
125
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3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
3
Operation of each component
Smart access system with push-button start
The following operations can be performed simply by carrying the elec-
tronic key on your person, for example in your pocket. (The driver should
always carry the electronic key.)
■Operation signals
A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash to indicate that the doors have
been locked/unlocked. (Locked: once; Unlocked: twice)
■Security feature
If a door is not opened within approximately 60 seconds after the vehicle is
unlocked, the security feature automatically locks the vehicle again.
■Welcome light illumination control
The side marker, parking, tail and license plate lights automatically turn on at night
when the doors are unlocked using the entry function or wireless remote control if
the light switch is in the “AUTO” position.
Function summary
Hybrid vehiclesGasoline vehicles
Locks and unlocks the doors (→P. 1 2 6 )
Opens the trunk ( →P. 1 2 6 )
Starts the engine ( →P. 201)
Starts the hybrid system ( →P. 2 0 8 )1
2
3

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3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors and trunk
■Conditions affecting operation
The smart access system with push-button start uses weak radio waves. In the follow-
ing situations, the communication between the electronic key and the vehicle may be
affected, preventing the smart access system with push-button start, wireless remote
control and engine immobilizer system
erly. (Ways of coping: →P. 8 1 0 )
●When the electronic key battery is depleted
●Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large display, air-
port or other facility that generates strong radio waves or electrical noise
●When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wireless
communication device
●When the electronic key is in contact with, or is covered by the following metallic
objects
• Cards to which aluminum foil is attached
• Cigarette boxes that have aluminum foil inside
• Metallic wallets or bags
•Coins
• Hand warmers made of metal
• Media such as CDs and DVDs
●When other wireless keys (that emit radio waves) are being used nearby
●When carrying the electronic key together with the following devices that emit
radio waves
• Another vehicle’s electronic key or a wireless key that emits radio waves
• Personal computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs)
• Digital audio players
• Portable game systems
●If window tint with a metallic content or metallic objects are attached to the rear
window

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

184
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4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle
→P. 201, 208
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D.
(→ P. 218, 221)
Release the parking brake. ( →P. 2 2 6 )
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator
pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.
Gasoline vehicles: If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time,
shift the shift lever to P or N. (→ P. 2 1 8 )
Hybrid vehicles: If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time, shift
the shift lever to P. ( →P. 221)
The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driving:
Starting the engine
Driving
Stopping
1
2
3
1
2

186
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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 periodically 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. 847)
■For efficient use (hybrid vehicles)
●Shift the shift lever to D when driving.
In the N position, the gasoline engine operates 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 deceleration. 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 battery (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.

ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
1874-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■Eco-friendly driving
Gasoline vehicles: →P. 1 0 7
Hybrid vehicles: →P. 9 8
■Customization (gasoline vehicles)
Setting of Eco Driving Indicator Light can be changed.
(Customizable features: → P. 8 6 2 )
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the engine running
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accelerator
pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal will
result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a difficulty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle only slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and accelerator pedals prop-
erly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, resulting in an acci-
dent.
●Hybrid vehicles only: When the hybrid vehicles are driven using the electric
motor only, no engine noise is made. As such, pedestrians, people riding bicycles
or other people and vehicles in the surrounding area may not realize that the
vehicle is approaching. Even with the vehicle proximity notification system active,
people may not realize the vehicle is approaching when the surrounding area is
noisy and so forth. Therefore, take extra care while driving.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may
cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.

ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
1894-1. Before driving
4
Driving
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and reduce
your ability to control the vehicle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shift changing, or changes in engine
speed could cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an accident.
●After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make sure that
the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from
functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not functioning
properly, steering control may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is in a driving position, or
roll forward while the shift lever is in R.
Gasoline vehicles: Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor brake
and steering performance, resulting in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
Hybrid vehicles: Doing so may result in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to D while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Gasoline vehicles: Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will dis-
engage the engine from the transmission. Engine braking is not available when N
is selected.
Hybrid vehicles: Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disen-
gage the hybrid system. Engine braking is not available when N is selected.
●Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed. Shift-
ing the shift lever to a gear other than P or N may lead to unexpected rapid accel-
eration of the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious
injury.

190
ES350_300h_OM_OM33A60U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
CAUTION
■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as possi-
ble.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or
those of the brake discs are exceeded.
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Gasoline vehicles: Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly
and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
Hybrid vehicles: Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly
and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
●In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while the engine is running
●If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused by the
vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal and securely
apply the parking brake as needed.
●Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause the
exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible material is
nearby.