Page 185 of 536

1854-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10634U■
Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, the motor may be sus-
pended if the engine is turned on and off repeatedly in a short period of time.
In this case, refrain from operating the engine. After about 10 seconds, the
steering lock motor will resume functioning.
■ When the “Smart Key System Malfu nction. See Owner’s Manual.” is dis-
played on the multi-information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer immediately.
■ If the electronic key battery is depleted
P. 383
■ Operation of the engine switch
●If the switch is not pressed shortly and firmly, the engine swi tch mode may
not change or the engine may not start.
● If attempting to restart the engine immediately after turning t he engine
switch off, the engine may not start in some cases. After turni ng the engine
switch off, please wait a few seconds before restarting the eng ine.
■ If the smart key system has been d eactivated in a customized setting
P. 449
WARNING
■ When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the
accelerator pedal while starting the engine under any circumsta nces.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious in jury.
■ Caution while driving
If engine failure occurs while the vehicle is moving, do not lo ck or open the
doors until the vehicle reaches a safe and complete stop. Activ ation of the
steering lock in this circumstance may lead to an accident, res ulting in
death or serious injury.
Page 186 of 536

1864-2. Driving procedures
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10634U
WARNING
■Stopping the engine in an emergency
● If you want to stop the engine in an emergency while driving th e vehicle,
press and hold the engine switch for more than 2 seconds, or press it
briefly 3 times or more in succession. ( P. 409)
However, do not touch the engine switch while driving except in an emer-
gency. Turning the engine off while driving will not cause loss of steering or
braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost. This will
make it more difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull o ver and stop
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
● If the engine switch is operated while the vehicle is running, a warning
message will be shown on the multi-information display and a bu zzer
sounds.
● When restarting the engine after it was turned off while drivin g, shift the
shift lever to N and press the engine switch.
■ When parking
Exhaust gases include harmful carbon monoxide (CO), which is colorless
and odorless.
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause exhaust gases to enter the vehicle a nd may
lead to an accident caused by lightheadedness, or may lead to d eath or a
serious health hazard.
● If the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated area or a closed area, such as a
garage, stop the engine.
● Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long tim e. If such a
situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space and ensure
that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
● Do not leave the engine running in an area with snow build-up, or where it
is snowing.
If snowbanks build up around the vehicle while the engine is running,
exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle.
Page 187 of 536

1874-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10634U
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
● Do not leave the engine switch in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode
for long periods of time without the engine running.
● If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION ON” is displayed on the multi-infor mation
display, the engine switch is not off. When exiting the vehicle , always
check that the engine switch is off.
● Do not stop the engine when the shift lever is in a position ot her than P. If
the engine is stopped in another shift lever position, the engi ne switch will
not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. If t he vehi-
cle is left in ACCESSORY mode, battery discharge may occur.
■ When starting the engine
● Do not race a cold engine.
● If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have your vehi-
cle checked by your Toyota dealer immediately.
■ Symptoms indicating a malf unction with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operating somewhat differently than usual,
such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunctio n. Contact
your Toyota dealer immediately.
Page 188 of 536
1884-2. Driving procedures
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10634U
Continuously variable transmission
Vehicles without a smart key system:
While the engine switch is in the “ON” position and the brake
pedal depressed
*, shift the shift lever while pushing the shift
release button on the shift knob.
Vehicles with a smart key system:
While the engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode and the
brake pedal depressed*, shift the shift lever while pushing the
shift release button on the shift knob.
Shift the shift lever while pushing the shift release button on
the shift knob.
Shift the shift lever normally.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that t he
vehicle is completely stopped and the brake pedal is depressed.
*: To shift the shift lever from P, the brake pedal must be depre ssed
before the shift release button is pushed. If the shift release button is
pushed first, the shift lock will not be released.
Shifting the shift lever
Page 189 of 536

1894-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10634U
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noises, set the shift lever in D for
normal driving.
*2: Selecting gear step using the M position achieves suitable eng ine braking
forces by operating the shift lever.
P. 267
To enter 7-speed spor t sequential shiftmatic mode, shift the sh ift lever
to M position. Gear steps can then be selected by operating the shift
lever, allowing you to drive in the gear step of your choosing.
Upshifting
Downshifting
The gear changes once every time
the shift lever is operated.
The selected gear step, from M1 to
M7, will be displayed in the meter.
However, even when in the M position, the gear steps will be auto-
matically changed if the engine speed is too high, or too low.
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
M7-speed sport sequential shiftmatic mode driving*2
( P. 189)
Selecting a driving mode
Changing gear steps in the M position
1
2
Page 190 of 536

1904-2. Driving procedures
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10634U
■Gear step functions
●You can choose from 7 levels of engine braking force.
● A lower gear step will provide greater engine braking force tha n a higher
gear step, and the engine speed will also increase.
■ If the 7-speed sport sequential shiftmatic mode indicator does not come
on even after shifting the shift lever to M
This may indicate a malfunction in the continuously variable tr ansmission
system. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same m anner as when
the shift lever is in D.)
■ When the vehicle comes to a stop with the shift lever in the M position
● The transmission will automatically downshift to M1 once the ve hicle is
stopped.
● After a stop, the vehicle will start off in M1.
● When the vehicle is stopped, the transmission is set at M1.
■ When driving with dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range
activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of e nabling engine
braking, engine braking will not activate because cruise contro l will not be
canceled.
● When switching the driving mode to sport mode while driving in D position.
( P. 267)
■ Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting ope ration may
sometimes be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting ma y not be
possible even when the shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■ Restraining sudden start (Drive-start Control)
P. 164
■ Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent accidental operation of the shift
lever in starting.
The shift lever can be shifted from P only when the engine switch is in the
“ON” position (vehicles without a smart key system) or IGNITION ON mode
(vehicles with a smart key system), and the brake pedal is bein g depressed.
Page 191 of 536

1914-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10634U■
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
First, check whether the brake pedal is being depressed.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted with your foot on the brake pedal while
pressing the button on the shift knob, there may be a problem with the shift
lock system. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer i mmediately.
The following steps may be used as an emergency measure to ensu re that
the shift lever can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
Set the parking brake.
Turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position (vehicles without a smart key
system) or off (vehicles with a smart key system).
Depress the brake pedal.
■ G AI-SHIFT
G AI-SHIFT automatically selects a suitable gear for sporty dri ving according
to driver’s input and driving conditions. G AI-SHIFT operates a utomatically
when the shift lever is in D and sport mode is selected for the driving mode.
(Selecting normal mode or shifting the shift lever to the M pos ition cancels
this function.) Remove the cover.
Remove the cover using flathead
screwdriver. To prevent damage to the
cover, tip the screwdriver with a rag.
Press the shift lock override button
while pressing the button on the shift
knob.
The shift lever can be shifted while the
button is pressed.
1
2
3
4
5
Page 192 of 536
1924-2. Driving procedures
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10634U
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and sudden acceleration, as this cou ld result in
the vehicle skidding to the side or spinning.
■ To prevent an accident when releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override button, make sure to se t the parking
brake and depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed instead of t he brake pedal
when the shift lock override button is pressed and the shift le ver is shifted
out of P, the vehicle may suddenly start, possibly leading to a n accident
resulting in death or serious injury.