LEXUS RX450h 2015 Owners Manual

2912-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving CAUTION■
Handling the radar sensor
One Blind Spot Monitor is installed inside the left and right side of the vehicle rear
bumper respectively. Observe the followin g to ensure the Blind Spot Monitor can
function correctly.
●
Do not subject the sensor or surrounding area on the bumper to a strong impact.
If the sensor moves even slightly off position, the system may malfunction and
vehicles that enter the detection area ma y not be detected. If the sensor or sur-
rounding area is subject to a strong impact, always have the area inspected by
your Lexus dealer.●
Do not disassemble the sensor.●
Do not attach accessories or stickers to the sensor or surrounding area on the
bumper.●
Do not modify the sensor or surrounding area on the bumper.●
Do not paint the sensor or surrounding area on the bumper. ●
Keep the sensor and its surrounding area
on the bumper clean at all times.

2922-5. Driving information
Utility vehicle precautions Utility vehicle feature
● Specific design characteristics give it a higher center of gravity than
ordinary passenger cars. This vehicle design feature causes this type of
vehicle to be more likely to rollov er. And, utility vehicles have a signifi-
cantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
● It is not designed for cornering at the same speeds as ordinary passen-
ger cars any more than low-slung sports cars designed to perform sat-
isfactorily under off-road condit ions. Therefore, sharp turns at
excessive speeds may cause rollover. CAUTION■
Utility vehicle precautions
Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death or serious
injury or damage to your vehicle: ●
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers should fasten
their seat belts whenever the vehicle is moving.●
Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, if at all possible.
Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle roll-
over causing death or serious injury.
●
Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of the vehicle
gravity higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking or
abrupt maneuvers, otherwise it may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover
due to failure to operate this vehicle correctly.This vehicle belongs to the utilit y vehicle class, which has higher
ground clearance and narrower tread in relation to the height of its
center of gravity.

2932-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Off-road driving
Your vehicle is not designed to be dr iven off-road. However, in the event
that off-road driving cannot be av oided, please observe the following
precautions to help avoid the areas prohibited to vehicles.
● Drive your vehicle only in areas wh ere off-road vehicles are permitted
to travel.
● Respect private property. Get owne r’s permission before entering pri-
vate property.
● Do not enter areas that are closed . Honor gates, barriers and signs
that restrict travel.
● Stay on established roads. When conditions are w et, driving tech-
niques should be changed or travel delayed to prevent damage to
roads.
● Avoid driving on very steep, slippery roads and other surfaces, such as
sand, where the tires are liable to lose traction . Your vehicle may not
perform as well as conventional AWD on-road vehicles on these sur-
faces. CAUTION●
Always slow down in gusty crosswinds. Because of its profile and higher center of
gravity, your vehicle is more sensitive to side winds than an ordinary passenger
car. Slowing down will allow you to have better control.●
Do not drive horizontally across steep slop es. Driving straight up or straight down
is preferred. Your vehicle (or any similar off-road vehicle) can tip over sideways
much more easily than forward or backward.

2942-5. Driving information
■
Additional information for off-road driving
For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information pertaining to driving your vehicle off-road, consult
the following organizations. ●
State and Local Parks and Recreation Departments●
State Motor Vehicle Bureau●
Recreational Vehicle Clubs●
U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
CAUTION■
Off-road driving precautions
Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death or serious
injury or damage to your vehicle: ●
Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving in
dangerous places.●
Do not grip the steering wheel spokes wh en driving off-road. A bad bump could
jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands and especially your
thumbs on the outside of the rim.●
Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in sand,
mud, water or snow.●
After driving through tall grass, mud, rock , sand, water, etc., check that there is no
grass, bush, paper, rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped to the underbody.
Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the vehicle is used with these
materials trapped or adhering to the underbody, a breakdown or fire could occur.●
When driving off-road or in rugged te rrain, do not drive at excessive speeds,
jump, make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss of control or vehi-
cle rollover causing death or serious injury. You are also risking expensive dam-
age to your vehicle’s suspension and chassis.

2952-5. Driving information
2
When driving NOTICE■
To prevent water damage
Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the hybrid bat-
tery, hybrid system or other components does not occur. ●
Water entering the engine compartment may cause severe damage to the hybrid
system. Water entering the interior may cause the hybrid battery stowed under
the rear seats to short circuit.●
Water entering the hybrid transmission will cause deterioration in transmission
quality. The malfunction indicator may come on, and the vehicle may not be driv-
able.●
Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings, causing rusting and premature
failure, and may also enter the hybrid transmission case, reducing the gear oil’s
lubricating qualities.■
When you drive through water
If driving through water, such as when crossing shallow streams, first check the
depth of the water and the bottom of the riverbed for firmness. Drive slowly and
avoid deep water.■
Inspection after off-road driving ●
Sand and mud that has accumulated around brake discs may affect braking effi-
ciency and may damage brake system components.●
Always perform a maintenance inspection after each day of off-road driving that
has taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduled mainte-
nance information, refer to the “Warra nty and Services Guide/Owner’s Manual
Supplement/Schedul ed Maintenance”.

