
371-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
bag sensor assembly (ECU) controls airbag deployment based on 
information obtained from the sensors, etc., shown in the system 
components diagram above. This information includes crash sever-
ity and occupant information. As the airbags deploy, a chemical 
reaction in the inflators quickly fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to 
help restrain the motion of the occupants.
■If the SRS airbags deploy 
(inflate)
●Slight abrasions, burns, bruising, 
etc., may be sustained from SRS 
airbags, due to the extremely high 
speed of deployment (inflation) by 
hot gases.
●A loud noise and white powder will 
be emitted.
●Parts of the airbag module (steer-
ing wheel hub, airbag cover and 
inflator) as well as the parts 
around the airbags may be hot for 
several minutes. The airbag itself 
may also be hot.
●The windshield may crack.
●The hybrid system will be stopped 
and fuel supply to the engine will 
be stopped. (P.87)
●The brakes and st op lights will be 
controlled automatically. 
(  P.425)
●The interior lights will turn on auto-
matically. ( P.446)
●The emergency flashers will turn 
on automatically. ( P.546)
●For Safety Connect subscribers, if 
any of the following situations 
occur, the system is designed to 
send an emergency call to the 
response center, notifying them of 
the vehicle’s location (without 
needing to push the “SOS” button) 
and an agent will a ttempt to speak 
with the occupants to ascertain 
the level of emergency and assis-
tance required. If the occupants 
are unable to communicate, the 
agent automatically treats the call 
as an emergency and helps to dis-
patch the necessary emergency  services. (
P.65)
• When an SRS airbag has been  deployed
• When a seat belt pretensioner has 
operated
• When the vehicle has been  involved in a severe rear-end colli-
sion
■The SRS airbags deploy in a 
frontal impact when
●The following SRS airbags will 
deploy in the event of an impact 
that exceeds a  threshold level 
(level of force corresponding to an 
approximately 12 - 18 mph [20 - 
30 km/h] frontal collision with a 
fixed wall that does not move or 
deform):
• SRS front airbags
●The threshold level at which the 
SRS airbags will deploy will be 
higher than normal in the in the 
following situations:
• When the vehicle  collides with an 
object, such as a parked vehicle 
or sign pole, which moves or 
deforms on impact
• If the vehicle is involved in an  underride collision,  such as a colli-
sion in which the front of the vehi-
cle underrides, or goes under, the 
bed of a truck
●Depending on the type of collision, 
only the following may deploy:
• Seat belt pretensioners
●The SRS airbags for the front pas-
senger’s seat will not deploy if 
there is no passenger in the front 
passenger seat. However, the 
SRS airbags for the front passen-
ger’s seat may deploy, even if the 
seat is unoccupied, if luggage is 
put on the seat. 

882-1. Plug-in hybrid system
Primarily using EV mode and 
AUTO EV/HV mode when driv-
ing in cities and using HV mode 
when driving on highways (or 
freeways) can help conserve 
fuel and electricity. (P.74)
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 fuel and 
electricity economy. ( P.422)
Eco-friendly driving is possible 
by keeping the Hybrid System 
Indicator within Eco area. 
( P.158) Shift the shift position to D when 
stopped at a traffic light, or driv-
ing in heavy traffic etc. Shift the 
shift position to P when parking. 
When using the N, there is no 
positive effect on fuel consump-
tion. In the N, the gasoline 
engine operates but electricity 
cannot be generated. Also, 
when using the air conditioning 
system, etc., the hybrid battery 
(traction battery) power is con-
sumed.
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) po wer, 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 
Plug-in Hybrid Elec-
tric Vehicle driving 
tips
For economical and ecolog-
ical driving, pay attention to 
the following points:
Using EV mode, AUTO 
EV/HV mode and HV 
mode effectively
Using Eco drive mode
Use of Hybrid System 
Indicator
Changing the shift posi-
tion
Accelerator pedal/brake 
pedal operation
When braking 

