Subaru Solterra (2023 year). Manual in english

241

5-2. Driving procedures

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vin

■

Using regenerative brake

●

When driving at a high speed, the

feeling of deceleration with regen-

erative braking is less than that on

conventional vehicles.

●

If “Regenerative Braking Limited

Press Brake to Decelerate”

appears on the multi-information

display, firmly depress the brake

pedal to decelerate the vehicle.

Acceleration/deceleration con-
trol can be performed only by
operating the accelerator pedal,
and the frequency of switching
to the brake pedal can be
greatly reduced. Since the
deceleration when the accelera-
tor pedal is released is stronger
than that of a conventional vehi-
cle, the vehicle can be deceler-
ated smoothly by slowly
releasing the pedal the acceler-
ator pedal without completely
releasing it.

When the “S PEDAL DRIVE”
switch is pressed, the regenera-
tive braking force, when the
accelerator pedal is released,
becomes stronger than usual.

■

When “S PEDAL DRIVE” cannot

be used In the following cases,

the system does not operate.

●

When “X-MODE” is activated

●

When the brake system or EV

system is malfunctioning

●

When regenerative braking is lim-

ited

Regenerative braking may be
restricted in the following situations:
• When the amount of charge of the

traction battery is high

• When the temperature of the trac-

tion battery is low or extremely

high

• When the temperature of the elec-

tric motor or power control unit is

extremely high

• When regenerative braking is con-

tinually used for a long time

■

Regenerative Braking

●

The vehicle cannot be stopped by

just releasing the accelerator

pedal. Step on the brake pedal

when the vehicle is stopped.

●

If the power switch is turned off

and then the EV system is

restarted, the “S PEDAL DRIVE”

will be turned off.

●

When driving at high speeds, the

feeling of deceleration due to

regenerative braking is smaller

than in a normal car.

●

The maximum deceleration varies

depending on the vehicle speed.

●

“S PEDAL DRIVE” cannot be

used when the following message

is displayed on the multi-informa-

tion display.

When decelerating, firmly step on

the brake to decelerate.

• “S PEDAL DRIVE Unavailable

XMODE Activated”

• “S PEDAL DRIVE Temporarily

Unavailable Press Brake to Decel-

erate”

• “S PEDAL DRIVE Temporarily

Unavailable See Owner’s Manual”

“S PEDAL DRIVE” switch

242

5-2. Driving procedures

■

Stop lights turning ON

When the regenerative braking

force exceeds a certain level, the

stop lights turns on.

Right turn

Lane change to the right
(move the lever partway and
release it)

The right hand signals will flash 3
times.

Lane change to the left
(move the lever partway and
release it)

The left hand signals will flash 3
times.

Left turn

■

Turn signals can be operated

when

The power switch is in ON.

■

If the indicator flashes faster

than usual

Check that a light bulb in the front or

rear turn signal lights has not

Turn signal lever

Operating instructions

243

5-2. Driving procedures

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burned out.

■

If the turn signals stop flashing

before a lane change has been

performed

Operate the lever again.

■

Using the manual mode

The parking brake can be set
and released manually.
and a message is shown on the
multi-information display.

Parking brake indicator light
(U.S.A.)
Parking brake indicator light
(Canada)

Pull the switch to set the
parking brake

Parking brake

The parking brake can be
set or released automati-
cally or manually.
In automatic mode, the
parking brake can be set or
released automatically.
Also, even in automatic
mode, the parking brake can
be set or released manually.

Operating instructions

244

5-2. Driving procedures

The parking brake indicator light
will turn on.
Pull and hold the parking brake
switch if an emergency occurs and
it is necessary to operate the park-
ing brake while driving.

Push the switch to release
the parking brake

• Operate the parking brake switch

while depressing the brake pedal.

• Using the parking brake auto-

matic release function, the park-
ing brake can be released by
depressing the accelerator pedal.
(



P.244)

Make sure that the parking brake
indicator light turn off.
If the parking brake indicator light
flash, operate the switch again.
(



P.521)

■

Turning the automatic
mode on

While the vehicle is stopped,
pull and hold the parking brake
switch until a buzzer sounds and
a message is shown on the
multi-information display.
When the automatic mode is
turned on, the parking brake
operates as follows.



When the shift position is
shifted from P, the parking
brake will be released, and
the parking brake indicator
light will turn off.



