Page 177 of 618

1774-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
4
Driving
When the following unusual
operation is performed with the
accelerator pedal depressed,
the hybrid system output may be
restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted to R
*.
• When the shift lever is shifted
from P or R to forward drive
shift position such as D
*.
When the system o perates, a mes-
sage appears on the multi-informa-
tion display. Read the message and
follow the instruction.
*: Depending on the situation, the shift position may not be
changed.
■Drive-Start Control (DSC)
When the TRAC is turned off
( P.376), sudden start restraint
control also does not operate. If
your vehicle have trouble escaping
from the mud or fr esh snow due to
sudden start restraint operation,
deactivate TRAC ( P.376) so that
the vehicle may become able to
escape from the mud or fresh snow.
Also, sudden start restraint control
will not operate in the following con-
ditions:
●When the front-wheel drive control
switch is in “4H” or “4L” position.
(4WD models only)
●When AUTO LSD mode, the drive
start control does not operate. (if
equipped)
●When Multi-terrain Select is
selected. (if equipped)
NOTICE
■If you get a flat tire while driv-
ing
A flat or damaged tire may cause
the following situations. Hold the
steering wheel firmly and gradu-
ally depress the brake pedal to
slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your
vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal
sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnor-
mally.
Information on what to do in case
of a flat tire ( P.515)
■When encountering flooded
roads
Do not drive on a road that has
flooded after heavy rain, etc.
Doing so may cause the following
serious damage to the vehicle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by
water immersion
In the event that you drive on a
flooded road an d the vehicle
becomes flooded or stuck in mud
or sand, be sure to have your Toy-
ota dealer check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality
of oil and fluid used for the
engine, transmission, transfer
(4WD vehicles), differential, etc.
●Lubricant condition for the pro-
peller shaft, bearings and sus-
pension joints (where possible),
and the function of all joints,
bearings, etc.
Sudden start restraint
control (Drive-Start Con-
trol [DSC])
Page 178 of 618

1784-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
Cargo capacity depends on the
total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load
capacity) — (Total weight of
occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit —
(1) Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your
vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined
weight of the driver and passen-
gers that will be riding in your
vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and passen-
gers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX”
amount equals 1400 lbs. and
there will be five 150 lb passen-
gers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 − 750 (5
150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your trailer
will be transferred to your vehi-
cle. Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces the
available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
( P.180)
Cargo capacity
Total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight) ( P.541)
When 2 people with the com-
bined weight of A lb. (kg) are rid-
ing in your vehicle, which has a
total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight) of B lb. (kg),
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity will
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following
information about storage
precautions, cargo capacity
and load:
Capacity and distribution
Calculation formula for
your vehicle
Page 179 of 618

1794-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
4
Driving
be C lb. (kg) as follows:
B
*2 lb. (kg) - A*1 lb. (kg) = C*3 lb.
(kg)
*1: A =Weight of people
*2: B =Total load capacity
*3: C =Available cargo and luggage load
In this condition, if 3 more passen-
gers with the combined weight of D
lb. (kg) get on, the available cargo
and luggage load will be reduced E
lb. (kg) as follows:
C lb. (kg) - D*4 lb. (kg) = E*5 lb.
(kg)
*4: D =Additional weight of people
*5: E =Available cargo and luggage load
As shown in the example above,
if the number of occupants
increases, the cargo and lug-
gage load will be reduced by an
amount that equals the
increased weight due to the
additional occupants. In other
words, if an increase in the num-
ber of occupants causes an
excess of the total load capacity
(combined weight of occupants
plus cargo and luggage load),
you must reduce the cargo and
luggage on your vehicle.
WARNING
■Things that must not be car-
ried in the luggage compart-
ment
The following things may cause a
fire if loaded in the luggage com-
partment:
●Receptacles containing gaso-
line
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may prevent the
pedals from being depressed
properly, may block the driver’s
vision, or may res ult in items hit-
ting the driver or passengers, pos-
sibly causing an accident.
●Do not stack anything behind
the front seats higher than the
seatbacks.
●Do not place cargo or luggage
in or on the follo wing locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
• On the auxiliary b ox or tray that
has no lid
●Secure all items in the occupant
compartment.
●Never allow anyon e to ride in
the rear deck. It is not designed
for passengers. They should
ride in their seats with their seat
belts properly fastened. Other-
wise, they are much more likely
to suffer death or serious bodily
injury, in the event of sudden
braking, sudden swerving or an
accident.
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum
axle weight rating or the total
vehicle weight rating.
Page 180 of 618

1804-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
WARNING
●Even if the total load of occu-
pant’s weight and the cargo
load is less than the total load
capacity, do not apply the load
unevenly. Improper loading may
cause deteriorat ion of steering
or braking control which may
cause death or serious injury.
Vehicle load limits
Vehicle load limits include
total load capacity, seating
capacity, TWR (Trailer
Weight Rating) and cargo
capacity.
Total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight): P.541
Total load capacity means the
combined weight of occu-
pants, cargo and luggage.
Seating capacity: P.541
Seating capacity means the
maximum number of occu-
pants whose estimated aver-
age weight is 150 lb. (68 kg)
per person.
Even if the number of occu-
pants are within the seating
capacity, do not exceed the
total load capacity.
TWR (Trailer Weight Rat-
ing): P.186
TWR means the maximum
gross trailer weight (trailer
weight plus its cargo weight)
that your vehicle is able to tow.
Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase
or decrease depending on the
weight and the number of
occupants.
Page 181 of 618

1814-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
4
Driving
■Total load capacity and seating
capacity
These details are also described on
the tire and loading information
label. ( P.547)
WARNING
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to
the tires, but also degrade steer-
ing and braking ability, resulting in
an accident.
Trailer towing
Your vehicle is designed pri-
marily as a passenger-and-
load-carrying vehicle. Tow-
ing a trailer can have an
adverse impact on handling,
performance, braking, dura-
bility, and fuel consumption.
For your safety and the
safety of others, you must
not overload your vehicle or
trailer. You must also
ensure that you are using
appropriate towing equip-
ment, that the towing equip-
ment has been installed
correctly and used prop-
erly, and that you employ
the requisite driving habits.
Vehicle-trailer stability and
braking performance are
affected by trailer stability,
brake performance and set-
ting, trailer brakes, the hitch
and hitch systems.
To tow a trailer safely, use
extreme care and drive the
vehicle in accordance with
your trailer’s characteris-
tics and operating condi-
tions.
Toyota warranties do not
apply to damage or mal-
function caused by towing a
trailer for commercial pur-
poses.
Page 182 of 618

1824-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
■Trailer brake controller
P. 3 8 0
■Before towing
Check that the following conditions
are met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires
are properly inflated. ( P.547)
●Trailer tires are inflated according
to the trailer manufacturer’s rec-
ommendation.
●All trailer lights work as required
by law.
●All lights work each time you con-
nect them.
●The trailer ball is set at the proper
height for the coupler on the
trailer.
●The trailer is level when it is
hitched. Do not dri ve if the trailer
is not level, and check for
improper tongue weight, overload-
ing, worn suspension, or other
possible causes.
●The trailer cargo is securely
loaded.
●The rear view mirrors conform to
all applicable federal, state/provin-
cial or local regu lations. If they do
not, install rear view mirrors
appropriate for towing purposes.
Contact your Toyota dealer for
further information about addi-
tional requirements such as a
towing kit, etc.WARNING
■Trailer towing precautions
To tow a traile r safely, use
extreme care and drive the vehi-
cle in accordance with the trailer’s
characteristics and operating con-
ditions. Failure to do so could
cause an accident resulting in
death or serious injury. Vehicle
stability and brak ing performance
are affected by trailer stability,
brake setting and performance,
and the hitch. Your vehicle will
handle differently when towing a
trailer.
■To avoid accident or injury
●Do not exceed the TWR,
unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR
or GAWR.
●If the gross trailer weight is over
2000 lb. (900 kg), a sway con-
trol device with sufficient capac-
ity is required.
●If the gross trailer weight is over
5000 lb. (2200 kg), a weight dis-
tributing hitch with sufficient
capacity is required.
●Adjust the tongue weight within
the appropriate range. Place
heavier loads as close to the
trailer axle as possible.
●Do not exceed 65 mph (104
km/h), the posted towing speed
limit or the spee d limit for your
trailer as set forth in your trailer
owner’s manual, whichever is
lowest. Slow down sufficiently
before making a turn, in cross
winds, on wet or slippery sur-
face, etc., to hel p avoid an acci-
dent. If you experience a
vehicle-trailer instability from
reducing a certain speed, slow
down and make sure you keep
your vehicle speed under the
speed of which you experience
the instability.
Page 183 of 618

1834-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
4
Driving
WARNING
●Do not make jerk y, abrupt or
sharp turns.
●Do not apply the brakes sud-
denly as you may skid, resulting
in jackknifing and loss of vehicle
control. This is especially true
on wet or slippery surfaces.
●Do not exceed th e trailer hitch
assembly weight, gross vehicle
weight, gross axle weight and
trailer tongue weight capacities.
●Do not use the following sys-
tems when your vehicles is tow-
ing a trailer or a nother vehicle.
• PCS (Pre-Collision System)
• Dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range
Except when the following condi-
tions are all met,
• When the other vehicle is a trailer properly attached and
connected to Toyota’s official
TBC ECU.
• When the vehicle is not being driven on a slippery surface
such as an icy road or a very
wet road.
●Do not use the following sys-
tems when your vehicles is tow-
ing a trailer or a nother vehicle.
• Cruise control (if equipped)
• LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
If the vehicle detects that a trailer
is being towed, the lane centering
function of LTA is automatically
turned off.
●Slow down and downshift
before descending steep or long
downhill grades. Do not make
sudden downshifts while
descending steep or long down-
hill grades.
●Vehicle-trailer instability is more
likely on steep long downhills.
Before descending steep or
long downhill grades, slow
down and downshift. Do not
make sudden downshifts when
descending steep or long down-
hill grades. Avoid holding the
brake pedal down too long or
applying the brakes too fre-
quently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.
●Do not tow a trailer when the
temporary spare tire is installed
on your vehicle.
■When towing a trailer
Toyota recommends trailers with
brakes that conform to any appli-
cable federal and s tate/provincial
regulations.
●If the gross tr ailer weight
exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer
brakes are required. Toyota rec-
ommends trailers with brakes
that conform to all applicable
federal and state/provincial reg-
ulations.
●Never tap into your vehicle’s
hydraulic system, as this will
lower the vehicle’s braking
effectiveness.
●Never tow a traile r without using
a safety chain securely attached
to both the trailer and the vehi-
cle. If damage occurs to the
coupling unit or hitch ball, there
is danger of the trailer wander-
ing into another lane.
Page 184 of 618

1844-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
■GCWR (Gross Combination
Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross
combination weight. The gross
combination weight is the sum
of the total vehicle weight
(including the occupants, cargo
and any optional equipment
installed on the vehicle) and the
weight of the trailer being towed
(including the cargo in the
trailer).
■GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross
vehicle weight. The gross vehi-
cle weight is the total weight of
the vehicle. When towing a
trailer, it is the sum of the vehicle
weight (including the occu-
pants, cargo and any optional
equipment installed on the vehi-
cle) and the tongue weight.
■GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)
The maximum allowable gross
axle weight. The gross axle
weight is the load placed on
each axle (front and rear).
Front GAWR
Rear GAWR
■TWR (Trailer Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross
trailer weight. The gross trailer
weight is the sum of the trailer
weight and the weight of the
cargo in the trailer.
TWR is calculated assuming
base vehicle with one driver,
one front passenger, towing
Towing related terms