Unique Toyota Technology Features
When you go to buy a car it’s easy to get confused by all sorts of jargon, especially if you haven’t bought a vehicle for a while and especially when we’re talking about technology features. In-car vehicle technology advances quickly, and it doesn’t get any easier for you as different automakers have their own proprietary names for their own versions of certain tech. To help you out when you’re looking to buy a Toyota car, truck, SUV, or van, here are 14 Toyota technology features you may come across and a brief explanation of each.
Toyota Safety Sense (TSS)
A suite of advanced safety technologies offered in most Toyota vehicles today aims to provide drivers with increased awareness and protection on the road. The goal of Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) is to help drivers stay safe and prevent accidents by providing alerts and assistance in potentially dangerous situations. By combining cutting-edge technology with Toyota’s commitment to safety, TSS provides drivers with peace of mind and a more confident, secure driving experience.
Auto LSD
A Toyota automotive feature that enhances traction and stability control in their vehicles. It operates by automatically distributing torque to the wheels with the most grip during acceleration, providing better traction and handling in challenging driving conditions, such as wet or slippery roads.
Entune infotainment system
Toyota Entune is a comprehensive infotainment system offered in many Toyota vehicles. It provides drivers with a variety of entertainment and connectivity options, including access to music, navigation, and mobile apps, through a central touchscreen interface.
Toyota Remote Connect
A mobile app that allows Toyota vehicle owners to remotely access and control certain features of their cars using a smartphone. With Toyota Remote Connect, users can lock and unlock their doors, start the engine, locate their vehicle in a crowded parking lot, and more, all from the convenience of their phone.
Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA)
A platform for Toyota vehicles that aims to improve driving performance and efficiency. TNGA incorporates a more rigid body structure and a lower center of gravity, which helps to enhance handling, stability, and ride comfort.
Toyota Supra Performance Drive Mode
A feature that’s available on the Toyota Supra sports car and allows drivers to customize their driving experience to match their personal preferences and driving conditions. With this feature, drivers can select from a variety of driving modes, including Normal, Sport, and Track, to adjust the behavior of the vehicle’s powertrain, suspension, and stability control systems.
Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell System
A technology developed by Toyota for use in their Mirai fuel cell vehicle. The system converts hydrogen gas into electricity through an electrochemical process, providing a clean and efficient source of power for the vehicle.
Toyota Total Cost of Ownership
Not a technology feature, but still worth a mention as it’s a measure of the long-term costs of owning and operating a Toyota vehicle. The idea behind TCO is to provide Toyota customers with a more transparent and accurate representation of the costs associated with owning and operating a Toyota vehicle, helping them to make informed decisions when considering a purchase.
Toyota Entune 3.0 App Suite
An advanced infotainment system offered in many Toyota vehicles. It provides drivers with a variety of entertainment and connectivity options, including access to music, navigation, and mobile apps, through a central touchscreen interface. The Entune 3.0 App Suite offers an updated design and faster response times compared to previous versions of the system and features a wider selection of available apps.
Toyota RAV4 Adventure
A feature package for the RAV4 that includes a number of upgrades that are optimized for outdoor activities and rugged terrain, including higher ground clearance, all-wheel drive with multi-terrain select, larger tires and rugged exterior styling, and enhanced towing capabilities
Toyota Hybrid System
A proprietary hybrid technology developed by Toyota for their hybrid vehicles. It integrates a gasoline engine and an electric motor, which work together to provide improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions compared to traditional gasoline engines.
Toyota Pre-Collision System
An advanced safety feature designed to help drivers avoid or mitigate the severity of a collision. This system uses sensors and cameras to monitor the road ahead and detect potential collision risks. If a risk of collision is detected, the system will alert the driver and, if necessary, automatically apply the brakes to help avoid or reduce the severity of a collision.
Toyota Direct Ignition System (DIS)
An advanced ignition system you will find in many Toyota vehicles. This system replaces the traditional distributor-based ignition system with a more efficient and reliable direct ignition system. The DIS directly ignites the spark plugs in the engine, providing improved ignition timing and control, which results in better fuel efficiency and performance.
Toyota Star Safety System
A suite of advanced safety features that are standard on many Toyota vehicles, especially later models. This system is designed to provide drivers with added peace of mind and increased protection on the road.
Of course, many of these features can be found in vehicle brands with similar or completely different names. But if you familiarize yourself with this list before you go to check out a new or used Toyota you’ll have a better idea of what these features may or may not mean for you and your buying decision.
And if you’d like to know more about any of the Toyota technology features listed above, follow the appropriate links below to read dedicated articles about each feature.