Seats and storage
General recommendations
Why is your seat adjustment so important? The safety belts and the airbag system can only provide
maximum protection if the front seats are correctly
adjusted.
The re are various ways of adjusting the front seats to provide safe
and comfortable support for the driver and the front passenger.
Adjust your seat properly so that:
• you can easily and quickly reach all the switches and controls in
the instrument panel
• your body is properly supported thus reducing physical stress
and fatigue
• the safety belts and airbag system can offer maximum protec
tion
~ page 212.
In the follow ing sections, you will see exactly how you can best
adjust your seats.
There are special regulations and instructions for installing a child safety seat on the front passenger's seat. Always follow the informa
tion regarding child safety provided in~
page 234, "C hild Safety".
& WARNING
Incorrect seating position of the driver and all other passengers
can result in serious personal injury.
• Always keep your feet on the floor when the vehicle is in motion
- never put your feet on top of the instrument panel, out of the
window or on top of the seat cushion. This applies especially to
the passengers. If your seating position is incorrect, you increase
the risk of injury in the case of sudden braking or an accident. If
Controls and equip
ment
Seats and storage
& WARNING (continued)
the airbag inflates and the seating position is incorrect, this could
result in personal injury or even death.
• It is important for both the driver and front passenger to keep
a distance of at least 10 inches (25 cml between themselves and
the steering wheel and/or instrument panel. If you're sitting any closer than this, the airbag system cannot protect you properly. In
addition, the front seats and head restraints must be adjusted to
your body height so that they can give you maximum protection.
• Always try to keep as much distance as possible between your
self and the steering wheel or instrument panel.
• Do not adjust the driver's or front passenger's seat while the
vehicle is moving. Your seat may move unexpectedly, causing
sudden loss of vehicle control and personal injury . If you adjust
your seat while the vehicle is moving, you are out of position. •
Driver's seat
The correct seat position is important for safe and relaxed
driving.
We recommend that you adjust the driver's seat in the
following manner:
Adjust the seat in fore and aft direction so that you can
easily push the pedals to the floor while keeping your
knees slightly bent=>
& in "Why is your seat adjustment
so important?".
- Adjust the seatback so that when you sit with your back
against the seatback, you can still grasp the top of the
steering wheel. ..,
I • •
Seats and storage
- Position the head restraint according to the occupant's height ~
page 93. For maximum protection, the top of
the head restraint should be at least at eye level, prefer
ably higher and ideally level with the top of the head
~ page 197, fig. 190.
& WARNING
Never place any objects in the driver's footwell. An object could
get into the pedal area and interfere with pedal function . In case
of sudden braking or an accident, you would not be able to brake
or accelerate. •
Front passenger's seat
Always move the front passenger seat into the rearmost
position.
To avoid contact with the airbag while it is deploying, do not
sit any closer to the instrument panel than necessary and
always wear the three-point safety belt provided adjusted
correctly. We recommend that you adjust the passenger's
seat in the following manner:
- Move the front passenger seat into the rearmost position
of t he fore and aft adjustment range~
& in "Why is
your seat adjustment so important?" on
page 87.
- Bring the backrest up to an (a lmost) upright position . Do
not ride with the seat reclined.
- The ideal position for the head restraint is with the upper
edge of the restraint level with the top of your head
~ page 93. You should not lower the top of the restraint
below the level of your eyes. - Place your
feet on the floor in front of the passenger 's
seat. •
Power seat
Controls
The operating logic for the switches corresponds to the
construction and function of the seat.
Fig. 77 Power seat:
Controls for seat
adjustment
Th e switches to adjust the seats correspond to the layout, the
design and the function of the seat. The seats are adjusted by
moving the switches following this logic.
© Seat adjustment=> page 89
@ Adjusting the angle of the seatback => page 89
© Adjusting the lumbar support => page 90
@ Upper thigh support*=> page 90
& WARNING
• Never adjust the driver's or front passenger's seat while the
vehicle is moving.
If you do this while the vehicle is moving, you
will be out of position. Always adjust the driver's or front
passenger's seat when the vehicle is not moving. _,,,
________________________________________________ S_e_ a_ ts_ a_ n_d _ s_t _o _r_ a ....; g::;. e _ __._
0 Note
To avoid damaging the socket, only use plugs that fit properly.
[ i] Tips
When the engine is off and accessories are still plugged in and are
on, the vehicle battery can still be drained. •
Storage
General overview
There are numerous places to store items in your vehicle.
Glove compartment
Storage compartment in roof
Coat hooks
Storage compartment in the trunk
& WARNING
~ page 107
~ page 108
~ page 109
~ page99
• Always remove objects from the instrument panel. Any items
not stored could slide around inside the vehicle while driving or
when accelerating or when applying the brakes or when driving
around a corner.
• When you are driving make sure that anything you may have
placed in the center console or other storage locations cannot fall
out into the footwells. In case of sudden braking you would not be
able to brake or accelerate.
