How to drive a Toyota Prius

For those who have never driven a Prius, it might feel like stepping into the cockpit of an alien spacecraft as it gets behind the wheel. That's because the Toyota Prius is a hybrid electric vehicle and works a little differently than your standard fuel-burning car. Despite all the buttons and the futuristic look of the shifter, driving a Prius isn't really all that different from the cars you're used to driving on the road.

The Toyota Prius has many features that make it a popular car buying choice. These include using less fuel, being eligible for tax credits, and the model sometimes gets special parking privileges in some states due to its hybrid status. However, using all the Prius features, especially parking privileges, can be a little confusing for new Prius drivers. Luckily, learning how to park one of Toyota's most beloved car creations is relatively easy.

Part 1 of 5: Start the ignition

Some Toyota Prius use a key to start the engine, but many of these models do not have a key. If you have a key, insert it into the keyhole of the ignition, as in a normal car, and turn it to start the engine. However, if your Prius does not have a key, you will need to use another method.

Step 1: Press the start button. Press and hold the brake pedal, then press the button labeled "Engine Start Stop" or "Power", depending on the year your Prius was made. This will start the engine and the red light on the pressed button will turn on.

The Toyota Prius is designed to not move when your foot is off the brake pedal, so you can't start the car and immediately rush forward or backward, putting you at risk of a collision.

Part 2 of 5: Engage the appropriate gear for the Prius

Step 1: Apply the parking brake. If the parking brake is on because the Prius is parked on a slope, apply the parking brake to release it.

Set the Prius into the desired gear by manually moving the joystick-style switch to the appropriate letter that represents the specific gear.

For standard driving purposes, you should only use Reverse [R], Neutral [N], and Drive [D]. To get to these gears, move the stick to the left for neutral and then up for reverse or down for forward.

• Attention: The Prius has another option marked "B" for engine braking mode. The only time a Prius driver should use engine braking is when driving down a steep hill, such as a mountain, where there is a risk of the brakes overheating and failing. This mode is very rarely required and you may never use it all the time while driving a Toyota Prius.

Part 3 of 5. Drive it like a normal car

Once you start your Prius and put it in the right gear, it drives just like a normal car. You press the accelerator pedal to go faster and the brake to stop. To turn the car to the right or left, simply turn the steering wheel.

Refer to the dashboard to see your speed, fuel level and other useful information to help you make navigation decisions.

Part 4 of 5: Park your Prius

Once you've reached your final destination, parking the Prius is much like starting it up.

Step 1: Turn on your flasher when you approach an empty parking space. As with parking any other type of car, drive up about one car's length past the space you want to occupy.

Step 2: Lightly depress the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down as you head into space. Slowly slide your Prius into an open parking space and make any necessary adjustments to level the vehicle so it is parallel with the curb.

Step 3: Fully depress the brake pedal to stop. By fully applying the brakes, you ensure that you do not stray out of your parking space or cause a collision with vehicles in front or behind you.

Step 4: Press the engine start/stop button. This stops the engine and puts it into park mode, allowing you to safely get out of the car. If it's properly parked, your Prius will stay securely in that spot until you're ready to get behind the wheel again.

Part 5 of 5: Parallel Park Your Prius

Parking a Prius in a standard parking space is not much different from parking any other car. However, when it comes to parallel parking, the Prius offers tools to make it easier, although you don't have to use them. Smart Parking Assist, however, takes all the guesswork out of the often difficult job of parallel parking and is generally considered safer than trying to do the task manually.

Step 1: Turn on your turn signal when approaching an open parallel parking space. This lets other drivers behind you know that you are about to park, so they can give you the space you need to maneuver into an open parking space.

Step 2: Turn on the Smart Parking Assist. Press the button labeled "P" located on the lower right side of the engine start/stop button and steering wheel. This includes the smart parking assist feature.

Step 3: Look at the screen in the center of the dashboard to make sure the parking spot you see is big enough to park your Prius. Eligible parallel parking spaces are marked with a blue box to indicate that they are empty and large enough to fit your vehicle.

Step 4: Follow the instructions on the screen in the center of the Prius dashboard. The screen will show instructions on how far to drive to the parking space, when to stop, and other important information to safely park your car. You don't need to steer because the program does it for you. Just lightly keep your foot on the brake while applying pressure according to the information on the dashboard screen.

Step 5: Press the engine start/stop button after parking is completed. This will stop the engine and put the transmission into park so you can get out of the Prius.

• FunctionsA: If your Prius is equipped with Self Parking instead of Smart Parking Assist, simply turn on Self Parking and it will park your car without any extra effort on your part.

As a new Prius driver, it takes a bit of learning to operate it properly. Luckily, this curve isn't steep, and it doesn't take long to get to grips with the basic Prius features. However, if you are in any doubt, take the time to watch some instructional videos, ask your Prius dealer or certified mechanic to show you what to do.