Page 81 of 216

GWarning!
In the event of the vehicle needing to be
towed, a significantly greater amount of
pedal pressure will be required when the
engine is switched off.
Turning off the engine
GWarning!
Do not turn off the engine before the
vehicle has come to a complete stop. With
the engine not running, there is no power
assistance for the brake and steering*
systems. In this case, it is important to
keep in mind that a considerably higher
degree of effort is necessary to brake and
steer the vehicle.
XDepress the brake pedal.XPress the release button ( Y page 76) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock.XMove the gear selector lever to park
position P.
!
Always engage the parking brake in
addition to shifting to park position P.
XRelease the brake pedal.XTurn the key to starter switch position
0 .XRemove the key from the starter switch.
The electronic immobilizer is
activated.
Transmission
Introduction
Your vehicle is equipped with a 5‑speed
automated transmission with manual or
automatic mode. For information on
driving with the transmission see also
“Starting” ( Y page 75).
GWarning!
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of motion.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats* or
carpets in the footwell, make sure the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden acceleration or braking
maneuvers, the objects could get caught
between or beneath the pedals and restrict
your ability to brake or accelerate. This
could lead to accidents and/or injury.
Gear selector lever
Gearshift pattern for transmission
0046Release button0060Park position0061Reverse gear005FNeutral position005EDrive position0066Manual gear shifting0067Upshifting0044Downshifting
The current gear selector lever position
appears in the transmission position
indicator. When M is selected the currently
selected gear appears ( Y page 85).
Transmission79>> Controls.* optional451_AKB; 3; 22, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-27T09:36:34+02:00 - Seite 79Z
Page 82 of 216

GWarning!
It is dangerous to shift the transmission
out of park position P or neutral position
N 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.
Shifting procedure
The transmission selects individual gears
automatically, depending on:
R the gear selector lever position D
( Y page 80)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
( Y page 81)
R the vehicle speed
R uphill or downhill grades
Press release button 0046 (Y page 79) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock
when moving the gear selector lever from
R P to R, N , or D
R R to P
R N to R or P
! Allow the engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gear R or parking
position P only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. Otherwise, the
drivetrain could be damaged, which is
not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.
With manual gearshifting M selected
( Y page 82), you can use the gear selector
lever or steering wheel gearshift control
to change the gears manually.
Gear selector lever positions
Effect0045Park position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked.
Place the gear selector lever
in park position P only when
the vehicle is stopped. The
park position is not intended
to serve as a brake when the
vehicle is parked.
Rather, the driver should
always engage the parking
brake in addition to placing
the gear selector lever in park
position P to secure the
vehicle.
The key can only be removed
from the starter switch with
the gear selector lever in park
position P. With the key
removed, the gear selector
lever is locked in park
position P.0046Reverse gear
Shift into reverse gear R only
when vehicle is stopped.0044Neutral position
No power is transmitted from
the engine to the drive axle.
When the brakes are released,
the vehicle can be moved
freely (pushed or towed).80Transmission>> Controls.
451_AKB; 3; 22, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-27T09:36:34+02:00 - Seite 80
Page 83 of 216

Effect003ADrive position
The transmission shifts
automatically.009CManual gearshifting
System-controlled automatic
gearshifting is switched off.
The driver has to change the
gears manually.
The current gear selector lever position
appears in the transmission position
indicator ( Y page 85).
Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttleearlier upshiftingMore throttlelater upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
XPress the accelerator pedal past the
point of resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.XEase up on the accelerator pedal when you
have reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.
Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic
lights:
XLeave the transmission in gear.XHold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop for a longer period with the
engine idling and/or on a hill:
XEngage the parking brake.XMove the gear selector lever to park
position P.
Working on the vehicle
GWarning!
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and move the gear selector
lever to park position P. Otherwise the
vehicle could roll away which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Driving on uphill grades
Your vehicle has a hill‑start assist system.
GWarning!
The hill-start assist system is not
designed to function as a parking brake and
does not prevent the vehicle from moving
when parked on an incline.
Always engage the parking brake in
addition to shifting to park position P.
On uphill grades the hill‑start assist
system maintains the pressure in the brake
system for approximately one second after
you have released the brake pedal.
Therefore, you can start off smoothly
without the vehicle moving immediately
after releasing the brake pedal.
XRelease the brake pedal.XApply sufficient pressure to the
accelerator pedal.
! After approximately one second, the
hill‑start assist system stops braking
the vehicle, which then can roll
backwards. If you open the driver’s door
within this time, the hill‑start assist
system is deactivated and a warning
signal sounds.
i The hill‑start assist system is inactive
if you start off with the parking brake
engaged.
Transmission81>> Controls.451_AKB; 3; 22, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-27T09:36:34+02:00 - Seite 81Z
Page 84 of 216