• Any articles of clothing that you have hung up must not inter
fere with the driver's view. The coat hooks are designed only for
lightweight clothing. Never hang any clothing with hard, pointed
or heavy objects in the pockets on the coat hooks. During sudden
Con tro ls and eq uip
ment
& WARNING !continued)
braking or in an accident -especially if the airbag is deployed -
these objects could injure any passengers inside the vehicle. •
Glove compartment
The media player is in the glove compartment.
To open glove compartment
Fig. 104 Unlocking
button for glove
compartment
Press the button ::!}...--==> fig. 104 (arrow) - the lid opens
automatically.
To close glove compartment
Push the glove compartment lid up until the lock
engages.
In the glove compartment lid you will find a place to store a pen and
a pad of paper.
CD changer*
The CD changer for the radio system and the Navigation drive* is located in the glove compartment . How to change CDs is described
in the pertinent Owner's Manual.
tJ,,,
Vehicle care I I irechnical data
• ..__S_ e_a _ t_ s_ a_ n_ d_ s_t _o _r_ a-' g==- e ________________________________________________ _
& WARNING
To reduce the risk of personal injury in an accident or sudden stop,
always keep the glove compartment closed while driving.
[ i J Tips
Should you not be able to open the glove compartment as
described, make sure the valet key function is not activated
=> page 51. •
Emergency unlocking of glove compartment
The glove compartment can be unlocked in an emer
gency.
Fig. 105 Instrument
panel right : pry off
security cover
Fig. 106 Locking pin
for glove compartment
- Remove with the cover with the aid of a screwdriver
=> fig. 105.
- Now press the locking pin inward with the screwdriver
=> fig. 106. •
Storage compartment in roof
~1 0 I
G
0
••
8
"' iL
"' a,
Fig. 107 Storage
compartment in roof
- To open the lid you have to touch the bar=> fig. 107
(arrow). The lid opens automatically.
- To close the lid, push it up until it engages.
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& WARNING (continued)
to help reduce the risk of personal injury if the driver's airbag
inflates.
• Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with
your hands at other positions inside the steering wheel rim or on
the steering wheel hub . Holding the steering wheel the wrong way
can cause serious injuries to the hands, arms and head if the
driver's airbag deploys .
• Pointing the steering wheel toward your face decreases the
ability of the supplemental driver's airbag to protect you in a colli
sion.
• Always sit in an upright position and never lean against or
place any part of your body too close to the area where the airbags
are located .
• Before driving, always adjust the front seats and head
restraints properly and make sure that all passengers are properly
restrained.
• Never adjust the seats while the vehicle is moving. Your seat
may move unexpectedly and you could lose control of the vehicle. • Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilted far back! The
farther the backrests are tilted back, the greater the risk of injury
due to incorrect positioning of the safety belt and improper
seating position.
• Children must always ride in child safety seats => page
234.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat=> page
212 . •
Controls and equip
ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
Proper seating position for the front
passenger
The proper front passenger seating position is important
for safe, relaxed driving.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend that you adjust the
seat for the front passenger to the following pos ition:
- Move the front passenger seat back as far as possible.
There must be a minimum of 10 inches (25 cm) between
the breastbone and the instrument panel =>
&.
- Adjust the angle of the seatback so that it is in an upright
position and your back comes in full contact with it
whenever the vehicle is moving.
- Adjust the head restraint so that the upper edge is as
even with the top of your head as possible but not lower
than eye level and so that it is as close to the back of your
head as possible =>
page 197.
-Keep both feet flat on the floor in front of the front
passenger seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts correctly=:>
page 206.
For detailed information on how to adjust the front passenger's
seat, see =>
page 87.
& WARNING
Front seat passengers who are unbelted, out of position or too
close to the airbag can be seriously injured or killed by the airbag
as it unfolds. To help reduce the risk of serious personal injury : .,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
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& WARNING (continued)
• Passengers must always sit in an upright position and never
lean against or place any part of their body too close to the area
where the airbags are located.
• Passengers who are unbelted, out of position or too close to the
airbag can be seriously injured by an airbag as it unfolds with
great force in the blink of an eye .
• Always make sure that there are at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the front passenger's breastbone and the instrument
panel.
• Each passenger must always sit on a seat of their own and
properly fasten and wear the safety belt belonging to that seat.
• Before driving, always adjust the front passenger seat and
head restraint properly.
• Always keep your feet on the floor in front of the seat . Never
rest them on the seat, instrument panel, out of the window, etc.
The airbag system and safety belt will not be able to protect you properly and can even increase the risk of injury in a crash.
• Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilted far back! The
farther the backrests are tilted back, the greater the risk of injury due to incorrect positioning of the safety belt and improper
seating position.
• Children must always ride in child safety seats
~ page 234.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat~
page 212. •
Proper seating positions for passengers in
rear seats
Rear seat passengers must sit upright with both feet on
the floor consistent with their physical size and be prop
erly restrained whenever the vehicle is in use.
To reduce the risk of injury caused by an incorrect seating
position in the event of a sudden braking maneuver or an
accident, your passengers on the rear bench seat must
always observe the following:
- Make sure that the seatback is securely latched in the
upright position~
page 96.
