2414-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
Control and maintain the vehicle at a 
constant speed. Before stopping at a 
toll booth or similar, allow plenty of 
time to release the accelerator and 
gently apply the brakes. A greater 
amount of electrical energy can be 
regenerated when slowing down.
Use the air conditioning only when 
necessary. Doing so can help reduce 
excessive gasoline consumption. 
In summer: When the ambient tem-
perature is high, use the recirculated 
air mode. Doing so will help to reduce 
the burden on the air conditioning sys-
tem and reduce fuel consumption as 
well. 
In winter: Because the gasoline engine 
will not automatically cut out until it and 
the interior of the vehicle are warm, it 
will consume fuel. Also, fuel consump-
tion can be improved by avoiding over-
use of the heater.
Make sure to check the tire inflation 
pressure frequently. Improper tire infla-
tion pressure can cause poor fuel 
economy. 
Also, as snow tires can cause large 
amounts of friction, their use on dry 
roads can lead to poor fuel economy. 
Use tires that are appropriate for the 
season. Carrying heavy luggage will lead to 
poor fuel economy. Avoid carrying 
unnecessary luggage.
 Installing a large 
roof rack will also cause poor fuel 
economy.
Since the gasoline engine starts up and 
cuts out automatically when cold, 
warming up the engine is unnecessary. 
Moreover, frequently driving short dis-
tances will cause the engine to repeat-
edly warm up, which can lead to excess 
fuel consumption.
Highway driving
Air conditioning
Checking tire inflation pressure
Luggage
Warming up before driving 
2816-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
Remove dirt and dust using a vac-
uum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces 
with a cloth dampened with luke-
warm water.
 If dirt cannot be removed, wipe it off 
with a soft cloth dampened with 
neutral detergent diluted to approx-
imately 1%.
Wring out any excess water from 
the cloth and thoroughly wipe off 
remaining traces of detergent and 
water.
■Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type 
cleaners available. Use a sponge or brush 
to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping cir-
cles. Do not use water. Wipe dirty surfaces 
and let them dry. Excellent results are 
obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as 
possible.
■Handling the seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water 
using a cloth or sponge. Also check the 
belts periodically for  excessive wear, fraying 
or cuts.
■When cleaning the carpeted portions of 
the glove box, console box, etc.
If a strong adhesive ta pe is used, there is a 
possibility that the su rface of the carpet 
could be damaged.
NOTICE
■When using a high-pressure car wash
●When washing the vehicle, do not let 
water from the high -pressure washer 
directly hit the camera, the area 
around the camera or inside of the out-
side door handles. Due to the shock 
from high-pressure water, it is possible 
that the device may not operate nor-
mally.
●Do not bring the nozzle tip close to 
boots (rubber or re sin manufactured 
cover), connectors or the following 
parts. The parts may be damaged if 
they come into contact with high-pres-
sure water.
• Traction related parts
•Steering parts
•Suspension parts
• Brake parts
●Keep the cleaning nozzle at least 11.9 
in. (30 cm) away from the vehicle 
body. Otherwise resin  section, such as 
moldings and bumpers, may be 
deformed and damaged. Also, do not 
continuously hold the nozzle in the 
same place.
●Do not spray the lower part of the 
windshield continuously. If water 
enters the air conditioning system 
intake located near the lower part of 
the windshield, the air conditioning 
system may not operate correctly.
●LC500h: Do not wash the underside 
of the vehicle using a high pressure car 
washer.
Cleaning and protecting the 
vehicle interior
Perform cleaning in a manner 
appropriate to each component 
and its material.
Protecting the vehicle interior