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447Continued
Driving
Towing a Trailer
Towing Preparation
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if you carefully observe the load limits, use the proper
equipment, and follow the towing guidelin es. Check the load limits before driving.
■Total trailer weight
Maximum allowable weight of the trailer,
cargo, and everything in or on it must not
exceed 1,000 lbs (450 kg). Towing loads in
excess of this can seriously affect vehicle
handling and performance and can damage
the engine and drivetrain.
■Tongue load
The weight of the tongue with a fully loaded
trailer on the hitch should be approximately
10% of the total trailer weight.
• Excessive tongue load reduces front tire
traction and steering control. Too little
tongue load can make the trailer unstable
and cause it to sway.
• To achieve a proper tongue load, start by
loading 60% of the load toward the front
of the trailer and 40% toward the rear.
Readjust the lo ad as needed.
■Towing Load Limits1Towing Load Limits
Check if all loads are within limits at a public scale.
If a public scale is not av ailable, add the estimated
weight of your cargo load to the weight of your
trailer (as quoted by th e manufacturer), and the
tongue load.
Break-in Period.
Avoid towing a trailer duri ng your vehicle's first 600
miles (1,000 km).
Never exceed the gross weight ratings.
Gross weight information 2 Specifications P. 694
3WARNING
Exceeding any load limit or improperly
loading your vehicle and trailer can cause a
crash in which you can be seriously hurt or
killed.
Check the loading of your vehicle and
trailer carefully before starting to drive.
Total Load
Tongue LoadTongue Load
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451
uuTowing a Trailer uDriving Safely with a Trailer
Driving
• Turn more slowly and with a wider turning arc than normal.
• Allow more time and distance for braking.
• Do not brake or turn suddenly.
• If the Engine temperature near limit. Av oid heavy acceleration and high
speed. message appear on the driver info rmation interface, turn off the climate
control system and reduce speed.
If the Engine temperature too hot. Do no t drive. Allow engine to cool.
message appear on the driver information interface, pull to the side of the road
safely to cool down the engine.
If the Power system temperature hi gh. Power may be reduced. message
appear on the driver information interface, pu ll to the side of the road safely to
cool down the power system.
■Turning and Braking
■Driving in Hilly Terrain
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455Continued
Driving
When Driving
Turning on the Power
1.Make sure the parkin g brake is applied.
u The parking brake and brake system
indicator (red) comes on for 30 seconds
when you pull up the electric parking
brake switch.
2. Check that the transmission is in
(P, then
depress the brake pedal.
u Although it is possible to start the vehicle
in
(N, it is safer to start it in (P.
3. Without depressing the accelerator pedal,
press the POWER button while depressing
the brake pedal.
1 Turning on the Power
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
turning the power system on.
The engine is harder to st art in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altit udes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When turning the power system on in cold weather,
turn off all electrical accessories such as the lights,
climate control system, and rear defogger in order to
reduce battery drain.
If you live in a region where winter is extremely cold,
an engine block heater will improve starting and
warming of the engine. Consult a dealer for details.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Bring the keyless remote close to the POWER button
if the battery in the keyless remote is weak. 2 If the Keyless Remote Battery is Weak
P. 668
Electric Parking Brake Switch
Brake Pedal
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uuWhen Driving uTurning on the Power
456
Driving
4. Check the READY indicator.
u Keep depressing the brake pedal until
the READY indicator comes on.
u The READY indicator comes on when
the power system is on and you can start
driving.
u If the outside temperature is extremely
low, you cannot drive until conditions are
improved. In this case, the READY
indicator does not come on and a
warning message appears on the driver
information interface.
2 Indicators P. 96
1Turning on the Power
The power system may not activate if the keyless
remote is subjected to strong radio waves.
Do not hold the POWER button to turn the power
system on. If the power system does not start, wait at
least 30 seconds before trying again.
The engine may not run when the vehicle is ready for
driving.
You can start driving with the READY indicator on.
If you press the POWER button while depressing the
brake pedal with the READY indicator on, the power
mode is set to VEHICLE OFF and you cannot start
driving.
2 READY Indicator P. 100
The immobilizer system pr otects your vehicle from
theft. If an improperly c oded device is used, the
power system does not activate. 2 Immobilizer System P. 176
When you set the power mode to ON, you may feel
the brake pedal slightly si nk down. This is normal.
READY Indicator
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Continued457
uuWhen Driving uTurning on the Power
Driving
You can remotely turn the power system on using the keyless remote.
■To turn the power system on
Press the button, then press and hold
the button.
u Some exterior lights flash once.
If the power system is turned on successfully,
some exterior lights flash six times.
