Driving in GTA IV is something you will be doing a lot of throughout the entire game. Mastering the driving controls comes quickly, and the driving system isn’t too terribly complex at all. To hijack a vehicle, simply press the triangle button nearby a vehicle and Niko will automatically steal it by ”vacating” the driver, or if it was parked – by smashing the window and hotwiring it.
Now that you have a car you can press the accelerator by holding R2 to get moving. Control the vehicle with the left analog stick, and control the camera by using the right analog. Braking comes in two forms, you can use the hand brake or the standard brake. The handbrake can be used by pressing/holding R1, and will cause the car to turn sharply either left or right. It is useful for quick turning, and turning completely around in one maneuver. The regular brake is done by holding/pressing L2 and will slow down the vehicle. Useful for quick stops, or slow turns going left or right.
Niko can honk the horn by pressing the left analog stick down. This can scare people who are blocking your path by crossing the road. If you hold circle while inside a vehicle, you will enter cinematic mode which is sort of like a “movie” scene showing different camera angles. Use this is you want to add an even more epic feeling to your 6 star police chase (keeping in mind it is difficult to drive for extended periods using this view.)
You can change the camera position while in a vehicle by pressing select to get to the view you like the most.
Last but not least, Niko can look behind himself by pressing down the R3 (right analog stick.) Use this to check behind you, and acertain just how many cops are tailing you.