892-1. Plug-in hybrid system
2
Plug-in hybrid system
gently and 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 
high fuel and electricity con-
sumption. Check traffic reports 
before leaving and avoid delays 
as much as possible. When driv-
ing in a traffic jam, gently 
release the brake pedal to allow 
the vehicle to move forward 
slightly while avoiding overuse 
of the accelerator pedal. Doing 
so can help control excessive 
electricity and fuel consumption.
 Control and maintain the vehi-
cle at a constant speed. 
Before stopping at a toll booth 
or similar, allow plenty of time 
to release the accelerator and 
gently apply the brakes. A 
greater amount of electrical 
energy can be regenerated 
when slowing down.
 Electricity consumption will 
increase significantly when 
driving at high speeds in EV 
mode or AUTO EV/HV mode. 
If there will be a long distance 
to the next external charging 
point after leaving a freeway,  it is recommended to drive in 
HV mode while on the free-
way and change to EV mode 
or AUTO EV/HV mode after 
leaving the freeway. (
P.74)
 Turn the “A/C” switch off 
when it is not needed. Doing 
so can help reduce excessive 
electricity and fuel consump-
tion.
In summer: When the ambient tem-
perature is high, use the recircu-
lated air mode. Doin g so will help to 
reduce the burden on the air condi-
tioning system and reduce electric-
ity and fuel consumption as well.
In winter: Avoid excessive and 
unnecessary use of the heater. 
Usage of the heated steering wheel 
(if equipped) and seat heaters (if 
equipped) are effective. ( P.443)
Make sure to check the tire infla-
tion pressure frequently. If there 
is improper tire inflation pres-
sure in the tires, the EV driving 
range will become shorter, and 
fuel consumption when in HV 
mode will increase.
Also, as snow tires can cause 
large amounts of friction, their 
use on dry roads can lead to 
increased fuel and electricity 
consumption.
Delays
Highway driving
Air conditioning
Checking tire inflation 
pressure 

2405-1. Before driving
ventional vehicles, and it is neces-
sary to refrain from activities such 
as sudden acceleration. Refer to 
“Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle driv-
ing tips”. ( P.88)
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, 
because visibility will be reduced, 
the windows may become fogged-
up, and the  road will be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to 
rain, because the road surface will 
be especially slippery.
●Refrain from high speeds when 
driving on an expressway in the 
rain, because there may be a 
layer of water between the tires 
and the road surface, preventing 
the steering and brakes from 
operating properly.
■ECO Accelerator Guidance 
( P.163)
It is easier to driv e in an Eco-friendly 
manner by driving  while referring to 
the ECO Accelerator Guidance dis-
play. Also, by using the ECO Accel-
erator Guidance it is easier to 
increase the “Eco Score” evaluation.
●When starting off:
While staying within the ECO Accel-
erator Guidance range, gradually 
depress the accelerator pedal and 
accelerate to the desired speed. If 
excessive acceleration is avoided, 
the “Start” score will increase.
●When driving:
After accelerating to the desired 
speed, release the accelerator 
pedal and drive at a stable speed 
within the ECO Accelerator Guid-
ance range. By keeping the vehicle 
within the ECO Accelerator Guid-
ance range, the “C ruise” score will 
increase.
●When stopping:
When stopping the vehicle, early  releasing the accelerator pedal will 
cause the “Stop” sco
re to increase.
■Restraining the hybrid system 
output (Brake Override System)
●When the accelerator and brake 
pedals are depressed at the same 
time, the hybrid system output 
may be restrained.
●A warning message is displayed 
on the multi-information display 
while the system is operating.
■Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, 
observing the following precautions 
is recommended:
●For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 600 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high  speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low  gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed  for extended periods.
■Operating your vehicle in a for-
eign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle 
registration laws and confirm the 
availability of th e correct fuel. 
(  P.601)
WARNING
Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may result in 
death or serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the 
brake pedal while stopped with 
the “READY” indi cator is illumi-
nated. This prevents the vehicle 
from creeping. 

