Great explanation. This helps me. I have a Honda Civic Hybrid which I love, but I was thinking about getting a Highlander Hybrid to be able to handle more of the winter weather. I've been watching these forums for a while and have been a little worried about what I have read about the Highlander's traction in adverse conditions. This is the best explanation that I have seen which shows how the quirky behavior is an unintended consequence of the safety controls. I hope Toyota will fix this. I may still get one anyway soon because I don't really expect to ever be in really deep snow. I do appreciate this honesty. Thanks, and I hope you keep posting.

BTW, for the other guy who gets crazy with people who share honestly he needs to realize how this discredits him. I read his response and it appears he didn't even read super10s posts carefully enough. Super10s already stated how his Highlander has snow tires. Colorado is not Beverly Hills either, it has more challenging high-altitude mountainous roads than another state in the lower 48. Maybe he knows what he's taking about?