Fuel Economy Gage
United StatesCanada
This gage shows when the vehicle is operating at a fuel
efficient point.
By modifying driving behavior to increase the economy
time during driving, fuel mileage will be improved.
See Fuel Economy Gage on page 4‑5.
Automatic Engine Start/Stop Feature
Start the engine as you would any other engine.
See“Starting the Engine” in the owner manual for more
information on starting. The hybrid system provides
very quiet engine starting. If pulling a trailer with trailer
brakes, see Towing a Trailer
on page 5‑8for more
information.
Auto Stop
The vehicle has an Auto Stop feature. After a
successful engine start, the engine may turn off and
operate in the Auto Stop mode.
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal until you are
ready for the vehicle to move.
Engine OFF and AUTO STOP modes are indicated on
the tachometer display. When the tachometer needle
indicates OFF, the engine is not running and will remain
off until the ignition key is placed in the START position
or a remote vehicle start is performed. When the
tachometer needle indicates AUTO STOP, the hybrid
system is on, the engine is not running, but may Auto
Start at any time without notice. See Tachometer
on
page 4‑4for more information.
1-4
A chime will sound if the driver door is opened while in
Auto Stop as a reminder that the ignition switch is not in
the LOCK/OFF position. Always turn the ignition switch
to LOCK/OFF and remove the key from the ignition
switch when exiting the vehicle.
Auto Start
The vehicle also has an Auto Start feature. The engine
will remain off while in Auto Stop mode until vehicle
conditions require the engine to run. The near-instant
starting of the engine from Auto Stop mode is called
Auto Start.
EV Mode
The vehicle also has an EV mode which uses only
the electric motor to move the vehicle. With light
acceleration, the vehicle will drive in EV mode.
EV mode is unavailable when the vehicle is out of fuel.
See Starting the Vehicle in the Two‐Mode Hybrid
supplement to the owner manual.
Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking enables the electric drive motor
to operate as a generator when coasting or braking.
Energy from the moving vehicle recharges the hybrid
battery.
The hydraulic disc brakes work with the regenerative
braking to insure effective braking.
The braking system is computer controlled and blends
the regenerative braking with the conventional hydraulic
disc brakes to meet any requirements for deceleration.
Because the controller applies the hydraulic brakes
through its high pressure accumulator, you may
occasionally hear the motor driven pump when it
recharges the system. This is normal. In the event of a
controller problem, the brake pedal may be harder to
push and the stopping distance may be longer.
See Regenerative Braking, Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators and Driver Information Center (DIC) in the
owner manual.
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Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
Starting the Vehicle
{WARNING:
Exiting the vehicle, without first shifting into
P (Park), may cause the vehicle to move, and you
or others can be seriously injured. Because the
vehicle has the Automatic Engine Start/Stop
feature, the vehicle’s engine might seem to be
shut off when you come to a complete stop.(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
However, once the brake pedal is released,
the vehicle can move. The vehicle’s engine can
also restart at any time.
Shift to P (Park) and turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF, before exiting the vehicle.
Start the engine as you would any other engine.
See “Starting the Engine” in the owner manual for
more information on starting. If pulling a trailer with
trailer brakes, see Towing a Trailer
on page 5‑8for more information.
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Auto Stop
The vehicle has an Auto Stop feature. After a
successful engine start, the engine may turn off and
operate in the Auto Stop mode. Some of the vehicle
conditions that allow the engine to stop running and
enter the Auto Stop mode are:
.Ignition switch is in the ON/RUN position.
.The hood is closed.
.The gear selector is in P (Park), R (Reverse),
N (Neutral) or D (Drive).
.The hybrid battery is at an acceptable state of
charge.
.The hybrid battery voltage, temperature or power
limits are not exceeded. In very hot conditions,
Auto Stop may be unavailable until the hybrid
battery has cooled.
.The engine is at operating temperature.
.The vehicle may enter Auto Stop after a remote
vehicle start.
If you are on an incline, the hybrid drive motor can help
keep the vehicle from rolling backwards, even if the
engine is in Auto Stop. With your foot off the brake and the vehicle on level
ground, the hybrid drive motor may cause the vehicle
to roll slowly forward, even when the engine is in
Auto Stop.
