
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‐
ment.Seite 66ControlsDriving66
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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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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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Before exiting the vehicle, make sure that posi‐
tion P of the automatic transmission is engaged.
Otherwise, the vehicle may begin to roll.
Kickdown
Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving
performance. Press on the gas pedal beyond the
resistance point at the full throttle position.
Engaging the transmission position▷Transmission position P can only be disen‐
gaged when the vehicle drive readiness is
engaged and the brake pedal is depressed.▷With the vehicle stationary, press on the
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N;
otherwise, the shift command will not be
executed: shift lock.
Depress the brake until you start driv‐
ing
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after
you select a driving position, maintain pres‐
sure on the brake pedal until you are ready
to start.◀
Engaging D, R and N
Briefly push the selector lever in the desired di‐
rection, beyond a resistance point if necessary.
After releasing the selector lever, it returns to its
center position.
Press unlock button, in order to:
▷Engage R.▷Shift out of P.
Engaging P
Press button P.
Sport program DS and manual mode M/
S
Activating sport program DS
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
DS is displayed in the instrument cluster.
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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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LampsVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
At a glance1Rear fog lamps2Front fog lamps3Automatic headlamp control, Adaptive Light
Control, High-beam Assistant, Welcome
lamps, Daytime running lights4Lamps off, daytime running lights5Parking lamps, daytime running lights6Low beams, welcome lamps, High-beam
Assistant7Instrument lighting8Headlamp range control
Parking lamps/low beams,
headlamp control
General information
Switch position: 0,
,
If the driver door is opened with the ignition
switched off, the exterior lighting is automati‐
cally switched off at these switch settings.
Parking lamps
Switch position
: the vehicle lamps light
up on all sides, e.g., for parking.
Do not use the parking lamps for extended pe‐
riods; otherwise, the battery may become dis‐
charged and it would then be impossible to start
the engine.
When parking, it is preferable to switch on the
one-sided roadside parking lamps, refer to
page 90.
Low beams
Switch position
with the ignition switched
on: the low beams light up.
Welcome lamps
When parking the vehicle, leave the switch in
position
or : the parking and interior
lamps light up briefly when the vehicle is un‐
locked.
Activating/deactivating
1."Settings"2."Lighting"3."Welcome light"
The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
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Protective action
Airbags are not triggered in every impact situa‐
tion, e.g., in less severe accidents or rear-end
collisions.
Information on how to ensure the optimal
protective effect of the airbags▷Keep at a distance from the airbags.▷Always grasp the steering wheel on the
steering wheel rim, holding your hands at
the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, to keep
the danger of injury to your hands or arms as
low as possible if the airbag is triggered.▷There should be no people, animals, or ob‐
jects between an airbag and a person.▷Do not use the cover of the front airbag on
the front passenger side as a storage area.▷Keep the dashboard and window on the
front passenger side clear, i.e., do not cover
with adhesive labels or coverings, and do not
attach holders such as for navigation instru‐
ments and mobile phones.▷Make sure that the front passenger is sitting
correctly, i.e., keeps his or her feet and legs
in the footwell; otherwise, leg injuries can
occur if the front airbag is triggered.▷Do not place slip covers, seat cushions or
other objects on the front passenger seat
that are not approved specifically for seats
with integrated side airbags.▷Do not hang pieces of clothing, such as jack‐
ets, over the backrests.▷Make sure that occupants keep their heads
away from the side airbag and do not rest
against the head airbag; otherwise, injuries
can occur if the airbags are triggered.▷Do not remove the airbag restraint system.▷Do not remove the steering wheel.▷Do not apply adhesive materials to the air‐
bag cover panels, cover them or modify
them in any way.▷Never modify either the individual compo‐
nents or the wiring in the airbag system. This
also applies to steering wheel covers, the
dashboard, the seats, the roof pillars and the
sides of the headliner.◀
Even when all instructions are followed closely,
injury from contact with the airbags cannot be
ruled out in certain situations.
The ignition and inflation noise may lead to
short-term and, in most cases, temporary hear‐
ing impairment in sensitive individuals.
In the case of a malfunction, deactivation
and after triggering of the airbags
Do not touch the individual components imme‐
diately after the system has been triggered; oth‐
erwise, there is the danger of burns.
Only have the airbags checked, repaired or dis‐
mantled and the airbag generator scrapped by
your service center or a workshop that has the
necessary authorization for handling explosives.
Non-professional attempts to service the sys‐
tem could lead to failure in an emergency or un‐
desired triggering of the airbag, either of which
could result in injury.◀
Warnings and information on the airbags are
also found on the sun visors.
Functional readiness of the airbag
system
When the ignition is switch on, the warn‐
ing lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up briefly and thereby indicates the op‐
erational readiness of the entire airbag system
and the belt tensioner.
Airbag system malfunctioning
▷Warning lamp does not come on when the
ignition is turned on.▷The warning lamp lights up continuously.Seite 95SafetyControls95
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Driving stability control systemsVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during brak‐
ing.
The vehicle remains steerable even during full
brake applications, thus increasing active
safety.
ABS is operational every time you start the en‐
gine.
Brake assistant
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
automatically produces the maximum braking
force boost. It thus helps to achieve the shortest
possible braking distance during full braking.
This system utilizes all of the benefits provided
by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
for the duration of the full braking.
Drive-off assistant
This system supports driving away on gradients.
The parking brake is not required.1.Hold the vehicle in place with the foot brake.2.Release the foot brake and drive away with‐
out delay.After the foot brake is released, the vehicle is
held in place for approx. 2 seconds.
Depending on the vehicle load, the vehicle may
roll back slightly.
Driving off without delay
After releasing the foot brake, start driving
without delay, since the drive-off assistant will
not hold the vehicle in place for more than ap‐
prox. 2 seconds and the vehicle will begin rolling
back.◀
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control
The concept
DSC prevents traction loss in the driving wheels
when driving away and accelerating.
DSC also recognizes unstable vehicle condi‐
tions, such as fishtailing or nose-diving. Subject
to physical limits, DSC helps to keep the vehicle
on a steady course by reducing engine speed
and by applying brakes at individual wheels.
Adjust your driving style to the situation
An appropriate driving style is always the
responsibility of the driver.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even
with DSC.
Therefore, do not reduce the additional safety
margin by driving in a risky manner.◀
Indicator/warning lamps The indicator lamp flashes: DSC con‐
trols the drive forces and brake forces.
The indicator lamp lights up: DSC has
failed.Seite 107Driving stability control systemsControls107
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