When the shift position is
shifted to P, the parking brake
will be set, and the parking
brake indicator light will turn
on.

Operate the shift position with
the vehicle stopped and the
brake pedal depressed.

The auto function may not operate
if the shift position is moved
extremely quickly. In this situation,
apply the parking brake manually.
(



P.243)

■

Turning the automatic
mode off

While the vehicle is stopped and
depressing the brake pedal,
press and hold the parking
brake switch until a buzzer
sounds and message is shown
on the multi-information display.

■

Parking brake operation

●

When the power switch is not in

ON, the parking brake cannot be

released using the parking brake

switch.

●

When the power switch is not in

ON, automatic mode (automatic

brake setting and releasing) is not

available.

■

Parking brake automatic

release function

When all of the following conditions

are met in manual mode, the park-

ing brake can be released by

depressing the accelerator pedal.

●

The driver’s door is closed

●

The driver is wearing the seat belt

●

The shift position is in a forward

driving position or reverse driving

position

●

The malfunction indicator lamp or

brake system warning light is not

illuminated.

When depressing the accelerator

pedal, depress it slowly.
If the parking brake is not released

245

5-2. Driving procedures

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when the accelerator pedal is

depressed, release the parking

brake manually.

■

Parking brake automatic lock

function

The parking brake will be set auto-

matically under the following condi-

tions:

●

The brake pedal is not depressed

●

The driver’s door is open

●

The driver’s seat belt is not fas-

tened

●

The shift position is in a position

other than P or N

(The shift position is in P during

advanced park operation.) (If

equipped)

●

The malfunction indicator lamp or

brake system warning light are not

illuminated

■

If “Parking Brake Temporarily

Unavailable” is displayed on

the multi-information display

If the parking brake is operated

repeatedly over a short period of

time, the system may restrict opera-

tion to prevent overheating. If this

happens, refrain from operating the

parking brake. Normal operation will

return after about 1 minute.

■

If “Parking Brake Unavailable”

is displayed on the multi-infor-

mation display

Operate the parking brake switch. If

the message does not disappear

after operating the switch several

times, the system may be malfunc-

tioning. Have the vehicle inspected

by your SUBARU dealer.

■

Parking brake operation sound

When the parking brake operates, a

motor sound (whirring sound) may

be heard.
This does not indicate a malfunc-

tion.

■

Parking brake indicator light

●

Depending on the power switch

mode, the parking brake indicator

light will turn on and stay on as

described below:

ON: Comes on until the parking

brake is released.

Not in ON: Stays on for approxi-

mately 15 seconds.

●

When the power switch is turned

off with the parking brake set, the

parking brake indicator light will

stay on for about 15 seconds.

This does not indicate a malfunc-

tion.

■

When the parking brake switch

malfunctions

Automatic mode (automatic brake

setting and releasing) will be turned

on automatically.

■

Parking the vehicle



P.243

■

Parking brake engaged warning

buzzer

A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is

driven with the parking brake

engaged. “Parking Brake ON” is dis-

played on the multi-information dis-

play. (with the vehicle reached a

speed of 3 mph [5 km/h])

■

If the brake system warning

light comes on



P.516

■

Usage in winter time



P.397

WARNING

■

When parking the vehicle

Do not leave a child in the vehicle

alone. The parking brake may be

released unintentionally and there

is the danger of the vehicle mov-

ing that may lead to an accident

resulting in death or serious injury.

246

5-2. Driving procedures

WARNING

■

Parking brake switch

Do not set any objects near the

parking brake switch.

Objects may interfere with the

switch and may lead the parking

brake to unexpectedly operate.

■

Parking brake automatic lock

function

Never use the automatic parking

brake engagement function in

place of normal parking brake

operation. This function is

designed to reduce the risk of a

collision due to the driver forget-

ting to engage the parking brake.

Over-reliance on this function to

park the vehicle safely may lead

to an accident resulting in death

or serious injury. (



P.217)

NOTICE

■

When parking the vehicle

Before you leave the vehicle, shift

the shift position to P, set the park-

ing brake and make sure that the

vehicle does not move.

■

When the system malfunc-

tions

Stop the vehicle in a safe place

and check the warning messages.

■

When the vehicle 12-volt bat-

tery is discharged

The parking brake system cannot

be activated. (



P.544)

■

When the parking brake can-

not be released due to a mal-

function

Driving the vehicle with the park-

ing brake set will lead to brake

components overheating, which

may affect braking performance

and increase brake wear.
Have the vehicle inspected by

your SUBARU dealer immediately

if this occurs.

