifts. Unlike traditional systems that primarily send power front-to-back, this AWD can distribute torque side-to-side across the rear wheels, helping the SUV feel more planted in a sweeping on-ramp and more composed when one side of the road loses traction first. The result is confidence that feels remarkably natural, from dry pavement to loose gravel to a surprise spring snowfall. Pair that with Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) on AWD models—modes like Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, Snow, and Normal—and you can tailor the Highlander’s responses to the surface beneath the tires. MTS refines throttle, shifting behavior, and traction strategies to support grip in the moment. Add in a comfortable, quiet cabin with available 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, and a wide field of vision supported by an available Panoramic View Monitor, and you will find the Highlander blends surefooted engineering with everyday ease. It is the kind of SUV that invites you to say yes more often—to carpools, canyon drives, and trailheads—without feeling like you are compromising on comfort or tech. How it enhances cornering: By distributing torque side-to-side, Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD helps reduce understeer and stabilizes the vehicle as you round longer curves. Why it helps on mixed surfaces: When traction is uneven, directing torque to the wheel with more grip supports forward momentum with less wheel slip. What MTS adds in real time: Selectable modes fine-tune traction and throttle responses so the Highlander adapts to snow, sand, or gravel without you fighting the pedal. How it complements safety tech: Systems within Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ support awareness and driver inputs, while AWD and MTS help manage traction and balance. Drivers who split time between city errands and open roads often ask how these systems feel day to day. The short answer is that they fade into the background until you need them—then you notice the calm, predictable responses. On-ramp merges feel composed. Rough shoulders feel less disruptive. When the weather turns, you do not brace as hard because the Highlander feels ready. This composure starts with traction, but it matters because your passengers feel it as extra calm in the cabin. Add available JBL® audio and a panoramic moonroof, and the drive becomes part of the day you look forward to, not a chore you work around. Frequently Asked Questions: Does Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD operate all the time? It constantly monitors conditions and driver inputs, sending torque where it is needed to help enhance stability and traction. When should I use Multi-Terrain Select? Choose a mode when surface conditions change—Snow for winter weather, Mud & Sand for looser terrain, Rock & Dirt for uneven ground—and return to Normal on dry pavement. Will these systems impact daily comfort on paved roads? They are designed to feel transparent during everyday driving, stepping in smoothly when conditions warrant without adding harshness. How does this work with driver-assist features? AWD and MTS manage traction and power delivery, while Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ provides driver-assist support—together, they add layers of confidence. Ready to feel the difference for yourself on your regular routes and weekend plans? Pueblo Toyota, serving Florence, Penrose, and Canon City, can set up a drive that highlights how Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD and Multi-Terrain Select behave on familiar roads. Bring your questions, your favorite backroads, and your real-world checklist; our team is happy to walk you through the systems step by step so you can choose your Highlander with clarity. Request more 2026 Toyota Highlander information