- Adjust the head restraint so that the upper edge is as
even with the top of your head as possible but no lower
than eye level~
page 197.
- Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front of the rear seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts properly~
page 206.
-Make sure that children are always properly restrained in
a child restraint that is appropriate for their size and age
~ page 234.
L1}. WARNING
Passengers who are improperly seated on the rear seat can be
seriously injured in a crash.
• Each passenger must always sit on a seat of their own and
properly fasten and wear the safety belt belonging to that seat.
• Safety belts only offer maximum protection when the seatback
is securely latched in the upright position and the safety belts are
properly positioned on the body. By not sitting upright, a rear seat
passenger increases the risk of personal injury from improperly
positioned safety belts! .,_
_,___D_ r_iv _i_ n...: g=- S_ a_f _e _ly =-- -------------------------------------------------
position. A driver is responsible for the safety of all vehicle
occupants and especially for children. Therefore:
Never allow anyone to assume an incorrect seating posi
tion when the vehicle is being used=>& .
The following bulletins list only some sample positions that will
increase the risk of serious injury and death. Our hope is that these
examples will make you more aware of seating positions that are
dangerous.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is moving:
• never stand up in the vehicle
• never stand on the seats
• never kneel on the seats
• never ride with the seatback reclined
• never lie down on the rear seat
• never lean up against the instrument panel
• never sit on the edge of the seat
• never sit sideways
• never lean out the window
• never put your feet out the window
• never put your feet on the instrument panel
• never rest your feet on the seat cushion or back of the seat
• never ride in the footwell
• never ride in the cargo area
& WARNING
Improper seating positions increase the risk of serious personal
injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used.
• Always make sure that all vehicle occupants stay in a proper
seating position and are properly restrained whenever the vehicle
is being used. •
Pedal area
Pedals
The pedals must always be free to move and must never
be interfered with by a floor mat or any other object.
Make sure that all pedals move freely without interference and that
nothing prevents them from returning to their original positions.
Only use floor mats that leave the pedal area free and can be
secured with floor mat fasteners.
If a brake circuit fails, increased brake pedal travel is required to
bring the vehicle to a full stop.
& WARNING
Pedals that cannot move freely can cause loss of vehicle control
and increase the risk of serious injury.
• Never place any objects in the driver's footwell. An object could
get into the pedal area and interfere with pedal function. In case
of sudden braking or an accident, you would not be able to brake
or accelerate!
• Always make sure that nothing can fall or move into the
driver's footwell. •
Floor mats on the dr iver side
Always use floor mats that can be securely attached to
the floor mat fasteners and do not interfere with the free
movement of the pedals.
Make sure that the floor mats are properly secured and
cannot move and interfere with the pedals=>& . .,
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& WARNING
Improperly stored luggage or other items can fly through the
vehicle causing serious personal injury in the event of hard braking or an accident. To help reduce the risk of serious personal injury:
• Always put objects, for example, luggage or other heavy items
in the luggage compartment.
• Always secure objects in the luggage compartment using the
tie-down eyelets and suitable straps.
& WARNING
Heavy loads will influence the way your vehicle handles. To help
reduce the risk of a loss of control leading to serious personal
injury :
• Always keep in mind when transporting heavy objects, that a
change in the center of gravity can also cause changes in vehicle
handling:
-Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
- Place heavy objects as far forward in the luggage compart-
ment as possible.
• Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating specified on the safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight standards
can cause the vehicle to slide and handle differently.
• Please observe information on safe driving~
page 192.
& WARNING
To help prevent poisonous exhaust gas from being drawn into the
vehicle, always keep the rear lid closed while driving.
• Never transport objects larger than those fitting completely
into the luggage area because the rear lid cannot be fully closed.
& WARNING (continued)
• If you absolutely must drive with the rear lid open, observe the
following notes to reduce the risk of poisoning :
- Close all windows,
- Close the power roof*,
- Open all air outlets in the instrument panel,
- Switch off the air recirculation,
- Set the fresh air fan to the highest speed.
& WARNING
Always make sure that the doors , all windows, the power roof*
and the read lid are securely closed and locked to reduce the risk
of injury when the vehicle is not being used.
• After closing the rear lid, always make sure that it is properly
closed and locked .
• Never leave your vehicle unattended especially with the rear lid
left open. A child could crawl into the vehicle through the luggage
compartment and close the rear lid becoming trapped and unable
to get out . Being trapped in a vehicle can lead to serious personal
injury.
• Never let children play in or around the vehicle.
• Never let passengers ride in the luggage compartment. Vehicle
occupants must always be properly restrained in one of the
vehicle's seating positions.
[ i] Tips
• Air circulation helps to reduce window fogging. Stale air escapes
to the outside through vents in the trim panel, on the left side of the
luggage compartment. Be sure to keep these slots free and open.
• The tire pressure must correspond to the load -see the tire pres
sure sticker on the fuel filler door.•