Page 114 of 548
114
GS450h_OM_OM30G62U_(U)
2. Instrument cluster
Vehicle information can be displayed on the side display (→P. 286), then select
or to select the desired screen.
Fuel consumption
Displays the average fuel consumption
and regenerated energy for the past 10
minutes in 1 minute intervals, as well as
the cruising range.
Past record
Displays the average fuel consumption
and highest fuel consumption.
Trip information
Displays the cruising range, average
fuel consumption and the amount of
time elapsed since the hybrid system
was started.
Using the side display
Page 167 of 548

167
GS450h_OM_OM30G62U_(U)
4Driving
4-1. Before driving Driving the vehicle ...................... 168
Cargo and luggage .................... 176
Vehicle load limits ....................... 179
Trailer towing ................................180
Dinghy towing ............................... 181
4-2. Driving procedures Power (ignition) switch ............. 182
EV drive mode ............................. 187
Hybrid transmission ................... 189
Turn signal lever........................... 195
Parking brake ............................... 196
Brake Hold..................................... 198
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ........................ 200
Automatic High Beam ............ 203
Windshield wipers and washer.................................207 4-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap ...... 213
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Lexus Safety System+ ................ 217
PCS (Pre-Collision System) ......... 223
LKA (Lane-Keeping Assist) .......................................... 234
Dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range ............. 243
Cruise control ............................. 255
Driving mode select switch ...258
BSM (Blind Spot Moni tor).............. 260
• The Blind Spot Monitor
function .................................... 263
• The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function ......................... 265
Driving assist systems .............. 268
4-6. Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips ..... 274
Winter driving tips ..................... 276
Page 169 of 548

GS450h_OM_OM30G62U_(U)
1694-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assist control is available. (→P. 269)
■For fuel-efficient driving
Keep in mind that hybrid vehicles are simila r to conventional vehicles, and it is necessary
to refrain from activities such as sudden acce leration, etc. Refer to “Hybrid vehicle driv-
ing tips”. ( →P. 274)
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is ra ining, because visibility will be reduced, the windows may
become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to rain, beca use the road surface will be especially slip-
pery.
●Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain, because there may
be a layer of water between the tires and th e road surface, preventing the steering and
brakes from operating properly.
■Restraining engine output (Brake Override System)
●When the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same time, the hybrid sys-
tem output may be restrained.
●A warning message is displayed on the mult i-information display while the system is
operating. ( →P. 429)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start Control)
●When the following unusual operation is pe rformed, the hybrid system output may be
restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D
includes S) with the acce lerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears on
the multi-information display. ( →P. 417)
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed t oo much while the vehicle is in reverse.
●While Drive-Start Control is being activated, your vehicle may have trouble escaping
from the mud or fresh snow. In such case, deactivate TRAC (→P. 270) to cancel Drive-
Start Control so that the vehicle may beco me able to escape from the mud or fresh
snow.
■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observin g the following precautions is recommended:
●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.
Page 170 of 548
170
GS450h_OM_OM30G62U_(U)
4-1. Before 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 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 cor-
rect fuel. ( →P. 472)
Page 188 of 548

188
GS450h_OM_OM30G62U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
■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 in order to warm up. In th is case, you will become unable to switch to
EV drive mode.
■Automatic cancelation of EV drive mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gasoline engine may automatically restart in the fol-
lowing situations. When EV drive mode is canc eled, 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” display is low.
( → P. 110)
●Vehicle speed high.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
When it is possible to inform the driver of automatic cancelation in advance, a prior
notice screen will appear on the multi-information display.
■Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode
EV drive mode’s possible driving distance ranges from a few hundred meters to approxi-
mately 0.6 mile (1 km). However, dependin g on vehicle conditions, there are situations
when EV drive mode cannot be used.
(The distance that is possible depends on th e hybrid battery [traction battery] level and
driving conditions.)
■Fuel economy
The hybrid system is designed to achieve th e best possible fuel economy during normal
driving (using the gasoline engine and electr ic motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV
drive mode more than necess ary may lower fuel economy.
To prevent gasoline engine warm up in order to
reduce noises, start the hybrid system without
starting the gasoline engine, pressing the power
switch with fully depressing the brake pedal and
pressing the EV drive mode switch.
WARNING
■Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode
no engine noise is made. As such, pedestrians, people
riding bicycles or other people and vehicles in the surrounding area may not be aware
of the vehicle starting off or approaching th em. Therefore, take extra care while driving
even if the vehicle proximity notification system is active.
Page 189 of 548
189
GS450h_OM_OM30G62U_(U)4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Hybrid transmission
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 com-
pletely stopped.
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noises , set the shift lever in D for normal driving.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control accelerating forces and
engine braking forces.
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral (Condition in which the power is not transmitted)
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 (→ P. 192)
Page 201 of 548

GS450h_OM_OM30G62U_(U)
2014-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) secures excellent visibility at intersections
and on curves by automatically adjusting the direction of the light axis of the
headlights according to vehicle speed and the degree of the tire’s angle as con-
trolled by steering input.
AFS operates at speeds of 6 mph (10 km/h) or higher.
■Deactivating AFS
Settings can be changed from on the multi-information display
(→ P. 95).
Press or on the meter cont rol switch and select “AFS”.
Press on the meter control
switch and select “Off”.
The indicator turns on when the AFS
is deactivated.
■Daytime running light system
●The daytime running lights illuminate using th e same lights as the parking lights and illu-
minate brighter than the parking lights.
●To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving, the daytime
running lights turn on automatically when a ll of the following conditions are met. (The
daytime running lights are not designed for use at night.)
• The hybrid system is operating
• The parking brake is released
• The headlight switch is in the (Canada only), or “AUTO”
* position
*: When the surroundings are bright
The daytime running lights remain on after they illuminate, even if the parking brake is set
again.
●For the U.S.A.: 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.
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) (if equipped)
1
2
Page 213 of 548

213
GS450h_OM_OM30G62U_(U)4-4. Refueling
4
Driving
Opening the fuel tank cap
●Turn the power switch off and ensure that all the doors and windows are
closed.
●Confirm the type of fuel.
■Fuel types
→ P. 481
■Fuel tank opening for unleaded gasoline
To help prevent incorrect fueling, your vehi cle has a fuel tank opening that only accom-
modates the specia l nozzle on unleaded fuel pumps.
Perform the following steps to open the fuel tank cap:
Before refueling the vehicle
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 fr om 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 fu el 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 th at 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 pe rson 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.