Page 35 of 514
34 At a glanceDoor control panel
Item
Page
1
Inside door handle
120
2
Seat adjustment
43
3
Memory function (for stor-
ing seat, exterior mirror and 
steering wheel settings)
138
4
Exterior rear view mirror ad-
justment
47
5
Switches for opening/clos-
ing front and rear side win-
dows, rear window override 
switch 
239
6
Remote tailgate release 
switch, tailgate opening sys-
tem*
121 
     
        
        Page 39 of 514

38 Getting startedUnlockingSmartKeyStarter switch0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment2Ignition (power supply for all electrical 
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except low beam headlamp 
indicator lamp, high beam headlamp 
indicator lamp, and turn signal indica-
tor lamps unless activated) in the 
instrument cluster come on. If a lamp 
in the instrument cluster fails to come 
on when the ignition is switched on, 
have it checked and replaced if neces-
sary. If a lamp in the instrument cluster 
remains on after starting the engine or 
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps 
in instrument cluster” (
page 378).
3Starting position
For information on starting the engine 
using the SmartKey, see “Starting with the 
SmartKey” (
page 52).
i
When you switch on the ignition, the indica-
tor and warning lamps (except low beam head-
lamp indicator lamp, high beam headlamp 
indicator lamp, and turn signal indicator lamps 
unless activated) in the instrument cluster come 
on. The indicator and warning lamps (except low 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high beam head-
lamp indicator lamp, and turn signal indicator 
lamps if activated) should go out when the en-
gine is running. This indicates that the respective 
systems are operational.
i
The SmartKey can only be removed from the 
starter switch with the gear selector lever in po-
sition P.
i
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch 
position0 for an extended period of time, it can 
no longer be turned in the switch. In this case, 
the steering is locked. To unlock, remove 
SmartKey from the starter switch and reinsert.
!
If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the 
starter switch, the battery may not be sufficient-
ly charged.
Check the battery and charge it if necessary 
(page 440).
Get a jump start (
page 466).
To prevent accelerated battery discharge or a 
completely discharged battery, always remove 
the SmartKey from the starter switch when the 
engine is not in operation. 
     
        
        Page 40 of 514

39 Getting started
Unlocking
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is inside 
the vehicle, pressing the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button on the gear selector le-
ver corresponds to turning the SmartKey 
to the various starter switch positions.
If you firmly depress the brake pedal dur-
ing pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button, the engine starts automatically.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Do not depress the brake pedal.Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO start/ 
stop button, the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status 0 (as with SmartKey 
removed).
Position 1
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
once.
This supplies power for some electrical 
consumers, such as seat adjustment.
i
The function of the SmartKey overrules the 
KEYLESS-GO function.
i
If you now press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button
once again, the ignition (position2) is 
switched on
twice, the power supply is again switched off 
     
        
        Page 42 of 514

41 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
Seats
Warning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and 
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before 
the vehicle is put into motion.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving. 
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause 
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat 
backrest in an excessively reclined position 
as this can be dangerous. You could slide 
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide 
under it, the seat belt would apply force at 
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or fatal injuries. The seat back and seat 
belts provide the best restraint when the 
wearer is in a nearly upright position and 
seat belts are properly positioned on the 
body.
Warning!
G
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can 
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 49).
Observe the following points:
Adjust the backrest until your arms are 
slightly angled when holding the steer-
ing wheel.
Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating 
position that still allows you to reach the 
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The po-
sition should be as far to the rear as pos-
sible, consistent with ability to properly 
operate controls.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is as 
close to the head as possible and the 
center of the head restraint supports 
the back of the head at eye level.
Never place hands under the seat or 
near any moving parts while a seat is be-
ing adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident 
and/or serious personal injury. 
     
        
        Page 44 of 514

43 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located 
on the front doors.
1Seat fore and aft adjustment
2Backrest tilt
3Seat height
4Seat cushion tilt
5Head restraint height
Switch on the ignition (
page 37).
or
Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press the switch forward or backward 
in direction of arrow1.
Seat cushion tilt
Press the switch up or down in direc-
tion of arrow4 until your upper legs 
are lightly supported.
Backrest tilt
Press the switch forward or backward 
in direction of arrow2.
Seat height
Press the switch up or down in direc-
tion of arrow3.Head restraint height
Press the switch up or down in direc-
tion of arrow5.
i
The memory function (
page 138) lets you 
store the settings for the seat position 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 behind the seats. Oth-
erwise you could damage the seats.
i
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that 
it is as close to the head as possible.Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly 
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of 
the head restraint supports the back of the 
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the 
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat 
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent. 
     
        
        Page 45 of 514
44 Getting startedAdjustingHead restraint adjusting
Manually adjust the head restraint. 
Push or pull on the upper edge of the 
head restraint cushion to the desired 
position.Comfort head restraint* adjusting
1Head restraint side adjustment
2Head restraint fore and aft adjustment
To adjust the head restraint sides: 
Pull or push sides1 into desired posi-
tion.To move the head restraint forward or 
backward:
Pull or push head restraint in direction 
of arrow2.
For more information on seats, see “Seats” 
(
page 128). 
Warning!
G
When folding back the side cushions, never 
reach between the side cushion and the 
mounting post. You could otherwise be 
trapped.
i
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that 
it is as close to the head as possible. 
     
        
        Page 46 of 514

45 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheel Steering wheel adjustment
The steering wheel adjustment stalk is lo-
cated on the lower left of the steering col-
umn.
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Switch on the ignition (
page 37).
or
Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out
Move stalk in direction of arrows1 
until a comfortable steering wheel posi-
tion is reached with your arms slightly 
bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down
Move stalk in direction of arrows2.
Make sure your legs can move freely 
and all the displays (incl. malfunction 
and indicator lamps) on the instrument 
cluster are clearly visible.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of 
the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take 
it with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the start-
er switch or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle, 
the steering wheel adjustment feature can 
be operated when the driver’s door is open. 
Therefore, do not leave children unattended 
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked 
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a 
vehicle could result in an accident and/or 
serious personal injury. 
i
The memory function (
page 138) lets you 
store the settings for the steering wheel together 
with the settings for the exterior rear view mir-
rors and the driver’s seat position.  
     
        
        Page 49 of 514

48 Getting startedAdjustingThe buttons are located on the driver’s 
door.
1Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror 
button
2Adjustment button
3Passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror button
Switch on the ignition (
page 37).
Press button1 for the driver’s side ex-
terior rear view mirror or button3 for 
the passenger-side exterior rear view 
mirror.
Push adjustment button2 up, down, 
left or right according to the desired 
setting.For more information, see “Activating exte-
rior rear view mirror parking position” 
(
page 202).
For more information, see “Rear view mir-
rors” (
page 200). 
!
If an exterior rear view mirror was forcibly 
pushed forward (hit from the rear) or forcibly 
pushed rearward (hit from the front), reposition 
it by applying firm pressure until it snaps into 
place. The mirror housing is now properly posi-
tioned and you can adjust the mirror the usual 
manner.
i
At low ambient temperatures, the exterior 
rear view mirrors will be heated automatically.
i
The memory function (
page 138) lets you 
store the settings for the exterior rear view mir-
rors together with the settings for the steering 
wheel and the driver’s seat position.