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155
Driving4
AVALON_HV_U (01999-07002)4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............. 156
Cargo and luggage ........... 166
Vehicle load limits ............. 169
Trailer towing..................... 170
Dinghy towing ................... 171
4-2. Driving procedures Power (ignition) switch ...... 172
EV drive mode .................. 178
Hybrid transmission........... 180
Turn signal lever................ 183
Parking brake .................... 184 4-3. Operating the lights and
wipers
Headlight switch ................ 185
Automatic High Beam ....... 188
Windshield wipers and washer ............................ 192
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 197
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Toyota Safety Sense P ..... 201
PCS (Pre-Collision System) ........................... 208
LDA (Lane Departure Alert with steering
control) ............................ 221
Dynamic radar cruise control ............................. 232
Cruise control .................... 245
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ........ 249
• The Blind Spot Monitor function ......................... 251
• The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function detection
areas ............................. 256
Driving mode select switch .............................. 258
Driving assist systems ...... 260
4-6. Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips .................................. 265
Winter driving tips ............. 268
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1574-1. Before driving
4
Driving
AVALON_HV_U (01999-07002)
Make sure that the parking brake is set and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assist control is available. ( P. 260)
■ For fuel-efficient driving
Keep in mind that hybrid vehicles are similar to conventional vehicles, and it
is necessary to refrain from activities such as sudden acceleration. ( P. 265)
■ Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the win-
dows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
● Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be espe-
cially slippery.
● Refrain from driving at high speeds in the rain, as there may be a layer of
water between the tires and the road surface, preventing the steering and
brakes from operating properly.
■ Breaking in your new Toyota
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 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. 445)
Starting off on a steep uphill
1
2
3
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1794-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
AVALON_HV_U (01999-07002)■
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 after a short period of time 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 illumi-
nated, press the EV drive mode switch before the gasoline engine starts to
switch to EV drive mode.
■ Automatic cancelatio n of EV drive mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gas oline engine may automatically restart
in the following situations. When EV drive mode is canceled, a buzzer will
sound and the EV drive mode indicator will flash and go off.
● The hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the energy monitor on the multi-
information display is low. ( P. 100)
● Vehicle speed is high.
● The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly.
■ Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode
EV drive mode’s possible driving distance ranges from a few hundred meters
to approximately 1.3 miles (2 km). However, depending on vehicle conditions,
there are situations 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
The hybrid system is designed to achieve the best possible fuel economy
during normal driving (using the gasoline engine and electric motor [traction
motor]). Driving in EV drive mode more than necessary may lower fuel econ-
omy.
WARNING
■Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode no engine noise is made. As such, pedestri-
ans, people riding bicycles or other people and vehicles in the surrounding
area may not be aware of the vehicle starting off or approaching them.
Therefore, take extra care while driving even if the vehicle proximity notifica-
tion system is active.
Page 180 of 492
1804-2. Driving procedures
AVALON_HV_U (01999-07002)
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 the Dposition for normal driving.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control engine brakingforce.
Hybrid transmission
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. 181)
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1864-3. Operating the lights and wipers
AVALON_HV_U (01999-07002)
■Daytime running light system ( vehicles with halogen headlights)
● To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving,
the daytime running lights turn on automatically whenever the hybrid system
is started and the parking brake is released with the headlight switch off or in
the “AUTO” position. (Illuminate dimmer than the headlight high beam.)
Daytime running lights are not designed for use at night.
Daytime running lights can be turned off by operating the switch.
● Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running light system
offers greater durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve
fuel economy.
■ Headlight control sensor
■ Automatic light off system
●When the headlights are on: The headlights and tail lights turn off 30 sec-
onds after the power switch is turned off and a door is opened and all of the
doors and trunk are closed. (The lights turn off immediately if on the
key is pressed twice after all the doors are closed.)
● When only the tail lights are on: The tail lights turn off automatically if the
power switch is turned off and the driver’s door is opened.
To turn the lights on again, turn the power switch to ON mode, or turn the light
switch off once and then back to or .
If any of the doors or trunk lid is kept open, the lights automatically turn off
after 20 minutes.
■ Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer sounds when the power switch is turned off or turned to ACCES-
SORY mode and the driver’s door is opened while the lights are turned on. The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything
that blocks the sensor is affixed to the
windshield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor
detecting the level of ambient light and
may cause the automatic headlight sys-
tem to malfunction.
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197
4
Driving
AVALON_HV_U (01999-07002)
4-4. Refueling
●Close all the doors and windows, and turn the power switch off.
● Confirm the type of fuel.
■Fuel types
P. 445
■ Fuel tank opening for unleaded gasoline
To help prevent incorrect fueling, your vehicle has a fuel tank opening that
only accommodates the special nozzle on unleaded fuel pumps.
Opening the fuel tank cap
Perform the following steps to open the fuel tank cap:
Before refueling the vehicle
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1984-4. Refueling
AVALON_HV_U (01999-07002)
WARNING
■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, pressurized 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 system components or the
vehicle’s painted surface.
Page 199 of 492
1994-4. Refueling
4
Driving
AVALON_HV_U (01999-07002)
With the doors unlocked, press
the center of the rear edge of
the fuel filler door.
Push until you hear a click and take
your hand away to slightly open the
fuel filler door. Then open the door
fully by hand.
Turn the fuel tank cap slowly to
remove it and hang it on the
back of the fuel filler door.
■If the fuel filler door cannot be opened
Opening the fuel tank cap
1
2
Remove the cover inside the trunk and
pull the lever to unlock the fuel filler door.
Then press the center of the rear edge of
the fuel filler door to open it.