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal until you are
ready for the vehicle to move.
Engine OFF and AUTO STOP modes are indicated on
the tachometer display. When the tachometer needle
indicates OFF, the engine is not running and will remain
off until the ignition key is placed in the START position
or a remote vehicle start is performed. When the
tachometer needle indicates AUTO STOP, the hybrid
system is on, the engine is not running, but may Auto
Start at any time without notice. See
Tachometer
on
page 4‑4for more information.
A chime will sound if the driver door is opened while in
Auto Stop as a reminder that the ignition switch is not in
the LOCK/OFF position. Always turn the ignition switch
to LOCK/OFF and remove the key from the ignition
switch when exiting the vehicle.
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Automatic Transmission Operation
The vehicle has an electronic shift position indicator
within the instrument panel cluster.
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
See“Range Selection Mode” later in this section.
P (Park) : This position locks the rear wheels. It is the
best position to use when you start the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily.
When parked on a hill, especially when the vehicle has
a heavy load, you may notice an increase in the effort to
shift out of P (Park). See “Shifting Into P (Park)”in the
Index of vehicle's owner manual for more information.
{WARNING:
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park). See Shifting Into
Park in the Owner Manual. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 5‑8.
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{WARNING:
If you have Four-Wheel Drive, the vehicle will
be free to roll—even if the shift lever is in
P (Park) —if the transfer case is in Neutral.
So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear,
Two-Wheel Drive High or Four-Wheel Drive High
or Four-Wheel Drive Low —not in Neutral.
See “Shifting Into Park” in the Owner Manual.
R (Reverse) : Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging the transmission, see
“If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow” in
the Index of the vehicle's owner manual. N (Neutral) :
In this position, the engine and
transmission are not connected with the wheels.
To restart the engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
{WARNING:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your
foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while the engine is running at high speed.
Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with
the engine running at high speed may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.
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D (Drive) :This position is for normal driving. It provides
the best fuel economy. If you need more power for
passing, and you are:
.Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
D (Drive) or M (Manual Mode) can be used when
towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on
steep hills, or for off-road driving. You may want to
shift the transmission to a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding. See “Skidding”
under “Loss of Control” in the owner manual for more
information.
When temperatures are very cold, the transmission's
gear shifting may be delayed, providing more stable
shifts until the engine warms up. Shifts may be more
noticeable with a cold transmission. This difference in
shifting is normal. M (Manual Mode) :
This position lets drivers select
the range of gears appropriate for current driving
conditions. If the vehicle has this feature, see “Range
Selection Mode” later in this section.
Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck,
do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization feature that
adjusts the transmission shifting to the current driving
conditions to reduce rapid upshifts and downshifts.
If the shift stabilization feature determines that a current
vehicle speed cannot be maintained, the transmission
does not upshift. In some cases, this may appear to be
a delayed shift, however the transmission is operating
normally.
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2m(Two-Wheel Drive High):This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. The front
axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive) : This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving your vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle's power is primarily
sent to the rear wheels. When the vehicle's software
determines a need for more traction, the system will
transfer more power to the front wheels. Driving in this
mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel Drive High.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High): Use the four-wheel high
position when you need extra traction, such as on
snowy or icy roads or in most off-road situations.
This setting also engages the front axle to help drive
the vehicle. This is the best setting to use when
plowing snow.
4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This setting also
engages the front axle and delivers extra torque.
You may never need this setting. It sends maximum
power to all four wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel
Drive Low if you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep
mud, deep snow, and while climbing or descending
steep hills. The vehicle has StabiliTrak
®. Shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. See StabiliTrak®System in the index
of the Owner Manual for more information.
{WARNING:
Shifting the transfer case to N (Neutral) can cause
the vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in
P (Park). You or someone else could be seriously
injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before
placing the transfer case in N (Neutral). See
Parking Brake in the index of the Owner Manual
for more information.
N (Neutral) : Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
N (Neutral) only when towing the vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing or Towing Your Vehicle in
the index of the Owner Manual.
If the SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE message stays on,
you should take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer for
service. See DIC Warnings and Messages
on
page 4‑12for more information.
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