TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID 2023 Owners Manual

289
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
ilar to conventional vehicles, and it is
necessary to refrain from activities such as sudden acceleration. Refer to “Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle driving tips”
( P.100).
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining,
because visibility will be reduced, the windows may become fogged-up, and the road could be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to rain, as the road surface could be espe-
cially slippery.
●Refrain from high speeds when driv-
ing 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.
■ECO Accelerator Guidance ( P.202)
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 accelera-tor 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 accelera- tor pedal will cause the “Stop” score to increase.
■Restraining the hybrid system out-
put (Brake Override System)
●When the accelerator and brake ped-
als 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, observ- ing the following precautions is recom-mended:
●For the first 300 km (200 miles):Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 800 km (500 miles):Do not tow a trailer.
●For the first 1000 km (600 miles):• 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 regis- tration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. ( P.586)
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.

2905-1. Before driving
WARNING
■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 accel- erator pedal instead of the brake pedal will result in sudden accelera-
tion 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 accel-
erator 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 atten-tion 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 move- ment. Even though the vehicle is equipped with the Acoustic Vehicle
Alerting System, drive with care as pedestrians in the vicinity may still not notice the vehicle if the sur-
rounding 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 brak- ing control. However, power assist for the steering wheel may be lost
making it difficult to steer smoothly before stopping the vehicle depend-ing 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: P.526
●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. ( P.315)
●Do not adjust the position 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.
■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 brak-ing due to shifting, or changes in engine speed could cause the vehi-
cle to skid.

291
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to
make sure that the brakes are func- tioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the brakes from func-
tioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not func-tioning properly, steering control
may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward while a forward driving position is selected, or roll forward while the
shift lever is in R. Doing so may result in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmis- sion and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmis- sion and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to a driv-ing position while the vehicle is
moving backward. Doing so can damage the transmis-sion and may result in a loss of
vehicle control.
●Moving the shift lever 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 shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Shifting the shift lever to a gear other than P or N may lead to unex-pected rapid acceleration of the
vehicle that may cause an accident and result in death or serious injury. Doing so can damage the transmis-
sion and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
■If you hear a squealing or scrap-ing noise (brake pad wear indica-tors)
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 vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle may accel-erate 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 acci-dents caused by the vehicle rolling
forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal and securely apply the parking brake as
needed.

2925-1. Before driving
WARNING
●Avoid revving or racing the engine. Running the engine at high speed
while the vehicle is stopped may cause the exhaust system to over-heat, which could result in a fire if
combustible material is nearby.
■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 follow-ing:
• 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, caus- ing 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 fresh-eners on the instrument panel or
dashboard. Adhesive discs or con- tainers 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 sil- ver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause the glass to act as a
lens, causing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the hybrid system and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unat- tended while the “READY” indicator is illuminated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift lever in P but the parking brake is not set, the vehicle may start to
move, possibly leading to an acci- dent.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the “READY” indicator is illu-minated or immediately after turn-
ing 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 move
the shift lever or depress the acceler- ator pedal, this could cause an acci-dent or fire due to hybrid system
overheating. Additionally, if the vehi- cle 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 fol-
low 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.

293
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●The brake system consists of 2 or more individual hydraulic systems;
if one of the systems fails, the other 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
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 for- ward or backward, causing an acci-dent.
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 motor.
●When driving over bumps in the
road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid damaging the wheels, under-side of the vehicle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the
following situations.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Hold the steering wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to
slow down the vehicle.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( P.548, 559)
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain, etc. Doing so may cause the following serious dam-
age 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 autho-rized Toyota retailer or Toyota autho-
rized repairer, or any reliable repairer check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine,
hybrid transaxle (front and rear), etc.
●Lubricant condition for the bearings and suspension joints (where possi-ble), and the function of all joints,
bearings, etc.
●Components connected to the trac-
tion battery.
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift the shift lever 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.

2945-1. Before driving
When the following unusual opera-
tion is performed with the accelera-
tor 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 dis-
play. Read the message and follow the
instruction.
*: Depending on the situation, the shift
position may not be changed.
■Drive-Start Control (DSC)
●When the TRC is turned off ( P.417), 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 ( P.417) so that the vehicle may become able to escape from the mud or fresh snow.
Also, sudden start restraint control will
not operate in the following condition:
• When Trail Mode is turned on
Sudden start restraint con-
trol (Drive-Start Control
[DSC])
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following
information about storage pre-
cautions, 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 ped-
als from being depressed properly, may block the driver’s vision, or may result in items hitting the driver or
passengers, possibly causing an acci- dent.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the lug-
gage compartment whenever pos- sible.
●Do not stack anything in the lug-gage 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 properly fastened. Other- wise, they are much more likely to suffer death or serious bodily injury,
in the event of sudden braking, sud- den swerving or an accident.

295
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●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 (if equipped)
• 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 deterio-
ration of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.
■When loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier (if equipped)
Observe the following precautions:
●Place the cargo so that its weight is distributed evenly between the front
and rear axles.
●If loading long or wide cargo, never
exceed the vehicle overall length or width. ( P.584)
●Before driving, make sure the cargo is securely fastened on the roof lug-gage carrier.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of grav-
ity of the vehicle higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking or abrupt maneu-
vers, otherwise it may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover due to failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly and result in death or serious injury.
●If driving for a long distance, on rough roads, or at high speeds, stop the vehicle now and then
during the trip to make sure the cargo remains in its place.
●Do not exceed 80 kg (176.4 lb.) cargo weight on the roof luggage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier (if equipped)
Be careful not to scratch the surface
of the panoramic moon roof (if equipped).

