XPress button \0004 on the key twice.XPress and hold button \0005 on the key for
approximately two seconds.
or
XPull the release handle in handle
recess \000F of the lower tailgate.
The upper tailgate is unlocked.
XSwivel the upper tailgate upwards to
open.
Observe the information on loading the
vehicle (Y page 113).
For information on vehicle weights, see
“Vehicle specification” (Y page 215).
Opening the lower tailgate on the
coupé
GWarning!
High outside temperature, stop-and-go
traffic, driving on long uphill grades, or
driving at high engine speed may increase
the temperature in the engine
compartment. Therefore the area around the
air slots in the rear apron may be hot. Let
the engine cool off before touching this
area to prevent burns.
XOpen the upper tailgate (Y page 54).XPull either of the release levers \000F
backwards.
The lower tailgate is unlocked.
XSwivel the lower tailgate downwards to
open.
The lower tailgate is held in the
horizontal position by means of the two
retaining straps.
! When folded down, the lower tailgate
can bear loads up to maximum of 220 lbs
(100 kg).
Observe the information on loading the
vehicle (Y page 113).
For information on vehicle weights, see
“Vehicle specification” (Y page 215).
Closing the tailgate(s) on the coupé
GWarning!
To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from the
cargo compartment opening when closing
the tailgate(s). Be especially careful when
small children are around.
XSwivel the lower tailgate upwards to
close. Allow the two release levers to
engage audibly.
XSwivel the upper tailgate downwards to
close.
GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take it with
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005DFor removing key004AIgnition (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 indicator
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 necessary. If a lamp in
the instrument cluster remains on
after starting the engine or comes
on while driving, refer to “Warning
and indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster” ( Y page 164).004BStarting ( Y page 78)
i
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except
low‑beam headlamp 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 headlamp
indicator lamp, and turn signal
indicator lamps if activated) will go out
when the engine is running. This
indicates that the respective systems
are operational.
Seats
Safety notes
GWarning!
All seat adjustments, as well as fastening
of seat belts, must be done before the
vehicle is operated.
GWarning!
When adjusting the seat, make sure no one
becomes trapped.
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 the seat belt,
it could apply force at the abdomen or neck,
potentially causing serious or fatal
injuries. The seat backrest and seat belts
provide the best restraint when the wearer
is in a position that is as upright as
possible and seat belts are properly
positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt.
Observe the following points:
R Adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.
R Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The
position should be as far back as
possible with the driver still able to
operate the controls properly.
R Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Observe the notes on the air bag system.
GWarning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
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Exterior rear view mirror heating
This feature is only available on the model
passion and BRABUS and in conjunction
with power exterior rear view mirrors.
After switching on the rear window
defroster, the exterior rear view mirrors
will be heated automatically. This
prevents icing up the exterior rear view
mirrors and also creates a clear view when
the exterior rear view mirrors have fogged
up.
If the rear window defroster is
automatically deactivated after
approximately 10 minutes of operation, the
exterior rear view mirror heating also
deactivates.
XMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.XSwitching on: Switch on the rear window
defroster ( Y page 107).
The exterior rear view mirror heating is
switched on.XSwitching off: Switch off the rear window
defroster ( Y page 107).
The exterior rear view mirror heating is
switched off.
i The exterior rear view mirror heating
also switches off if the key is turned to
starter switch position 0.
Interior rear view mirror
XAdjusting the mirror: Manually move the
interior rear view mirror up, down, left,
or right to the desired setting.XSelecting the antiglare position: Tilt
the interior rear view mirror to the
antiglare position by moving lever 0046
forward or backward.
Seat belts
Fastening the seat belts
GWarning!
Always fasten your seat belt before driving.
Always make sure all of your passengers are
properly restrained.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely
severity in an accident. You and your
passenger should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled.
Without your seat belt buckled, you are
much more likely to hit the interior of the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be
seriously injured or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury
or death is lessened if you are properly
wearing your seat belt. Air bags can only
protect you if you are properly wearing
your seat belt.
GWarning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see
“Children in the vehicle”.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries
is significantly increased if the child
restraints are not properly secured in the
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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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event of an accident. For this reason, heavy
objects must be tied down.
Vehicle occupants could be injured by
objects being thrown around in the vehicle
in the event of
Rhard braking
Ra change of direction
Ran accident
GWarning!
Do not place any objects on the mounted
cargo compartment cover blind.
Vehicle occupants could be injured by
objects being thrown around in the vehicle
in the event of
Rhard braking
Ra change of direction
Ran accident
GWarning!
Only place light loads in the parcel net
bag. Do not transport heavy, sharp-edged or
fragile objects in the parcel net bag. The
parcel net bag cannot sufficiently secure
loads in an accident.
Vehicle occupants could be injured by
objects being thrown around in the vehicle
in the event of
Rhard braking
Ra change of direction
Ran accident
Observe the loading guidelines.
The cargo compartment cover blind
Rserves to protect objects that are stored
in the vehicle’s cargo compartment from
prying eyes
Rprevents smaller objects from
penetrating into the passenger
compartment from the cargo
compartment; however, it is not intended
to act as a load restraining device
The parcel net bag
Ris for storing small, lightweight objects
Rprevents small objects from sliding
around inside the passenger
compartment
! If objects are placed on the cargo
compartment cover blind when mounted,
the cover may be damaged.
