2021 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID Owners Manual (in English)

2014-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
●Do not leave the power switch in ACCESSORY or ON mode for long peri-
ods of time without the hybrid system on.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION ON” is displayed on the multi-information
display, the power switch is not off. Exit the vehicle after turning the power
switch off.
●Do not stop the hybrid system when the shift lever is in a position other
than P. If the hybrid system is stopped in another shift lever position, the
power switch will not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY
mode. If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode, 12-volt battery dis-
charge may occur.
■When starting the hybrid system
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.
●If the hybrid system becomes difficult to start, have your vehicle checked
by your Toyota dealer immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunction with the power switch
If the power switch seems to be operating somewhat differently than usual,
such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunction. Contact
your Toyota dealer immediately.

2024-2. Driving procedures
Turns EV drive mode on/off
When EV drive mode is turned on,
the EV drive mode indicator will
come on. Pressing the switch
when in EV drive mode will return
the vehicle to normal driving (using
the gasoline engine and electric
motor [traction motor]).
■Situations in which EV drive mode cannot be turned on
It may not be possible to turn EV drive mode on in the following situations. If it
cannot be turned on, a buzzer will sound and a message will be shown on the
multi-information display.
●The temperature of the hybrid system is high.
The vehicle has been left in the sun, driven on a hill, driven at high speeds,
etc.
●The temperature of the hybrid system is low.
The vehicle has been left in temperatures lower than about 32
F (0C) for a
long period of time etc.
●The gasoline engine is warming up.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) is low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the energy monitor display is low.
(P. 128)
●Vehicle speed is high.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
●The windshield defogger is in use.
EV drive mode
In EV drive mode, electric power is supplied by the hybrid bat-
tery (traction battery), and only the electric motor (traction
motor) is used to drive the vehicle.
This mode allows you to drive in residential areas early in the
morning and late at night, or in indoor parking lots etc. without
concern for noises and gas emissions.
However, when the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System is active,
the vehicle may produce sound.

2034-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■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 after a short period of time in order to warm up.
In this case, you will become unable to switch to EV drive mode.
After the hybrid system has started and the “READY” indicator has illumi-
nated, press the EV drive mode switch before the gasoline engine starts 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 following situations. When EV drive mode is canceled, 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 on the multi-
information display is low. (P. 128)
●Vehicle speed is high.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
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030050005200470048>
EV drive mode’s possible driving distance ranges from a few hundred meters
to approximately 0.9 miles (1 km). However, depending on vehicle conditions,
there are situations when EV drive mode cannot be used.
(The distance that is possible depends on the hybrid battery [traction battery]
level and driving conditions.)
■Fuel economy
The hybrid system is designed to achieve the best possible fuel economy
during normal driving (using the gasoline engine and electric motor [traction
motor]). Driving in EV drive mode more than necessary may lower fuel econ-
omy.
■If “EV Mode Unavailable” is shown on the multi-information display
The EV drive mode is not available. The reason the EV drive mode is not
available (the vehicle is idling, battery charge is low, vehicle speed is higher
than the EV drive mode operating speed range or accelerator pedal is
depressed too much) may be displayed. Use the EV drive mode when it
becomes available.
■If “EV Mode Deactivated” is shown on the multi-information display
The EV drive mode has been automatically canceled. The reason the EV
drive mode is not available (the battery charge is low, vehicle speed is higher
than the EV drive mode operating speed range or accelerator pedal is
depressed too much) may be displayed. Drive the vehicle for a while before
attempting to turn on the EV drive mode again.

2044-2. Driving procedures
WARNING
■Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode no engine noise is made. As such, pedestri-
ans, people riding bicycles or other people and vehicles in the surrounding
area may not be aware of the vehicle starting off or approaching them.
Therefore, take extra care while driving even if the acoustic vehicle alerting
system is active.

2054-2. Driving procedures
4
DrivingWhile the power switch is in 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 the
vehicle is completely stopped and the brake pedal is depressed.
*: For the vehicle be able to be shifted from P, the brake pedal must be
depressed before the shift release button is pushed. If the shift
release button is pushed first, the shift lock will not be released.
Hybrid transmission
Shifting the shift lever

2064-2. Driving procedures
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, shift the shift lever to D for
normal driving.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control accelerating force
and engine braking force.
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 (P. 207)

2074-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
P. 3 2 1
When the shift lever is in the S position, the shift lever or paddle shift
switches (if equipped) can be operated as follows:
Upshifting
Downshifting
The initial shift range in S mode is set automatically to S5 or S4
according to vehicle speed.
■Shift ranges and their functions
●You can choose from 6 levels of accelerating force and engine
braking force.
●A lower shift range will provide greater accelerating force and
engine braking force than a higher shift range, and the engine
revolutions will also increase.
●If you accelerate while in ranges 1 to 4, the shift range may auto-
matically increase in accordance with the vehicle speed.
Selecting the driving mode
Changing shift ranges in S mode
Shift leverPaddle shift switches (if
equipped)
1
2

2084-2. Driving procedures
To drive using temporary shift range selection, operate the “-” paddle
shift switch. The shift range can then be selected by operating the “-”
and “+” paddle shift switches. Changing the shift range allows restric-
tion of the highest gear, preventing upshifting and enabling the level of
engine braking force to be selected.
Upshifting
Downshifting
The selected shift range, from D1
to D6 will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
■When the “-” paddle shift switch is operated with the shift lever in the D
position (vehicles with paddle shift switches)
The shift range is downshifted to a range that enables engine braking force
that is suitable to driving conditions.
■Automatic deactivation of shift range selection in the D position
Shift range selection in the D position will be deactivated in the following situ-
ations:
●The “+” paddle shift switch is held down for a period of time
●When the vehicle comes to a stop
●If the accelerator pedal is depressed for more than a certain period of time
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■S mode
●When the shift range is S4 or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets
the shift range to S6.
●To prevent the engine from over-revving, upshifting may automatically
occur.
■Downshift restriction warning buzzer (S mode or paddle shifting)
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifting operation may
sometimes be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may not be
possible even when the shift lever or paddle shift switches (if equipped) are
operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
Selecting shift ranges in the D position (vehicles with paddle
shift switches)
1
2