2962-5. Driving information
Cargo and luggage
Capacity and distribution
Cargo capacity depends on the to tal weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capa city) — (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit 
(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of th e driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
(3)Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4)The resulting figure equals the av ailable amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be
five 150 lb passengers in your ve hicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400  750 (5  150) = 650
lbs.)
(5)Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may no t safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4. Take notice of the following information about storage precautions, cargo
capacity and load.
● Stow cargo and luggage in the luggage compartment whenever
possible.
● Be sure all items are secured in place.
● Be careful to keep the vehicle level. Placing the weight as far for-
ward as possible helps maintain vehicle balance.
● For better fuel economy, do not carry unnecessary weight.

2972-5. Driving information
2
When driving (6)If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consul t this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehi-
cle.
(  P. 7 9 8 )
Calculation formula for your vehicle
Cargo capacity
Total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight) (  P. 7 9 8 )
When 2 people with the combined weight of A lb. (kg) are riding in your
vehicle, which has a total load capacity (vehicle ca pacity weight) of B lb.
(kg), the available amount of cargo an d luggage load capacity will be C
lb. (kg) as follows:
B* 2
lb. (kg) - A* 1
lb. (kg) = C* 3
lb. (kg)
* 1
: A =Weight of people
* 2
: B =Total load capacity
* 3
: C =Available cargo and luggage load
In this condition, if 3 more passengers with the combined weight of D lb. (kg)
get on, the available cargo and luggage lo ad will be reduced E lb. (kg) as fol-
lows:
C lb. (kg) - D* 4
lb. (kg) = E* 5
lb. (kg)
* 4
: D =Additional weight of people
* 5
: E =Available cargo and luggage load

2982-5. Driving information
As shown in the example above, if the number of occupants increases,
the cargo and luggage load will be re duced by an amount that equals the
increased weight due to the addition al occupants. In other words, if an
increase in the number of occupants ca uses an excess of the total load
capacity (combined weight of occupants plus cargo and luggage load),
you must reduce the cargo and luggage on your vehicle. CAUTION■
Things that must not be carri ed 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 result in death or serious injury. ●
Stow cargo and luggage in the lugga ge compartment whenever possible.●
Do not stack cargo and luggage in the luggage compartment higher than the
seatbacks.
Such items may be thrown about and possib ly injure people in the vehicle in the
event of sudden braking or in an accident.●
Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations as the items may
get under the brake or accelerator pedal and prevent the pedals from being
depressed properly, block the driver’s vision, or hit the driver or passengers,
causing an accident:
• 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, as they may shift and injure some-
one in the event of sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.

2992-5. Driving information
2
When driving CAUTION●
Never allow anyone to ride in the luggage compartment. It is not designed for
passengers. They should ride in their seat s with their seat belt s properly fastened.
Otherwise, they are much more likely to suffer death or serious bodily injury, in
the event of sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.■
Capacity and distribution ●
Do not exceed the maximum axle weight ra ting or the total vehicle weight rating. ●
Even if the total load of occupant's weight and the cargo load is less than the total
load capacity, do not apply the load unevenly. Improper loading may cause dete-
rioration of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.■
Roof luggage carrier precautions (if equipped)
To use the roof rails as a roof luggage carrier, you must fit the roof rails with two or
more genuine Lexus cross rails or their equivalent.
When you load cargo on the roof luggage carrier, observe the following:
●
Before driving, make sure the cargo is securely fastened on the roof luggage car-
rier.●
Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of gravity of the
vehicle higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking or
abrupt maneuvers, otherwise the result may be a loss of control or vehicle roll-
over due to failure to operate this vehicl e correctly and result in death or serious
injury.
●
If driving for long distances, on rough ro ads, or at high spee ds, stop the vehicle
now and then during the trip to make sure the cargo remains in its place.
●
Do not exceed 165 lb. (75 kg) cargo weight on the roof luggage carrier.
●
To reduce wind noise when there is no luggage loaded on the roof luggage car-
rier, move the front cross rail to the front-most position and the rear cross rail to
the rearmost position. ●
Place the cargo so that its weight is distrib-
uted evenly between the front and rear
axles. ●
If loading long or wide cargo, never exceed
the vehicle’s overall length or width.
(  P. 7 9 8 )Cross rails
Roof rails

3002-5. Driving information
NOTICE■
When loading cargo
Be careful not to scratch the surface of the moon roof.