2021 TOYOTA RAV4 PRIME Owners Manual

2815-2. Driving procedures
5
Driving
■Operation of the power switch
●If the switch is not pressed shortly
and firmly, the power switch mode
may not change or the hybrid sys-
tem may not start.
●If attempting to re start the hybrid
system immediately after turning
the power switch to OFF, the
hybrid system ma y not start in
some cases. After turning the
power switch to OFF, please wait
a few seconds before restarting
the hybrid system.
■Customization
If the smart key system has been
deactivated in a customized setting,
refer to P.538.
1 Stop the vehicle completely.
2 If the parking brake is in man-
ual mode, set the parking
brake. ( P.290)
Check the parking brake indicator
is illuminated.
3 Shift the shift lever to P.
4 Press the power switch
shortly and firmly.
The hybrid system will stop, and the
meter display will be extinguished.
Release the shift lever when press-
ing the power switch.
5 Release the brake pedal and
check that “ACCESSORY” or
“IGNITION ON” is not shown
on the multi-information dis-
play.
■Automatic hybrid system shut
off feature
●The vehicle is equipped with a
feature that automatically shuts off
the hybrid system when the shift
lever is in P with the hybrid system
operating for an extended period.
●The hybrid system will automati-
cally shut off after approximately 1
hour if it has been left operating
while the shift lever is in P.
WARNING
■When starting the hybrid sys-
tem
Always start the hybrid system
while sitting in the driver’s seat.
Do not depress the accelerator
pedal while starting the hybrid
system under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident
resulting in dea th or serious
injury.
■Caution while driving
If hybrid system f ailure occurs
while the vehicle is moving, do not
lock or open the doors until the
vehicle reaches a safe and com-
plete stop. Activation of the steer-
ing lock in this circumstance may
lead to an acciden t, resulting in
death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When starting the hybrid sys-
tem
If the hybrid system becomes diffi-
cult to start, have your vehicle
checked by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a mal-
function 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.
Stopping the hybrid sys-
tem

2825-2. Driving procedures
●The message asking if you wish to
enable/disable the automatic
hybrid system shut off feature will
sometimes be displayed on the
multi-informat ion display.
Leaving the vehicle as is or select-
ing “Perform Auto Off” keeps the
automatic hybrid system shut off
feature enabled, and selecting
“Keep Vehicle On” disables the
automatic hybrid system shut off
feature.
●The timer for the automatic hybrid
system shut off feature will reset if
the brake pedal is depressed or if
the shift lever is in a position other
than P.
●After the vehicle is parked, if the
door is locked with the door lock
switch ( P.201) from the inside
or the mechanical key ( P.537)
from the outside, the automatic
hybrid system shut off fe ature will
be disabled. The timer for the
automatic hybrid system shut off
feature will be re- enabled if the
driver’s door is opened.
WARNING
■Stopping the hybrid system
in an emergency
●If you want to stop the hybrid
system in an emergency while
driving the vehicle, press and
hold the power s witch for more
than 2 seconds, or press it
briefly 3 times or more in suc-
cession. ( P.505)
However, do not touch the
power switch while driving
except in an emergency. Turn-
ing the hybrid s ystem off while
driving will not cause a loss of
steering or braking control.
However, power assist for the
steering wheel may be lost mak-
ing it difficult to steer smoothly
before stopping the vehicle
depending on the remaining
charge in the 12-volt battery or
usage conditions. In this situa-
tion, you should p ull 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 buzzer sounds.
●When restarting the hybrid sys-
tem after an emergency shut-
down, shift the shift lever to N
and press the power switch
shortly and firmly.

2835-2. Driving procedures
5
Driving
Modes can be changed by
pressing the power switch with
the brake pedal released. (The
mode changes each time the
switch is pressed.)1
OFF
*
The emergency flashers can be
used.
2ACC
Some electrical components such
as the audio sys tem can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed
on the multi-information display.
3 ON
All electrical components can be
used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
*: If the shift lever is in a position
other than P when turning off the
hybrid system, the power switch
will remain ON, will not turn to
OFF.
■Auto power off function
●If the vehicle is left in ACC or ON
(the hybrid system is not operat-
ing) for more than 20 minutes with
the shift lever in P, the power
switch will automat ically turn to
OFF.
●If the 12-volt battery is low with the
shift lever is in P and the power
switch is in ACC or ON (the hybrid
system is not operating), a buzzer
WARNING
■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
and 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 venti-
lated 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 while the hybrid sys-
tem is operating, exhaust gases
may collect and enter the vehi-
cle.
Changing power switch
modes

2845-2. Driving procedures
sounds and a message will be dis-
played on the multi-information
display. If this continues, the
power switch is automatically turn
to OFF.
However, this function cannot
entirely prevent the 12-volt battery
discharge. Do not leave the vehicle
with the power switch in ACC or ON
for long periods of time when the
hybrid system is not operating.
If the hybrid system is stopped
with the shift lev er in a position
other than P, the power switch
will not be turned to OFF but
instead be turned to ACC. Per-
form the following procedure to
turn the switch to OFF:
1 Check that the parking brake
is set.
2 Shift the shift lever to P.
3 Check that “IGNITION ON” is
displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display and press the power switch shortly and
firmly.
4 Check that “ACCESSORY”
or “IGNITION ON” on the
multi-information display is
off.
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery dis-
charge
●Do not leave the power switch
in ACC or ON for long periods of
time without the hybrid system
on.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the multi-
information display, the power
switch is not in OFF. Exit the
vehicle after turning the power
switch to OFF.
When stopping the hybrid
system with the shift lever
in a position other than P
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery dis-
charge
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 to OFF but instead
remain ON. If the vehicle is left in
ON, 12-volt battery discharge
may occur.