2415-1. Before driving
5
Driving
WARNING
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamil-
iar with the location of the brake 
and accelerator pedals to avoid 
depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the  accelerator pedal instead of the 
brake pedal will result in sudden 
acceleration that may lead to an 
accident.
• When backing up, you may twist  your body around, leading to a 
difficulty in operating the pedals. 
Make sure to operate the pedals 
properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct  driving posture even when mov-
ing the vehicle only slightly. This 
allows you to depress the brake 
and accelerator pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using  your right foot. Depressing the 
brake pedal using your left foot 
may delay response  in an emer-
gency, resulting in an accident.
●The driver should pay extra 
attention to pedestrians when 
the vehicle is powered only by 
the electric motor (traction 
motor). As there is no engine 
noise, the pedestrians may mis-
judge the vehicle’s movement. 
Even if the Acoustic Vehicle 
Alerting System is operating, 
drive with care as pedestrians in 
the vicinity may still not notice 
the vehicle if the surrounding 
area is noisy.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or 
stop the vehicle near flammable 
materials such as leaves, paper 
or rags.
The exhaust system and 
exhaust gases can be 
extremely hot. These hot parts 
may cause a fire if there is any 
flammable material nearby.
●During normal driving, do not 
turn off the hybrid system. Turn-
ing the hybrid s ystem off while 
driving will not cause 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 pull over and 
stop the vehicle as soon as it is 
safe to do so.
In the event of an emergency, 
such as if it be comes impossible 
to stop the vehicle in the normal 
way:  P.547
●Use engine braking (downshift) 
to maintain a safe speed when 
driving down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously 
may cause the brakes to over-
heat and lose effectiveness. 
( P.256)
●Do not adjust the position of the 
steering wheel, the seat, inside 
rear view mirror (if equipped), 
Digital Rear-view Mirror (if 
equipped) or outside rear view 
mirrors while driving.
Doing so may resu lt in a loss of 
vehicle control.
●Always check that all passen-
gers’ arms, head or other parts 
of their body are not outside the 
vehicle. 

2425-1. Before driving
WARNING
●Do not drive across a river or 
through other bodies of water.
This may cause electric/elec-
tronic components to short cir-
cuit, damage the hybrid system 
or cause other serious damage 
to the vehicle.
●Do not drive in excess of the 
speed limit. Even if the legal 
speed limit permits it, do not 
drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) 
unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving 
over 85 mph (140 km/h) may 
result in tire failure, loss of con-
trol and possible injury. Be sure 
to consult a tire dealer to deter-
mine whether the tires on your 
vehicle are high-speed capabil-
ity tires or not before driving at 
such speeds.
■When driving on slippery 
road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration 
and steering may cause tire 
slippage and reduce your ability 
to control the vehicle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine 
braking due to shifting, or 
changes in engine speed could 
cause the vehicle to skid, result-
ing in an accident.
●After driving through a puddle, 
lightly depress the brake pedal 
to make sure that the brakes 
are functioning properly. Wet 
brake pads may prevent the 
brakes from functioning prop-
erly. If the brakes on only one 
side are wet and not functioning 
properly, steering control may 
be affected.
■When shifting the shift posi-
tion
●Do not let the vehicle roll back-
ward while a fo rward driving 
position is selected, or roll for-
ward while the shift position is in 
R. 
Doing so may result in an acci-
dent or damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift position to 
P while the vehicle is moving. 
Doing so can damage the trans-
mission and may result in a loss 
of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift position to 
R while the vehicle is moving 
forward. Doing so can damage 
the transmission and may result 
in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift position to 
a driving position while the vehi-
cle is moving backward. Doing 
so can damage the transmis-
sion and may result in a loss of 
vehicle control.
●Changing the shift position to N 
while the vehicle is moving will 
disengage the hybrid system. 
Regenerative braking is not 
available with the hybrid system 
disengaged.
●Do not shift the shift position 
with the accelerator pedal 
depressed. Changing the shift 
position to any positions other 
than P or N may lead to unex-
pected rapid acceleration of the 
vehicle that may cause an acci-
dent and result in death or seri-
ous injury.
After changing the shift position, 
make sure to confirm the cur-
rent shift position displayed on 
the shift position indicator inside 
the meter. 

