# 2013 Toyota Prius cruise control on a hill? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** prius, toyota\ **Created:** [March 22, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244 "2018-03-22T21:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MargaretKefauver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@MargaretKefauver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MargaretKefauver)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244/1 "2018-03-22T21:30:44Z")
I have a short but fairly steep hill down to town. Which is better to use : set the cruise control and not have to brake going down OR use “B” driving position? it feels like "B: is using the brakes. ---
**Author:** ![COROLLAGUY1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/corollaguy1/32/7575_2.png) [@COROLLAGUY1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/COROLLAGUY1)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 11:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244/2 "2018-03-22T23:31:57Z")
Cruise control is meant to be use on the highway,not in town. ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 2:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244/3 "2018-03-24T02:59:29Z")
I often use cruise control to make sure I don’t accidentally go over the speed limit in urban speed zones, especially in those municipalities that have 25 mph speed limits on major through roads that go on for miles with cops just waiting for you to go over that speed limit. It’s not just for highways. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244/4 "2018-03-24T03:13:03Z")
> [@MargaretKefauver](#): > > it feels like "B: is using the brakes. Look in the manual and it will explain just what ‘B’ does as far as engine braking. ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244/5 "2018-03-24T14:26:58Z")
I don’t think it’s engine braking but regeneration braking, the motors becoming generators to recharge the battery. The engine itself might not even be running. ---
**Author:** ![kevsy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/kevsy/32/11596_2.png) [@kevsy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kevsy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244/6 "2018-03-25T13:31:58Z")
Having driven a Prius since 2003, I would probably use braking mode, but only if the hill were really steep and under wet or icy conditions. Otherwise I’d just coast down the hill and use the brakes as needed. Remember that the regenerative braking system stores energy that can be used to run the car in electric mode. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244/7 "2018-03-25T14:23:22Z")
Does car go faster than speed limit while decending hill? Using the B lever engages regen braking. Touching brake pedal lightly does same. Pushing brake pedal hard uses mechanical brakes. ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244/8 "2018-03-25T15:45:14Z")
Does touching the B lever give you regeneration braking without disengaging the cruise control? If touching the brake pedal lightly also gives you regeneration braking, that would be the only reason I can think of for the existence of the B lever. ---
**Author:** ![sheridanpaul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@sheridanpaul](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sheridanpaul)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244/9 "2018-05-29T12:54:27Z")
Personally, I would not use cruise control in any kind of urban, town, or strip-mall suburban situations. Cruise Control, besides keeping you at, or below, the speed limit, will also keep you UP or near the set speed, which can be far too fast for quickly-changing conditions! I also think you might spend so much time braking and then resetting the CC that you might just as well drive without CC, being careful to keep to the limit. Less distractions, more focus on all the surroundings/occurences. I only use CC on limited-access roads (Interstates, turnpikes, freeways…) that are not within or even near cities, but the long stretches between cities. ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-prius-cruise-control-on-a-hill/114244/10 "2018-05-30T02:47:48Z")
In those New Mexico villages where I use cruise control to obey speed limits, I usually **AM** the traffic.