Page 3 of 496

3
1
8 7
6
5
4
3
2
9
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............. 138
Cargo and luggage............ 149
Vehicle load limits ............. 152
Trailer towing..................... 153
Dinghy towing.................... 154
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch ..... 155
Automatic transmission ..... 161
Turn signal lever................ 165
Parking brake .................... 166
Horn .................................. 167
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 168
Automatic High Beam ....... 172
Fog light switch ................. 177
Windshield wipers and washer ............................ 179
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 185 4-5. Using the driving
support systems
Cruise control .................... 190
Dynamic radar cruise control.............................. 194
Driving mode select switches........................... 209
Driving assist systems ....... 211
PCS (Pre-Collision System) ........................... 216
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)......... 223
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips .............. 232
4Driving
Page 137 of 496

137
Driving4
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle............. 138
Cargo and luggage ........... 149
Vehicle load limits ............. 152
Trailer towing .................... 153
Dinghy towing ................... 154
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch ..... 155
Automatic transmission .................... 161
Turn signal lever ............... 165
Parking brake .................... 166
Horn .................................. 167
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 168
Automatic High Beam ....... 172
Fog light switch ................. 177
Windshield wipers and washer ............................ 179
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 185
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Cruise control .................... 190
Dynamic radar cruise control ............................. 194
Driving mode select switches .......................... 209
Driving assist systems ...... 211
PCS (Pre-Collision System) ........................... 216
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ........ 223
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips ............. 232
Page 149 of 496

1494-1. Before driving
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
Cargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capaci ty) — (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit —
(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s
placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and lug- gage load capacity.
For example, if the “ XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be
five 150 lb passengers in your v ehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 750 (5150) =
650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight ma y not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a tr ailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your
vehicle. ( P. 152)
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Your
vehicle is not designed for trailer towing.
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following information about storage precau-
tions, cargo capacity and load:
Capacity and distribution
Page 152 of 496
1524-1. Before driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
◆Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight): (P. 428)
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage.
◆Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maxi mum number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
◆Towing capacity
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
◆Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrease depending on the weight
and the number of occupants.
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire and loading information label.
( P. 342)
Vehicle load limits
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity,
towing capacity and cargo capacity.
CAUTION
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the tires, but also degrade steering
and braking ability, resu lting in an accident.
Page 153 of 496
1534-1. Before driving
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
Trailer towing
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
Toyota also does not recommend th e installation of a tow hitch
or the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bicy-
cle, etc. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing or for the
use of tow hitch mounted carriers.
Page 154 of 496
1544-1. Before driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels
on the ground) behind a motor home.
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with the four wheels on the ground.
Page 193 of 496
1934-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)
CAUTION
■To avoid operating the cruise control by mistake
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON-OFF” button when not in use.
■ Situations unsuitable for cruise control
Do not use cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in loss of control and could cause an accident resulting
in death or serious injury.
●In heavy traffic
● On roads with sharp bends
● On winding roads
● On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
● On steep hills
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
● During emergency towing
Page 294 of 496

2945-5. Other interior features
AVALON (U)_(OM41440U)■
Stolen Vehicle Location
If your vehicle is stolen, Safety
Connect can work with local author-
ities to assist them in locating a nd recovering the vehicle. After filing
a police report, call the Safety Connect response center at 1-800-
331-4331 and follow the prompts for Safety Connect to initiate this
service.
In addition to assisting law enforcement with recovery of a stolen
vehicle, Safety-Connect-equippe d vehicle location data may, under
certain circumstances, be shared with third parties to locate your
vehicle. Further information is available at Toyota.com.
■Emergency Assistance Button (“SOS”)
In the event of an emergency on the road, push the “SOS” button to
reach the Safety Connect respon se center. The answering agent
will determine your vehicle’s location, assess the emergency, and
dispatch the necessary assistance required.
If you accidentally press the “SOS” button, tell the response-center
agent that you are not experiencing an emergency.
■
Enhanced Roadside Assistance
Enhanced Roadside Assi stance adds GPS data to the already
included warranty-based Toyota roadside service.
Subscribers can press the “SOS” bu tton to reach a Safety Connect
response-center agent, who can help with a wide range of needs,
such as: towing, flat tire, fuel deli very, etc. For a description of the
Enhanced Roadside Assistance se rvices and their limitations,
please see the Safety Connect Terms and Conditions, which are
available at Toyota.com.