Page 183 of 917

183
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4Driving
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ...................... 184
Cargo and luggage .................... 195
Vehicle load limits .......................198
Trailer towing ................................. 199
Dinghy towing............................. 200
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (gasoline vehicles) ................... 201
Power (ignition) switch (hybrid vehicles) ..................... 208
EV drive mode (hybrid vehicles) ....................... 215
Automatic transmission (gasoline vehicles) ................... 218
Hybrid transmission (hybrid vehicles) ....................... 221
Turn signal lever ..........................225
Parking brake ............................... 226
Horn................................................. 227 4-3. Operating the lights
and wipers
Headlight switch......................... 228
Automatic High Beam ............. 232
Fog light switch ...........................238
Windshield wipers and washer................................. 239
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap ..... 243
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Cruise control ............................. 248
Dynamic radar cruise control ............................ 252
LDA (Lane Departure Alert) .........267
Intuitive parking assist .............. 275
Rear view monitor system .....288
Driving mode select switch .......................................... 300
Driving assist systems...............302
Hill-start assist control (hybrid vehicles) ..................... 308
PCS (Pre-Collision System)........... 310
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) .......317
• Blind Spot Monitor function ..................................... 321
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert function .................................... 324
4-6. Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips (hybrid vehicles) ..................... 327
Winter driving tips .....................330
Page 186 of 917

186
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recom-
mended:
●For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system. This type of brake system
needs bedding-down of the brake shoes peri odically or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have your Lexus dealer perform the bedding
down operation.
■Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability of the
correct fuel. ( P. 8 4 7 )
■For efficient use (hybrid vehicles)
●Shift the shift lever to D when driving.
In the N position, the gasoline engine oper ates but electricity cannot be generated.
The hybrid battery (traction battery) will discharge, requiring unnecessary engine
power to recharge.
●Drive your vehicle smoothly.
Avoid abrupt acceleration and decelerati on. Gradual acceleration and decelera-
tion will make more effective use of the electric motor (traction motor) without hav-
ing to use gasoline engine power.
●Avoid repeated acceleration.
Repeated acceleration consumes hybrid ba ttery (traction battery) power, resulting
in poor acceleration. Battery power can be restored by driving with the accelerator
pedal slightly released.
●Shift the shift lever to P when parking.
In the N position, the hybrid battery (traction battery) does not recharge.
Leaving the shift lever in the N position for an extended period of time may dis-
charge the hybrid battery. The vehicle cannot run if the hybrid battery is dis-
charged.
Page 216 of 917

216
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
■Switching to EV drive mode when the gasoline engine is cold
If the hybrid system is started while the gasoline engine is cold, the gasoline engine
will start automatically in order to warm up. In this case, you will become unable to
switch to EV drive mode.
After the hybrid system has started and the “READY” indicator has illuminated,
press the EV drive mode switch before the gasoline engine starts to switch to EV
drive mode.
■Automatic cancelation of EV drive mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gasoline engine may automatically restart in the
following situations. When EV drive mode is canceled, a buzzer will sound and the
EV indicator will flash 3 times and go off.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy Monitor” screen or the multi-
information display is low. ( P. 112)
●Vehicle speed becomes more than about 25 mph (40 km/h).
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly.
When it is possible to inform the driver of automatic cancelation in advance, a prior
notice screen will appear on the multi-information display.
■Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode
EV drive mode’s possible driving distan ce ranges from a few hundred meters to
approximately 1.3 mile (2 km). Driving is possible at speeds of less than approxi-
mately 25 mph (40 km/h). However, depending on vehicle conditions, there are sit-
uations when EV drive mode cannot be used.
(The distance that is possible depends on the hybrid battery [traction battery] level
and driving conditions.)
■Fuel economy
Your Lexus is designed to achieve the best possible fuel economy during normal
driving (using the gasoline en gine and electric motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV
drive mode more than necessary may lower fuel economy.
Page 221 of 917
221
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Hybrid transmission (hybrid vehicles)
While the “POWER” switch is in ON mode, move the shift lever with
the brake pedal depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehicle is
completely stopped.
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noises, set the shift lever in D for normal driving.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control engine braking forces.
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( P. 222)
Page 243 of 917
243
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4-4. Refueling
4
Driving
Opening the fuel tank cap
●Close all the doors and windows, and turn the “START STOP
ENGINE” <“POWER”> switch off.
●Confirm the type of fuel.
■Fuel types
Unleaded gasoline (Octane rating 87 [Research Octane Number 91] or higher)
Perform the following steps to open the fuel tank cap:
Before refueling the vehicle
Page 244 of 917

244
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4-4. Refueling
CAUTION
■When refueling the vehicle
Observe the following precautions while refueling the vehicle. Failure to do so may
result in death or serious injury.
●After exiting the vehicle and before opening the fuel door, touch an unpainted
metal surface to discharge any static electricity. It is important to discharge static
electricity before refueling because sparks resulting from static electricity can
cause fuel vapors to ignite while refueling.
●Always hold the grips on the fuel tank cap and turn it slowly to remove it.
A whooshing sound may be heard when the fuel tank cap is loosened. Wait until
the sound cannot be heard before fully removing the cap. In hot weather, pressur-
ized fuel may spray out the filler neck and cause injury.
●Do not allow anyone that has not discharged static electricity from their body to
come close to an open fuel tank.
●Do not inhale vaporized fuel.
Fuel contains substances that are harmful if inhaled.
●Do not smoke while refueling the vehicle.
Doing so may cause the fuel to ignite and cause a fire.
●Do not return to the vehicle or touch any person or object that is statically
charged.
This may cause static electricity to build up, resulting in a possible ignition hazard.
■When refueling
Observe the following precautions to prevent fuel overflowing from the fuel tank:
●Securely insert the fuel nozzle into the fuel filler neck.
●Stop filling the tank after the fuel nozzle automatically clicks off.
●Do not top off the fuel tank.
NOTICE
■Refueling
Do not spill fuel during refueling.
Doing so may damage the vehicle, such as causing the emission control system to
operate abnormally or damaging fuel syst em components or the vehicle’s painted
surface.
Page 245 of 917
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
2454-4. Refueling
4
Driving
Press the opener switch to open
the fuel filler door.
Turn the fuel tank cap slowly to
open.
Hang the fuel tank cap on the
back of the fuel filler door.
Opening the fuel tank cap
1
2
3
Page 246 of 917
246
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4-4. Refueling
■When the fuel filler door cannot be opened by pressing the inside switch
Remove the cover inside the trunk and pull
the lever.