Best dash cam for 2021 Highlander Hybrid: easy app access, front/rear/cabin, hardwired

[cjjones051]

I’m looking for recommendations for a dash cam for my 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum.





What I’m looking for:

• Front, rear, and cabin recording
• Hardwired install
• Good night recording
• Easy to use app / menu
• Ability to access footage in real time
• Easy way to download clips without pulling the SD card
• Bonus if it can capture a snapshot easily

My current dash cam is a Rexing V1P Gen 3, and one of my biggest frustrations is having to deal with the card to get footage and lack of low light recording capabilities.

I’ve been looking at:

• VIOFO A229 Plus 3CH
• Rexing V5C Plus with rear module
• BlackVue
• possibly OEM-style/custom-fit options for the Highlande

A few questions:

1. What would you pick for the best overall user-friendly setup?
2. Between Rexing and VIOFO, is VIOFO really that much easier to use?
3. For real-time footage access, do most of these still require connecting to the camera’s Wi-Fi each time?
4. Is BlackVue worth the extra money over VIOFO?
5. Has anyone installed one cleanly in a 2021 Highlander Hybrid and found a good hardwire solution?

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Ability to access footage in real time

Welcome to the club @cjjones051
I didn’t see this post until just now.
Do you mean Cloud / LTE supported, (access to the camera from any computer & location in the world)?
If yes, look at the newest BlackVue flagship.
If no, look at Viofo A329S 3CH.

What would you pick for the best overall user-friendly setup?

Viofo A329S 3CH

Between Rexing and VIOFO, is VIOFO really that much easier to use?

Rexing is hot garbage (fake 4K)

For real-time footage access, do most of these still require connecting to the camera’s Wi-Fi each time?

What do you mean “real-time” are you talking about Cloud / LTE supported, (access to the camera from any computer & location in the world)?

Is BlackVue worth the extra money over VIOFO?

If you require Cloud / LTE yes.
If you do not require Cloud / LTE no.
But some folks like the barrel shape instead of wedge shape.

Has anyone installed one cleanly in a 2021 Highlander Hybrid and found a good hardwire solution?

Any install can be done cleanly.
YouTube search “Highlander Hybrid dash cam” for install videos.

-Chuck

 

[cjjones051]

Welcome to the club @cjjones051
I didn’t see this post until just now.
Do you mean Cloud / LTE supported, (access to the camera from any computer & location in the world)?
If yes, look at the newest BlackVue flagship.
If no, look at Viofo A329S 3CH.

Viofo A329S 3CH

Rexing is hot garbage (fake 4K)

What do you mean “real-time” are you talking about Cloud / LTE supported, (access to the camera from any computer & location in the world)?

If you require Cloud / LTE yes.
If you do not require Cloud / LTE no.
But some folks like the barrel shape instead of wedge shape.

Any install can be done cleanly.
YouTube search “Highlander Hybrid dash cam” for install videos.

-Chuck

Hello Chuck,

Thank you for the detailed response.

I took a look at the BlackVue Elite 10, but it doesn't appear to have a cabin view.

I want to be able to download videos without removing the SD card. Real-time, I mean, being able to access the video from the app and download it immediately.

I realize that I will be spending $400-$600 unless I can find a great deal. I have a DVRO in place to protect me, and I need the camera for child exchanges.

My needs are
1. 3ch
2. low-light recording capabilities
3. Video download without removing the SD card.
4. Ease of app

Appreciate any additional insight that you may be able to provide.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

I want to be able to download videos without removing the SD card. Real-time, I mean, being able to access the video from the app and download it immediately.

Thank you for the clarification, now we are getting somewhere.

I took a look at the BlackVue Elite 10, but it doesn't appear to have a cabin view.

Now that I know you do NOT require Cloud / LTE, BlackVue is out.

without removing the SD card

All “modern” dash cams can transfer recorded footage to your smartphone without removing SD Card.
The big difference is how slow, or how fast the transfer speed is.
The good news is Viofo A329S has the current fastest protocol called Wi-Fi 6.
It’s almost twice as fast as the previous protocol.
33MB/s = Viofo A329S
18MB/s = Vueroid S1-4K
Here’s a demo.

I test all the transfer speeds here: VIOFO Wi-Fi Transfer Speed Database

My needs are
1. 3ch
2. low-light recording capabilities
3. Video download without removing the SD card.
4. Ease of app

It’s sounds like Viofo A329S is going to tick all your boxes.
A quick word on the APP.
Viofo released an all-new APP around 4 months ago that features OTA firmware updates, and a couple new fancy features.
However, I do not consider it “fully finished” because some users are reporting it does not have 100% functionality.
So I do not recommend you use the “NEW” APP.
I recommend you use the “OLD” APP because it’s had almost a decade of refinement, and it just plain works.
It just lacks the ability of OTA firmware updates.
Here’s a video I recently made for a friend of mine;

Here is what the IR Interior camera will look like during DAYTIME & NIGHT TIME

 

[cjjones051]

Thank you for the clarification, now we are getting somewhere.