2445-1. Before driving
WARNING
●Always apply the parking brake, 
shift the shift position to P, stop 
the hybrid system and lock the 
vehicle. 
Do not leave the vehicle unat-
tended while the “READY” indi-
cator is illuminated. 
If the vehicle is parked with the 
shift position in P but the park-
ing 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.
■When taking a nap in the 
vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. 
Otherwise, if you  accidentally shift 
the shift position or depress the 
accelerator pedal, this could 
cause an accident or fire due to 
hybrid system overheating. Addi-
tionally, if the vehicle is parked in 
a poorly ventilated area, exhaust 
gases may collect and enter the 
vehicle, leading to death or a seri-
ous health hazard.
■When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive 
more cautiously.
Braking distance increases 
when the brakes are wet, and 
this may cause one side of the 
vehicle to brake differently than 
the other side. Also, the parking 
brake may not securely hold the 
vehicle.
●If the electronically controlled 
brake system does not operate, 
do not follow other vehicles 
closely and avoid hills or sharp 
turns that require braking. 
In this case, braking is still pos-
sible, but the brake pedal 
should be depressed more 
firmly than usual. Also, the brak-
ing distance will  increase. Have 
your brakes fixed immediately.
●The brake system consists of 2 
or more individual hydraulic sys-
tems; if one of the systems fails, 
the other(s) will  still operate. In 
this case, the brake pedal 
should be depressed more 
firmly than usual and the brak-
ing distance will  increase. Have 
your brakes fixed immediately.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator 
and brake pedals at the same 
time during driving, as this may 
restrain the hybrid system out-
put.
●Do not use the accelerator 
pedal or depress the accelera-
tor and brake pedals at the 
same time to hold the vehicle on 
a hill.
■Avoiding damage to vehicle 
parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel 
fully in either direction and hold 
it there for an extended period 
of time.
Doing so may damage the 
power steering.
●When driving over bumps in the 
road, drive as slowly as possible 
to avoid damaging the wheels, 
underside of the vehicle, etc. 

2675-2. Driving procedures
5
Driving
●“Parking Brake Unavailable” or 
“Parking Brake Malfunction Visit 
Your Dealer” is displayed on the 
multi-information display.
If any of the conditions above are 
detected when the brake hold sys-
tem is enabled, the system will turn 
off and the brake hold standby indi-
cator light will go off. In addition, if 
any of the conditions are detected 
while the system is holding the 
brake, a warning buzzer will sound 
and a message will be shown on the 
multi-information display. The park-
ing brake will then be  set automati-
cally.
■Brake hold function
●If the brake pedal is left released 
for a period of about 3 minutes 
after the system has started hold-
ing the brake, the parking brake 
will be set automatically. In this 
case, a warning buzzer sounds 
and a message is shown on the 
multi-informat ion display.
●To turn the system off while the 
system is holding the brake, firmly 
depress the brake pedal and 
press the button again.
●The brake hold function may not 
hold the vehicle when the vehicle 
is on a steep incline. In this situa-
tion, it may be necessary for the 
driver to apply the brakes. A warn-
ing buzzer will sound and the 
multi-informatio n display will 
inform the driver of this situation. If 
a warning message is shown on 
the multi-information display, read 
the message and follow the 
instructions.
●When do not wish for the parking 
brake to operate automatically, 
press and hold the brake hold 
switch until the standby indicator 
(green) turns off, and then turn the 
power switch off.
■When the parking brake is set 
automatically while the system 
is holding the brakes
Perform any of the following opera- tions to release the parking brake.
●Depress the accelerator pedal. 
(The parking brake will not be 
released automatically if the seat 
belt is not fastened.)
●Operate the parking brake switch 
with the brake pedal depressed.
Make sure that the parking brake 
indicator light goes off. ( P.263)
■When an inspection at your 
Toyota dealer is necessary
When the brake hold standby indi-
cator (green) does not illuminate 
even when the brake hold switch is 
pressed with the brake hold system 
operating conditions met, the sys-
tem may be malfunctioning. Have 
the vehicle inspected at your Toyota 
dealer.
■If “Brake Hold Malfunction 
Press Brake to Deactivate Visit 
Your Dealer” or “Brake Hold 
Malfunction Visit Your Dealer” 
is displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display
The system may be malfunctioning. 
Have the vehicle inspected by your 
Toyota dealer.
■Warning messages and buzzers
Warning messages and buzzers are 
used to indicate a system malfunc-
tion or to inform the driver of the 
need for caution. If a warning mes-
sage is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and 
follow the instructions.
■If the brake hold operated indi-
cator flashes
 P.561