
200
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
●The  lock  sensor  may  not  work  properly  if  it  comes  into  contact  with  ice,
snow, mud, etc. Clean the lock sensor and attempt to operate it again.
● A  sudden  approach  to  the  effective  range  or  door  handle  may  prevent  the
doors from being unlocked. In this case, return the door handle to the origi-
nal position and check that the doors unlock before pulling the  door handle
again.
● If  there  is  another  electronic  key  in  the  detection  area,  it  ma y  take  slightly
longer to unlock the doors after the door handle is gripped. 
■ When the vehicle is not driven for extended periods
●To  prevent  theft  of  the  vehicle,  do  not  leave  the  electronic  ke y  within  6  ft.
(2 m) of the vehicle.
● The smart key system can be deactivated in advance. ( P. 690)
■ To operate the system properly
Make sure to carry the electronic key when operating the system. Do not get
the electronic key too close to the vehicle when operating the  system from the
outside of the vehicle.
Depending on the position and holding condition of the electron ic key, the key
may not be detected correctly and the system may not operate pr operly. (The
alarm may go off accidentally, or the door lock prevention may not operate.)
■ If the smart key system does not operate properly
●Locking and unlocking the doors: Use the mechanical key. ( P. 647)
● Starting the hybrid system: P. 648
■ Customization
Settings (e.g. smart key system) can be changed. 
(Customizable features:  P. 690)
■ If the smart key system has been d eactivated in a customized setting
● Unlocking and locking the doors:
Use the wireless remote control or mechanical key. ( P. 186, 647)
● Starting the hybrid system and changing power switch modes:  P. 648
● Stopping the hybrid system:  P. 246 

228
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle
P.   2 4 5
With the brake pedal depressed , shift the shift position to D. 
(  P. 255)
Check that the shift position indicator shows D.
Release the parking brake. ( P.   2 6 2 )
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accele ra-
tor pedal to accelerate the vehicle. 
With the shift position in D , depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake. 
If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time, shift the shift
position to P. (
P. 256)
Stop the vehicl e completely.
Set the parking brake. ( P.   2 6 2 )
Shift the shift position to P. ( P. 256)
Check that the shift position indicator shows P.
Press the power switch to  stop the hybrid system.
Slowly release th e brake pedal.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key on  your
person.
If parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.
The  following  procedures  should  be  observed  to  ensure  safe
driving: 
Starting the hybrid system 
Driving
Stopping
Parking the vehicle
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
3
4
5
6 

PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
2294-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Firmly  set  the  parking  brake  with  the  brake  pedal  depressed,  and
then shift the shift position to D.
Release the brake ped al and gently depress the accelerator peda l.
Release the parking brake.
■ When starting off on an uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate. ( P. 421)
■ 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. 427)
■ 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. 608)
■ “ECO Accelerator Guidance” (P. 130)
It is easier to drive in an Eco-friendly manner by driving whil e referring to the
“ECO  Accelerator  Guidance”  display.  Also,  by  using  the  “ECO  Accelerator
Guidance”, it is easier to increase the Eco score evaluation.
● When starting off:
While  staying  within  the  “ECO  Accelerator  Guidance”  range,  gradually
depress the accelerator pedal and accelerate to the desired spe ed. If exces-
sive acceleration is avoided, the “Eco-Start” score will increa se.
● When driving:
After  accelerating  to  the  desired  speed,  release  the  accelerato r  pedal  and
drive  at  a  stable  speed  within  the  “ECO Accelerator  Guidance”  range.  By
keeping the vehicle within the “ECO Accelerator Guidance” range, the “Eco-
Cruise” score will increase.
● When stopping:
When stopping the vehicle, early releasing the accelerator peda l will cause
the “Eco-Stop” score to increase.
Starting off on a steep uphill
1
2
3 

230
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
■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 position is shifted from R to D/B, D/B to R, N  to R, P to D/
B
*,  P  to  R*  with  the  accelerator  pedal  depressed,  a  warning  message
appears on the multi-information display. If a warning message  is shown
on the multi-information display, read the message and follow t he instruc-
tions.
• 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  trou-
ble  escaping  from  the  mud  or  fresh  snow.  In  such  case,  deactivate  TRAC
( P.  422)  to  cancel  Drive  Start  Control  so  that  the  vehicle  may  b ecome
able to escape from the mud or fresh snow.
*: Depending on the situation, the shift position may not be chan ged.
■ Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following prec autions is recom-
mended:
● For the first 200 miles (300 km): 
Avoid sudden stops.
● For the first 1000 miles (1600 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■ Operating your vehicle  in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm  the availability
of the correct fuel. ( P. 667) 

PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
2314-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the  “READY”
indicator is illuminated. This prevents the vehicle from creepi ng.
■ When driving the vehicle
● Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-
erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal. 
• Accidentally  depressing  the  accelerator  pedal  instead  of  the  b rake
pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an ac cident.
• When  backing  up,  you  may  twist  your  body  around,  leading  to  a  diffi-
culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals  properly.
• Make  sure  to  keep  a  correct  driving  posture  even  when  moving  t he
vehicle only slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and  accelera-
tor pedals properly.
• Depress  the  brake  pedal  using  your  right  foot.  Depressing  the  brake
pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency,  result-
ing in an accident.
● The  driver  should  pay  extra  attention  to  pedestrians  when  the  v ehicle  is
powered only  by the electric  motor (traction motor). As there i s  no engine
noise,  the  pedestrians  may  misjudge  the  vehicle’s  movement.  Eve n
though  the  vehicle  is  equipped  with  the  vehicle  proximity  notif ication  sys-
tem,  drive  with  care  as  pedestrians  in  the  vicinity  may  still  n ot  notice  the
vehicle if the surrounding area is noisy.
● Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammabl e materials
such as leaves, paper or rags. 
The  exhaust  system  and  exhaust  gases  can  be  extremely  hot. Thes e  hot
parts may cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
● During normal driving, do not turn off the hybrid system. Turni ng the hybrid
system  off  while  driving  will  not  cause  loss  of  steering  or  bra king  control,
however,  power  assist  to  the  steering  will  be  lost.  This  will  m ake  it  more
difficult to steer smoothly, so you should pull over and stop t he vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so.
In the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the
vehicle in the normal way: P. 581 

PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
2354-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When the vehicle is parked
● Do  not  leave  glasses,  cigarette  lighters,  spray  cans,  or  soft  d rink  cans  in
the vehicle when it is in the sun. 
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may le ad to a fire.
• The  temperature  inside  the  vehicle  may  cause  the  plastic  lenses  and plastic material of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft  drink  cans  may  fracture,  causing  the  contents  to  spray  ov er  the
interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s
electrical components.
● Do  not  leave  cigarette  lighters  in  the  vehicle.  If  a  cigarette  lighter  is  in  a
place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit acci dentally when
luggage is loaded or the seat is adjusted, causing a fire.
● Do not attach adhesive discs to the windshield or windows. Do n ot place con-
tainers  such  as  air  fresheners  on  the  instrument  panel  or  dashb oard. Adhe-
sive discs or containers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.
● Do  not  leave  a  door  or  window  open  if  the  curved  glass  is  coate d  with  a
metallized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunligh t may cause
the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
● Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift position to P, stop the hybrid
system and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the “READY” indicator  is illumi-
nated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift position in P but the p arking brake is
not set, the vehicle may start to move, possibly leading to an  accident.
● Do  not  touch  the  exhaust  pipe  while  the  “READY”  indicator  is  illuminated
or immediately after turning the hybrid system off. 
Doing so may cause burns. 

245
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Power (ignition) switch
Check that the parking brake is set. 
Firmly depress the brake pedal. 
  and  a  message  will  be  dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play. 
When  the  shift  position  is  N,  the
hybrid  system  cannot  start.  Shift
the shift position to P when starting
the hybrid system. ( P.   2 5 6 )
Press  the  power  switch  shortly
and firmly.
When  operating  the  power  switch,
one  short,  firm  press  is  enough.  It
is  not  necessary  to  press  and  hold
the switch.
If  the  “READY”  indicator  turns  on,
the  hybrid  system  will  operate  nor-
mally.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until the “READY” indicator  is illumi-
nated.
The hybrid system can be started from any power switch mode.
Check that the “R EADY” indicator is illuminated.
If  the  “READY”  indicator  changes  from  a  flashing  light  to  a  sol id  light  and
the buzzer sounds, the hybrid system is starting normally.
The vehicle will not move when the “READY” indicator is off.
The vehicle can move when the “READY” indicator is on even if t he engine
is  stopped.  (The  gasoline  engine  starts  or  stops  automatically  in  accor-
dance with the state of the vehicle.)
Performing  the  following  opera tions  when  carrying  the  elec-
tronic  key  on  your  person  starts  the  hybrid  system  or  changes
power switch modes.
Starting the hybrid system
1
2
3
4 

250
PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-2. Driving procedures
WARNING
■When starting the hybrid system
Always  start  the  hybrid  system  while  sitting  in  the  driver’s  se at.  Do  not
depress  the  accelerator  pedal  while  starting  the  hybrid  system  under  any
circumstances. 
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious in jury.
■ Stopping the hybrid system in an emergency
● If  you  want  to  stop  the  hybrid  system  in  an  emergency  while  dri ving  the
vehicle,  press  and  hold  the  power  switch  for  more  than  2  second s,  or
press it briefly 3 times or more in succession. ( P. 581)
However,  do  not  touch  the  power  switch  while  driving  except  in  an  emer-
gency.  Turning  the  hybrid  system  off  while  driving  will  not  cau se  loss  of
steering  or  braking  control,  however,  power  assist  to  the  steer ing  will  be
lost.  This  will  make  it  more  difficult  to  steer  smoothly,  so  yo u  should  pull
over and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
● If  the  power  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  hybrid  system  after  an  emergency  shutdown  w hile
driving,  press  the  power  switch.  When  restarting  the  hybrid  sys tem  after
stopping  the  vehicle,  change  the  shift  position  to  P  and  then  press  the
power 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 hybrid system.
● Do not leave the vehicle with the hybrid system operating for a long time. 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 hybrid system operating in an area with snow build-up, or
where  it  is  snowing.  If  snowbanks  build  up  around  the  vehicle  w hile  the
hybrid system is operating, exhaust gases may collect and enter  the vehi-
cle.