2018 LEXUS RX450h Owners Manual

2093-5. Opening, closing the windows and moon roof
3
Operation of each component
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U

210
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U 4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle.......................212
Cargo and luggage................... 220
Vehicle load limits...................... 223
Trailer towing (vehicles
with towing package) ............ 224
Trailer towing (vehicles
without towing
package)..................................... 237
Dinghy towing .............................238
4-2. Driving procedures
Power (ignition) switch ............ 239
EV drive mode ............................ 244
Hybrid transmission .................. 246
Turn signal lever ......................... 252
Parking brake .............................. 253
Brake Hold ................................... 256
4 Driving

211
4 Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U4-3. Operating the lights and
wipers
Headlight switch ........................ 258
Automatic High Beam ............. 262
Fog light switch ...........................266
Windshield wipers and
washer.......................................... 267
Rear window wiper and
washer.......................................... 272
4-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap...... 274 4-5. Using the driving support
systems
Lexus Safety System+ .............. 279
PCS
(Pre-Collision System) ......... 286
LKA
(Lane-Keeping A ssist) .......... 297
Dynamic radar cruise
control with full-speed
range ............................................306
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ...... 319
• BSM function ......................... 323
• RCTA function...................... 327
Intuitive parking assist .............. 332
Intelligent Clearance Sonar
(ICS) ............................................. 342
Lexus parking assist
monitor ........................................ 363
Driving mode select
switch ........................................... 379
Driving assist systems ..............382
4-6. Driving tips
Hybrid vehicle driving
tips ................................................ 388
Winter driving tips .....................390
Utility vehicle
precautions................................ 394

212
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U4-1. Before driving
→ P. 239
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. ( → P. 246)
Release the parking brake. ( → P. 254)If the parking brake is in automatic mode, the parking brake is released automatically
when shifting the shift lever to any position other than P. ( → P. 253)
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal
to accelerate the vehicle.
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake. ( → P. 254)If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time, shift the shift lever to P.
( → P. 246)
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake ( → P. 254), and shift the shift lever to P ( → P. 246).
Press the power switch to stop the hybrid system.
Lock the door, making sure that you ha ve the electronic key on your person.If parking on a hill, bloc k the wheels as needed.Driving the vehicle The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driving:
Starting the hybrid system
Driving
Stopping
Parking the vehicle 1
2
3
1
2
1
2
3
4

2134-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWith the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. ( → P. 246)
Pull the parking brake switch and parking brake is set manually. ( → P. 254)
Release the brake pedal and gently de press the accelerator pedal to acceler-
ate the vehicle.
Press the parking brake switch and pa rking brake is released manually.
( → P. 254) ■
When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate. ( → P. 382)■
For fuel-efficient driving
Keep in mind that hybrid vehicles are simila r to conventional vehicles, and it is necessary
to refrain from activities su ch as sudden acceleration. ( → P. 388)■
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 the hybrid system 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. If a warning messa ge is shown on the multi-in formation display, read the
message and follow the instructions. ■
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. If a warning message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and follo w the instructions.
• 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. 384) to cancel Drive-
Start Control so that the vehicle may beco me able to escape from the mud or fresh
snow.Starting off on a uphill 1
2
3
4

214 4-1. Before driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observin g the following precautions is recommended:●
For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops. ●
For the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer. ●
For the first 1000 miles (1600 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.■
Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability of the cor-
rect fuel. ( → P. 712)■
Eco-friendly driving
→ P. 121
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. ■
When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the “READY” indicator is
illuminated. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.■
When driving the vehicle ●
Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accelerator ped-
als to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal will
result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to difficulty in operat-
ing the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving po sture even when moving the vehicle only
slightly. This allows you to depress th e brake and accelerator pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using
your left foot may delay re sponse in an emergency, resulting in an accident.●
The driver should pay extra attention to pedestrians when the vehicle is powered only
by the electric motor (traction motor). As there is no engine noise, the pedestrians
may misjudge the vehicle’s movement. ●
Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may
cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.

2154-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. ■
When driving the vehicle ●
During normal driving, do not turn off the hybrid system. Turning the hybrid system off
while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control, however, power assist
to the steering will be lost. This will make it more difficult to steer smoothly, so you
should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
In the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the vehicle in
the normal way: → P. 653●
Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving down a steep
hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause th e brakes to overheat and lose effective-
ness. ( → P. 246)●
Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or outside rear
view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control. ●
Always check that all passengers’ arms, he ads or other parts of their body are not
outside the vehicle. ●
Do not drive the vehicle off-road.
This is not an AWD vehicle designed for of f-road driving. Proceed with all due cau-
tion if it becomes unavoidable to drive off-road. ●
Do not drive across a river or through other bodies of water.
This may cause electric/electronic componen ts to short circuit, damage the hybrid
system or cause other serious damage to the vehicle. ●
Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit permits it, do not
drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-speed capability tires.
Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h ) may result in tire failure , loss of control and possible
injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer to determine whether the tires on your vehicle
are high-speed capability tires or no t before driving at such speeds.

216 4-1. Before driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. ■
When driving on slippery road surfaces ●
Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and reduce your
ability to control the vehicle. ●
Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shifting, or changes in engine speed
could cause the vehicle to skid. ●
After driving through a puddle , lightly depress the brake pe dal to make sure that the
brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from func-
tioning properly. If the brakes on only on e side are wet and not functioning properly,
steering control may be affected. ■
When shifting the shift lever ●
Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is in a driving position, or roll
forward while the shift lever is in R.
Doing so may result in an acci dent or damage to the vehicle.●
Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.●
Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.●
Do not shift the shift lever to a driving posi tion while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.●
Shifting the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage th e hybrid sys-
tem. Engine braking is not av ailable when N is selected.●
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Shifting the shift lever to any position other than P or N may lead to unexpected rapid
acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious
injury.