2855-2. Driving procedures
5
Driving
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, shift the shift lever
to D for normal driving.
*2: Vehicles with paddle shift switches only: S electing shift
ranges in the D position allows
suitable use of engine braking.
(  P.287)
*3: By selecting shift ranges using S
mode, you can control accelerat-
ing force and engine braking
force.
■When driving with dynamic
radar cruise control with full-
speed range activated
Even when performing the following
actions with the in tent of enabling
engine braking, e ngine braking will
not activate because dynamic radar
cruise control with full-speed range will not be canceled.
●While driving in S mode, down-
shifting to 5 or 4. (
P.288)
●When switching th e driving mode
to sport mode while driving in D
position. ( P.377)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-
Start Control)
 P.259
Hybrid transmission
Select the shift position
depending on your purpose
and situation.
Shift position purpose
and functions
Shift
positionObjective or function
P
Parking the vehi-
cle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1, 2
SS mode driving*3
WARNING
■When driving on slippery
road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and
sudden acceleration, as this could
result in the vehicle skidding to
the side or spinning.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (traction bat-
tery) charge
If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid
battery (traction battery) will not
be charging, even when the
engine is running. Therefore, if
the vehicle is left with the shift
lever in N for a long period of
time, the hybrid battery (traction
battery) will discharge, and this
may result in the vehicle not being
able to start.

2865-2. Driving procedures
While the power switch
is in ON 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 nor-
mally.
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 to be able to be
shifted from P, the brake pedal
must be depresse d before the
shift release button is pushed. If the shift release button is pushed
first, the shift lock will not be
released.
■Shift lock system
The shift lock syste m is a system to
prevent accidental operation of the
shift lever in starting.
The shift lever can be shifted from P
only when the power switch is in
ON, the brake pedal is depressed
and the shift release button is
pushed.
■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
even though the brake pedal is
depressed and the shift release but-
ton is pushed, the re may be a prob-
lem with the shift lock system. Have
the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer immediately.
The following steps may be used as
an emergency measure to ensure
that the shift lev er can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
1 Pull the parking brake switch to
check that the parking brake is
set. ( P.290)
2 Turn the power switch off.
3 Depress the brake pedal.
4 Pry the cover up with a flathead
screwdriver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover,
cover the tip of the screwdriver
with a rag.
5 Press and hold the shift lock
override button and then push
the button on the shift knob.
Shifting the shift lever

2875-2. Driving procedures
5
Driving
The shift lever can be shifted
while both buttons are pressed.
 P.377
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 restriction of
the highest gear, preventing upshifting and enabling the level
of engine braking force to be
selected.
1
Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The selected shift range, from D1 to
D6, will be display ed on the multi-
information display.
■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 t he engine revolu-
tions will also increase.
■Downshifting restriction warn-
ing buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving
performance, dow nshifting opera-
tion may sometimes be restricted. In
some circumstances, downshifting
may not be possible even when the
paddle shift switch is operated. (A
buzzer will sound twice.)
■Automatic deactivation of shift
range selection in the D posi-
tion
Shift range selection in the D posi-
tion will be deactivated in the follow-
ing situations:
●When the vehicle comes to a stop
●If the accelerator pedal is
WARNING
■To prevent an accident when
releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock
override button, make sure to set
the parking brake and depress the
brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is acci-
dentally depressed instead of the
brake pedal when the shift lock
override button is pressed and the
shift lever is shifted out of P, the
vehicle may suddenly start, possi-
bly leading to an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury.
Selecting the driving
mode
Selecting shift ranges in
the D position (vehicles
with paddle shift
switches)

2885-2. Driving procedures
depressed for more than a certain
period of time
●When the shift lever is shifted to a
position other than D
●When the “+” paddle shift switch is
held down for a period of time
When the shift lever is in the S
position, the shift lever or paddle
shift switches (if equipped) can
be operated as follows:
1Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The selected shift range, from S1 to
S6, will be displayed on the multi-
information display.
The initial shift range in S mode
is set automatically to S4.
*
*: It is set to S3 when the driving
mode is set to sport mode.
( P.377)
■S mode
●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 t he engine revolu-
tions will also increase.
●To prevent the e ngine from over-
revving, upshifting may automati-
cally occur when the shift range is
3 or lower.
●When the shift range is 4 or lower,
holding the shift lever toward “+”
sets the shift range to 6.
■Downshifting restriction warn-
ing buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving
performance, dow nshifting opera-
tion may sometimes be restricted. In
some circumstances, downshifting
may not be possible even when the
shift lever or paddle shift switches (if
equipped) is oper ated. (A buzzer
will sound twice.)
■If the “S” indi cator does not
come on or the “D” indicator is
displayed even after shifting the
shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in
the transmission system. Have the
vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer immediately. (In this situa-
tion, the transmission will operate in
the same manner as when the shift
lever is in D.)
Changing shift ranges in
S mode