ContentsDriving systems ................................. 254
Cruise control............................... 254
Parktronic system
(Parking assist)*, Canada only ..... 258
Loading .............................................. 262
Roof rack ...................................... 262
Ski sack* (Canada only) ............... 263
Split rear bench seat .................... 265
Loading instructions ..................... 267
Cargo tie-down rings .................... 268
Useful features .................................. 269
Storage compartments................. 269
Center armrest ............................. 271
Armrest in the
rear passenger compartment ....... 272
Cup holders .................................. 273
Ashtrays ....................................... 274
Cigarette lighter ........................... 276
Power outlet in the
rear passenger compartment ....... 277
Floormats* ................................... 277
Telephone*................................... 278
Tele Aid ........................................ 279
Garage door opener* ................... 287
Operation......................................... 293
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)......... 294
Driving instructions............................ 295
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 295
Drinking and driving ..................... 295
Pedals .......................................... 295
Power assistance ......................... 295
Brakes .......................................... 296
Driving off .................................... 297
Parking ......................................... 297
Tires ............................................. 298
Hydroplaning ................................ 299
Tire traction.................................. 299
Tire speed rating .......................... 300
Winter driving instructions ........... 300
Standing water ............................. 301
Passenger compartment .............. 302
Driving abroad.............................. 302
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 302
Catalytic converter ....................... 303
Emission control .......................... 303
Coolant temperature .................... 304At the gas station .............................. 305
Refueling ...................................... 305
Check regularly
and before a long trip................... 307
Engine compartment ......................... 308
Hood ............................................ 308
Engine oil ..................................... 309
Transmission fluid level................ 313
Coolant ........................................ 314
Battery ......................................... 315
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 316
Tires and wheels................................ 317
Important guidelines .................... 317
Tire care and maintenance........... 318
Direction of rotation..................... 320
Loading the vehicle ...................... 320
Recommended
tire inflation pressure ................... 326
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 328
MOExtended system* .................. 332
Tire labeling ................................. 332
Load identification ....................... 336
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 337
Maximum tire load ....................... 338
38 Getting startedAdjustingSeat adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located
on the respective door.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustment
5Backrest tilt
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
or
Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press switch forward or backward in
the direction of arrow4.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach
the accelerator / brake pedal safely.
The position should be as far to the rear
as possible, consistent with ability to
properly operate controls.Seat height
Press switch up or down in the direc-
tion of arrow2.
Seat cushion tilt
Press switch up or down in the direc-
tion of arrow3 until your upper legs
are lightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt
Press switch forward or backward in
the direction of arrow5 until your
arms are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel.
Head restraint height
Press switch up or down in the direc-
tion of arrow1.
iThe memory function (
page 128) lets
you store the settings for the seat posi-
tion together with the settings for the
steering wheel and the exterior rear
view mirrors.
!When moving the seat, make sure
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seats. Otherwise you could
damage the seats.
52 Getting startedDrivingFor more information on driving, see “Driv-
ing instructions” (
page 295).
Switching on headlamps
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 131).
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The low beam headlamp indicator
lampB in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).
High beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasher
!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofPorN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
58 Getting startedParking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(page 52).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 131).
Turning off the engine
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.Turning off the engine with the
SmartKey
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
(page 34) to position0 and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.
Turning off the engine with
KEYLESS-GO*
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton to shut off the engine.
With the driver’s door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1. With the
driver’s door opened, the starter switch
is set to position0, same as SmartKey
removed from starter switch
(page 34).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the
parking brake and/or move the gear selec-
tor lever from positionP, either of which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear se-
lector lever not fully engaged in positionP is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 172).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP.
On slopes, turn the front wheels to-
wards the curb.
iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.
87 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:
ABS (A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
ESP
® (E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)
ABS
The A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 24) comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Warning!
G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:
Excessive speed, especially in turns
Wet and slippery road surfaces
Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, and ESP
® cannot reduce this
risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
iIn winter operation, the maximum ef-
fectiveness of the ABS, the BAS, and
the ESP
® is only achieved with winter
tires (
page 346) or snow chains as
required.
Warning!
G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
88 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsBraking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the
pulsation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions
and functions as a reminder to take extra
care while driving.Emergency brake maneuver
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 359).
Warning!
G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS
and the ESP
® are also switched off.
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the brak-
ing distance.
Warning!
G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction af-
forded. The ABS cannot prevent accidents,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, following another vehicle too
closely, or hydroplaning. Only a safe, atten-
tive, and skillful driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ABS equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner which could jeop-
ardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
174 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionDriving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.
Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:
Leave the transmission in gear.
Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop longer with the engine
idling and/or on a hill:
Set the parking brake.
Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:
Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.
Accelerate gently.
Never abruptly step on the accelerator.
Working on the vehicleWarning!
G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move gear selector lever
to positionP. Otherwise the vehicle could
roll away.
274 Controls in detailUseful featuresCup holder in rear seat armrest
Opening cup holder
Briefly press the front of cup holder.
The cup holder slides out slightly.
Pull out the cup holder until it stops.
Closing cup holder
Slide cup holder back in the direction
of arrow1 until it engages.
Ashtrays
Center console ashtray
1Cover plate
2Sliding button
3Ashtray insert
Opening ashtray
Briefly press the bottom of cover
plate1.
The cover plate opens automatically.Removing ashtray insert
Secure vehicle from movement by
setting the parking brake.
Move the gear selector lever to
positionN.
Now you have more room to take out
the insert.
Push sliding button2 to the right.
The ashtray is disengaged and slides a
short way in the direction of arrow3.
Remove the ashtray insert.Warning!
G
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle
standing still. Set the parking brake to se-
cure vehicle from movement. Move the gear
selector lever to positionN and turn off the
engine.