Now that I know you do NOT require Cloud / LTE, BlackVue is out.

All “modern” dash cams can transfer recorded footage to your smartphone without removing SD Card.
The big difference is how slow, or how fast the transfer speed is.
The good news is Viofo A329S has the current fastest protocol called Wi-Fi 6.
It’s almost twice as fast as the previous protocol.
33MB/s = Viofo A329S
18MB/s = Vueroid S1-4K
Here’s a demo.

I test all the transfer speeds here: VIOFO Wi-Fi Transfer Speed Database

It’s sounds like Viofo A329S is going to tick all your boxes.
A quick word on the APP.
Viofo released an all-new APP around 4 months ago that features OTA firmware updates, and a couple new fancy features.
However, I do not consider it “fully finished” because some users are reporting it does not have 100% functionality.
So I do not recommend you use the “NEW” APP.
I recommend you use the “OLD” APP because it’s had almost a decade of refinement, and it just plain works.
It just lacks the ability of OTA firmware updates.
Here’s a video I recently made for a friend of mine;

Here is what the IR Interior camera will look like during DAYTIME & NIGHT TIME

This was extremely helpful. I wasn't expecting the cabin camera to record from the rear.
The Rexing I had about 5 years ago had settings that were difficult to adjust; you had to stop recording to turn on Wi-Fi, and downloading the video from the SD card was a hassle.
ChatGPT suggested BlackVue and the ones below.
Best value: VIOFO A229 Pro 3CH
Best balanced pick: VIOFO A229 Ultra 3CH
Best premium pick: VIOFO A329S 3CH

It helps to have a firsthand review of them. I appreciate you taking the time to explain this.

 

[cjjones051]

Thank you for the clarification, now we are getting somewhere.

Now that I know you do NOT require Cloud / LTE, BlackVue is out.

All “modern” dash cams can transfer recorded footage to your smartphone without removing SD Card.
The big difference is how slow, or how fast the transfer speed is.
The good news is Viofo A329S has the current fastest protocol called Wi-Fi 6.
It’s almost twice as fast as the previous protocol.
33MB/s = Viofo A329S
18MB/s = Vueroid S1-4K
Here’s a demo.

I test all the transfer speeds here: VIOFO Wi-Fi Transfer Speed Database

It’s sounds like Viofo A329S is going to tick all your boxes.
A quick word on the APP.
Viofo released an all-new APP around 4 months ago that features OTA firmware updates, and a couple new fancy features.
However, I do not consider it “fully finished” because some users are reporting it does not have 100% functionality.
So I do not recommend you use the “NEW” APP.
I recommend you use the “OLD” APP because it’s had almost a decade of refinement, and it just plain works.
It just lacks the ability of OTA firmware updates.
Here’s a video I recently made for a friend of mine;

Here is what the IR Interior camera will look like during DAYTIME & NIGHT TIME

What is the Cloud / LTE option?

 

[Chuck McCoy]

@cjjones051
You can mount the IR Interior camera, or any other camera wherever you want.
The included IR Interior cable is only 3 feet, but you can order it with a longer one for a few bucks more if you SUBMIT A TICKET

Here’s what it looks like on the passenger side A-Pillar.

Here’s what it looks like on the driver side A-Pillar.

ChapTGP has it’s uses but this ain’t one of ‘em. lol
Viofo A229 Pro 3CH was the flagship in 2023.
I do not recommend it in 2026 unless you can’t afford the current flagship A329S 3CH.
A229 Pro Test & Review PP

A229 Ultra 3CH is a lame duck because it suffers from the same Bitrate “diversion” as A229 Pro, and the 4K REAR camera does not outperform the “standard” 2K REAR camera at NIGHT TIME.
A229 Ultra Test & Review PP

BlackVue dash cams are great if CLOUD / LTE is a requirement, and you like the barrel shape, and you want something made in Korea.
If those 3 things don’t matter BlackVue is a pass.

Cloud / LTE basically means the camera is connected to the internet 24/7.
You can access it from anywhere in the world;
1.) Check live view
2.) Download video clips
However, image quality is drastically reduced from 4K High Bitrate down to 480potato.
You will also need to get one with CLOUD / LTE built in, and supply it with a SIM card, and data plan just like an iPad.
Or get a stand alone internet hot spot.
CLOUD / LTE adds considerable challenges due to added cost & complexity, and you will also need to power this set up when the car is parked, so it means adding auxiliary batteries like dash cam battery packs, or similar.

Right now CLOUD / LTE dash cams are the industry standard for commercial business that need to monitor a fleet of vehicles / drivers.
For the average consumer I would say less than 1% of all dash cams on the road are cloud connected.
If you want CLOUD / LTE I would definitely get a BlackVue.
They’ve been perfecting it for a decade, or more and it’s the most refined.
-Chuck