247

5-2. Driving procedures

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Turns the brake hold system on

The brake hold standby indicator
(green)

comes on. While the

system is holding the brake, the
brake hold operated indicator (yel-
low)

comes on.

■

Brake hold system operating

conditions

The brake hold system cannot be

turned on in the following condi-

tions:

●

The driver’s door is not closed.

●

The driver is not wearing the seat

belt.

●

“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-information display.

●

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-information 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.

●

To turn the system off while the

system is holding the brake, firmly

depress the brake pedal and

press the button again.

■

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

Brake Hold

The brake hold system
keeps the brake applied
when the shift position is in
D or N with the system on
and the brake pedal has
been depressed to stop the
vehicle. The system
releases the brake when the
accelerator pedal is
depressed with the shift
position in D to allow
smooth start off.

Enabling the system

248

5-2. Driving procedures

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.243)

■

When an inspection at your

SUBARU 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 SUB-

ARU 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

SUBARU 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.522

WARNING

■

When the vehicle is on a

steep incline

When using the brake hold sys-

tem on a steep incline, exercise

caution. The brake hold function

may not hold the vehicle in such a

situation.

■

When stopped on a slippery

road

The system cannot stop the vehi-

cle when the gripping ability of the

tires has been exceeded. Do not

use the system when stopped on

a slippery road.

NOTICE

■

When parking the vehicle

The brake hold system is not

designed for use when parking

the vehicle for a long period of

time. Turning the power switch off

while the system is holding the

brake may release the brake,

which would cause the vehicle to

move. When operating the power

switch, depress the brake pedal,

shift the shift position to P and set

the parking brake.

249

5-3. Operating the lights and wipers

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5-3.Operating the lights and wipers

Operating the

switch turns

on the lights as follows:

U.S.A.

Canada

The side marker, parking,

tail, license plate, instrument
panel lights, daytime running
lights (



P.249) turn on.

The headlights and all

lights listed above (except
daytime running lights) turn
on.

The headlights, daytime

running lights (



P.249) and

all the lights listed above turn
on and off automatically.

Off (for the U.S.A. only)

■

AUTO mode can be used when

The power switch is in ON.

■

Daytime running light system

●

The daytime running lights illumi-

nate using the same lights as the

parking lights and illuminate but at

a higher intensity.

●

To make your vehicle more visible

to other drivers during daytime

driving, the daytime running lights

turn on automatically when all of

the following conditions are met.

(The daytime running lights are

not designed for use at night.)

• The EV system is operating

• The parking brake is released
• : The headlight switch is in the

position

• The surroundings are bright
The daytime running lights remain
on after they illuminate, even if the
parking brake is set again.

●

For the U.S.A.: Daytime running

lights can be turned off by operat-

ing the switch.

●

Compared to turning on the head-

lights, the daytime running light

system offers greater durability

and consumes less electricity, so

it can help improve electricity con-

sumption.

■

Headlight control sensor

The sensor may not function prop-

erly if an object is placed on the sen-

sor, or anything that blocks the

sensor is affixed to the windshield.

Doing so interferes with the sensor

detecting the level of ambient light

and may cause the automatic head-

light system to malfunction.

Headlight switch

The headlights can be oper-
ated manually or automati-
cally.

Turning on the headlights

250

5-3. Operating the lights and wipers

■

Automatic light off system

●

When the headlights are on: The
lights turn off 30 seconds after the
power switch is turned to ACC or
OFF and a door is opened and
closed. (The lights turn off immedi-
ately if

on the key is

pressed after all the doors are
closed.)

●

When only the tail lights are on:

The tail lights turn off automati-

cally if the power switch is turned

to ACC or OFF and the driver’s

door is opened.

To turn the lights on again, turn the
power switch to ON, or turn the light
switch to the

position

once and then back to

position.

■

Light reminder buzzer

A buzzer sounds when the power

switch is turned to ACC or OFF and

the driver’s door is opened while the

lights are turned on.

■

Automatic headlight leveling

system

The level of the headlights is auto-

matically adjusted according to the

number of passengers and the load-

ing condition of the vehicle to

ensure that the headlights do not

interfere with other road users.

