Toyota Prius: Driving the vehicle

Driving procedure

The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driving:

• Starting the hybrid system
• Driving

1. With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift position to D.

Check that the shift position indicator shows D.

2. If the parking brake is set, release the parking brake.

If the parking brake is in automatic mode, the parking brake will be released automatically.

3. Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.

Stopping

1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. If necessary, set the parking brake.

If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time, shift the shift position to P.

Parking the vehicle

1. Depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle completely.
2. If the parking brake is released, set the parking brake

If the parking brake is in automatic mode, turning off the power switch will automatically set the parking brake.

3. Shift the shift position to P.

Check that the shift position indicator shows P and the parking brake indicator is illuminated.

4. Press the power switch to stop the hybrid system.
5. Slowly release the brake pedal.
6. Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key on your person.

If parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.

Starting off on a steep uphill

1. Firmly depress the brake pedal and shift the shift position to D.

The hill-start assist control will be activated.

2. Set the parking brake.
3. Release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
4. Release the parking brake.

For fuel-efficient driving

Keep in mind that Hybrid Electric Vehicles are similar to conventional vehicles, and it is necessary to refrain from activities such as sudden acceleration.

Driving in the rain

• Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the windows may become foggedup, 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

It is easier to drive in an Eco-friendly manner by driving while referring to the ECO Accelerator Guidance display.

Also, by using the ECO Accelerator Guidance it is easier to increase the "Eco Score" evaluation.

• When starting off:

While staying within the ECO Accelerator 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 Guidance range. By keeping the vehicle within the ECO Accelerator Guidance range, the "Cruise" score will increase.
• When stopping: When stopping the vehicle, early releasing the accelerator pedal will cause the "Stop" score 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 foreign country

Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability of the correct fuel.

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.

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" indicator is illuminated.

This prevents the vehicle from creeping.

When driving the vehicle

• Do not drive if you are unfamiliar 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 moving 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 emergency, 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 misjudge 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. Turning the hybrid system off while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control.

  , power assist for the steering wheel may be lost making it difficult to steer smoothly before stopping the vehicle depending on the remaining charge in the 12-volt battery or usage conditions. In this situation, 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 becomes impossible to stop the vehicle in the normal way

• Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving down a steep hill.

  Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose effectiveness.

• 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 result in a loss of vehicle control.

• Always check that all passengers' arms, head or other parts of their body are not outside the vehicle.

WARNING

• AWD models: Do not drive the vehicle offroad.

  This is not an AWD vehicle designed for off-road driving.

  Drive with due care if it becomes unavoidable to drive off-road.

• Do not drive across a river or through other bodies of water.

  This may cause electric/electronic components to short circuit, 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 highspeed capability tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire failure, loss of control and possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer to determine whether the tires on your vehicle are high-speed capability 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, resulting 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 properly.

  If the brakes on only one side are wet and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected.

When shifting the shift position

• Do not let the vehicle roll backward while a forward driving position is selected, or roll forward while the shift position is in R. Doing so may result in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
• Do not shift the shift position to P while the vehicle is moving.

  Doing so can damage the transmission 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 vehicle is moving backward.

  Doing so can damage the transmission 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.

WARNING

• 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 unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.

  After changing the shift position, make sure to confirm the current shift position displayed on the shift position indicator inside the meter.

If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators)

Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.

Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.

It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or those of the brake discs are exceeded.

When the vehicle is stopped

• Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.

  If the shift position is in any position other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly, causing an accident.

• In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep depressing the brake pedal while stopped with the "READY" indicator is illuminated, and apply the parking brake as necessary.
• If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused by the vehicle rolling 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

Doing so may result in the following:

• 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 cause a short circuit in the vehicle's electrical components.

WARNING

• 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 as a lens, causing a fire.

• Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift position to P, stop the hybrid system and lock the vehicle.

  Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the "READY" indicator is illuminated.

  If the vehicle is parked with the shift position 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.

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. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to death or a serious 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 possible, but the brake pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.

• The brake system consists of 2 or more individual hydraulic systems; 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 braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.

If the vehicle becomes stuck (AWD vehicles)

Do not spin the wheels excessively when any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage the driveline components or propel the vehicle forward or backward, causing an accident.

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 output.
• Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator 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.

If you get a flat tire while driving

A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering wheel firmly and gradually 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 abnormally.

Information on what to do in case of a flat tire

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 and the vehicle is flooded, be sure to have your Toyota dealer check the following:

• Brake function
• Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, transmission, transaxle, etc.
• Lubricant condition for the bearings and suspension joints (where possible), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.

If the shift control system is damaged by flooding, it may not be possible to shift the shift position to P, or from P to other positions.

In this case, contact your Toyota dealer.

When parking the vehicle

Always set the parking brake, and shift the shift position to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed.

Sudden start restraint control (Drive-Start Control [DSC])

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 operates, a message appears on the multi-information 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 , sudden start restraint control also does not operate. If your vehicle have trouble escaping from the mud or fresh snow due to sudden start restraint control operation, deactivate TRAC  so that the vehicle may become able to escape from the mud or fresh snow.