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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.
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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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Page 20 of 120

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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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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Page 23 of 120

Range Selection Mode
The Range Selection Mode controls the vehicle's
transmission.
To use this feature:1. Move the shift lever to the M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button to upshift or downshift selecting the desired range of gears.
A number displays next to the M, indicating the current
gear that has been selected. The number displayed in
the gear indicator is the highest gear that can be used. The vehicle can automatically shift to lower gears
as it adjusts to driving conditions. When 3 (Third) is
selected, 1 (First) through 3 (Third) gears are
automatically shifted by the vehicle, but 4 (Fourth)
cannot be used until it is selected.
The Range Selection Mode controls the vehicle and
engine speed while driving down a hill or towing a
trailer, by allowing you to select a desired range of
gears.
When you move the shift lever into M, the transmission
will default to M4. In this gear range, effective engine
braking occurs at speeds above 45 mph (72 km/h).
Pushing the minus (−) button on the shift lever reduces
the gear range.
In the M3 gear range, effective engine braking occurs at
speeds above 35 mph (56 km/h).
In the M2 gear range, effective engine braking occurs at
speeds above 25 mph (40 km/h).
In the M1 gear range, effective engine braking occurs at
speeds above 10 mph (16 km/h).
When operating in M (Manual Mode), Auto Stop is
disabled. For better vehicle efficiency, operate the
vehicle in D (Drive) not M (Manual Mode).
Cruise control can be used while using the Range
Selection Mode.
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Page 29 of 120

Shifting Into Park
{WARNING:
It can be 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. 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, use the steps that follow.
With four-wheel drive, if the transfer case is in
N (Neutral), the vehicle will be free to roll, even if
the shift lever is in P (Park). So, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear—not in
N (Neutral). If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing
a Trailer on page 5‑8. 1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking
brake.
See Parking Brake in the index of the Owner
Manual for more information.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position by pulling the shift lever toward you and moving it up
as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear —not
in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the vehicle with the ignition key in your hand,
the vehicle is in P (Park).
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Page 32 of 120

Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking is a hybrid technology that
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, such as when a high
braking demand is requested.
The braking system is computer controlled and blends
the regenerative braking with the conventional hydraulic
disc brakes to meet any requirements for deceleration.
The controller interprets the braking request and uses
regenerative braking, conventional hydraulic braking or
a combination of both as necessary. 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.
Running the Vehicle While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{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.
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.
Follow the proper steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move. See “Shifting Into Park” in the owner manual for
more information.
If pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer
on page 5‑8for
more information.
3-18
Page 47 of 120
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle. . . . . . . . . .5-2
Electric Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 Towing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Towing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
5-1