■

Windshield wiper linked head-

light illumination

When driving during daytime with
the headlight switch turned to

, if

the windshield wipers are used, the
headlights will turn on automatically
after several seconds to help
enhance the visibility of your vehi-
cle.

■

12-volt battery-saving function

In order to prevent the 12-volt bat-

tery of the vehicle from discharging,

if the headlights and/or tail lights are

on when the power switch is turned

to OFF, the battery saving function

will operate and automatically turn

off all the lights after approximately

20 minutes.
When any of the following are per-

formed, the 12-volt battery-saving

function is canceled once and then

reactivated. All the lights will turn off

automatically 20 minutes after the

12-volt battery-saving function has

been reactivated:

●

When the headlight switch is oper-

ated

●

When a door is opened or closed

■

If “Headlight System Malfunc-

tion Visit Your Dealer” is dis-

played on the multi-information

display

The system may be malfunctioning.

Have the vehicle inspected by your

SUBARU dealer.

■

Customization

Settings (e.g. light sensor sensitiv-

ity) can be changed.

(Customizable features:



P.576)

NOTICE

■

To prevent 12-volt battery dis-

charge

Do not leave the lights on longer

than necessary when the EV sys-

tem is not operating.

251

5-3. Operating the lights and wipers

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With the headlights on, push
the lever away from you to
turn on the high beams.

Pull the lever toward you to the
center position to turn the high
beams off.

Pull the lever toward you and
release it to flash the high
beams once.

You can flash the high beams with
the headlights on or off.

Press the Automatic High
Beam switch.

Turning on the high beam
headlights

AHB (Automatic High

Beam)

The Automatic High Beam
uses a front camera located
on the upper portion of the
windshield to detect the
brightness of the lights of
vehicles ahead, street-
lights, etc., and automati-
cally changes the head
lights between the high
beams and low beams.

WARNING

■

For safe use

Do not overly rely on the Auto-

matic High Beam. Always drive

safely, taking care to observe your

surroundings and turning the high

beams on or off manually if nec-

essary.

■

To prevent unintentional

operation of the Automatic

High Beam

●

When it is necessary to disable

the system:



P.261

Using the Automatic High
Beam system

252

5-3. Operating the lights and wipers

Turn the headlight switch to

the

position.

When the headlight switch lever is

in the low beam position, the AHB

system will be enabled and the

AHB indicator will illuminate.

■

Automatic operating condi-

tions of the high beams

●

When all of the following condi-

tions are met, the high beams will

illuminate automatically:

• Vehicle speed is approximately 21

mph (34 km/h) or more.

• The area ahead of the vehicle is

dark.

• There are no vehicles ahead with

lights on.

• There are few streetlights or other

lights on the road ahead.

●

If any of the following conditions

are met, the headlights will

change to the low beams:

• Vehicle speed drops below

approximately 17 mph (27 km/h).

• The area ahead of the vehicle is

not dark.

• There is a vehicle ahead with

lights on.

• There are many streetlights or

other lights on the road ahead.

■

Front camera detection

●

In the following situations, the high

beams may not be automatically

changed to the low beams:

• When a vehicle cuts in front of

your vehicle

• When another vehicle crosses in

front of the vehicle

• When vehicles ahead are repeat-

edly detected and then hidden

due to repeated curves, road

dividers or roadside trees

• When a vehicle ahead

approaches from a far lane

• When a vehicle ahead is far away

• When a vehicle ahead has no

lights

• When the lights of a vehicle ahead

are dim

• When a vehicle ahead is reflecting

strong light, such as own head-

lights

• Situations in which the sensors

may not operate properly:



P.264

●

The headlights may change to the

low beams if a vehicle ahead that

is using fog lights without its head-

lights turned on is detected.

●

House lights, street lights, traffic

signals, and illuminated billboards

or signs may cause the high

beams to change to the low

beams, or the low beams to

remain on.

●

The following may change the the

timing at which the headlights

change to the low beams:

• The brightness of lights of vehi-

cles ahead

• The movement and direction of

vehicles ahead

• The distance between the vehicle

and a vehicle ahead

• When a vehicle ahead only has

lights illuminated on one side

• When a vehicle ahead is a two-

wheeled vehicle

• The condition of the road (gradi-

ent, curve, condition of the road

surface, etc.)

• The number of passengers and

amount of luggage

●

The headlights may change

between the high beams and low

beams unexpectedly.

●

Bicycles and other small vehicles

may not be detected.

