Page 3 of 732

3
1
8 7
6
5
4
3
2
RAV4_OM_OM42A04U_(U)
9
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ............. 164
Cargo and luggage............ 176
Vehicle load limits ............. 180
Trailer towing..................... 181
Dinghy towing.................... 196
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without a
smart key system) ........... 197
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with a
smart key system) ........... 200
Automatic transmission ..... 207
Turn signal lever................ 214
Parking brake .................... 215
Horn .................................. 216
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 217
Automatic High Beam ....... 221
Fog light switch ................. 228
Windshield wipers and washer ..................... 229
Rear window wiper and washer ..................... 234 4-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap................................... 237
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Cruise control .................... 241
LDA (Lane Departure Alert)..... 245
Intuitive parking assist ....... 253
Rear view monitor system ............................. 259
All-wheel drive lock switch (AWD models) ...... 270
Driving assist systems ....... 271
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)......... 277
• The Blind Spot Monitor function.......................... 281
• The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function ................. 284
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips .............. 287
Utility vehicle precautions ...................... 292
4Driving
Page 18 of 732

18Pictorial index
RAV4_OM_OM42A04U_(U)
■Instrument panel
Engine switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 197, 200
Starting the engine/changing the modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 197, 201
Emergency stop of the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 601
When the engine will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 643
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 207
Changing the shift position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 207
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 603
When the shift lever does not move. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 645
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 85
Reading the meters/adjusting the instrument panel light . . . . . . P. 85
Warning lights/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 80
When the warning lights come on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 611
Multi-information display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 87
Parking brake lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 215
Applying/releasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 215
Precautions against winter season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 2881
2
3
4
5
Page 140 of 732

140
RAV4_OM_OM42A04U_(U)
3-3. Adjusting the seats
CAUTION
■When folding the rear seatbacks down
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
●Do not fold the seatbacks down while driving.
● Stop the vehicle on level ground, set the parking brake and shift the shift
lever to P.
● Do not allow anyone to sit on a folded seatback or in the luggage compart-
ment while driving.
● Do not allow children to enter the luggage compartment.
■ Seat adjustment
●To reduce the risk of sliding under the lap belt during a collision, do not
recline the seat more than necessary.
If the seat is too reclined, the lap belt may slide past the hips and apply
restraint forces directly to the abdomen, or your neck may contact the
shoulder belt, increasing the risk of death or serious injury in the event of
an accident.
Adjustments should not be made while driving as the seat may unexpect-
edly move and cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Be careful not to get hands or feet pinched between the rear console box\
and the rear seat when folding down the rear seatback.
Page 163 of 732

163
RAV4_OM_OM42A04U_(U)
4Driving
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ............. 164
Cargo and luggage ........... 176
Vehicle load limits ............. 180
Trailer towing..................... 181
Dinghy towing ................... 196
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without a
smart key system) ........... 197
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with a
smart key system) ........... 200
Automatic transmission ..... 207
Turn signal lever................ 214
Parking brake .................... 215
Horn .................................. 216 4-3. Operating the lights
and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 217
Automatic High Beam ....... 221
Fog light switch ................. 228
Windshield wipers and washer ..................... 229
Rear window wiper and washer ..................... 234
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 237
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Cruise control .................... 241
LDA (Lane Departure Alert) .... 245
Intuitive parking assist....... 253
Rear view monitor system ............................ 259
All-wheel drive lock switch (AWD models) ..... 270
Driving assist systems ...... 271
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ........ 277
• The Blind Spot Monitor function ......................... 281
• The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function ................. 284
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips ............. 287
Utility vehicle precautions ..................... 292
Page 164 of 732
164
RAV4_OM_OM42A04U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle
P. 197, 200
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. ( P. 207)
Release the parking brake. ( P. 215)
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelera-
tor pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.
If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time, shift the shift
lever to P or N. ( P. 207)
The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe
driving:
Starting the engine
Driving
Stopping
1
2
3
1
2
Page 165 of 732
RAV4_OM_OM42A04U_(U)
1654-1. Before driving
4
Driving
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
Shift the shift lever to P. (P. 207)
Set the parking brake. ( P. 215)
Vehicles without a smart key system:
Turn the engine switch to the “L OCK” position to stop the engine.
Vehicles with a smart key system:
Press the engine switch to stop the engine.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the key on your person.
If parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.
Make sure that the parking brake is set and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
Parking the vehicle
Starting off on a steep uphill
1
2
3
4
5
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2
3
Page 167 of 732

RAV4_OM_OM42A04U_(U)
1674-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■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 Toyota dealer per-
form 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. 671)
■ Eco Driving Indicator
Eco Driving Indicator Zone Display availability can be customized at your
Toyota dealer. The default setting is off.
Zone of Eco driving
Eco driving ratio based on acceleration
If the acceleration exceeds Zone of Eco driving, the right side of Eco Driv-
ing Indicator Zone Display blinks.
Eco Driving Indicator will not operate in the following conditions:
● The shift lever is anything other than D.
● Neither normal mode nor Eco drive mode is selected. ( P. 209)
● The vehicle speed is approximately 80 mph (130 km/h) or higher.
Suggests Zone of Eco driving and Eco
driving ratio based on acceleration.
Eco Driving Indicator Light
During Eco-friendly acceleration (Eco
driving), Eco Driving Indicator Light will
turn on.
When the acceleration exceeds Zone of
Eco driving, or when the vehicle is
stopped, the light turns off.
Eco Driving Indicator Light availability
can be customized. The default setting
is on. ( P. 90)
Eco Driving Indicator Zone Display
1
2
3
4
Page 171 of 732

RAV4_OM_OM42A04U_(U)
1714-1. Before driving
4
Driving
CAUTION
■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indica-
tors)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Toyota dealer as soon
as possible.
The 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
●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.
● In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while the engine is running, and apply the
parking brake as necessary.
● 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 combusti\
ble
material is nearby.