
important information when circumstances
require you to place a child in the
passenger seat:
R
Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when
the Occupant Classification System
senses the weight of a typical
12‑month‑old child or less along with the
weight of an appropriate child restraint
on the passenger seat.
R A child in a rear-facing child restraint
on the passenger seat may be seriously
injured or even killed if the passenger
front air bag inflates in a collision.
R If you install a rear-facing child
restraint on the passenger seat, make
sure the 4 0 indicator lamp
is illuminated, indicating that the
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
Should the 4 0 indicator
lamp not illuminate or go out while the
restraint is installed, please check
installation. Periodically check the
4 0 indicator lamp while
driving to make sure the
4 0 indicator lamp is
illuminated. If the 4 0
indicator lamp goes out or remains out,
do not transport a child on the passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint
on the passenger seat may be seriously
injured or even killed if the passenger
front air bag inflates.
R If you place a child in a forward-facing
child restraint on the passenger seat,
move the seat as far back as possible, use
a proper child restraint recommended
for the age, size and weight of the child,
and secure child restraint with the
vehicle’s seat belt according to the child
seat manufacturer’s instructions. For
children larger than the typical
12‑month‑old child, the passenger front
air bag may or may not be activated. G
WARNING
Infants and small children should never
share a seat belt with another occupant.
During an accident, they could be crushed
between the occupant and seat belt.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries
is significantly increased if the child
restraints are not properly secured in the
vehicle and/or the child is not properly
secured in the child restraint.
Children too big for a toddler restraint
must
ride in a seat using regular seat belt.
Position shoulder belt across chest and
shoulder, not face or neck. A booster seat
may be necessary to achieve proper seat
belt positioning for children over 41 lbs
until they reach a height where a lap-
shoulder belt fits properly without a
booster.
When the child restraint is not in use,
remove it from the vehicle or secure it with
the seat belt to prevent the child restraint
from becoming a projectile in the event of
an accident.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if the children are secured in
a child restraint system. Unsupervised
children in a child restraint system may
use vehicle equipment and may cause an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
If you are using a rear-facing child
restraint system on the passenger seat, you
must verify that the passenger front air bag
is deactivated. When the passenger front
air bag is deactivated, the
4 0 indicator lamp is
illuminated (Y page 41).
Top tether
Top tether permits an additional
connection between a child restraint
system and the passenger seat. Proper
usage of the top tether, in accordance with
instructions provided by the child
restraint manufacturer, can further reduce
the risk of injuries. 44
Occupant safety
>> Safety.

X
Press button # on the key twice.
X Press and hold button $ on the key for
approximately two seconds.
or
X Pull the release handle in handle
recess : of the lower tailgate.
The upper tailgate is unlocked.
X Swivel the upper tailgate upwards to
open.
Observe the information on loading the
vehicle ( Y page 112).
For information on vehicle weights, see
“Vehicle specification” (Y page 215). Opening the lower tailgate on the
coupé
G
WARNING
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.
X Open the upper tailgate ( Y page 54). X
Pull either of the release levers :
backwards.
The lower tailgate is unlocked.
X Swivel 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 112).
For information on vehicle weights, see
“Vehicle specification” (Y page 215). Closing the tailgate(s) on the coupé
G
WARNING
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. X
Swivel the lower tailgate upwards to
close. Allow the two release levers to
engage audibly.
X Swivel the upper tailgate downwards to
close. G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take it with Opening and closing
55
>> Controls.
Z

g
For removing key
1
Ignition (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 162).2
Starting (
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
G
WARNING
All seat adjustments, as well as fastening
of seat belts, must be done before the
vehicle is operated. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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 the58
Seats
>> Controls.

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.
X Make sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.
X Switching on: Switch on the rear window
defroster (Y page 106).
The
exterior rear view mirror heating is
switched on.
X Switching off:
Switch off the rear window
defroster (Y page 106).
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 X
Adjusting the mirror: Manually move the
interior
rear view mirror up, down, left,
or right to the desired setting.
X Selecting the antiglare position: Tilt
the interior rear view mirror to the
antiglare position by moving lever :
forward or backward. Seat belts
Fastening the seat belts
G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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 62
Seat belts
>> Controls.

Rear window wiper/washer (coupé only)
X
Make sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.
X Activating intermittent wiping: Push the
wiper switch to position 1.
X Wiping with windshield washer fluid:
Push the wiper switch in direction of
arrow ; and hold in position until the
rear window is clean.
X Release the wiper switch.
The rear window wiper will wipe three
more times.
Intermittent wiping is still activated.
X Deactivating intermittent wiping: Pull
the wiper switch back to start position.
i The 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
R retractable 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 72
Soft top system (cabriolet only)
>> Controls.

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
R hard braking
R a change of direction
R an accident G
WARNING
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
R hard braking
R a change of direction
R an accident G
WARNING
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
R hard braking
R a change of direction
R an accident
Observe the loading guidelines.
The cargo compartment cover blind
R serves to protect objects that are stored
in the vehicle’s cargo compartment from
prying eyes
R prevents 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
R
is
for storing small, lightweight objects
R prevents 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 : as normal, assemble it in top
mountings ;. If you do not need the cargo
compartment
cover blind, insert in bottom
mountings =.
X Open the tailgate.
X Secure cargo compartment cover
blind : at the front of the cargo
compartment with the parcel net bag.
X Insert cargo compartment cover
blind : on the right-hand side in top
mounting ; or in bottom mounting =.108
Loading and storing
>> Controls.

Storage tray* in center console
X
Installing: Slide storage tray ; onto the
cones on the center console until it
engages audibly.
X Removing: Press levers :
simultaneously
towards the storage tray.
X Pull storage tray ;
away from the center
console.
X Opening: Pull handle =.
X Closing: Swivel storage tray ; back
until it engages.
Parcel nets Parcel nets are located on the in-board
sides of the seat backrests.
i
Vehicles equipped with an armrest*
on
the driver’s seat, have a parcel net on the
passenger seat only.
i Each parcel net is intended for light-
weight items of below 0.9 lb (0.4 kg). Example illustration: Parcel net on passenger
seat
:
Parcel net
Drawer* A drawer is located below the audio
system*
13
. X
Opening: Press on the center of
drawer :.
The drawer opens slightly.
X Pull drawer: to open completely.
X Closing: Press on drawer : until it
engages.
Storage compartment in the tailgate
(coupé only) You can store small objects in the storage
compartment in the tailgate.
13 Vehicles with audio system basic* only. Loading and storing
111
>> Controls.
* optional Z

X
Opening: Open the tailgates.
X Pull handle : on the inside of the
tailgate backward.
X Lift up the storage compartment cover.
X Closing: Close storage compartment
cover :.
X Press on the “PRESS” marking in the
middle of storage compartment cover :
until it engages audibly.
X Close the tailgates ( Y page 55).Loading instructions
G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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
R
braking
R vehicle maneuvers
R an accident G
WARNING
No racks or loads may be secured to the roof
of the vehicle, as
R the
panorama roof* may be damaged, thus
injuring persons
R this can have a substantial adverse
effect on the driving dynamics of the
vehicle, thus causing accidents
R the 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 G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
Do not store any flammable substances
inside the vehicle that could ignite and
start a fire. G
WARNING
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 112
Loading and storing
>> Controls.
* optional