TOYOTA AVALON 2021 Owners Manual (in English)

1814-1. Before driving
4
Driving
◆Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight): (P. 4 7 8 )
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage.
◆Seating capacity: (P. 478)
Seating capacity means the maximum number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
◆Towing capacity
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
◆Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrease depending on the weight
and the number of occupants.
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire and loading information label.
(P. 408)
Vehicle load limits
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity,
towing capacity and cargo capacity.
WARNING
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the tires, but also degrade steering
and braking ability, resulting in an accident.

1824-1. Before driving
Trailer towing
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
Toyota also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch
or the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bicy-
cle, etc. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing or for the
use of tow hitch mounted carriers.

1834-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels
on the ground) behind a motor home.
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground.
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission (2WD models)
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission and AWD sys-
tem (AWD models)
Never tow this vehicle from the rear with
the front wheels on the ground.
This may cause serious damage to the
transmission.
Never tow this vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground.
This may cause serious damage to the
transmission and AWD system.

1844-2. Driving procedures
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is in P.
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
and a message will be displayed on the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, the engine cannot be started.
Press the engine switch shortly
and firmly.
When operating the engine switch,
one short, firm press is enough. It
is not necessary to press and hold
the switch.
The engine will crank until it starts
or for up to 30 seconds, whichever
is less.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until the engine is completely started.
The engine can be started from any engine switch mode.
Stop the vehicle completely.
Set the parking brake (P. 196), and shift the shift lever to P.
Press the engine switch.
Release the brake pedal and check that “ACCESSORY” or “IGNI-
TION ON” is not shown on the meter.
Engine (ignition) switch
Performing the following operations when carrying the elec-
tronic key on your person starts the engine or changes engine
switch modes.
Starting the engine
1
2
3
4
Stopping the engine
1
2
3
4

1854-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Modes can be changed by pressing the engine switch with the brake
pedal released. (The mode changes each time the switch is pressed.)
Off
*
The emergency flashers can be
used.
The multi-information display will
not be displayed.
ACCESSORY mode
Some electrical components such
as the audio system can be used.
A message indicating how to start
the engine will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
IGNITION ON mode
All electrical components can be used.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other than P when turning off the engine,
the engine switch will be turned to ACCESSORY mode, not to off.
If the engine is stopped with the shift lever in a position other than P,
the engine switch will not be turned off but instead be turned to
ACCESSORY mode. Perform the following procedure to turn the
switch off:
Check that the parking brake is set.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Check that “Turn Power Off” is displayed on the multi-information
display and then press the engine switch once.
Check that “Turn Power Off” on the multi-information display is
turned off.
Changing engine switch modes
1
2
3
When stopping the engine with the shift lever in a position other
than P
1
2
3
4

1864-2. Driving procedures
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode for more than 20 minutes or IGNI-
TION ON mode (with the engine is not running) for more than an hour with
the shift lever in P, the engine switch will automatically turn off. However, this
function cannot entirely prevent battery discharge. Do not leave the vehicle
with the engine switch in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode for long peri-
ods of time when the engine is not running.
■Automatic engine shut off feature
●The vehicle is equipped with a feature that automatically shuts off the
engine when the shift lever is in P with the engine running for an extended
period.
●The engine will automatically shut off after approximately 1 hour if it has
been left running while the shift lever is in P.
●The timer for the automatic engine shut off feature will reset if the brake
<0053004800470044004f0003004c005600030047004800530055004800560056004800470003005200550003004c004900030057004b004800030056004b004c004900570003004f00480059004800550003004c00560003004c0051000300440003005300
520056004c0057004c00520051000300520057004b00480055[ than P.
●After the vehicle is parked, if the door is locked with the door lock switch
(P. 127) from the inside or the mechanical key (P. 463) from the outside,
the automatic engine shut off feature will be disabled. The timer for the auto-
matic engine shut off feature will be re-enabled if the driver’s door is
opened.
■Electronic key battery depletion
P. 123
■Conditions affecting operation
P. 137
■Notes for the entry function
P. 138
■If the engine does not start
●The engine immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. (P. 77)
Contact your Toyota dealer.
●Check that the shift lever is securely set in P. The engine may not start if the
shift lever is displaced out of P.
■Steering lock
After turning the engine switch off and opening and closing the doors, the
steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the
engine switch again automatically cancels the steering lock.
■When the steering lock cannot be released
A message informing the driver that the
steering wheel is locked will be displayed
on the multi-information display.
Check that the shift lever is set in P. Press
the engine switch while turning the steer-
ing wheel left and right.