●

In the following situations, the sys-

tem may not be able to correctly

253

5-3. Operating the lights and wipers

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detect the brightness of the sur-

roundings. This may cause the

low beams to remain on or the

high beams to flash or dazzle

pedestrians or vehicles ahead. In

such a case, it is necessary to

manually change between the

high beams and low beams.

• When there are lights similar to

headlights or tail lights in the sur-

rounding area

• When headlights or tail lights of

vehicles ahead are turned off,

dirty, changing color, or not aimed

properly

• When the headlights are repeat-

edly changing between the high

beams and low beams.

• When use of the high beams is

inappropriate or when the high

beams may be flashing or daz-

zling pedestrians or other drivers.

• When the vehicle is used in an

area in which vehicles travel on

the opposite side of the road of

the country for which the vehicle

was designed, for example using

a vehicle designed for right-hand

traffic in a left-hand traffic area, or

vice versa

• When it is necessary to disable

the system:



P.261

• Situations in which the sensors

may not operate properly:



P.264

■

Temporarily reducing front

camera sensitivity

The sensitivity of the front camera

can be temporarily reduced.

Turn the power switch off with

the following conditions met.

●

The headlight switch is in

position.

●

The headlight switch lever is in the

low beam position.

●

The Automatic High Beam switch

is on.

Turn the power switch to ON.

Within 60 seconds after perform-

ing step

, push the headlight

switch lever to the high beam

position then pull it to the original

position quickly 10 times, then

leave the lever in its original posi-

tion.

If the sensitivity is changed, the

Automatic High Beam indicator

will blink 3 times.

■

Changing to the high
beams

Push the lever forward.

The Automatic High Beam indicator
will turn off and the high beam indi-
cator will turn on.
Pull the lever to its original position
to enable the Automatic High Beam
system again.

■

Changing to the low beams

Press the Automatic High Beam
switch.

The Automatic High Beam indicator
will turn off.
Press the switch to enable the
Automatic High Beam system
again.

Turning the high beams
on/off manually

254

5-3. Operating the lights and wipers

It is recommended to switch to
the low beams when use of the
high beams is inappropriate or
when the high beams may
cause problems or distress to
other drivers or pedestrians
nearby.
Pull the lever rearward and then
return it to its original position.
The high beams will illuminate
while the lever is pulled, how-
ever, after the lever is returned
to its original position, the low
beams will remain on for a cer-
tain amount of time. After this,
the Automatic High Beam sys-
tem will operate.

: If equipped

Turns the

front fog lights off

Turns the front fog lights

:For the U.S.A.

:For Canada

■

Fog light can be used when

The headlights are turned on.

Temporarily changing to
the low beams

Fog light switch

When in difficult driving
conditions, such as in rain
and fog, turn on the front
fog lights to secure front
visibility.

Turning on the fog lights

255

5-3. Operating the lights and wipers

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Operating the

lever oper-

ates the wipers or washer as fol-
lows:



Intermittent windshield wipers

Off

Intermittent

operation

Low speed

NOTICE

■

To prevent 12-volt battery dis-

charge

Do not leave the lights on longer

than necessary when the EV sys-

tem is off.

Windshield wipers and

washer

Operating the lever can
switch between automatic
operation and manual oper-
ation, or can use the
washer.

NOTICE

■

When the windshield is dry

Do not use the wipers, as they

may damage the windshield.

Operating the wiper lever

256

5-3. Operating the lights and wipers

operation

High speed

operation

Temporary

operation

:For the U.S.A.

:For Canada

Wiper intervals can be adjusted
when intermittent operation is
selected.

Increases the intermittent
windshield wiper frequency

Decreases the intermittent
windshield wiper frequency

Washer/wiper dual

operation

Pulling the lever operates the wip-
ers and washer.
The wipers will automatically oper-
ate a couple of times after the

washer squirts.



Rain-sensing windshield wip-
ers

Off

Rain-sensing opera-

tion

Low speed

operation

High speed

operation

Temporary

operation

:For the U.S.A.

:For Canada

When “AUTO” is selected, the wip-
ers will operate automatically when
the sensor detects falling rain. The
system automatically adjusts wiper
timing in accordance with rain vol-
ume and vehicle speed.

The sensor sensitivity can be
adjusted when “AUTO” is
selected.

Subaru Solterra (2023 year). Manual in english - page 15