3184-6. Driving tips
4-6.Driving tips
When using Eco drive mode, the
torque corresponding to the
accelerator pedal depression
amount can be generated more
smoothly than it is in normal
conditions. In addition, the oper-
ation of the air conditioning sys-
tem (heating/cooling) will be
minimized, improving the fuel
economy. (P.308)
Eco-friendly driving is possible
by keeping the Hybrid System
Indicator within the Eco area.
( P. 8 8 )
Shift the shift lever to D when
stopped at a traffic light, or driv-
ing in heavy traffic, etc. Shift the
shift lever to P when parking.
When using N, there is no posi-
tive effect on fuel consumption.
In N, the gasoline engine oper-
ates but electricity cannot be
generated. Also, when using the
air conditioning system, etc., the hybrid battery (traction battery)
power is consumed.
Drive your vehicle smoothly.
Avoid abrupt acceleration and
deceleration. Gradual accel-
eration and deceleration will
make more effective use of
the electric motor (traction
motor) without having to use
gasoline engine power.
Avoid repeated acceleration.
Repeated acceleration con-
sumes hybrid battery (trac-
tion battery) power, resulting
in poor fuel consumption. Bat-
tery power can be restored by
driving with the accelerator
pedal slightly released.
Make sure to operate the brakes
gently and in a timely manner. A
greater amount of electrical
energy can be regenerated
when slowing down.
Repeated acceleration and
deceleration, as well as long
waits at traffic lights, will lead to
bad fuel economy. Check traffic
reports before leaving and avoid
delays as much as possible.
When driving in a traffic jam,
Hybrid Electric Vehi-
cle driving tips
For economical and ecolog-
ical driving, pay attention to
the following points:
Using Eco drive mode
Use of Hybrid System
Indicator
Shift lever operation
Accelerator pedal/brake
pedal operation
When braking
Delays
3194-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
gently release the brake pedal
to allow the vehicle to move for-
ward slightly while avoiding
overuse of the accelerator
pedal. Doing so can help control
excessive gasoline consump-
tion.
Control and maintain the vehicle
at a constant speed. Before
stopping at a toll booth or simi-
lar, allow plenty of time to
release the accelerator and gen-
tly apply the brakes. A greater
amount of electrical energy can
be regenerated when slowing
down.
Use the air conditioning only
when necessary. Doing so can
help reduce excessive gasoline
consumption.
In summer: When the ambient
temperature is high, use the
recirculated air mode. Doing so
will help to reduce the burden on
the air conditioning system and
reduce fuel consumption as
well.
In winter: Because the gasoline
engine will not automatically cut
out until it and the interior of the
vehicle are warm, it will con-
sume fuel. Also, fuel consump-
tion can be improved by
avoiding overuse of the heater.Make sure to check the tire infla-
tion pressure frequently.
Improper tire inflation pressure
can cause poor fuel economy.
Also, as snow tires can cause
large amounts of friction, their
use on dry roads can lead to
poor fuel economy. Use tires
that are appropriate for the sea-
son.
Carrying heavy luggage will lead
to poor fuel economy. Avoid car-
rying unnecessary luggage.
Installing a large roof rack will
also cause poor fuel economy.
Since the gasoline engine starts
up and cuts out automatically
when cold, warming up the
engine is unnecessary. More-
over, frequently driving short
distances will cause the engine
to repeatedly warm up, which
can lead to excess fuel con-
sumption.
Highway driving
Air conditioning
Checking tire inflation
pressure
Luggage
Warming up before driv-
ing
3214-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
Do not try to forcibly open a
window or move a wiper that
is frozen. Pour warm water
over the frozen area to melt
the ice. Wipe away the water
immediately to prevent it from
freezing.
To ensure proper operation of
the climate control system
fan, remove any snow that
has accumulated on the air
inlet vents in front of the wind-
shield.
Check for and remove any
excess ice or snow that may
have accumulated on the
exterior lights, vehicle’s roof,
chassis, around the tires or on
the brakes.
Remove any snow or mud
from the bottom of your shoes
before getting in the vehicle.
Accelerate the vehicle slowly,
keep a safe distance between
you and the vehicle ahead, and
drive at a reduced speed suit-
able to road conditions.
Park the vehicle and move
the shift lever to P without set-
ting the parking brake. The
parking brake may freeze up,
preventing it from being
released. If the vehicle is parked without setting the
parking brake, make sure to
block the wheels. Failure to
do so may be dangerous
because it may cause the
vehicle to move unexpectedly,
possibly leading to an acci-
dent.
When the parking
brake is in auto-
matic mode, release the parking
brake after shifting the shift lever to
P. ( P.217)
If the vehicle is parked without
setting the parking brake,
confirm that the shift lever
cannot be moved out of P
*.
