Transmission position P with the ignition
off
When the ignition is switched off, position P is
engaged automatically. When in an automatic
car wash, for example, ensure that the ignition is
not switched off accidentally.◀
The ignition is switched off automatically in the
following situations while the vehicle is station‐
ary and the engine is off:▷When locking the vehicle, and when the low
beams are activated.▷Shortly before the battery is discharged
completely, so that the engine can still be
started. This function is only available when
the low beams are switched off.▷When opening and closing the driver door, if
the driver's seat belt is unbuckled and the
low beams are switched off.▷While the driver's seat belt is unbuckled, if
the driver's door is open and the low beams
are switched off.
When the ignition is switched off, by opening or
closing the driver's door or unbuckling the driv‐
er's seat belt, the radio ready state remains ac‐
tive.
Drive readiness
When drive readiness is activated, the vehicle is
operational. The activated drive readiness is the
equivalent of starting the engine in conventional
vehicles.
The following are the different drive readiness
variants:
▷Electric driving, refer to page 67:
The combustion engine is not switched on.▷Driving with the combustion engine, refer to
page 67:
The vehicle is powered by the combustion
engine.Drive readiness in detail
General information Do not leave the vehicle unattended
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
drive readiness active; otherwise, it presents a
potential source of danger.◀
Activating drive readiness1.Close the driver's door.2.Depress the brake pedal.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Drive readiness is activated:
▷Starting the combustion engine or▷Electric drive readiness, Silent Start.
Electric drive readiness, Silent Start
The vehicle is ready for driving without starting
the combustion engine.
Silent Start is possible after activating radio
ready state if the conditions for electric driving,
refer to page 67, have been met.
Display The READY display indicates
that the vehicle is ready for driv‐
ing.
Awareness of vehicle reduced when
driven in electric mode
When driving in electric mode, note that due to
the lack of engine noise pedestrians and other
road users will not be as aware of the vehicle as
they usually would with a conventional engine.
For instance, pay particular attention when ma‐
neuvering into and out of a parking space.◀
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Starting the combustion engineEnclosed areas
Do not let the engine run in enclosed
areas; otherwise, breathing of exhaust fumes
may lead to loss of consciousness and death.
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, an
odorless and colorless but highly toxic gas.◀
Unattended vehicle
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running; doing so poses a risk of dan‐
ger.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning, set the parking brake and place the trans‐
mission in position P or neutral to prevent the
vehicle from moving.◀
Repeated starting in quick succession
Avoid repeated unsuccessful attempts to
start the vehicle or starting the vehicle several
times in quick succession. Otherwise, the fuel is
not burned or is inadequately burned, posing a
risk of overheating and damage to the catalytic
converter.◀
The combustion engine is started with Activate
drive, refer to page 65, readiness under the fol‐
lowing conditions:▷The drive system is not at operating tem‐
perature.▷The temperature of the hybrid system is too
high.▷The high-voltage battery has an insufficient
charge.
Driving away
1.Activate drive readiness.2.Select transmission position D, M/S or R.3.Release the parking brake.4.Drive away.Deactivating drive readiness
After parking the vehicle, you may hear noises
due to operation of the hybrid system, such as
for cooling of the high-voltage battery.
After stopping the vehicle:1.Select transmission position P.2.Press the Start/Stop button.3.Set the parking brake.
Before driving into a car wash
In order for the vehicle to be able to roll into a car
wash, heed the information regarding Washing
in automatic car washes, refer to page 289.
Auto Start/Stop function
The concept
The Auto Start/Stop function helps save fuel.
The system switches off the combustion engine
when conditions for electric driving, refer to
page 67, have been met. The ignition remains
switched on. The tachometer registers 0 rpm. If
necessary, the combustion engine starts auto‐
matically.
Note
The combustion engine is not switched off au‐
tomatically in the following situations:
▷The combustion engine is not yet at oper‐
ating temperature.▷The high-voltage battery charge is very low
or there is a high load on the vehicle electri‐
cal system, for instance due to a high load
from automatic climate control.▷The interior is in the heating or cooling
phase.▷The engine compartment lid is unlocked.▷The vehicle is being optimized for the cur‐
rent driving style, for instance during the
breaking-in period or after a service appoint‐
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▷There are hybrid system faults.
Safety mode
The combustion engine does not start automat‐
ically in the following situations after an auto‐
matic engine stop:
▷When the driver's door is open and neither
the brake nor accelerator pedal are de‐
pressed.▷When the hood is unlocked.
The indicator lamps come on. The combustion
engine can only be started via the Start/Stop
button.
Switching off the vehicle during an
automatic engine stop
During an automatic engine stop, the vehicle
can be switched off permanently, e.g., when
leaving it.
