Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (2023 year). Manual in english

306

4-5. Opening and closing the windows

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.
Failing to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■

Closing the windows

●

The driver is responsible for all the power window operations, including the
operation for the passengers. In order to prevent accidental operation,
especially by a child, do not let a child operate the power windows. It is
possible for children and other passengers to have body parts caught in
the power window. Also, when riding with a child, it is recommended to use
the window lock switch. (



P. 303)

●

When using the wireless remote control or mechanical key and operating
the power windows, operate the power window after checking to make
sure that there is no possibility of any passenger having any of their body
parts caught in the side window. Also do not let a child operate side win-
dow by the wireless remote control or mechanical key. It is possible for
children and other passengers to get caught in the power window.

●

When exiting the vehicle, turn the power switch off, carry the key and exit
the vehicle along with the child. There may be accidental operation, due to
mischief, etc., that may possibly lead to an accident.

■

Jam protection function

●

Never use any part of your body to intentionally activate the jam protection
function.

●

The jam protection function may not work if something gets jammed just
before the side window is fully closed. Be careful not to get any part of
your body jammed in the side window.

■

Catch protection function

●

Never use any part of your body or clothing to intentionally activate the
catch protection function.

●

The catch protection function may not work if something gets caught just
before the side window is fully opened. Be careful not to get any part of
your body or clothing caught in the side window.

●

Check to make sure that all passengers
do not have any part of their body in a
position where it could be caught when
a side window is being operated.

307

Driving

5-1. Before driving

Driving the vehicle .............308
Cargo and luggage ............320
Trailer towing .....................322

5-2. Driving procedures

Power (ignition) switch.......323
Hybrid transmission ...........329
Turn signal lever ................335
Parking brake ....................336

5-3. Operating the lights

and wipers

Headlight switch ................337
AHS (Adaptive High-beam

System) ...........................341

Fog light switch..................347
Windshield wipers and

washer.............................348

5-4. Refueling

Opening the fuel tank

cap...................................351

5-5. Using the driving

support systems

Toyota Safety Sense .........355
PCS (Pre-Collision

System) ...........................368

LTA (Lane Tracing

Assist)..............................379

RSA (Road Sign Assist).....395
Dynamic radar cruise

control with full-speed
range ...............................401

Driving mode select

switch...............................418

Speed limiter......................420
BSM

(Blind Spot Monitor).........423
• The Blind Spot Monitor

function..........................439

• The Rear Crossing

Traffic Alert function ......443

Toyota parking

assist-sensor ...................450

Parking Support Brake

function ............................462

S-IPA (Simple Intelligent

Parking Assist
System) ...........................473

GPF (Gasoline Particulate

Filter) system ...................508

Driving assist systems .......509

5-6. Driving tips

Winter driving tips ..............516

308

5-1. Before driving

Driving the vehicle

Check that the charging cable is disconnected. (



P. 155)



P. 323

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



P. 329)

Check that the shift position indicator shows D.

Release the parking brake. (



P. 336)

Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelera-
tor pedal to accelerate the vehicle.

With the shift position in D, depress the brake pedal.
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. (



P. 330)

The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe
driving:

Before starting the hybrid system

Starting the hybrid system

Driving

Stopping

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5-1. Before driving

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Stop the vehicle completely.
Set the parking brake. (



P. 336)

Shift the shift position to P. (



P. 330)

Check that the shift position indicator shows P.

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

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

Firmly set the parking brake with the brake pedal depressed, and
then shift the shift position to D.
Release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.

When the following unusual operation is performed with the accelera-
tor pedal depressed, the hybrid system output may be restrained.

●

When the shift position is shifted to R

●

When the shift position is shifted from P or R to forward drive shift
position such as D

When the system operates, a message appears on the multi-informa-
tion display. Read the message and follow the instruction.

: Depending on the situation, the shift position may not be changed.

■

When starting off on an uphill

The hill-start assist control will activate. (



P. 509)

■

For electricity-saving and fuel-efficient driving

Understand the system characteristics of the vehicle to use the functions of
the hybrid system. Also, keep in mind that hybrid vehicles are similar to con-
ventional vehicles, and it is necessary to refrain from activities such as sud-
den acceleration. Refer to “Plug-in hybrid vehicle driving tips” (



P. 105).

Parking the vehicle

Starting off on a steep uphill

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

310

5-1. Before driving

■

Driving in the rain

●

Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the win-
dows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.

●

Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be espe-
cially 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 sur-
face, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.

■

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. (



P. 673)

■

“ECO Accelerator Guidance” (



P. 229)

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 exces-
sive acceleration is avoided, the “Eco-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 “Eco-
Cruise” score will increase.

●

When stopping:
When stopping the vehicle, early releasing the accelerator pedal will cause
the “Eco-Stop” score to increase.

■

Drive-Start Control (DSC)

When the TRC is turned off (



P. 511), 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 TRC (



511) so that the vehicle may become able to escape from the mud or fresh
snow.

