
1864-2. Driving procedures
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10684U■
Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode for more than 20 minut es or IGNI-
TION  ON  mode  (the  engine  is  not  running)  for  more  than  an  hour  with  the
shift lever in P, the engine switch will automatically turn off .
However, this function cannot entirely prevent battery discharge. Do not leave
the vehicle with the engine switch in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON  mode for
long periods of time when the engine is not running.
■ Electronic key battery depletion
P. 116
■ Conditions affecting operation
P. 136
■ Notes for the entry function
P. 137
■ If the engine does not start
●The  engine  immobilizer  system  may  not  have  been  deactivated.  ( P.  84)
Contact your Toyota dealer.
● Check that the shift lever is securely set in P. The engine may not start if the
shift lever is displaced out of P.
■ Steering lock
After  turning  the  engine  switch  off  and  opening  and  closing  the   doors,  the
steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the
engine switch again automatically cancels the steering lock.
■ When the steering  lock cannot be released
“Push  ENGINE  Switch  while  Turning  The
Steering Wheel in Either Direction.” will be
displayed on the multi-information display.
Check that the shift lever is set in P. Press
the  engine  switch  while  turning  the  steer-
ing wheel left and right. 

1874-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10684U■
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. 397
■ 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. 462
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. 

1884-2. Driving procedures
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10684U
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. 423)
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 light-headedness, or may lead to  death 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. 

1894-2. Driving procedures
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Driving
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10684U
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. 

1904-2. Driving procedures
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10684U
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 

1914-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10684U
*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. 281
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. 191)
Selecting a driving mode
Changing gear steps  in the M position
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1924-2. Driving procedures
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10684U
■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. 281)
■ 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. 166
■ 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. 

1934-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
C-HR_OM_USA_OM10684U■
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.
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