1.Press the Start/Stop button. The ignition is
switched off. The Auto Start/Stop function
is deactivated.
Transmission position P is engaged auto‐
matically.2.Set the parking brake.
Malfunction
The Auto Start/Stop function no longer
switches of the engine automatically in the event
of a malfunction. A message is displayed. It is
possible to continue driving. Have the system
checked.
Electric driving: eDRIVE
Requirements
Electric driving is possible under the following
conditions:
▷The speed does not exceed 35 mph, approx.
60 km/h.▷The high-voltage battery is sufficiently
charged.▷Transmission position D or R is engaged.▷The drive system is at operating tempera‐
ture.▷The accelerator pedal is only slightly de‐
pressed.▷The driver's door is closed.
In addition, the combustion engine is switched
off during braking even below 50 mph, approx.
80 km/h or when coasting below 35 mph, ap‐
prox. 60 km/h.
In ECO PRO mode, already when coasting be‐
low 100 mph, approx. 160 km/h.
Possible cruising range
Depending on the charge of the high-voltage
battery, the vehicle can generally be driven us‐
ing electric power up to 2 miles, approx. 3.5 km.
Driving with the combustion
engine: DRIVE
The combustion engine provides the drive
power to propel the vehicle. The high-voltage
battery is charged at the same time.
Automatic start while driving
The combustion engine is automatically started
under the following conditions while driving:
▷Transmission position M/S is engaged.▷The speed does not exceed 35 mph, approx.
60 km/h.▷The high-voltage battery charge is insuffi‐
cient or it is fully charged, such as when driv‐
ing downhill.▷The required power output is increased,
such as due to the accelerator pedal position
or driving uphill.Seite 67DrivingControls67
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The indicator lamp lights up red, a signal
sounds and the brake lamps light up.
Lower lamp: indicator lamp in Canadian
models.
If the vehicle is braked to a speed of approx.
2 mph/3 km/h, the parking brake remains set.
Releasing
With the ignition switched on:
Automatic transmission: Press the switch
while the brake is pressed or transmission
position P is engaged.
The LED and indicator lamp go out.
The parking brake is released.
Automatic Release in cars with
automatic transmission
For automatic release, operate the accelerator
pedal.
The LED and indicator lamp go out.
Subject to the following requirements, the park‐
ing brake is automatically released by operation
of the accelerator pedal:▷Drive readiness on.▷Drive position engaged.▷Driver buckled in and doors closed.
Inadvertent operation of the accelerator
pedal
Make sure that the accelerator pedal is not op‐
erated unintentionally; otherwise, the vehicle is
set in motion and there is a risk of an accident. ◀
Automatic Hold
The concept
This system assists the driver by automatically
setting and releasing the brake, such as when
moving in stop-and-go traffic.
The vehicle is automatically held in place when
it is stationary.
On inclines, the system prevents the vehicle
from rolling backward when driving away.
For your safety
Under the following conditions, Automatic Hold
is automatically deactivated and the parking
brake is set:
▷The engine is switched off.▷A door is opened and driver's safety belt is
unbuckled while the vehicle is stationary.▷The moving vehicle is brought to a standstill
using the parking brake.
The indicator lamp switches from green
to red and the letters AUTO H go out.
Lower lamp: indicator lamp in Canadian
models.
Leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning, engage position P of the automatic trans‐
mission and ensure that the parking brake is set.
Otherwise, the vehicle may begin to roll.◀
Activating
This function can be activated when the driver's
door is closed and the safety belt is fastened,
and while driving.
Press the button.
The LED and the letters AUTO H light
up.
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Rain sensor
The concept
The rain sensor automatically controls the time
between wipes depending on the intensity of
the rainfall. The sensor is located on the wind‐
shield, directly behind the interior rearview mir‐
ror.
Activating/deactivating
Press the button on the wiper lever.
The LED in the steering column stalk lights up.
Deactivate the rain sensor in car washes
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through an automatic car wash; otherwise, dam‐
age could be caused by undesired wiper activa‐
tion.◀
Rain sensor, sensitivity
Turn the thumbwheel.
Clean the windshield, headlamps
Pull the lever.
The system sprays washer fluid on the wind‐
shield and activates the wipers briefly.
In addition, the headlamps are cleaned at regular
intervals when the vehicle lights are switched
on.
Do not use the washer system at freezing
temperatures
Do not use the washers if there is any danger
that the fluid will freeze on the windshield; oth‐
erwise, your vision could be obscured. For this
reason, use antifreeze.
Avoid using the washer when the reservoir is
empty; otherwise, you could damage the
pump.◀
Windshield washer nozzles
The washer jets are automatically heated when‐
ever the ignition is switched on.