Manual gearshifting
With manual gearshifting M selected,
system-controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off and you need to change the
gears by upshifting or downshifting
manually using the gear selector lever or
the steering wheel gearshift control 12
.
! Allow the engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gear R or parking
position P only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. Otherwise, the
drivetrain could be damaged, which is
not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.Activating manual gearshiftingXMove the gear selector lever to drive
position D ( Y page 79).XPull one of the shift paddles ( Y page 82)
towards you.
or
XMove the gear selector lever to manual
gearshifting M (Y page 79).
System-controlled automatic
gearshifting is switched off.
You can upshift or downshift through the
gears in succession.
The currently engaged gear appears in
multifunction display 0047 (Y page 82).
Upshifting
XBriefly push the gear selector lever
forward in the + direction ( Y page 79).
or
XPull right shift paddle 008A (Y page 82)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.
i With manual gearshifting M selected,
the transmission shifts up only to
prevent engine overrevving.
Downshifting
GWarning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This
could result in drive wheel slip and
reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS
will not prevent this type of loss of control.
12 Model passion and BRABUS only.82Transmission>> Controls.
451_AKB; 3; 22, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-27T09:36:34+02:00 - Seite 82
Page 85 of 216

XBriefly pull the gear selector lever
backward in the - direction ( Y page 79).
or
XPull left shift paddle 0046 (Y page 82)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next lower
gear.
Kickdown
You can use kickdown when you want
maximum acceleration.
XPress the accelerator pedal past the
point of resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.XWhen you have reached the desired speed,
briefly push the gear selector lever
forward in the + direction ( Y page 79).
or
XPull right shift paddle 008A (Y page 82)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.
Deactivating manual gearshifting
XWith drive position D selected: Pull and
hold right shift paddle 008A (Y page 82)
towards you for longer than two seconds.
or
XWith manual gearshifting M selected:
Move the gear selector lever to drive
position D ( Y page 79).
System-controlled automatic
gearshifting is switched on again.
Emergency operation (limp-home
mode)
In this mode only a certain gear or a
certain gear combination can be selected.
This mode is triggered in case of
transmission malfunctions and enables you
driving to the nearest workshop such as a
smart center.
If vehicle acceleration becomes less
responsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. The transmission
position indicator flashes and the ¬
symbol appears in the multifunction
display.
Driving in limp-home mode:XMove the gear selector lever to drive
position D ( Y page 79).XContinue to drive.XHave the transmission checked at an
authorized smart center as soon as
possible.
i It is possible that a gear combination
including the reverse gear can not be
selected. Keep in mind when parking,
that reversing the vehicle might be
impossible.
In case of a minor transmission
malfunction, it might be possible to teach-
in the transmission in order to restore the
normal transmission mode.
i If the attempt to teach-in the
transmission fails, you cannot continue
to drive. Therefore we strongly
recommend that you have the
transmission taught-in at a qualified
workshop or at an authorized smart
center.
Teaching-in the transmission system:
XStop the vehicle in a safe location.XMove the gear selector lever to park
position P.XTurn off the engine.XWait at least 30 seconds before
restarting.XPress the brake pedal.Transmission83>> Controls.451_AKB; 3; 22, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-27T09:36:34+02:00 - Seite 83Z
Page 86 of 216

