tow TOYOTA RAV4 2018 (in English) User Guide

142
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
3-3. Adjusting the seats
■Before folding down the rear seatbacksStow the rear center seat belt. ( →P. 3 0 )
Stow the rear seat belt buck-
les.
Lower the head restraint to the lowest position. (→P. 146)
■Folding down rear seatbacks
Pull the seatback angle adjust-
ment lever and fold down the
seatback.
Folding down the rear seatbacks
1
2
3

RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
1433-3. Adjusting the seats
3
Operation of each component
WARNING
■When folding the rear seatbacks down
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
● Do not fold the seatbacks down while driving.
● Stop the vehicle on level ground, set the parking brake and shift the shift
lever to P.
● Do not allow anyone to sit on a folded seatback or in the luggage compart-
ment while driving.
● Do not allow children to enter the luggage compartment.
■ Seat adjustment
● To reduce the risk of sliding under the lap belt during a collision, do not
recline the seat more than necessary.
If the seat is too reclined, the lap belt may slide past the hips and apply
restraint forces directly to the abdomen, or your neck may contact the
shoulder belt, increasing the risk of death or serious injury in the event of
an accident.
Adjustments should not be made while driving as the seat may unexpect-
edly move and cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Be careful not to get hands or feet pinched between the rear console box\
and the rear seat when folding down the rear seatback.
■ After returning the rear seat back to the upright position
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
● Make sure the seatback is securely locked by pushing it forward and rear-
ward on the top.
● Check that the seat belts are not twisted or caught in the seatback.
NOTICE
■Stowing the seat belts
The seat belts and the buckles must be stowed before you fold down the
rear seatbacks.

148
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
3-3. Adjusting the seats
■Adjusting the height of the head restraints
■ Adjusting the rear cente r seat head restraint
Always raise the head restraint one level from the stowed position when
using. Make sure that the head restraints are
adjusted so that the center of the head
restraint is closest to the top of your ears.
WARNING
■ Head restraint precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the head restraints. Failure to
do so may result in death or serious injury.
● Use the head restraints designed for each respective seat.
● Adjust the head restraints to the correct position at all times.
● After adjusting the head restraints, push down on them and make sure
they are locked in position.
● Do not drive with the head restraints removed.

165
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
4Driving
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ............. 166
Cargo and luggage ........... 176
Vehicle load limits ............. 180
Trailer towing..................... 181
Dinghy towing ................... 197
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without
smart key system) ........... 198
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with
smart key system) ........... 200
Automatic transmission ..... 205
Turn signal lever................ 213
Parking brake .................... 214
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 215
Automatic High Beam ....... 220
Fog light switch ................. 224
Windshield wipers and washer ..................... 225
Rear window wiper and washer ..................... 229 4-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 232
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Toyota Safety Sense P ..... 235
PCS (Pre-Collision System) .... 242
LDA (Lane Departure Alert with steering
control) ............................ 256
Dynamic radar cruise control ............................. 264
Cruise control .................... 276
Intuitive parking assist....... 280
Rear view monitor system ............................ 289
All-wheel drive lock switch (AWD models) ..... 299
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ........ 300
• T he Blind Spot Monitor
function ......................... 304
• T he Rear Cross Traffic
Alert function ................. 307
Driving assist systems ...... 310
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips ............. 317
Utility vehicle precautions ..................... 321

RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
1674-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Make sure that the parking brake is set and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate. ( →P. 310)
■ 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.
■ Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driving.
This is due to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implementation to
meet driving conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.
●The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill
● When the accelerator pedal is released
● When the brake pedal is depressed while sport mode is selected
■ Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recom-
mended:
●For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
● For the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
● For the first 600 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speed.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
Starting off on a steep uphill
1
2
3

176
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
Cargo and luggage
Cargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capacity) − (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit ⎯
(1) Locate the statement “The comb ined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s
placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the 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 available amount of cargo and lug- gage load capacity.
For example, if the “ XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be
five 150 lb passengers in your v ehicle, 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 ma y not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a tr ailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your
vehicle. ( →P. 180)
For vehicles with SE grade: Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer
with your vehicle. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing.
Take notice of the following information about storage precau-
tions, cargo capacity and load:
Capacity and distribution

178
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
WARNING
■Things that must not be carried in the luggage compartment
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the luggage compart-
ment:
●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
passengers, possibly causing an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the luggage compartment whenever possi-
ble.
●Do not stack anything in the luggage compartment higher than the
seatbacks.
●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.
●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. Otherwise, they are much more likely to suffer
death or serious bodily injury, in the event of sudden braking, sudden
swerving or an accident.

180
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
Vehicle load limits
◆Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight): →P. 672
Total load capacity means the comb ined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage.
◆Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maxi mum number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
◆TWR (Trailer Weight Rating) (except SE grade): →P. 187, 672
TWR means the maximum gross trailer weight (trailer weight plus
its cargo weight) that your vehicle is able to tow.
◆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. 581)
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity,
TWR (Trailer Weight Rating) 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, resu lting in an accident.

181
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Trailer towing
For vehicles with SE grade
Toyota does not recommend towi ng 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 desi gned for trailer towing or for the
use of tow hitch mounted carriers.

182
RAV4_OM_OM0R012U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
Except vehicles with SE grade
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a passenger-and-load-car-
rying vehicle. Towing a trailer can have an adverse impact on
handling, performance, braking, durability, and fuel consump-
tion. For your safety and the safe ty of others, you must not over-
load your vehicle or trailer. You must also ensure that you are
using appropriate towing equipmen t, that the towing equipment
has been installed correctly an d used properly, and that you
employ the requisite driving habits.
Vehicle-trailer stability and braking performance are affected by
trailer stability, brake performance and setting, trailer brakes,
the hitch and hitch systems (if equipped).
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in
accordance with your trailer’s characteristics and operating
conditions.
Toyota warranties do not appl y to damage or malfunction
caused by towing a trailer for commercial purposes.
Contact your Toyota dealer for further information about additional
requirements such as a towing kit, etc.