Fold-out position of the wipers
Required when changing the wiper blades or
under frosty conditions, for example.
1.Switch off the ignition.2.Under frosty conditions, ensure that the
wiper blades are not frozen onto the wind‐
shield.3.Press the wiper lever up beyond the point of
resistance and hold it for approx. 3 seconds,
until the wiper remains in a nearly vertical
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After the wipers are folded back down, the wiper
system must be reactivated.
Fold the wipers back down
Before switching the ignition on, fold the
wipers back down to the windshield; otherwise,
the wipers may become damaged when they are
switched on.◀1.Switch on the ignition.2.Press the wiper levers down. The wipers
move to their resting position and are ready
for operation.
Washer fluid
General information Antifreeze for washer fluid
Antifreeze is flammable. Therefore, keep
it away from sources of ignition.
Only keep it in the closed original container and
inaccessible to children.
Follow the instructions on the container.◀
Washer fluid reservoir Adding washer fluid
Only add washer fluid when the engine is
cool, and then close the cover completely to
avoid contact between the washer fluid and hot
engine parts.
Otherwise, there is the danger of fire and a risk
to personal safety if the fluid is spilled.◀
All washer nozzles are supplied from one reser‐
voir.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer
antifreeze, according to the manufacturer's rec‐
ommendations.
Mix the washer fluid before adding to maintain
the correct mixing ratio.
For the capacity, refer to technical data.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
Transmission positions
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for‐
ward gears are available.
R is Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N is Neutral
Use in automatic car washes, for example. The
vehicle can roll.
When the ignition is switched off, refer to
page 64, position P is engaged automatically.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
drive wheels are blocked.
P is engaged automatically:▷After deactivating drive readiness when the
vehicle is in radio ready state, refer to
page 64, or when the ignition is switched off,
refer to page 64, and when position R or D is
engaged.▷With the ignition is off, if position N is en‐
gaged.▷If the safety belt is unbuckled, the driver's
door is opened, and the brake pedal is not
pressed while the vehicle is stationary and
transmission position R or D is engaged.Seite 73DrivingControls73
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Several of the lamps are checked for proper
functioning and light up temporarily when the
engine is started or the ignition is switched on.
Overview: indicator/warning lampsSymbolFunction or systemTurn signalParking brakeParking brake in Canadian modelsAutomatic HoldFront fog lampsHigh beamsHigh-beam AssistantParking lamps, headlamp controlCruise controlLane departure warningDSC Dynamic Stability ControlDSC Dynamic Stability Control or
DTC Dynamic Traction ControlSymbolFunction or systemTire Pressure Monitor
Flat Tire MonitorSafety beltsAirbag systemSteering systemEmissionsEmissions in Canadian modelsBrake systemBrake system in Canadian modelsABS Antilock Brake SystemABS Antilock Brake System in Cana‐
dian modelsAt least one Check Control message
is displayed or is stored
Text messages
Text messages in combination with a symbol in
the instrument cluster explain a Check Control
message and the meaning of the indicator and
warning lamps.
Supplementary text messages
Addition information, such as on the cause of a
fault or the required action, can be called up via
Check Control.
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The supplementary text of urgent messages is
displayed on the Control Display automatically.
Symbols
Depending on the Check Control message, the
following functions can be selected.▷ "Owner's Manual"
Display additional information about the
Check Control message in the integrated
owner's manual.▷ "Service request"
Contact the service partner.▷ "Roadside Assistance"
Contact Roadside Assistance.
Hiding Check Control messages
Press the computer button on the turn signal
lever.
▷Some Check Control messages are dis‐
played continuously and are not cleared un‐
til the malfunction is eliminated. If several
malfunctions occur at once, the messages
are displayed consecutively.
These messages can be hidden for approx.
8 seconds. After this time, they are dis‐
played again automatically.▷Other Check Control messages are hidden
automatically after approx. 20 seconds.
They are stored and can be displayed again
later.Displaying stored Check Control
messages1."Vehicle Info"2."Vehicle status"3. "Check Control"4.Select the text message.
Messages after trip completion
Special messages that are displayed during
driving are displayed again after the ignition is
switched off.
Fuel gauge The vehicle inclination may
cause the display to vary.
Notes on refueling, refer to
page 258.
Tachometer Always avoid engine speeds in
the red warning field. In this
range, the fuel supply is inter‐
rupted to protect the engine.
Engine oil temperature
▷Cold engine: the pointer is at
the low temperature end.
Drive at moderate engine and
vehicle speeds.▷Normal operating tempera‐
ture: the pointer is in the mid‐
dle or in the left half of the
temperature display.▷Hot engine: the pointer is at the high tem‐
perature end. A Check Control message is
displayed in addition.Seite 79DisplaysControls79
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