trailer TOYOTA RAV4 PHEV 2021 Owners Manual

3TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
6
5
4
3
2
8
7
9
Smart entry & start system . 223
4-3. Adjusting the seats
Front seats .......................... 270
Rear seats .......................... 271
Driving position memory ..... 273
Head restraints ................... 276
4-4. Adjusting the steering wheel
and mirrors
Steering wheel .................... 278
Inside rear view mirror ........ 279
Digital Rear-view Mirror ...... 280
Outside rear view mirrors.... 289
4-5. Opening, closing the win -
dows and moon roof
Power windows ................... 291
Panoramic moon roof ......... 294
5-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle .............. 300
Cargo and luggage ............. 306
Trailer towing ...................... 308
5-2. Driving procedures
Power (ignition) switch ........ 317
Hybrid transmission ............ 321
Turn signal lever ................. 325
Parking brake...................... 326
Brake Hold .......................... 329
5-3. Operating the lights and wip -
ers
Headlight switch.................. 332
AHB (Automatic High Beam)
.......................................... 334
Fog light switch ................... 337
Windshield wipers and washer
.......................................... 338
Rear window wiper and washer
.......................................... 340
5-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap ... 342
5-5. Using the driving support sys -
tems
Toyota Safety Sense .......... 344
PCS (Pre-Collision System) 355
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) .. 362
RSA (Road Sign Assist)...... 372
Dynamic radar cruise control
with full-speed range ........ 376
Cruise control...................... 388
Speed limiter ....................... 391
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ... 393
Toyota parking assist-sensor
.......................................... 414
PKSB (Parking Support Brake)
.......................................... 420
Parking Support Brake function
(static objects) .................. 424
Parking Support Brake function
(rear-crossing vehicles) .... 430
Driving mode select switch . 434
Trail Mode ........................... 435
GPF (Gasoline Particulate Filter)
system .............................. 437
Driving assist systems ........ 438
5-6. Driving tips
Winter driving tips ............... 445
Utility vehicle precautions ... 448
5Driving

81
1
1-4. Theft dete rrent system
For safety and security
●Ice or snow is removed from the vehi-
cle, causing the vehicle to receive repeated impacts or vibrations.
●The vehicle is insid e an automatic or high-pressure car wash.
●The vehicle experiences impacts, such as hail, lightning strikes, and
other kinds of rep eated impacts or
vibrations.
■Tilt sensor detection consider - ations
The sensor may trigge r the alarm in the
following situations:
●The vehicle is transported by a ferry,
trailer, train, etc.
●The vehicle is par ked in a parking
garage.
●The vehicle is insid e a car wash that
moves the vehicle.
●Any of the tires loses air pressure.
●The vehicle is jacked up.
●An earthquake occurs or the road caves in.
NOTICE
■To ensure the intrusion sensor
functions correctly
●To ensure that the sensors operate properly, do not touch or cover
them.
●Do not spray air fresheners or other products directly into the sensor
holes.
●Installing accessories other than
genuine Toyota parts or leaving
objects between the driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat may
reduce the detection performance.
●The intrusion se nsor may be can-
celed when the ele ctronic key is
near the vehicle.

5
299
5
Driving
Driving
5-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............ 300
Cargo and luggage ........... 306
Trailer towing .................... 308
5-2. Driving procedures
Power (ignition) switch ...... 317
Hybrid transmission .......... 321
Turn signal lever ............... 325
Parking brake ................... 326
Brake Hold ........................ 329
5-3. Operating the lights and wip -
ers
Headlight switch ............... 332
AHB (Automatic High Beam)
....................................... 334
Fog light switch ................. 337
Windshield wipers and washer
....................................... 338
Rear window wiper and washer
....................................... 340
5-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap. 342
5-5. Using the driving support
systems
Toyota Safety Sense ........ 344
PCS (Pre-Collision System)
....................................... 355
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) 362
RSA (Road Sign Assist) ... 372
Dynamic radar cruise control
with full-speed range ...... 376
Cruise control ................... 388
Speed limiter ..................... 391
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) . 393
Toyota parking assist-sensor
........................................ 414
PKSB (Parking Support Brake)
........................................ 420
Parking Support Brake function
(static objects) ................ 424
Parking Support Brake function
(rear-crossing vehicles) .. 430
Driving mode select switch 434
Trail Mode ......................... 435
GPF (Gasoline Particulate Fil -
ter) system ...................... 437
Driving assist systems ...... 438
5-6. Driving tips
Winter driving tips ............. 445
Utility vehicle precautions . 448