1874-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, the motor may be sus-
pended if the engine is turned on and off repeatedly in a short period of time.
In this case, refrain from operating the engine. After about 10 seconds, the
steering lock motor will resume functioning.
■When a message requesting the smart key system be inspected is dis-
played on the multi-information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer immediately.
■If the electronic key battery is depleted
P. 415
■Operation of the engine switch
●If the switch is not pressed shortly and firmly, the engine switch mode may
not change or the engine may not start.
●If attempting to restart the engine immediately after turning the engine
switch off, the engine may not start in some cases. After turning the engine
switch off, wait a few seconds before restarting the engine.
■If the smart key system has been deactivated in a customized setting
P. 463
WARNING
■When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the
accelerator pedal while starting the engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving
If engine failure occurs while the vehicle is moving, do not lock or open the
doors until the vehicle reaches a safe and complete stop. Activation of the
steering lock in this circumstance may lead to an accident, resulting in
death or serious injury.
■Stopping the engine in an emergency
●If you want to stop the engine in an emergency while driving the vehicle,
press and hold the engine switch for more than 2 seconds, or press it
briefly 3 times or more in succession. (P. 425)
However, do not touch the engine switch while driving except in an emer-
gency. Turning the engine off while driving will not cause loss of steering
or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost. This
will make it more difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull over and
stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
●If the engine switch is operated while the vehicle is running, a warning
message will be shown on the multi-information display and a buzzer
sounds.
●When restarting the engine after it was turned off while driving, shift the
shift lever to N and press the engine switch.

1884-2. Driving procedures
WARNING
■When parking
Exhaust gases include harmful carbon monoxide (CO), which is colorless
and odorless. Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause exhaust gases to enter the vehicle and may
lead to an accident caused by light-headedness, or may lead to death or a
serious health hazard.
●If the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated area or a closed area, such as a
garage, stop the engine.
●Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long time. If such a
situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space and ensure
that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
●Do not leave the engine running in an area with snow build-up, or where it
is snowing. If snowbanks build up around the vehicle while the engine is
running, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle.
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode
for long periods of time without the engine running.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION ON” is displayed on the multi-information
display, the engine switch is not off. Exit the vehicle after turning the
engine switch off.
●Do not stop the engine when the shift lever is in a position other than P. If
the engine is stopped in another shift lever position, the engine switch will
not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. If the vehi-
cle is left in ACCESSORY mode, battery discharge may occur.
■When starting the engine
●Do not race a cold engine.
●If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have your vehi-
cle checked by your Toyota dealer immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunction with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operating somewhat differently than usual,
such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunction. Contact
your Toyota dealer immediately.

1894-2. Driving procedures
4
DrivingWhile the engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode and the
brake pedal depressed
*, shift the shift lever while pushing the
shift release button on the shift knob.
Shift the shift lever while pushing the shift release button on
the shift knob.
Shift the shift lever normally.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the
vehicle is completely stopped and the brake pedal is depressed.
*: For the vehicle be able to be shifted from P, the brake pedal must be
depressed before the shift release button is pushed. If the shift
release button is pushed first, the shift lock will not be released.
Automatic transmission
Shifting the shift lever

1904-2. Driving procedures
*1: Shifting to the D position allows the system to select a gear suitable for the
driving conditions. Setting the shift lever to the D position is recommended
for normal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of the possible
gear ranges, controls engine braking force, and prevents unnecessary
upshifting.
When the shift lever is in the S position, the shift lever or paddle shift
switches (if equipped) can be operated as follows:
Upshifting
Downshifting
The initial shift range in S mode is set automatically to 4, 5 or 6
according to vehicle speed. However, the initial shift range may be set
to 3 if AI-SHIFT has operated while the shift lever was in the D posi-
tion. (P. 193)
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 (P. 190)
Changing shift ranges in S mode
Shift leverPaddle shift switches (if
equipped)
1
2