Page 3 of 600

3
1
9 8 6 5
4
3
2
PRIUS c_U
10
7
4-1.  Before drivingDriving the vehicle ............. 172
Cargo and luggage............ 181
Vehicle load limits ............. 185
Trailer towing..................... 186
Dinghy towing.................... 187
4-2.  Driving procedures Power (ignition) switch (vehicles without a 
smart key system) ........... 188
Power (ignition) switch  (vehicles with a 
smart key system) ........... 192
EV drive mode................... 199
Hybrid transmission........... 202
Turn signal lever................ 206
Parking brake .................... 207
4-3.  Operating the lights  and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 208
Fog light switch ................. 212
Windshield wipers  and washer ..................... 214
Rear window wiper  and washer ..................... 218 4-4.  Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap ........................... 221
4-5.  Toyota Safety Sense C Toyota Safety Sense C...... 225
PCS (Pre-Collision System)..... 231
LDA  (Lane Departure Alert)..... 241
Automatic High Beam ........ 246
4-6.  Using the driving  support systems
Cruise control .................... 251
Rear view monitor  system ............................. 255
Driving assist systems ....... 265
4-7.  Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips ....................... 271
Winter driving tips .............. 274
4Driving 
     
        
        Page 17 of 600

17Pictorial index
PRIUS c_UWindshield wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 214
Precautions against winter season  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 274
Fuel filler door  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 221
Refueling method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 221
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 538
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 435
Tire size/inflation pressure  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . P. 543
Winter tires/tire chain  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . P. 274
Checking/rotation/tire pressur e warning system . . . . . . . . .P. 435
Coping with flat tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . P. 505
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 419
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 419
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 539
Coping with overheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 529
Headlights/daytime running lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 208
Parking lights/front turn signal lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 206, 208
Side turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 206
Front fog lights
*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 212
Front side marker lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 208
Stop lights/tail lights /rear side marker lights/
rear turn signal lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 206, 208
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 202
License plate lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 208
4
5
6
7
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving  
(Replacing method: P. 458, Watts: P. 544)
*: If equipped
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15 
     
        
        Page 171 of 600

171
4Driving
PRIUS c_U4-1.  Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............. 172
Cargo and luggage ........... 181
Vehicle load limits ............. 185
Trailer towing..................... 186
Dinghy towing ................... 187
4-2.  Driving procedures Power (ignition) switch (vehicles without a 
smart key system) ........... 188
Power (ignition) switch  (vehicles with a 
smart key system) ........... 192
EV drive mode .................. 199
Hybrid transmission........... 202
Turn signal lever................ 206
Parking brake .................... 207
4-3.  Operating the lights  and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 208
Fog light switch ................. 212
Windshield wipers  and washer ..................... 214
Rear window wiper  and washer ..................... 218 4-4.  Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap .......................... 221
4-5.  Toyota Safety Sense C Toyota Safety Sense C ..... 225
PCS (Pre-Collision System) .... 231
LDA  (Lane Departure Alert) .... 241
Automatic High Beam ....... 246
4-6.  Using the driving  support systems
Cruise control .................... 251
Rear view monitor  system ............................ 255
Driving assist systems ...... 265
4-7.  Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips ....................... 271
Winter driving tips ............. 274 
     
        
        Page 173 of 600

1734-1. Before driving
4
Driving
PRIUS c_U
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 will activate. ( P. 265)
■ 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 accelera tion. (P. 271)
■ 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  high  speeds  when  driving  on  an  expressway  in  the  r ain,
because there may be  a layer of  water  between the tires  and  the  road sur-
face, preventing the steering  and brakes from operating properl y.
■ Restraining the hybrid system o utput (Brake Override System)
● When the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same  time, the
hybrid system output may be restrained.
● A  warning  message  is  displayed  on  the  multi-information  display  while the
system is operating. ( P. 497)
■ Restraining sudden start  (Drive-Start Control)
● When  the  following  unusual  operation  is  performed,  the  hybrid  s ystem  out-
put 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) with the accelerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears on
the multi-information display. (D includes B position) ( P. 497)
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed too much while the veh icle is in
reverse.
● While  Drive-Start  Control  is  being  activated,  your  vehicle  may  have  trouble
escaping  from  the  mud  or  fresh  snow.  In  such  a  case,  deactivate  TRAC
( P. 266) to cancel Drive-Start Control so that the vehicle may b ecome able
to escape from the mud or fresh snow.
Starting off on a steep uphill
1
2
3 
     
        
        Page 221 of 600
221
4
Driving
PRIUS c_U
4-4. Refueling
●Vehicles without a smart key system:
Turn the power switch to the “LOCK” poison and ensure that all  the
doors and windows are closed.
Vehicles with a smart key system:
Turn  the  power  switch  off  and  ensure  that  all  the  doors  and  win -
dows are closed.
● Confirm the type of fuel.
■Fuel types
P. 545
■ 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.
■ If the malfunction indicator lamp illuminates
The malfunction indicator lamp may illuminate erroneously if re fueling is per-
formed repeatedly when the fuel tank is nearly full.
Opening the fuel tank cap
Perform the following steps  to open the fuel tank cap: 
Before refueling the vehicle 
     
        
        Page 222 of 600

2224-4. Refueling
PRIUS c_U
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,  tou ch  an
unpainted metal surface to discharge any static electricity. It  is important to
discharge  static  electricity  before  refueling  because  sparks  re sulting  from
static electricity can cause fuel vapors to ignite while refuel ing.
● Always hold the grips on the fuel tank cap and turn it slowly t o remove it. 
A  whooshing  sound  may  be  heard  when  the  fuel  tank  cap  is  loosen ed.
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 p ossible ignition
hazard.
■ When refueling
Observe  the following precautions to  prevent  fuel  overflowing f rom the  fuel
tank:
● Securely insert the fuel nozzle into the fuel filler neck.
● Stop filling the tank after the fuel nozzle automatically click s 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  c ontrol
system  to  operate  abnormally  or  damaging  fuel  system components  or the
vehicle's painted surface. 
     
        
        Page 223 of 600
2234-4. Refueling
4
Driving
PRIUS c_U
Pull  up  the  opener  to  open  the
fuel filler door.
Turn  the fuel tank cap  slowly to
remove  it  and  hang  it  on  the
back of the fuel filler door.
After  refueling,  turn  the  fuel  tank
cap  until  you  hear  a  click.  Once
the  cap  is  released,  it  will  turn
slightly in the opposite direction.
Opening the fuel tank cap
1
2
Closing the fuel tank cap 
     
        
        Page 224 of 600
2244-4. Refueling
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■When replacing the fuel tank cap
Do  not  use  anything  but  a  genuine  Toyota  fuel  tank  cap  designed   for  your
vehicle.  Doing  so  may  cause  a  fire  or  other  incident  which  may  result  in
death or serious injury.