*: The shift lever will be locked if it is
attempted to be sh ifted from P to
any other position without
depressing the brake pedal. If the
shift lever can be shifted from P,
there may be a problem with the
shift lock system. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your Toyota
dealer immediately.
Use the correct tire chain size
when mounting the tire chains.
Chain size is regulated for each
tire size.
When driving the vehicle
When parking the vehicle
Selecting tire chains
3244-6. Driving tips
Your vehicle is not designed to
be driven off-road. However, in
the event that off-road driving
cannot be avoided, please
observe the following precau-
tions to help avoid the areas
prohibited to vehicles.
Drive your vehicle only in
areas where off-road vehicles
are permitted to travel.
Respect private property. Get
owner’s permission before
entering private property.
Do not enter areas that are
closed. Honor gates, barriers
and signs that restrict travel.
Stay on established roads.
When conditions are wet,
driving techniques should be
changed or travel delayed to
prevent damage to roads.
■Additional information for
off-road driving
For owners in U.S. mainland,
Hawaii and Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information per-
taining to driving your vehicle
off-road, consult the following orga-
nizations.
●State and Local Parks and Recre-
ation Departments
●State Motor Vehicle Bureau
●Recreational Vehicle Clubs
●U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of
Land Management
Off-road drivingWARNING
■Off-road driving precautions
Always observe t he following pre-
cautions to minim ize the risk of
death, serious injury or damage to
your vehicle:
●Drive carefully when off the
road. Do not take unnecessary
risks by driving in dangerous
places.
●Do not grip the steering wheel
spokes when driving off-road. A
bad bump could jerk the wheel
and injure your hands. Keep
both hands and especially your
thumbs on the ou tside of the
rim.
●Always check your brakes for
effectiveness immediately after
driving in sand, mud, water or
snow.
●After driving through tall grass,
mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc.,
check that there is no grass,
bush, paper, rags, stone, sand,
etc. adhering or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such
matter from the underbody. If
the vehicle is used with these
materials trapped or adhering to
the underbody, a breakdown or
fire could occur.
●When driving off-road or in rug-
ged terrain, do not drive at
excessive speeds, jump, make
sharp turns, strike objects, etc.
This may cause loss of control
or vehicle rollover causing
death or serious injury. You are
also risking expensive damage
to your vehicle’s suspension
and chassis.
3806-1. Maintenance and care
6-1.Maintenance and care
Working from top to bottom,
liberally apply water to the
vehicle body, wheel wells and
underside of the vehicle to
remove any dirt and dust.
Wash the vehicle body using
a sponge or soft cloth, such
as a chamois.
For hard-to-remove marks,
use car wash soap and rinse
thoroughly with water.
Wipe away any water.
Wax the vehicle when the
waterproof coating deterio-
rates.
If water does not bead on a clean
surface, apply wax when the vehi-
cle body is cool.
■Automatic car washes
●Before washing the vehicle:
• Fold the mirrors
• Turn off the power back door
Start washing from the front of the
vehicle. Extend the mirrors before
driving.
●Brushes used in automatic car
washes may scratch the vehicle
surface, parts (wheel, etc.) and
harm your vehicle’s paint.
●Rear spoiler may not be washable
in some automatic car washes.
There may also be an increased
risk of damage to vehicle.
■High pressure car washes
As water may enter the cabin, do
not bring the nozzle tip near the
gaps around the doors or perimeter
of the windows, or spray these
areas continuously.
■When using a car wash
If the door handle becomes wet
while the electronic key is within the
effective range, the door may lock
and unlock repeatedly. In that case,
follow the following correction pro-
cedures to wash the vehicle:
●Place the key in a position 6 ft. (2
m) or more separate from the
vehicle while the vehicle is being
washed. (Take care to ensure that
the key is not stolen.)
●Set the electronic key to bat-
tery-saving mode to disable the
smart key system. ( P.143)
■Wheels and wheel ornaments
●Remove any dirt immediately by
using a neutral detergent.
●Wash detergent off with water
immediately after use.
●To protect the paint from damage,
make sure to obs erve the follow-
ing precautions.
• Do not use acidic, alkaline or abrasive detergent
• Do not use hard brushes
• Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, such
as after driving or parking in hot
weather
■Brake pads and calipers
Rust may form if the vehicle is
parked with wet brake pads or disc
rotors, causing them to stick. Before
parking the vehicle after it is
washed, drive slo wly and apply the
brakes several times to dry the
parts.
Cleaning and protect-
ing the vehicle exte-
rior
Perform cleaning in a man-
ner appropriate to each
component and its material.
Cleaning instructions
3896-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Brake pedal
• Does the brake pedal move
smoothly?
• Does the brake pedal have
appropriate
clearance from
the floor?
( P.495)
• Does the brake pedal have the
correct amount
of free play?
