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206 DRIVING AND OPERATING

Average driver reaction time is about three-quarters of a second. In that

time, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of distance in an

emergency.

Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:

. Keep enough distance between you and the vehicle in front

of you.

. Avoid needless heavy braking.

. Keep pace with traffic.

If the engine ever stops while the

vehicle is being driven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes. Doing so could make the pedal harder to push

down. If the engine stops, there will

be some power brake assist but it will be used when the brake is applied.

Once the power assist is used up, it

can take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.

Braking (PLUG-IN Only)

Braking action involves perception

time and reaction time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception

time. Actually doing it is reaction time.

Average driver reaction time is about three-quarters of a second. In that

time, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of distance in an

emergency.

Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:

. Keep enough distance between you and the vehicle in front

of you.

. Avoid needless heavy braking.

. Keep pace with traffic.

The brake system is not affected by

whether or not the engine is running. If there is a brake controller fault, the brakes may lose power assist. More

effort will be required to stop the vehicle.

Steering

Variable Effort Steering

The vehicle has a steering system that varies the amount of effort required to steer the vehicle in relation to the

speed of the vehicle.

The amount of steering effort required is less at slower speeds to make the

vehicle more maneuverable and easier to park. At faster speeds, the steering effort increases to provide a sport-like feel to the steering. This provides

maximum control and stability.

Electric Power Steering

The vehicle has electric power

steering. It does not have power

steering fluid. Regular maintenance is not required.

If power steering assist is lost due to a system malfunction, the vehicle can

be steered, but may require increased effort. See your dealer if there is a

problem.

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