Fitting
If you wish to use cargo compartment cover
blind \000F as normal, assemble it in top
mountings \000G. If you do not need the cargo
compartment cover blind, insert in bottom
mountings \000
XOpening: Open the tailgates.XPull handle \000F on the inside of the
tailgate backward.
XLift up the storage compartment cover.XClosing: Close storage compartment
cover \000F.
XPress on the “PRESS” marking in the
middle of storage compartment cover \000F
until it engages audibly.
XClose the tailgates (Y page 55).
Loading instructions
GWarning!
Transport heavy or hard objects in the
cargo compartment, not in the passenger
compartment.
Always fasten items being carried as
securely as possible using fastening
materials appropriate for the weight and
size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or
sudden maneuvers, loose items may be
thrown around inside the vehicle, causing
injury to vehicle occupants.
GWarning!
To help avoid personal injury during a
collision or sudden maneuver, exercise
care when storing objects in the vehicle.
Put luggage or cargo in the cargo
compartment if possible. Do not pile
luggage or cargo higher than the seat
backrests.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will
help to prevent stored objects from being
thrown about and injuring vehicle
occupants during
Rbraking
Rvehicle maneuvers
Ran accident
GWarning!
No racks or loads may be secured to the roof
of the vehicle, as
Rthe panorama roof* may be damaged, thus
injuring persons
Rthis can have a substantial adverse
effect on the driving dynamics of the
vehicle, thus causing accidents
Rthe rack and/or the load could detach and
through this cause an accident or other
people could be injured by the load and/
or rack that has fallen off
GWarning!
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving.
Among other dangers, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness and
death.
GWarning!
Do not store any flammable substances
inside the vehicle that could ignite and
start a fire.
GWarning!
The manufacturer has not approved your
vehicle for towing a trailer. A trailer can
permanently impair driving safety.
The gross vehicle weight which is the
weight of the vehicle including fuel, tools,
installed accessories, passengers, and
luggage/cargo must never exceed the load
limit and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) for your vehicle as specified on the
placard located on the driver’s door
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B‑pillar (Y page 214). In addition, the load
must be distributed in such a way so that
the weight on each axle never exceeds the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the
front and rear axle. The GVWR and GAWR for
your vehicle are indicated on the
certification label which can be found on
the driver’s door B‑pillar.
For more information, see “Loading the
vehicle” (Y page 132).
The handling characteristics of a fully
loaded vehicle depend greatly on the load
distribution. It is therefore recommended
to load the vehicle with the heaviest items
being placed towards the front of the
vehicle.
Please pay attention to and comply with the
following instructions when loading the
vehicle and transporting cargo:
RAlways place items being carried
against seat backrests, and fasten them
as securely as possible.
RThe heaviest portion of the cargo should
always be kept as low as possible against
seat backrests.
RDo not stack loads higher than the top
edge of the head restraints.
RMake sure no luggage/cargo items can get
above or next to the driver’s and/or
passenger seat into the passenger
compartment.
RMake sure luggage/cargo is properly
secured.
RAlways use, if so equipped, cargo net*
when transporting cargo.
Useful features
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
Glare through the windshield
XSwing sun visor \000F down.
Glare through a side window
XSwing sun visor \000F down.XDisengage sun visor \000F from
mounting \000G.
XPivot sun visor \000F to the side.
Sun screen*
The sun screen provides protection from
sun rays and from heat generated by the
panorama roof*.
The sun screen can be adjusted to any
desired position.
XOpening or closing: Move sun screen \000F
forward or backward using the handle.
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The Tire and Loading Information placard
lists the recommended cold tire inflation
pressures 0046 for maximum loaded vehicle
weight. The tire inflation pressures listed
apply to the tires installed as original
equipment.
Important notes on tire inflation
pressure
GWarning!
If the tire inflation pressure drops
repeatedly, check the tires for punctures
from foreign objects and/or whether air is
leaking from the valves or from around the
rim.
Tire temperature and tire inflation
pressure are also increased while driving,
depending on the driving speed and the
tire load.
Potential problems associated with
underinflated and overinflated tires
Underinflated tires
GWarning!
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated
tires wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to fail from
being overheated.
Underinflated tires can
R cause excessive and uneven tire wear
R adversely affect fuel economy
R lead to tire failure from being
overheated
R adversely affect handling
characteristics
Overinflated tiresGWarning!
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated
tires can adversely affect handling and
ride comfort, wear unevenly, increase
stopping distance, and result in sudden
deflation (blowout) because they are more
likely to become punctured or damaged by
road debris, potholes etc.
Overinflated tires can
R adversely affect handling
characteristics
R cause uneven tire wear
R be more prone to damage from road
hazards
R adversely affect ride comfort
R increase stopping distance
Checking tire inflation pressure
Safety notes
GWarning!
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated
tires wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to fail from
being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated
tires can adversely affect handling and
ride comfort, wear unevenly, increase
128Tires and wheels>> Operation.
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