301
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
■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 surfa ce could be espe-
cially slippery.
●Refrain from hig h speeds when driv-
ing on an expressw ay 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.182)
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 and
head-up display (if equipped) while
the system is operating. ( →P.574)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive- Start Control)
●When the following unusual operation is performed, the hybrid system output
may be restrained.
• When the shift leve r is shifted from R
to D, D to R, N to R, P to D*, or P to R*
(D includes S) with the accelerator
pedal depressed, a warning message appears on the multi-information dis -
play and head-up display (if
equipped). If a warning message is shown on the multi-information dis -
play, read the message and follow the
instructions. • When the accelerator pedal is
depressed too much while the vehicle
is in reverse.*: Depending on the sit uation, the shift
lever may not be changed.
●While Drive-Start Control is being acti -
vated, your vehicle may have trouble escaping from the mud or fresh snow.
In such case, deactivate TRC
( →P.439) to cancel Drive-Start Con- trol so that the vehi cle may be able to
escape from the mud or fresh snow.
●Drive-Start Control does not work
when Trail Mode is turned on.
■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 c onstant speed for extended periods.

3085-1. 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.624)
●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 tha t the total load exerted on the vehi cle is within the
range of the weight limits. ( →P.309)
●Ensure that the trailer load is secure.
●Supplementary outside rear view mir- rors should be added to the vehicle if
the traffic behind c annot be clearly
seen with standard mirrors. Adjust the extending arms of these mirrors on
both sides of the vehicle so that they
always provide maxi mum visibility of the road behind.
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.
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.309)
■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 traile r when the tire
installed is repa ired with the emer-
gency tire puncture repair kit.

309
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.618)
Toyota recommends the use of the
Toyota hitch/bracke t 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 fo llowing shall be
observed:
 Do not use towing device that
cannot be easily removed or
repositioned.
 Towing devices must be
removed or repositioned when
not in use.
Please consult a ny authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer
when installing tra iler lights, as
incorrect installa tion may cause
damage to the vehicle’s lights.
Please take care to comply with
your state’s laws when installing
trailer lights.
■Total trailer weight and per -
missible drawbar load
Total trailer weight
WARNING
●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
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

3105-1. Before driving
Weight of the trailer itself plus the trailer
load should be within the maximum
towing capacity. Exceeding this weight
is dangerous. ( →P.618)
When towing a trailer, use a friction
coupler or friction st abilizer (sway con-
trol device).
Permissible drawbar load
Allocate the trailer load so that the
drawbar load is g reater than 25 kg
(55.1 lb.) or 4% of the towing capacity.
Do not let the draw bar load exceed the
indicated weight. ( →P.618)
■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 t hat hybrid system out-
put and towing capacity will be reduced
at high altitudes.
B
A
B
WARNING
■When the gross vehicle mass or
maximum permissible axle capacity is exceeded
Failing to observe this precaution may
lead to an accident causing death or
serious injury.
●Add an additional 20.0 kPa (0.2
kgf/cm2 or bar, 3 psi) to the recom -
mended tire inflation pressure
value. ( →P.624)
●Do not exceed the established
speed limit for towing a trailer in built-up areas or 100 km/h (62
mph), whichever is lower.