311

5-1. Before driving

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■

Breaking in your new Toyota

To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recom-
mended:

●

For the first 300 km (200 miles):
Avoid sudden stops.

●

For the first 1000 km (600 miles):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• 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. (



P. 716)

■

For efficient use

●

Shift the shift position to D when driving.
In the N position, the gasoline engine operates but electricity cannot be gen-
erated. The hybrid battery (traction battery) will discharge, requiring unnec-
essary engine power to charge.

●

Drive your vehicle smoothly.
Avoid abrupt acceleration and deceleration. Gradual acceleration and decel-
eration will make more effective use of the electric motor (traction motor)
without having to use gasoline engine power.

●

Avoid repeated acceleration.
Repeated acceleration consumes hybrid battery (traction battery) power,
resulting in poor acceleration. Battery power can be restored by driving with
the accelerator pedal slightly released.

●

Shift the shift position to P when parking.
In the N position, the hybrid battery (traction battery) does not charge. Leav-
ing the shift position in the N position for an extended period of time may
discharge the hybrid battery (traction battery). The vehicle cannot run if the
hybrid battery (traction battery) is discharged.

312

5-1. Before driving

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 accel-
erator 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 diffi-

culty 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 accelera-
tor pedals properly.

• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake

pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-
ing 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
though the vehicle is equipped with the vehicle proximity notification sys-
tem, 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,
however, power assist to the steering will be lost. This will make it more
difficult to steer smoothly, so 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:



P. 649

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5-1. Before driving

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WARNING

Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■

When driving the vehicle

●

Use engine braking (shift position B instead of shift position D) to maintain
a safe speed when driving down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose
effectiveness. (



P. 330)

●

Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside 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.

●

Do not drive across river crossings 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.

■

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, 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.

314

5-1. Before driving

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■

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 mov-
ing 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. Engine braking is not available with the hybrid system
disengaged.

●

Be careful not to change the shift position with the accelerator pedal
depressed.
Changing the shift position to any position 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.
Also, when the shift position is in N, the shift position may not be able to be
changed to the intended shift position.
After changing the shift position, make sure to confirm the current shift
position displayed on the shift position indicator inside the meter.

315

5-1. Before driving

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WARNING

Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■

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

Have the brake pads checked and replaced by any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer 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.

316

5-1. Before driving

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■

When the vehicle is parked

●

Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in
the vehicle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a

fire.

• 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.

●

Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when
luggage is loaded or the seat is adjusted, causing a fire.

●

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 vehi-
cle.

●

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 illumi-
nated.
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 pipe while the “READY” indicator is illuminated
or immediately after turning the hybrid system off.
Doing so may cause burns.

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5-1. Before driving

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WARNING

Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■

When taking a nap in the vehicle

Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the
shift lever 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 assist function does not operate, do not fol-
low other vehicles closely and avoid downhill 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.

318

5-1. Before driving

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.

■

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.

■

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 motor.

●

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 vehi-
cle.

●

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:



P. 675

319

5-1. Before driving

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NOTICE

■

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 any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or
any reliable repairer check the following:

●

Brake function

●

Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, hybrid
transmission, etc.

●

Lubricant condition for the bearings and suspension joints (where possi-
ble), 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. When the shift posi-
tion cannot be changed from P to any other position, the front wheels will
lock, and you will be unable to tow the vehicle with the front wheels on the
ground. In this case, transport the vehicle with both front wheels or all four
wheels lifted. (



P. 652)

320

5-1. Before driving

Cargo and luggage

Take notice of the following information about storage precau-
tions, cargo capacity and load.

WARNING

■

Things that must not be carried in the luggage compartment

The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the luggage compartment:

●

Receptacles containing gasoline

●

Aerosol cans

■

Storage precautions

Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals from being depressed properly,
may block the driver’s vision, or may result in items hitting the driver or pas-
sengers, possibly causing an accident.

●

Stow cargo and luggage in the luggage compartment whenever possible.

●

Do not stack cargo and luggage in the luggage compartment higher than
the seatbacks.

●

When you fold down the rear seats, long items should not be placed
directly behind the front seats.

●

Never allow anyone to ride in the luggage compartment. It is not designed
for passengers. They should ride in their seats with their seat belts prop-
erly fastened.

●

Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the luggage cover
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard

●

Secure all items in the occupant compartment.

■

Load and distribution

●

Do not overload your vehicle.

●

Do not apply loads unevenly.

Improper loading may cause deterioration of steering or braking control
which may cause death or serious injury.

321

5-1. Before driving

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NOTICE

■

If luggage is loaded on the roof (vehicles with solar charging system)

Observe the following precautions. Failure to observe them could lead to
the solar roof being damaged, or the roof rack falling off.

●

Do not install a roof rack which inter-
feres with the solar roof.

●

Do not load luggage directly onto the
solar roof.

Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (2023 year). Manual in english - page 19