XRestart the engine
Three bars instead of P appear in the
multifunction display.XWait at least 30 seconds.
The transmission is taught in.
When teaching-in was successful:
P appears in the multifunction display
again and normal transmission operating
is restored.
XContinue to drive.
After an unsuccessful teaching-in:
Three bars instead of P appear in the
multifunction display.
XDo not continue to drive.XTurn off the engine.XEngage the parking brake when leaving
the vehicle.XContact Roadside Assistance or an
authorized smart center.
Instrument cluster
Multifunction display
The following displays and indicators
appear in the multifunction display:
Multifunction display (U.S. vehicles)
0046Main odometer display, or when active,
days or distance to next maintenance
service0047Transmission position indicator008ADigital clock0088Outside temperature display0086Fuel level display0087Status indicator with:• Trip odometer display• Reserve fuel indicator006ESymbol for type of maintenance service
Multifunction display (Canada vehicles)
0046Main odometer display, or when active,
days or distance to next maintenance
service0047Transmission position indicator008ADigital clock0088Outside temperature display0086Freeze warning0087Fuel level display006EStatus indicator with:• Trip odometer display• Reserve fuel indicator006FSymbol for type of maintenance serviceGWarning!
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving
conditions, such as speed, outside
temperature, or warning/indicator lamps.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Visit an authorized
smart center as soon as possible.
84Instrument cluster>> Controls.
451_AKB; 3; 22, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-27T09:36:34+02:00 - Seite 84
Page 87 of 216

Multifunction display illumination
The multifunction display illumination
comes on when the starter switch is in
position 1. It goes out after approximately
30 seconds when the starter switch is in
position 0.
For adjusting the multifunction display
illumination, see “Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination” ( Y page 89).
Main odometer display
Example illustration (U.S. vehicles)
i Canada vehicles: The main odometer
display shows km instead of miles.
The main odometer display appears in the
multifunction display continuously.
Exception:
The next maintenance service is due. After
starting the engine, days or distance to
next maintenance service will appear
instead of the main odometer display. The
main odometer display will reappear after
approximately ten seconds.
For information on how to select the
maintenance service interval display, see
“Maintenance service interval display”
( Y page 88).
Transmission position indicator
The following information is displayed in
the transmission position indicator:
R Current gear selector lever position
R Current engaged gear (when manual
gearshifting selected)
i A flashing R in the display indicates
that the gear selector lever is in
position R but the reverse gear is not
engaged. Stop the vehicle to let the
reverse gear engage.
Example illustration (U.S. vehicles)
DisplayFunctionPGear selector lever in park
position PRGear selector lever in
position R (Reverse gear
engaged)NGear selector lever in neutral
position NDGear selector lever in drive
position D
When manual gearshifting is selected:
DisplayFunction1First gear engaged2Second gear engaged3Third gear engagedInstrument cluster85>> Controls.451_AKB; 3; 22, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-27T09:36:34+02:00 - Seite 85Z
Page 88 of 216

DisplayFunction4Fourth gear engaged5Fifth gear engaged
Digital clock
Example illustration (U.S. vehicles)
i Canada vehicles: The digital clock
shows a 24 h-clock instead of a
12 h-clock.
The time can only be set as long as the colon
in the digital clock flashes.
XActivating time setting: Press and hold
right button 0047 until the colon in the
digital clock starts flashing.XSetting the time in 1 minute
increments: Press left button 0046 or right
button 0047 repeatedly until the desired
time is set.XSetting the time quickly: Press left
button 0046 or right button 0047 for longer
than one second.
The setting speed increases.XSetting the time in 10 minute
increments: Press left button 0046 or right
button 0047 for longer than five seconds.
The time is set in 10 minute increments.XConfirm time setting: Refrain from
pressing either left button 0046 or right
button 0047 until the colon in the digital
clock stops flashing.
The time is set.
i The digital clock in the multifunction
display is not synchronized with the
cockpit clock* ( Y page 89).
Outside temperature display
Example illustration (U.S. vehicles)
i Canada vehicles: The outside
temperature display shows °C instead
of °F.
The outside temperature display appears
in the multifunction display continuously.
A change of the outside temperature will be
displayed with delay.
GWarning!
The outside temperature display is not
designed as an ice-warning device and is
therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
86Instrument cluster>> Controls.* optional451_AKB; 3; 22, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-27T09:36:34+02:00 - Seite 86