
If you have set intermittent wiping, dirt
on the surface of the sensor or optical
effects may cause the windshield wipers
to wipe in an undesired fashion. This
could then damage the windshield wiper
blades or scratch the windshield. You
should therefore switch off the
windshield wipers when weather
conditions are dry.
XMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.
XActivating intermittent wiping: Turn the
wiper switch to position \000J.
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are automatically controlled
depending on the vehicle speed and by the
rain-light sensor*.
XDeactivating intermittent wiping: Turn
the wiper switch to position \000].
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Example illustration coupé
XPull the wiper switch in direction of
arrow \000F and hold it in position.
The windshield wipers operate with
windshield washer fluid.
XRelease the wiper switch.
The windshield wipers will wipe three
more times.
iTo prevent smears on the windshield, or
noisy/chattering wiper blades, wipe
with windshield washer fluid
periodically even when it is raining.
Single wipeXPull the wiper switch briefly in
direction of arrow \000F.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
with windshield washer fluid.
Rear window wiper/washer (coupé only)
XMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.
XActivating intermittent wiping: Push the
wiper switch to position \000J.
XWiping with windshield washer fluid:
Push the wiper switch in direction of
arrow \000G and hold in position until the
rear window is clean.
XRelease the wiper switch.
The rear window wiper will wipe three
more times.
Intermittent wiping is still activated.
XDeactivating intermittent wiping: Pull
the wiper switch to position \000].
iThe rear window wiper wipes one time
when reverse gear R is engaged with the
windshield wipers switched on.
Soft top system (cabriolet only)
Introduction
The soft top system of the smart cabriolet
consists of a
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Rretractable soft top
R rear soft top
R side rails
You can remove the side rails over the doors
when you open the retractable soft top and
open the rear soft top.
i Opening the rear soft top is possible
after the retractable soft top has been
opened completely.
Notes on the soft top system
! When transporting long objects inside
the vehicle, make sure they do not press
against the retractable soft top when it
is closed.
When carrying objects that protrude from
the rear of the vehicle, make sure they
are not resting on the retaining clips.
When loading, make sure no sharp objects
come into contact with the soft top or the
rear window.
Do not place any evenly distributed loads
with a weight of more than 165 lbs (75 kg)
on the rear soft top when folded down.
Make sure the high-mounted brake lamp
is not concealed.
! Do not block the soft top system’s
locking apertures.
Only place the side rails in the
designated storage space of the tailgate.
! Do not sit on the folded-down rear soft
top.
Do not fold down the rear soft top at
temperatures below 14 ¦ (-10 ¥).
Do not place any pointed, sharp-edged,
hot (above 176 ¦ [80 ¥]), incandescent or
burning objects on the soft top’s lining.
Do not apply wax to the soft top fabric and
select only wax-free washing products
when using an automatic car wash.
Only drive with the retaining clips
closed, as exhaust fumes could otherwise
reach the vehicle’s interior.
! Please keep in mind that weather
conditions can sometimes change
rapidly. Make sure to close the
retractable soft top and the rear soft top
when leaving the vehicle. If water enters
the vehicle interior, vehicle
electronics could be damaged which is
not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.
Opening and closing the retractable
soft top
You can open and close the retractable soft
top when the vehicle is either stationary
or in motion.
GWarning!
Never operate the retractable soft top if
there is the possibility of anyone being
harmed by the opening or closing
procedure.
GWarning!
The retractable soft top is made out of
fabric. In the event of an accident, the
fabric may tear. This may result in an
opening in the roof.
In a vehicle rollover, occupants not
wearing their seat belts or not wearing
them properly may be thrown out of the
opening. Such an opening also presents a
potential for injury for occupants wearing
their seat belts properly as entire body
parts or portions of them may protrude from
the passenger compartment.
GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take it with
you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s
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! Make sure the side rails are installed
correctly. Otherwise the side rails may
not function properly or may be damaged.
XClose the storage compartment cover.XPress on the “PRESS” marking in the
middle of the storage compartment cover
until it engages audibly.
XClose the tailgate. Let the tailgate lock
into place.
XClose the driver’s and passenger door.XOpen the side windows if desired.
! Make sure the storage compartment
cover is closed before closing the
tailgate. Otherwise the tailgate could
jam.
Side windows
Opening and closing the side windows
Opening and closing the side windows
manually
Crank for side window on passenger door
Side window on the driver’s door
XOpening: Turn crank \000F
counterclockwise.
XClosing: Turn crank \000F clockwise.
Side window on the passenger door
XOpening: Turn crank \000F clockwise.XClosing: Turn crank \000F
counterclockwise.
Opening and closing the power windows
This feature is only available on the model
passion and BRABUS.
GWarning!
Do not keep any part of your body up against
the side window pane when opening a
window. The downward motion of the pane
may pull that part of your body down between
the window pane and the door frame and trap
it there. If there is a risk of entrapment,
release the switch and pull up the top of the
switch to close the window.
GWarning!
When closing the windows, make sure there
is no danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
The closing of the side windows can be
immediately stopped by releasing the
switch.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take it with
you, and lock the vehicle. 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.
The switches for both power windows are on
the driver’s door. In addition, there is a
switch for the passenger side on the
passenger door.
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you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could release the parking brake and/or
move the gear selector lever from park
position P, either of which could result in
an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Brake pedal
The brake pedal has two brake circuits
independent of each other. A brake servo is
used during braking (when the engine is
running) to increase pedal force.
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.
GWarning!
Considerably more effort will be required
to apply the brakes if
Rthe brake servo has failed
Ra brake circuit has failed
Rthe engine is switched off, e.g. for
towing the vehicle
The braking distance is likewise greater.
Make sure the engine is running whenever
the vehicle is rolling. Have the brake
system repaired at an authorized smart
center, if there is a fault in the brake
system.
If a brake circuit has failed (Y page 166),
you must depress brake pedal \000F further
down to achieve the same effect and the
braking distance is increased.
iThe brake servo will only function with
the engine switched on.
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 78) 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.
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RP 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 84), you can use the gear selector
lever or steering wheel gearshift control
to change the gears manually.Gear selector lever positionsEffect0045Park 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).003ADrive position
The transmission shifts
automatically.009CManual gearshifting
System-controlled automatic
gearshifting is switched off.
The driver has to change the
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The current gear selector lever position
appears in the transmission position
indicator ( Y page 88).
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.
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
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manually using the gear selector lever or
the steering wheel gearshift control 10
.
! 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 gearshifting
XMove the gear selector lever to drive
position D ( Y page 82).XPull one of the shift paddles ( Y page 85)
towards you.
or
XMove the gear selector lever to manual
gearshifting M (Y page 82).
System-controlled automatic
gearshifting is switched off.
You can upshift or downshift through the
gears in succession.
The currently engaged gear appears in the
multifunction display ( Y page 85).
UpshiftingXBriefly push the gear selector lever
forward in the + direction ( Y page 82).
or
XPull right shift paddle 0047 (Y page 85)
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.
XBriefly pull the gear selector lever
backward in the - direction ( Y page 82).
or
XPull left shift paddle 0046 (Y page 85)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next lower
gear.
Kickdown
You can use kickdown when you want
maximum acceleration.
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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 82).
or
XPull right shift paddle 0047 (Y page 85)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.
Deactivating manual gearshifting
XWith drive position D selected: Pull and
hold right shift paddle 0047 (Y page 85)
towards you for longer than two seconds.
or
XWith manual gearshifting M selected:
Move the gear selector lever to drive
position D ( Y page 82).
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 82).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.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.86Transmission>> Controls.
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