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Hybrid System
■Hybrid System Indicator
Charge area
Shows regenerative charging.
Hybrid Eco area
Shows that gasoline engine power is
not being used very often.
The gasoline engine will automatically
stop and restart under various condi-
tions.
Eco area
Shows that the vehicle is being driven
in an Eco-friendly manner.
Po w e r a r e a
Shows that an Eco-friendly driving
range is being exceeded (during full
power driving etc.)
● Hybrid System Indicator is displayed when the driving mode is other than the sport
mode.
● By keeping the indicator needle within Ec o area, more Eco-friendly driving can be
achieved.
● Charge area indicates regeneration
* status. Regenerated energy will be used to charge
the battery.
*: When used in this manual, “regeneration” refers to the conversion of energy created by the movement of the vehicle into electrical energy.
Your vehicle is a hybrid vehicle. It has characteristics different from conventional vehicles.
Be sure you are closely familiar with the char acteristics of your vehicle, and operate with
care.
The hybrid system combines the use of a gaso line engine and an electric motor (traction
motor) according to driving conditions, impr oving fuel efficiency and reducing exhaust
emissions.
For details, refer to the “OWNER’S MANUAL”.
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2
3
4
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■Charging the hybrid ba ttery (traction battery)
If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery (t raction battery) will not be charged. Always put
the shift lever in P when the vehicle is stoppe d. When driving in heavy traffic, operate the
vehicle with the shift lever in D or S to avoid discharging the battery.
■ Regenerative braking
In the following situations, kinetic energy is converted to electric energy and deceleration
force can be obtained in conjunction with the recharging of the hybrid battery (traction bat-
tery).
● The accelerator pedal is released while driving with the shift position in D or S.
● The brake pedal is depressed while driving with the shift position in D or S.
■Sounds and vibrations specific to a hybrid vehicle
There may be no engine sounds or vibration even though the vehicle is able to move. For
safety, apply the parking brake and make sure to shift the shift position to P when parked.
The following sounds or vibrations may occur when the hybrid system is operating and are
not a malfunction:
● Motor sounds may be heard from the engine compartment.
● Sounds may be heard from the hybrid battery (traction battery) behind the rear seats
when the hybrid system starts or stops.
● Sounds from the hybrid system may be heard when the trunk lid is open.
● Sounds may be heard from the hybrid transm ission when the hybrid system starts or
stops.
● Engine sounds may be heard when accelerating sharply.
● Sounds may be heard due to regenerative braking when the brake pedal is depressed.
● Vibration may be felt when the ga soline engine starts or stops.
● Cooling fan sounds may be heard from the air intake vents on the both sides of the rear
seatback.
■Running out of fuel
When the vehicle has run out of fuel and the hybrid system cannot be started, refuel the
vehicle with at least enough gasoline to make the low fuel level warning light go off. If there is
only a small amount of fuel, the hybrid syst em may not be able to start. (The minimum
amount of fuel to add to make the low fuel level warning light go out is about 2.6 gal. [10.0 L,
2.2 Imp.gal.], when the vehicle is on a level surface. This value may vary when the vehicle is
on a slope.)
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Brake Hold
Turns the brake hold system onThe brake hold standby indicator
(green) comes on. While the system is
holding the brake, the brake hold oper-
ated indicator (yellow) comes on.
The brake hold system keeps the brake applied wh en the shift lever is in D, S or N with the
system on and the brake pedal has been de pressed to stop the vehicle. The system
releases the brake when the accelerator pedal is depressed with the shift lever in D or S to
allow smooth start off.
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■Adjusting the set speed
Increases the speed
(Except when the vehicle has been
stopped by system control in vehicle-
to-vehicle distance control mode)
Decreases the speed
Fine adjustment: Momentarily move
the lever in the desired direction.
Large adjustment: Hold the lever in the
desired direction.
■ Changing the vehicle-to-vehicle distance
Pressing the button changes the vehicle-to-
vehicle distance as follows:
Long
Medium
Short
The vehicle-to-vehicle distance is set
automatically to long mode when the
power switch is turned to ON mode.
If a vehicle is running ahead of you, the
preceding vehicle mark will also be dis-
played.
■Resuming follow-up cruising when the vehicle has been stopped by system
control
After the vehicle ahead of you starts off,
push the lever up.
Your vehicle will also resume follow-up
cruising if the accelerator pedal is
depressed after the vehicle ahead of you
starts off.
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2
Preceding
vehicle mark
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2
3