Parking assist always only ever parallel

Here is the "Intuitive Parking Assist" explanation from the US manual.

The distance from your vehicle to nearby obstacles when parallel parking or maneuvering into a garage is measured by the sensors and communicated via the displays and a buzzer. Always check the surrounding area when using this system.

There is no mention of other than parallel parking. I know some Toyotas in Japan have a better system.
Another thread mentioned this. Toyota survey confirms benefits of its parking support technology - Roadshow

 

The IPA will back in to a perpendicular spot, between two parked cars. To activate, stop in front of the spot you've chosen, turn the blinker on towards the spot, press the IPA button twice. you will be prompted to go forward, then reverse system will guide you into the spot. It works well, but there have to be cars on either side of your chosen spot for it work.

 

Don't "hit" it you'll break it, just press it.
P.s. I've never had to put the blinker on for back in parking, I think that only applies to parallel if you're parking on the other side of the road.

 

One day I shall be brave enough to try this feature. Not sure when that will arrive. Is it really scary the first time? Rather not risk any damage with a brand new Four! (At least I feel quite comfortable using the back up camera...but then I have a terrible neck, so it was mandatory.) Is anyone else afraid to try this feature?

 

Not, not afraid. It's particularly useful for parallel parking in a tight space, and if you don't know if you will fit into it. The computer will decide for you "SPACE DETECTED" let go of the steering wheel, you control the throttle. You can always put your foot on the brake if you think you need to. It's one of the features along with the heated seats that I started using from day one. Try it, you'll love it.

 

I'm in the same camp as you! I don't know why, but I was really convinced I needed this feature, but now am usually too terrified to use it - lol. I tried to use it to back into my spot in my parking garage at home, but the guy next to me parks at a really weird angle, which I think confused the system. Haven't had an opportunity to try it for parallel parking yet, since I'm pretty speedy doing that manually (which is essential in a city of excruciatingly impatient drivers!).

 

when i took a test drive, they sales guy tried to get me to back into angled parking. next to impossible. i wasn't sure if the car could do it, and i really didn't want to bang into someone. after 3 attempts, i chickened out.

 

I can't get the car to back in. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. I roll along parked cars around 4 mph, hit the IPA button, it says parallel I hit it again and it cancels it. I can't get it to switch to back in. I've tried stopping the car in front of a parking space between 2 cars with lines on the right side of the car, nothing.

What am I doing wrong?

 

I use the IPA to back in almost every morning at work in our newly-redesigned parking lot which is quite narrow. One is better off backing in rather than face in, which is more difficult to get out when you want to leave. I need only one car in the parking lot for it to work. I was afraid to try it for a couple of days, but then decided to try. It will not activate if it is not on the right angle between the cars, or if the distance is not right with the car you are trying to park next to. But if it gets the right angle/distance, you need to press the brakes and move forward. It backs up quite well and if it does not fit within the lines, it goes forward and backs in again. If you touch the steering wheel at any point, it deactivates and you have to complete it manually.
Prius 2017 Four

 

You need to be less than 3 feet away from the vehicle/vehicles you're backing in next to. Also, not always necessary but, try putting the indicator on, on the side you are parking.
Forgot to say, take your hands off the wheel if you're stopped in front of the space.

 

hey guys and gals, new owner here. I’ve tried everything to get it to do back in assist. It always says not available. I’ve tried the turn signal, pressed it twice, tried it on freshly painted lines, 3 feet away, 6 feet away. What am I doing wrong?

 

Thank you! I’ll try that but can it park itself if there is only one vehicle or does it have to always be two vehicles with one space in the middle?

 

There does have to be at least one vehicle and it works for either side of the parking space.