2965-1. Before driving
■Tire information
●Increase the tire inflation pressure to
20.0 kPa (0.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 3 psi)
greater than the recommended value
when towing. (P.590)
●Increase the air pressure of the trailer tires in accordance with the total
trailer weight and according to the val-
ues recommended by the manufac-
turer of your trailer.
■Safety checks before towing
●Check that the maximum load limit for
the towing hitch/bracket and hitch ball
is not exceeded. Bear in mind that the
coupling weight of the trailer will add
to the load exerted on the vehicle.
Also make sure that the total load
exerted on the vehicle is within the
range of the weight limits. (P.298)
●Ensure that the trailer load is secure.
●Supplementary outside rear view mir-
rors should be added to the vehicle if
the traffic behind cannot be clearly
seen with standard mirrors. Adjust the
extending arms of these mirrors on
both sides of the vehicle so that they
always provide maximum visibility of
the road behind.
■When towing a trailer
Disable the following systems, as the
systems may not operate properly.
●LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) (if
equipped) (P.353)
●Dynamic radar cruise control with full-
speed range (if equipped) (P.368)
●Cruise control (if equipped) (P.381)
●PKSB (Parking Support Brake) (if
equipped) (P.403)
●BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) (if
equipped) (P.386)
●Toyota parking assist-sensor
(P.395)
●RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert) func-
tion (if equipped) (P.386)
Trailer towing
Your vehicle is designed pri-
marily as a passenger carry-
ing vehicle. Towing a trailer
will have an adverse effect on
handling, performance, brak-
ing, durability, and fuel con-
sumption. Your safety and
satisfaction depend on the
proper use of correct equip-
ment and cautious driving hab-
its. For your safety and the
safety of others, do not over-
load the vehicle or trailer.
To tow a trailer safely, use
extreme care and drive the
vehicle in accordance with the
trailer’s characteristics and
operating conditions.
Toyota warranties do not apply
to damage or malfunction
caused by towing a trailer for
commercial purposes.
Ask your local authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reli-
able repairer for further details
before towing, as there are
additional legal requirements
in some countries.

297
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
Check the allowable towing capac-
ity, GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass),
MPAC (Maximum Permissible Axle
Capacity), and permissible drawbar
load before towing. ( P.584)
Toyota recommends the use of the
Toyota hitch/bracket for your vehi-
cle. Other products of a suitable
nature and comparable quality may
also be used.
For vehicles where the towing
device blocks any of the lights or
license plate, the following shall be
observed:
 Do not use towing devices that
cannot be easily removed or
repositioned.
 Towing devices must be
removed or repositioned when
not in use.
Please consult any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer
when installing trailer lights, as
incorrect installation may cause
damage to the vehicle’s lights.
Please take care to comply with
your state’s laws when installing
trailer lights.
WARNING
Follow all the instructions described in this section.
Failure to do so could cause an acci- dent resulting in death or serious injury.
■Trailer towing precautions
When towing, make sure that none of the weight limits are exceeded.
( P.298)
■To avoid accident or injury
●Vehicles with compact spare tire: Do not tow a trailer when the com-pact spare tire is installed on your
vehicle.
●Vehicles with emergency tire punc-
ture repair kit: Do not tow a trailer when the tire installed is repaired with the emer-
gency tire puncture repair kit.
●Do not use dynamic radar cruise
control with full-speed range (if equipped) or cruise control (if equipped) when trailer towing.
■Vehicle speed in towing
Observe the legal maximum speeds
for trailer towing.
■Before descending hills or long
declines
Reduce speed and downshift. How- ever, never downshift suddenly while
descending steep or long downhill grades.
■Operation of the brake pedal
Do not hold the brake pedal depressed often or for long periods of
time. Doing so may result in the brake over-heating or reduce braking effects.
Weight limits
Towing hitch/bracket
Connecting trailer lights

2985-1. Before driving
■Total trailer weight and per-
missible drawbar load
Total trailer weight
Weight of the trailer itself plus the trailer
load should be within the maximum
towing capacity. Exceeding this weight
is dangerous. ( P.584)
When towing a trailer, use a friction
coupler or friction stabilizer (sway con-
trol device).
Permissible drawbar load
Allocate the trailer load so that the
drawbar load is greater than 25 kg
(55.1 lb.) or 4% of the towing capacity.
Do not let the drawbar load exceed the
indicated weight. ( P.584)
■Information tag (manufac-
turer’s label)
Gross vehicle mass
The combined weight of the driver, pas-
sengers, luggage, towing hitch, total
curb mass and drawbar load should not
exceed the gross vehicle mass by more
than 100 kg (220.5 lb.). Exceeding this
weight is dangerous.
Maximum permissible rear axle
capacity
The weight borne by the rear axle
should not exceed the maximum per-
missible rear axle capacity by 15% or
more. Exceeding this weight is danger-
ous.
The values for towing capacity were
derived from testing conducted at sea
level. Take note that hybrid system out-
put and towing capacity will be reduced
at high altitudes.
NOTICE
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may damage your vehicle’s electrical sys-tem and cause a malfunction.
Important points regarding
trailer loads
A
B
A
B