Across the current Toyota range, there are plenty of excellent features and options to choose from and a number of trim levels on every model. Finding the right Toyota can be difficult with all these choices, and a major factor is deciding which features you want and need in your vehicle.
One of the most popular features on current models is ambient lighting. You’ll find ambient lighting on everything from Mercedes Benz to Kia, and drivers want the latest technology in their cars. The Toyota range is no different, but with so many models, it’s hard to find which cars have this feature.
To help you find the best Toyota, we’ve put together this guide to ambient lighting. In the article below, we’ve covered the types of lighting you get, how to change your ambient lighting, and which Toyotas come with this feature.
Let’s get started!
What does Ambient Lighting look like in a Toyota?
Across the Toyota range, several ambient light settings are available. On less expensive models, like the Toyota Camry and RAV4, you have single-color lighting available across your cabin. On higher-spec models like the Toyota Mirai and Highlander, you have multi-color ambient lighting.
Ambient lights are located in a number of areas within the cabin. Most Toyota models have lighting in the following areas:
- Door panels
- Instrument panel
- Footwells
- Rear door pockets
- Center console
How to access Ambient Lighting in your Toyota
Ambient lighting settings are found in the central infotainment menu. Using the main touchscreen on certain Toyota models, you can set the brightness and the colors you want in the cabin and turn off ambient lighting completely.
Do all Toyota Models include Ambient Lighting?
No – only a handful of models come with Ambient lighting across the current Toyota range. In the sections below, we’ve covered the Toyota models with this feature and those without.
Toyota Models with Ambient Lighting as standard
The below list covers every current Toyota model that includes Ambient lighting. As we mentioned earlier, some models come with single-color setups, and higher-spec models come with multi-color lighting.
- Camry XLE
- Camry XSE
- Camry XLE Hybrid
- Camry XSE Hybrid
- Mirai Limited
- Tundra 1794 Edition
- Tundra Platinum
- Tundra Capstone
- Highlander XSE
- Highlander Bronze Edition
- Highlander Limited
- Highlander Hybrid Limited
- Highlander Platinum
- Highlander Hybrid Platinum
- bZ4X Limited
- Grand Highlander Limited
- Grand Highlander Platinum
- Grand Highlander Hybrid Limited
- Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Limited
- Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Platinum
- Sequoia Platinum
- Sequoia Capstone
- RAV4 Hybrid XSE
- RAV4 Limited
- RAV4 Hybrid Limited
- Corolla Cross XLE
- Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE
- Venza LE
- Venza Nightshade Edition
- Venza XLE
- Venza Limited
Toyota Models without Ambient Lighting
Below are the current Toyota models without ambient lighting. As you’d expect, these are mostly entry-level trims for each Toyota vehicle. As a result, they are missing most options and features you will find on the more expensive Toyota models.
- Crown XLE
- Crown Limited
- Crown Platinum
- Prius Prime SE
- Prius Prime XSE
- Prius Prime XSE Premium
- Prius LE
- Prius XLE
- Prius Limited
- GR Corolla Core
- GR Corolla Circuit Edition
- GR Corolla Morizo Edition
- Corolla LE
- Corolla Hybrid LE
- Corolla SE
- Corolla Hybrid SE
- Corolla XSE
- Corolla Hybrid SE Infrared
- Corolla Hybrid XLE
- Corolla Hatchback SE
- Corolla Hatchback XSE
- Camry LE
- Camry LE Hybrid
- Camry SE
- Camry SE Nightshade
- Camry TRD
- Camry SE Hybrid
- Camry SE Hybrid Nightshade
- Mirai XLE
- GR86
- GR86 Premium
- GR86 10th Anniversary Edition
- Supra 2.0
- Supra 3.0
- Supra 3.0 Premium
- Supra A91
- Sienna LE
- Sienna 25th Anniversary Edition
- Sienna XSE
- Sienna XLE
- Sienna Woodland Edition
- Sienna Limited
- Sienna Platinum
- Tacoma SR
- Tacoma TRD
- Tacoma Limited
- Tacoma SR5
- Tacoma TRD Sport
- Tacoma Trail Special Edition
- Tacoma TRD Pro
- Tundra SR
- Tundra SR5
- Tundra Limited
- Tundra TRD Pro
- Highlander XLE
- Highlander Hybrid XLE
- Highlander L
- Highlander LE
- Highlander Hybrid LE
- bZ4X XLE
- Grand Highlander XLE
- Grand Highlander Hybrid XLE
- Sequoia SR5
- Sequoia Limited
- Sequoia TRD Pro
- RAV4 LE
- RAV4 Hybrid LE
- RAV4 XLE
- RAV4 Hybrid XLE
- RAV4 XLE Premium
- RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition
- RAV4 Adventure
- RAV4 Hybrid SE
- RAV4 TRD Off-Road
- Corolla Cross L
- Corolla Cross LE
- Corolla Cross Hybrid S
- Corolla Cross Hybrid SE
- 4Runner SR5
- 4Runner TRD Pro
- 4Runner TRD Sport
- 4Runner SR5 Premium
- 4Runner TRD Off-Road
- 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium
- 4Runner 40th Anniversary Edition
- 4Runner Limited
Can you add Ambient Lighting to your Toyota?
There is no way to add Toyota ambient lighting onto preowned models; once you have bought a Toyota, you can’t ask them to add this feature. This makes it vital to check preowned models against our lists above to see if they come with ambient lighting.
Another approach is to add ambient lighting as an aftermarket upgrade. There are plenty of options to do this, from simple installations that most of us could fit, to complex light guides built into panels. If you have a Toyota without ambient lighting, this is your best option, but it won’t be covered by Toyota’s warranty.
Is it worth buying a Toyota with Ambient Lighting?
Let’s be honest here – you don’t need ambient lighting in your Toyota, or in any car. It’s not a safety feature like lane departure warnings, and it’s not a ‘helpful’ option like Apple CarPlay. So why is it so popular?
Overall, ambient lighting makes your cabin a more enjoyable place to be, and gives it a more premium feel. We don’t need to have expensive materials on the dashboard, but it’s still a nice feature to have, and the same is true for ambient lighting.
For that reason, it’s an option I wouldn’t go out of my way to add, but if the Toyota I’ve picked comes with ambient lighting, I’ll definitely use it. If you’re on the fence about this option, you will want to see it in action at night time. Visiting a dealership during the day and checking the ambient lighting setup won’t be worth it; you need to see the effects at night too.
If you want to find out more about features & options from Toyota, and other brands, check out the articles below:
