1754-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
4
Driving
WARNING
●If the vehicle is stopped on an
incline, in order to prevent acci-
dents caused by the vehicle roll-
ing forward or backward, always
depress the brake pedal and
securely apply the parking
brake as needed.
●Avoid revving or racing the
engine.
Running the engine at high
speed while the vehicle is
stopped may cause the exhaust
system to overheat, which could
result in a fire if combustible
material is nearby.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette
lighters, spray cans, or soft
drink cans in the vehicle when it
is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the fol-
lowing:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may
lead 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
over the interior of the vehicle,
and may also caus e a short cir-
cuit 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
accidentally when luggage is
loaded or the seat is adjusted,
causing a fire.
●Do not attach adhesive discs to
the windshield or windows. Do
not place containers such as air
fresheners on the instrument
panel or dashboard. Adhesive
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
coated with a metallized film
such as a silver-colored one.
Reflected sunlight may cause
the glass to act a s a lens, caus-
ing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake,
shift the shift lever to P, stop the
hybrid system and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave the vehicle
unattended while the hybrid
system is operating.
If the vehicle is parked with the
shift lever in P but the parking
brake is not set, the vehicle may
start to move, possibly leading
to an accident.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipes
while the “READY” indicator is
illuminated or immediately after
turning the hybrid system off.
Doing so may cause burns.
●4WD models: If the shift lever is
moved before the “4L” indicator
turns on/off, the transfer mode
may not be shifted completely.
The transfer mode disengages
both the front and rear drivesh-
afts from the p owertrain and
allows the vehicle to move
regardless of the shift position.
(At this time, the indicator blinks
and the buzzer sounds.)
Therefore, the vehicle is free to
roll even if the automatic trans-
mission is in P. You or someone
else could be seriously injured.
You must complete the shifting
of the transfer mode. ( P.361)
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.
1894-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
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Driving
Trailer ball load rating
Matches or exceeds the gross
trailer weight rat ing of the trailer.
Shank length
Protrudes beyond the bottom of the
lock washer and nut at least 2
threads.
Shank diameter
Matches the ball mount hole diame-
ter size.
Ball diameter
Matches the size of the trailer cou-
pler. Most couplers are stamped
with the required tr ailer ball size.
Weight carrying ball position:
58.3 in. (1481 mm)
Hitch receiver pin hole posi-
tion: 46.4 in. (1178.9 mm)
■Matching trailer ball height to
trailer coupler height
No matter wh ich class of tow hitch
applies, for a mor e safer trailer
hookup, the trailer ball setup must
be the proper height for the coupler
on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball
Use the wire harness located in
the rear end of the vehicle.
The tow lighting system is
designed for 64 watts/5 amps of
electrical current per side (right
and left) for the trailer brake/turn
light functions.
Please contact your Toyota
dealer with any questions or
concerns.
Trailer classTypical trailer ball size
IV2 5/16 in.
II and III2 in.
I1 7/8 in.
Positions for towing hitch
receiverConnecting trailer lights
1934-1. Before driving
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
4
Driving
brakes too frequently. This
could cause the brakes to
overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.
Due to the added load of the
trailer, your vehicle’s hybrid
system may overheat on hot
days (at temperatures over
85°F [30°C]) when driving up
a long or steep grade. If the
engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating,
immediately turn off the air
conditioning (if in use), pull
your vehicle off the road and
stop in a safe spot. ( P.535)
Always place wheel blocks
under both the vehicle’s and
the trailer’s wheels when
parking. Apply the parking
brake firmly, and put the
transmission in P. Avoid park-
ing on a slope, but if unavoid-
able, do so only after
performing the following:
1 Apply the brakes and keep
them applied.
2 Have someone place wheel
blocks under both the vehi-
cle’s and trailer’s wheels.
3 When the wheel blocks are in
place, release the brakes
slowly until the blocks absorb
the load.
4 Apply the parking brake
firmly.
5 Shift into P and turn off the
hybrid system.
When restarting after parking
on a slope:
1 With the transmission in P,
start the hybrid system. Be
sure to keep the brake pedal
pressed.
2 Shift into a forward gear. If
reversing, shift into R.
3 If the parking brake is in man-
ual mode, release the park-
ing brake. ( P.205)
4 Release the brake pedal, and
slowly pull or back away from
the wheel blocks. Stop and
apply the brakes.
5 Have someone retrieve the
blocks.
■Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped
with any new power train compo-
nents (such as an engine, transmis-
sion, transfer [4WD models], rear
differential or wheel bearing), Toyota
recommends that y ou do not tow a
trailer until the vehicle has been
driven for over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for
over 500 miles (800 km), you can
start towing. However, for the next
500 miles (800 km), drive the vehi-
cle at a speed of less than 50 mph
(80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and
avoid full throttle acceleration.
■Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle
will require more fr equent mainte-
nance due to the additional load.
(See “Owner’s Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet” or “Scheduled Main-
tenance Guide” / “Owner’s Manual
Supplement”.)
●Retighten the fixing bolts of the
towing ball and bracket after
1974-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
4
Driving
1 Stop the vehicle completely.
2 Set the parking brake
( P.205), and shift the shift
lever to P.
Check the parking brake indicator
is illuminated.
3 Press the power switch
shortly and firmly.
The hybrid system will stop, and the
meter display will be extinguished.
4Release the brake pedal and
check that “ACCESSORY” or
“IGNITION ON” is not shown
on the meter.
■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 running
while the shift lever is in P.
●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.116) from the inside or
the mechanical key ( P.112) from
the outside, the automatic hybrid
system shut off feature will be dis-
abled. The timer for the automatic
hybrid syste m shut off feature will
be re-enabled if the driver’s door
is opened.NOTICE
■Symptoms indicating a mal-
function with the power
switch
If the power switch seems to be
operating somewh at differently
than usual, such as the switch
sticking slightly, there may be a
malfunction. Contact your Toyota
dealer immediately.
Stopping the hybrid sys-
temWARNING
■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.494)
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 loss of
steering or braking control, but
the power assist to these sys-
tems will be lost. This will make
it more difficult to steer and
brake, so you 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 buzzer sounds.
●To restart the hybrid system
after performing an emergency
shutdown, shift the shift lever to
N and then pre ss the power
switch.
2004-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
*1: Shifting to the D position allows the system to select a gear suit-
able for the driving conditions.
Setting the shift lever to the D
position is recommended for nor-
mal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of
the possible gear ranges, con-
trols engine brak ing force, and
prevents unnecessary upshifting.
■Driving on a downhill
On declines, there may be case
where the vehicle shifts down auto-
matically to obtain engine braking.
As a result of the downshifting, the engine speed may increase.
■To protect the a
utomatic trans-
mission
●If the tires spin continually when
the vehicle becomes stuck in mud,
dirt or snow, or if the accelerator
pedal is depressed and released
repeatedly while driving, the auto-
matic transmission temperature
may become too high and the
automatic transmission may be
damaged.
To avoid damaging the automatic
transmission, the system may
temporarily lock the gear. If the
automatic transmission tempera-
ture falls, the gear locking is can-
celed and the automatic
transmission is returned to the
normal operation.
●If the automatic tr ansmission fluid
temperature is high, “Transmis-
sion Oil Temp. High Stop in a Safe
Place and See Owner’s Manual”
will be displayed on the multi-
information display. Immediately
stop the vehicle in a safe place,
shift the shift lever to P and wait
until the warning message go off.
If the warning message go off, you
may start the vehicle again. If the
warning message do not go off,
contact your Toyota dealer.
■When driving with dynamic
radar cruise control with full-
speed range (if equipped) or
cruise control activated (if
equipped)
Even when perform ing the following
actions with the intent of enabling
engine braking, engine braking will
not activate because dynamic radar
cruise control with full-speed range
or cruise control will not be can-
celed.
●While driving in S mode, down-
shifting to 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 or 4.
( P.202)
Automatic transmis-
sion
Select the shift position
depending on your pur-
pose and situation.
Shift position purpose
and functions
Shift posi-
tionObjective or function
P
Parking the vehi-
cle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
N
Neutral (Condition in
which the po wer is not
transmitted)
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2
( P.202)
2014-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_en
4
Driving
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-
Start Control)
P. 1 7 7
■AI-SHIFT
The AI-SHIFT automatically selects
the suitable gear according to driver
operation and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates
when the shift lever is in D or S.
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 normally.
When shifting the shift lever
between P and D, make sure that
the vehicle is completely stopped.
*: For the vehicle to 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.
■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 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 Set the parking brake.
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,
WARNING
■When driving on slippery
road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears
suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine brak-
ing may cause the vehicle to spin
or skid, resulting in an accident.
Shifting the shift lever
2024-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C031_encover 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.
The shift lever can be shifted
while both buttons are pressed.
■Drive mode
P.358 When the shift lever is in the S
position, the shift lever can be
operated as follows:
1
Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The selected shift range, from S1 to
S10 will be displayed on the multi-
information display.
The initial shift range in S mode is
set automatically to 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8
according to vehicle speed.
However, the initial shift range may
be set to 4 if AI-SHIFT has oper-
ated while the shift lever was in the
D position. ( P.201)
■S mode
●You can choose from 10 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 engine from over-
revving, upshifting may automati-
cally occur.
●To protect the automatic transmis-
sion, a function is adopted that
automatically selects a higher shift
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
Changing shift ranges in
S mode