3145-1. Before driving
34 mm (1.3 in.)
412 mm (16.2 in.)
332 mm (13.1 in.)
370 mm (14.6 in.)
570 mm (22.4 in.)
601 mm (23.7 in.)
1073 mm (42.2 in.)
Your vehicle will handle differently
when towing a trailer. In order to
avoid accident, d eath or serious
injury, keep the following in mind
when towing:
■Checking connections
between trailer and lights
Stop the vehicle and check the
operation of the connection
between the trailer and lights after
driving for a brief period as well as
before starting off.
■Practicing driving with a cou -
pled trailer
 Get the feel for turning, stopping
and reversing with the trailer
coupled by practicing in an area
with no or light traffic.
 When reversing with a coupled
trailer, hold the section of the
steering wheel nearest to you
and rotate clockwise to turn the
trailer left or co unterclockwise to
turn it right. Always rotate a little
at a time to prevent steering
error. Have someone guide you
when reversing to lessen the risk
of an accident.
■Increasing vehicle-to-vehicle
distance
At a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph), the
distance to the vehicle running
ahead of you should be equivalent
to or greater th an the combined
length of you r vehicle and trailer.
Avoid sudden braking that may
cause skidding. Otherwise, the
vehicle may spin out of control. This
is especially true when driving on
wet or slippery road surfaces.
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
NOTICE
■When the rear bumper strength -
ening material is aluminum
Ensure the steel bracket part does not
come directly in contact with that
area.
When steel and aluminum come into
contact, there is a reaction similar to
corrosion, which will weaken the sec - tion concerned and may result in
damage. Apply a rust inhibitor to parts
that will come in contact when attach - ing a steel bracket.
Guidance

315
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
■Sudden acceleration/steering
input/cornering
Executing sharp turns when towing
may result in the trailer colliding
with your vehicle. D ecelerate well in
advance when approaching turns
and take them slowly and carefully
to avoid sudden braking.
■Important points regarding
turning
The wheels of the tr ailer will travel
closer to the inside of the curve
than the wheels of the vehicle. To
make allowance for this, take the
turns wider than you would nor -
mally do.
■Important points regarding
stability
Vehicle movement resulting from
uneven road surfaces and strong
crosswinds will affect handling. The
vehicle may also be rocked by
passing buses or large trucks. Fre -
quently check behind when moving
alongside such vehicles. As soon
as such vehicle movement occurs,
immediately start to decelerate
smoothly by slowly applying the
brakes. Always steer the vehicle
straight ahead while braking.
■Passing other vehicles
Consider the total combined length
of your vehicle and trailer and
ensure that the vehicle-to-vehicle
distance is sufficient before execut -
ing lane changes.
■Transmission information
To maintain engine braking effi -
ciency, when using engine braking,
do not use the transmission in D.
( →P.321)
■If the hybrid system overheats
Towing a loaded trailer up a long,
steep incline in temperatures
exceeding 30°C (85°F) may result
in the hybrid system overheating. If
the high coolant temperature warn -
ing light indicates that the hybrid
system is overheating, turn the air
conditioning off immediately, leave
the road and stop the vehicle in a
safe place. ( →P.611)
■When parking the vehicle
Always place wheel chocks under
the wheels of both the vehicle and
trailer. Firmly set the parking brake
and shift the shift lever to P.
■Break-in schedule
Toyota recommends that vehicles fitted
with new power train components
should not be used for towing trailers for the first 800 km (500 miles).
■Maintenance
●Maintenance must be performed more frequently when using the vehicle for
towing due to the greater weight bur -
den placed on the vehicle compared to normal driving.
●Retighten all bolts securing the hitch - ing ball and bracket after towing for
approximately 1000 km (600 miles).
■If trailer sway occurs
One or more factor s (crosswinds, pass- ing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can
adversely affect handling of your vehicle
and trailer, causing instability.

3165-1. Before driving
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer swaying by
turning the steering wheel. • Begin releasing the accelerator pedal
immediately but very gradually to
reduce speed. Do not increase speed. Do not apply
vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with
the steering or brakes, your vehicle and
trailer should stabilize (if enabled, Trailer
Sway Control can also help to stabilize
the vehicle and trailer.).
●After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants
out of the vehicle. • Check the tires of t he vehicle and the
trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer. Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appro -
priate, if possible. • Check the load in the vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded
after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the
speed at which trailer swaying occurred
is beyond the limit of your particular
vehicle-trailer combination. Drive at a
lower speed to pre vent instability.
Remember that swaying of the towing
vehicle-trailer increases as speed
increases.