What Is Toyota Multi-Terrain Select and How Does It Work?

If you've ever wondered what Toyota Multi-Terrain Select does, when to use Auto, Sand, Mud, Rock or Deep Snow mode, or whether it's worth using off-road, this guide explains everything you need to know.

Modern Toyota four-wheel drives are packed with technology designed to help drivers tackle challenging terrain with greater confidence. One of the most useful systems available on selected Toyota models is Multi-Terrain Select (MTS).

Whether you're driving along a sandy beach, navigating muddy tracks, climbing rocky trails or exploring remote touring routes, Multi-Terrain Select helps optimise traction by adjusting how the vehicle responds to changing conditions.

Toyota Multi-Terrain Select is an advanced off-road assistance system that helps maximise traction across different types of terrain.

Rather than relying on a single traction control setting, the system allows the vehicle to adapt its braking and traction control responses to suit specific surfaces such as sand, mud, rock and snow.

Newer generations of the system also include an Auto mode that continuously monitors conditions and automatically adjusts the vehicle's traction management systems as the terrain changes. Toyota describes the system as being able to intelligently sense terrain and adapt traction control accordingly.

Different surfaces require different traction strategies.

For example, driving on sand often requires a degree of wheel slip to maintain momentum. On rocky terrain, traction needs to be carefully controlled to help the vehicle maintain grip as individual wheels move over obstacles. Mud presents its own challenges, with constantly changing levels of traction.

Multi-Terrain Select adjusts how the vehicle's traction control systems respond to these conditions. Depending on the mode selected, the system can alter braking intervention and wheel slip characteristics to help maximise available traction.

Think of it as giving your Toyota a terrain-specific setup at the push of a button.

Depending on the Toyota model and grade, Multi-Terrain Select may include some or all of the following terrain modes.

Auto Mode

Auto mode is designed to take the guesswork out of off-road driving.

Instead of requiring the driver to select a specific terrain setting, the system continuously monitors available traction and automatically adjusts braking and traction control intervention to suit changing conditions.

This can be particularly useful when travelling across mixed terrain where surfaces frequently change throughout the drive.

Sand Mode

Driving on soft sand is all about maintaining momentum.

Sand mode allows more wheel slip than some other settings, helping the tyres maintain forward progress without digging into soft surfaces. This can be particularly beneficial when driving on beaches, dunes or loose sandy tracks.

Mud Mode

Mud creates constantly changing levels of grip and can quickly rob a vehicle of momentum.

Mud mode helps manage wheel spin while still allowing enough tyre movement to maintain forward progress through slippery conditions. This balance helps the vehicle continue moving while reducing excessive wheel spin.

Rock Mode

Rock mode is designed for slow-speed, technical off-road driving.

The system carefully manages traction to help keep the vehicle moving across rocky tracks, ledges and uneven surfaces where individual wheels may temporarily lose contact with the ground.

This mode is ideal when maximum control and traction are required.

Deep Snow Mode

Deep snow presents many of the same challenges as other low-grip surfaces, but with its own unique characteristics.

Deep Snow mode is designed to help maintain traction and forward movement while helping reduce unnecessary wheel spin. This can provide greater confidence when driving in snow-covered conditions.

Availability varies between models, grades and model years, however Multi-Terrain Select can be found on selected Toyota four-wheel drive models, including certain variants of:

• Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series
• Toyota Prado
• Toyota HiLux
• Other Toyota off-road focused models depending on specification

For example, the LandCruiser 300 Series features Toyota's latest-generation MTS system, with multiple terrain modes including the addition of Auto mode.

Always check the specifications for your particular vehicle or model grade, as available features can differ.

Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control are often mentioned together, but they perform different functions.

Multi-Terrain Select helps optimise traction by adjusting the vehicle's response to specific terrain types.

Crawl Control is a separate low-speed off-road assistance feature that automatically controls acceleration and braking while the driver focuses on steering.

When used together, these systems can help make challenging off-road situations easier to manage. Toyota's latest off-road systems combine Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Monitor technology to improve capability in demanding conditions.

Multi-Terrain Select doesn't replace good driving technique, but it can help reduce the amount of driver input needed to maintain traction in challenging conditions.

By continually managing wheel slip and traction control intervention, the system can help deliver:

• Improved off-road confidence
• Smoother progress across varying terrain
• Reduced driver fatigue
• Fewer corrections with the accelerator and brakes
• Better traction in challenging conditions

For many drivers, that means spending less time worrying about vehicle settings and more time enjoying the track ahead.

Toyota Multi-Terrain Select is designed to help drivers tackle challenging conditions with greater confidence by tailoring the vehicle's traction systems to the terrain under the wheels.

Whether you're exploring sandy beaches, muddy tracks, rocky trails or remote touring routes, the system can help reduce driver workload and make off-road adventures easier to manage.

Combined with Toyota's proven four-wheel drive systems, features like Multi-Terrain Select help explain why vehicles such as the LandCruiser 300 Series, Prado and selected HiLux variants have become popular choices for Australian touring and off-road adventures.