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Driving
When Driving
Turning on the Power1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
(P , then
depress the brake pedal.
uAlthough it is possible to start the vehicle
in (N , it is safer to start it in (P.
1When Driving
When you set the power mode to ON, you may feel
as if the brake pedal is sinking down. This is normal.
1Turning on the Power
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the power system.
The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters).
When turning on the power system in cold weather,
turn off all electrical accessories such as the lights,
climate control system, and rear defogger in order to
reduce the 12-volt battery drain.
If you live in a region where winter is extremely cold,
an engine block heater will improve starting and
warming of the engine. If temperatures consistently
below -22°F (-30°C) are expected, the coolant
mixture should be changed to a higher concentration
to prevent freezing. Consult a dealer for details.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Brake Pedal
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Continued417
uuWhen DrivinguTurning on the Power
Driving
2.Press the POWER button without
depressing the accelerator pedal.
uThe Ready To Drive message appears
on the multi-information display and a
buzzer sounds.
1Turning on the Power
The immobilizer system protects your vehicle from theft.
If an improperly coded device is used, the power
system does not activate. 2 Immobilizer System P. 126
Bring the smart entry remote close to the POWER
button if the battery in the smart entry remote is weak. 2 If the Smart Entry Remote Battery is Weak
P. 520
The power system may not activate if the smart entry
remote is subjected to strong radio waves.
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uuWhen DrivinguTurning on the Power
418
Driving
You can turn the power system off when the vehicle is completely stopped. 1. Shift to
(P .
2. Press the POWER button.
1. Keeping your right foot on the brake pedal, release the parking brake. Check that the parking brake indicator has gone off.
2 Parking Brake P. 452
2. Put the shift lever in
(D . Select (R when reversing.
3. Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to pull
away.
■ Hill start assist system
Hill start assist keeps the brake engaged briefly to help prevent the vehicle from
rolling on inclines as you move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
Move the shift lever to
(D or when facing uphill, or (R when facing downhill,
then release the brake pedal.
■Stopping the Power System
■Starting to Drive
B
1Hill start assist system
Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from
rolling downhill on a very steep or slippery slope, and
does not operate on small inclines.
Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking
brake.
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uuWhen DrivinguPrecautions While Driving
Driving
Precautions While Driving
Avoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the power
system or driveline, or cause electrical component failure.
If there is a strong impact with something under the vehicle, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicle for damage or any fluid leaks.
Transmission
As with a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle with an automatic transmission,
this vehicle will creep.
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.
Quickly depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill may cause the vehicle
to react similar to an automatic transmission vehicle, unexpectedly increasing vehicle
speed. Depress the accelerator pedal carefully, especially on slippery roads and
curves.
■In Rain
■Other Precautions
■Creeping
■Kickdown
1Precautions While Driving
NOTICEDo not operate the shift lever while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.
If the power mode is set to ACCESSORY while
driving, the power system will shut down and all
steering and brake power assist functions will stop,
making it difficult to control the vehicle.
Do not put the shift lever in
(N, as you will lose
regerative braking (and acceleration) performance.
During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as to not damage the powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this when the brake pads are
replaced.
NOTICEIf you repeatedly turn the steering wheel at an
extremely low speed, or hold the steering wheel on
the full left or right position for a while, the electric
power steering (EPS) system heats up. The system
goes into a protective mode, and limits its
performance. The steering wheel becomes harder
and harder to operate. Once the system cools down,
the EPS system is restored.
Repeated operation under these conditions can
eventually damage the system.
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uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Driving
Shifting
Change the shift position in accordance with your driving needs. ■Shift lever positions
1Shifting
While the High Voltage battery level is full, or the
High Voltage battery temperature is low,
regenerative braking may become less effective.
You cannot change the power mode from ON to
VEHICLE OFF (LOCK) unless the shift lever is in P.
When shifting positions in extremely low
temperatures (-22°F/-30°C), there may be a short
delay before the shift position is displayed. Always
confirm you are in the correct shift position before
driving.
Park
Used when parking or turning the
power on or off.
Reverse Used when reversing.
Neutral
Propulsion power is not transmitted to wheels.
Drive
Used for normal driving.
Release Button
Drive (B)
Used when driving down a long hill and
to increase regenerative braking.
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uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Driving
■Shift Lever Operation1Shift Lever Operation
When you change the shift lever from
(D to (R and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
If the transmission indicator blinks when driving, in
any shift position, there is a problem with the
transmission.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Shift without pressing the shift lever release button.
Press the shift lever release button
and shift.
Depress the brake pedal and press the
shift lever release button to shift.
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uuWhen DrivinguECON Button
Driving
ECON Button The ECON button turns the ECON mode on and off.
The ECON mode helps you improve your driving range by adjusting the performance
of the climate control system.
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uuWhen DrivinguAcoustic Vehicle Alerting System
Driving
Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System
Alerts pedestrians when a vehicle is propelled solely by electricity, approaching at
speeds around 12 mph (20 km/h) or less.Press the button to turn the system on and
off.
uThe indicator in the button comes on
when the system is off.
The system is turned on every time you turn
the power system on, even if you turned it off
the last time you drove the vehicle.
■Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System Button
Canadian models
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