■Remote Engine Start1 Remote Engine Start
The remote engine start may violate local laws.
Before using the remote e ngine start, check your
local laws.
If there are buildings an d obstacles between your
vehicle and the remote, th e range will be reduced.
This distance may vary by external electrical
interference.
3WARNING
Carbon monoxide ga s is toxic and can
rapidly accumulate in closed or even partly
enclosed areas.
Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and
even kill you.
Never use the remote engine starter with
the vehicle parked in a garage or other
areas with limited ventilation.
LED: Blinks when any
button is pressed.
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uuWhen Driving uTurning on the Power
458
Driving
If the power system is not turned on, exterior
lights will not flash.
u Go within the rang e, and try again.
The power system is on for up to 10 minutes without you starting the vehicle.
To extend the time for another 10 minute s during the first 10 minutes, press the
button, then press and hold the button.
u Some exterior lights flash six times if a 10-minute extension request was
transmitted successfully.1Remote Engine Start
The power system may not be turned on by the
remote engine start if:
•You have disabled a remo te engine start setting.
2 Settings* P. 135
2 Customized Features P. 376
•The power mode is not in VEHICLE OFF.•The transmission is in a position other than (P.
•The hood is open, or any door or the tailgate is
unlocked.
•You have already used the remote twice to turn the
power system on.
•Another registered keyless remote is in the vehicle.•There is any antenna failure.
•The door is unlocked with the built-in key.
•The engine oil pressure is low.•The engine coolant temper ature is extremely high.
•The telematics unit* malfunctions.
•The security system alarm is not set.•The 12-volt battery charge is too low.
* Not available on all models
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Continued459
uuWhen Driving uTurning on the Power
Driving
■To turn the power system off
Press and hold the button for one
second.
If the power system is turned off successfully,
the exterior lights flash once.
When the remote is out of the keyless access
system range, the exteri or lights will not flash.
The power system will not be turned off. u Go within the range, and try again.1Remote Engine Start
The power system may be turned off while it is on if:
•You do not start the vehicl e within 10 minutes of
turning the power system on with the keyless
remote.
•The power system is turned off by using the keyless
remote.
•The security system alarm is not set.•The door is unlocked with the built-in key.
•The hood is open, or any door, or the tailgate is
unlocked.
•You press the shift lever release button.
•The engine coolant temper ature is extremely high.
•The 12-volt battery is low.•The engine oil pressure is low.
•The malfunction indicator la mp comes on if there is
a problem with the emissions control systems.
While the power system is on, the vehicle will
automatically preconditi on inside the vehicle.
When it is warm outside:
•The climate control system is activated in
recirculation mode.
When it is cold outside:
•The defroster is activated at a moderately warm
temperature.
•The rear defogger, heated door mirrors, seat
heaters and heated steering wheel* are activated.
2 Rear Defogger/Heated Door Mirror
Button P. 199
2 Heated Steering Wheel
* P. 229
2 Front Seat Heaters P. 230
* Not available on all models
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uuWhen Driving uTurning on the Power
460
Driving
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal, then press the POWER button.
2. Keeping your right foot on the brake pedal, check that the READY indicator is on,
then put the tra nsmission into
(D. Select (R when reversing.
3. With the parking brake applied, release the brake pedal and gently depress the
accelerator pedal.
u Make sure the parking brake and brake system indicator (red) goes off.
2 Parking Brake P. 572
■Hill start assist system
Hill start assist keeps the brake engaged br iefly to help prevent the vehicle from
rolling on inclines as you move your fo ot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
Put the transmission into
(D or when facing uphill, or (R when facing downhill,
then release the brake pedal.
■Starting to Drive1 Starting to Drive
The power system is turned off when the transmission
is taken out of
( P before the POWER button is
pressed. Follow step 1 when starting to drive.
You can also release the parking brake by pressing
the electric parking brake sw itch while depressing the
brake pedal.
When facing downhill, you can start your vehicle
more smoothly by manually releasing it with the
electric parking brake switch than by releasing it with
the accelerator pedal.
As a hybrid vehicle, the sounds and vibrations from
the engine may be absent even though the vehicle is
ready for driving. It also makes you fail to recognize
that you can start.
Make sure to check if the READY indicator is on
before you start to drive.
When the power system was turned on using the
button on the keyless remoteWhen the power system was turned on using the button on the keyless remote
When the power system was turned on in any case
1 Hill start assist system
Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from
rolling downhill on a very st eep or slippery slope, and
will not operate on small inclines.
Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking
brake.
Hill start assist will operate even when VSA ® is
switched off.
B