( P.495)
Brakes
• The vehicle
should not pull to
one side when
the brakes are
applied.
• The brakes should work
effectively.
• The brake pedal should not feel
spongy.
• The brake pedal should not get
too close to the
floor when the
brakes are
applied.
Head
restraints
• Do the head restraints move
smoothly and
lock securely?
Horn• Works properly?
Indica-
tors/buzzers
• Do the indica-tors and buzzers
function prop-
erly?
ItemsCheck points
Lights
• Do all the lights come on?
• Are the head- lights aimed cor-
rectly? (P.427)
Parking brake
• Does the park-ing brake switch
operate nor-
mally?
• When parked on a slope and the
parking brake is
on, is the vehicle
securely
stopped?
Seat belts
• Do the seat belts operate
smoothly?
• The seat belts should not be
damaged.
Seats
• Do the seat con-trols operate
properly?
Steering wheel
• Does the steer-ing wheel rotate
smoothly?
• Does the steer- ing wheel have
the correct
amount of free
play?
• There should not be any strange
sounds coming
from the steer-
ing wheel.
ItemsCheck points
4547-2. Steps to take in an emergency
light will not turn off even though the
flat tire has been replaced with the
spare tire. Replace the spare tire
with the repaired tire and adjust the
tire inflation pressure. The tire pres-
sure warning light will go off after a
few minutes.
■Conditions that the tire pres-
sure warning system may not
function properly
P. 4 0 8
WARNING
■If both the ABS and the brake
system warning lights remain
on
Stop your vehicle in a safe place
immediately and contact your Toy-
ota dealer.
The vehicle will become
extremely unstable during brak-
ing, and the ABS system may fail,
which could cause an accident
resulting in death or serious injury.
■When the electric power
steering system warning light
comes on
When the light comes on yellow,
the assist to the power steering is
restricted. When the light comes
on red, the assist to the power
steering is lost and handling oper-
ations of the steering wheel
become extremely heavy.
When steering wheel operations
are heavier than usual, grip the
steering wheel firmly and operate
it using more force than usual.
■If the tire pressure warning
light comes on
Be sure to observe the following
precautions.
Failure to do so could cause a
loss of vehicle control and result
in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place
as soon as possible. Adjust the
tire inflation pressure immedi-
ately.
●If the tire pressure warning light
comes on even after tire infla-
tion pressure adjustment, it is
probable that you have a flat
tire. Check the tires. If a tire is
flat, change it with the spare tire
and have the flat tire repaired by
the nearest Toyota dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and
braking.
If the vehicle tires deteriorate,
you could lose control of the
steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air
leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning system
may not activate immediately.
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, includi ng the spare (if
provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufac-
turer on the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label (tire and
load information label). (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label [tire and load infor-
mation label], you should deter-
mine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.)
4687-2. Steps to take in an emergency
your Toyota dealer.
1Remove any dirt or foreign
matter from the wheel con-
tact surface.
If foreign matter is on the wheel
contact surface, the wheel nuts
may loosen while the vehicle is in
WARNING
■Replacing a flat tire
●Do not touch the disc wheels or
the area around the brakes
immediately after the vehicle
has been driven.
After the vehicle has been
driven the disc wheels and the
area around the brakes will be
extremely hot. Touching these
areas with hands , feet or other
body parts while changing a tire,
etc. may result in burns.
●Failure to follow these precau-
tions could cause the wheel
nuts to loosen and the tire to fall
off, resulting in death or serious
injury.
• Never use oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the
wheel nuts to be excessively
tightened, leading to bolt or disc
wheel damage. In addition, the
oil or grease can cause the
wheel nuts to loosen and the
wheel may fall off, causing an
accident and resulting in death
or serious injury. Remove any
oil or grease from the wheel
bolts or wheel nuts.
• Have the wheel nuts tightened with a torque wrench to 76 ft•lbf
(103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m) as soon
as possible after changing
wheels.
• When installing a tire, only use wheel nuts that have been spe-
cifically designed for that wheel.
• If there are any cracks or defor- mations in the bolt screws, nut
threads or bolt holes of the
wheel, have the vehicle
inspected by your Toyota
dealer.
• Do not attach a heavily dam- aged wheel ornament, as it may
fly off the wheel while the vehi-
cle is moving.
●Observe the fo llowing precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may result in
serious injury:
• Do not try to remove the wheel ornament by hand. Take due
care in handling the ornament to
avoid unexpected personal
injury.
• Lower the spare tire completely to the ground before removing it
from under the vehicle.
■Replacing a flat tire for vehi-
cles with power back door
In cases such as when replacing
tires, make sure to turn off the
power back door main switch
( P.510). Failure to do so may
cause the back d oor to operate
unintentionally if the power back
door switch is accidentally
touched, resulti ng in hands and
fingers being caught and injured.
Installing the spare tire