25
CAUTION
■General precautions while driving
Driving under the influence: Never drive your vehicle when under the influ-
ence of alcohol or drugs that have impaired your ability to operate your vehi-
cle. Alcohol and certain drugs delay reaction time, impair judgment and
reduce coordination, which could lead to an accident that could result in
death or serious injury.
Defensive driving: Always drive defensively. Anticipate mistakes that other
drivers or pedestrians might make and be ready to avoid accidents.
Driver distraction: Always give your full attention to driving. Anything that dis-
tracts the driver, such as adjusting controls, talking on a cellular phone or
reading can result in a collision with resulting death or serious injury to you,
your occupants or others.
■ General precaution regarding children’s safety
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow children to
have or use the key.
Children may be able to start the vehicle or shift the vehicle into neutral.
There is also a danger that children may injure themselves by playing with
the windows, the moon roof, or other features of the vehicle. In addition, heat
build-up or extremely cold temperatures inside the vehicle can be fatal to
children.
35
1
1-1. Hybrid system
Before driving
Hybrid system precautions
Air conditioning compressor
Power control unit with DC/
DC converter
High voltage cables (orange)
Hybrid battery (traction bat-
tery)Service plug
Electric motor (traction
motor)
Caution label
Take care when handling the hybrid system, as it contains a high
voltage system (about 650V at m
aximum) as well as parts that
become extremely hot when the hy brid system is operating. Obey
the caution labels attached to the vehicle.
169
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
■
Operation of the air conditio ning system in Eco drive mode
Eco drive mode controls the heating/cooling operations and fan speed of the
air conditioning system to enhance fuel efficiency. ( P. 238) To improve air
conditioning performance, adjust the fan speed or turn off Eco drive mode.
■ When in heavy traffic
If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery (traction battery) will not be
charged. To help prevent the battery from discharging, avoid putting the shift
lever in N for an extended period of time.
■ If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
P. 533
CAUTION
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may cause the vehicle to spin or skid,
resulting in an accident.
■ Selecting Eco drive mode
When the vehicle is driven in Eco drive mode, vehicle driving
force and operation of the air co nditioning system (heating/cool-
ing) is controlled to improve fuel efficiency.
Eco drive mode
When eco drive mode is turned
on, the “ECO MODE” indicator
will come on.
Pressing the “ECO MODE”
switch again turns eco drive
mode off.
207
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
Driving assist systems
To help enhance driving safety and performance, the following sys-
tems operate automatically in res ponse to various driving situations.
Be aware, however, that these systems are supplementary and
should not be relied upon too heavi ly when operating the vehicle.
■ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the brakes are applied suddenly, or if
the brakes are applied while driving on a slippery road surface.
■Brake assist
Generates an increased level of braking force after the brake pedal is
depressed when the system detects a panic stop situation.
■VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to control skidding when swerving suddenly or turning
on slippery road surfaces.
■TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and prevent the drive wheels from spin-
ning when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads.
■Hill-start assist control
P. 212
■EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce the amount of effort needed to turn
the steering wheel.
■Enhanced VSC (Enhanced vehicle stability control)
Provides cooperative control of the ABS, TRAC, VSC and EPS.
Helps to maintain directional stability when swerving on slippery road
surfaces by controlling steering performance.
■BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) (if equipped)
P. 214
569
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
■
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1 - 1/2)
times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions
of their use. Performance may diff er significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
■ Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C,
and they represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled cond itions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking
(straight ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turn-
ing) traction.
■ Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, represent-
ing the tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the labo-
ratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
598
Abbreviation list
Abbreviation/Acronym list
ABBREVIATIONSMEANING
A/C Air Conditioning
ABS Anti-lock Brake System
ACC Accessory
ALR Automatic Locking Retractor
BSM Blind Spot Monitor CRS Child Restraint System
DISP Display ECU Electronic Control Unit
EDR Event Data RecorderELR Emergency Locking Retractor
EPS Electric Power Steering
GAWR Gross Axle Weight Ratings
GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
I/M Emission inspection and maintenance
LATCH Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children LED Light Emitting Diode
M + S Mud and Snow MMT Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl
MTBE Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether
OBD On Board DiagnosticsSRS Supplemental Restraint System TIN Tire Identification Number
TPMS Tire Pressure Warning System TRAC Traction Control VIN Vehicle Identification Number
VSC Vehicle Stability Control
599
Alphabetical index
Alphabetical index
AAC .......................................... 274
A/C ............................................ 238
ABS........................................... 207
ACCESSORY mode ................. 157
Air conditioning filter .............. 456
Air conditioning systemAir conditioning filter ............. 456
Automatic air conditioning
system................................ 238
Airbags
Airbag operating conditions ........................... 116
Airbag precautions for your
child.................................... 120
Airbag warning light .............. 491
Curtain shield airbag operating conditions ........... 117
Curtain shield airbag precautions ........................ 120
Front passenger occupant classification system .......... 125
General airbag
precautions ........................ 120
Locations of airbags ............. 113
Modification and disposal of airbags ............................... 124
Proper driving posture ....................... 111, 120
Side airbag operating conditions ........................... 117
Side airbag precautions........ 120
SRS airbags ......................... 113
Alarm ........................................ 108
Antenna .................................... 273
Anti-lock brake system ........... 207
Armrest .................................... 385
Ashtray ..................................... 380
Assist grips.............................. 386
Audio input .............................. 256 Audio system
Antenna .................................273
Audio input ............................256
CD player ..............................274
iPod .......................................281
MP3/WMA/AAC disc .............274
Optimal use ...........................271
Portable music player ..................................256
Radio .....................................272
Steering wheel audio
switch ..................................254
USB memory .........................287
USB/AUX port .......................256
Automatic air conditioning system ....................................238
Automatic light control system ....................................192
AUX port ...................................256
Auxiliary boxes ........................374
Back-up lights
Replacing light bulbs .............471
Wattage .................................560
Battery Checking ...............................439
Hybrid battery (traction battery)....................35
If the vehicle has a discharged 12-volt battery .....................538
Preparing and checking before winter .......................229
Blind Spot Monitor ...................214
Bottle holders ...........................371
Brake Fluid ......................................436
Parking brake ........................172
Brake assist ..............................207
Break-in tips .............................147
BSM ...........................................214A
B
607
Alphabetical index
Tail lights
Replacing light bulbs ............ 471
Switch ................................... 192
Wattage ................................ 560
Theft deterrent system
Alarm .................................... 108
Immobilizer system............... 106
Tire inflation pressure ............ 449
Tire information
Glossary ............................... 570
Size ...................................... 567
Tire identification number ..... 566
Uniform tire quality grading ............................... 568
Tires Chains .................................. 229
Checking .............................. 443
If you have a flat tire ............. 519
Inflation pressure .................. 449
Inflation pressure sensor ...... 444
Replacing ............................. 519
Rotating tires ........................ 443
Size ...................................... 558
Snow tires............................. 229
Spare tire .............................. 519
Tire pressure warning system........................ 443, 493
Warning light ........................ 493 Tools .........................................519
Total load capacity...................228
Towing
Dinghy towing........................234
Trailer towing.........................233
TRAC .........................................208
Traction control........................208
Transmission Hybrid transmission...............168
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P......................533
Trip information .......................185
Trip meter .........................174, 185
Trunk Opener ....................................72
Trunk light Trunk light ...............................73
Wattage .................................560
Turn signal lights Replacing light bulbs .............471
Switch....................................170
Wattage .................................560
Vanity lights Vanity lights ...........................377
Wattage .................................560
Vanity mirrors...........................377
Vehicle data recordings ............22
Vehicle identification number ...................................550
Vehicle stability control...........208
VSC............................................208T
V