
Driving with a trailerFig. 112
Swivel out the 13-pin power
socket
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 123.
Before the journey
›
Grip the 13-pin socket on the handle
A
and swing out in the direction of the
arrow » Fig. 112 .
›
Lift off protective cap
5
» Fig. 104 on page 119.
After the journey
›
Grip the 13-pin socket on the handle
A
and swing in the opposite direction to
the arrow » Fig. 112.
›
Place the protective cover
5
» Fig. 104 on page 119 onto the tow bar.
Safety eyelet
The purpose of the safety eyelet
B
» Fig. 112 is to attach the breakaway cable of
the trailer.
When attaching the breakaway cable to the safety eyelet, it must sag freely
against the vehicle in all trailer positions (sharp bends, in reverse etc.).
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. The national legal requirements must be observed.
Headlights
The front of the vehicle may lift up when a trailer is being towed and the head-
lights may dazzle other road users.
Adjust the headlights using the headlight beam control » page 41.
Driving speed
For safety reasons, do not drive faster than 80 km/h when towing a trailer.
Immediately reduce your speed as soon as even the slightest swaying of the trail-
er is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by accelerating.
Brakes
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first, then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from
the trailer wheels locking.
On downhill sections shift down a gear in good time to also use the engine as a brake.
Engine overheating
If the needle for the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area
or the red area of the scale, the speed must be reduced immediately.
Stop and switch off the engine if the indicator light
in the instrument cluster
starts to flash » page 16. Wait a few minutes and check the level of cool-
ant » page 169 .
The following guidelines must be observed » page 16.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.WARNING■ Never use the safety eyelet for towing!■Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic sit-
uation.■
Improper or incorrectly connected electric cables can energise the trailer and
cause functional faults to the vehicle's entire electrical system as well as acci-
dents and severe injuries.
■
Work on the electrical system must only be carried out by specialist garages.
■
Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical con-
nections for the tail lights or other current sources.
Note
■ After coupling the trailer and connecting the power socket, check that the rear
lights on the trailer are working correctly.■
If there is an error in the trailer lighting, check the fuses in the fuse box in the
dash panel » page 197.
124Driving

›Adjust the mirrors, the front seat and head restraint to your body size.
› Advise your passengers to adjust the head restraints to their body size.
› Protect children in suitable child seats with correctly fastened seat
belts » page 142 , Transporting children safely .
› Adopt the correct seated position
» page 127. Tell your passengers to assume
the correct seated position.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt. Also inform passengers to fasten the seat belt
correctly » page 130 .
What influences the driving safety?
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 126.
The driver is fully responsible for himself and his occupants. If your driving safety
is effected, you place yourself and the oncoming traffic at risk.
The following guidelines must therefore be observed. › Do not become distracted from concentrating on the traffic situation, e.g. by
your passengers or mobile phone calls.
› Never drive when your driving ability is impaired, e.g. due to medication, alcohol
or drugs.
› Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
› Always adjust the driving speed to the road, traffic and weather conditions.
› Take regular breaks on long journeys – at least every two hours.
Correct seated position
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Correct seated position for the driver
128
Correct seated position for the front passenger
128
Correct seated position for the passengers in the rear seats
128
Examples of incorrect seated positions
129WARNINGGeneral information■The front seats and head restraints must be adjusted to match the body
size at all times and the seat belt must always be fastened properly to provide the most effective levels of protection to the passengers.■
If the occupant adopts an incorrect seated position, he is exposed to life-
threatening injuries, in case he is hit by a deployed airbag.
■
If the occupants on the rear seats are not sitting upright, the risk of injury is
increased due to incorrect routing of the seat belt.
■
The seat backrests must not be tilted too far back when driving, as this will
impair the function of the seat belts and of the airbag system – risk of injury!
WARNINGInformation for the driver■Always assume the correct seated position before setting off and do not
change this position while driving. Also advise your passengers to adopt the
correct seated position and not to change this position while the car is mov-
ing.■
Maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the steering wheel. Not maintaining
this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to
properly protect you - hazard!
■
When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the outer
edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold the steering wheel in
the 12 o'clock position or in any other way (e.g. in the middle or inner edge of
the steering wheel). In such cases, you could severely injure the arms, hands
and head when the driver airbag is deployed.
■
Ensure that there are no objects in the driver's footwell as they may get
caught behind the pedals when driving or applying the braking. You would then no longer be able to operate the clutch, brake or accelerate.
127Passive Safety

CAUTION■When washing the car by hand, protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged
metal parts (e.g. when cleaning the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings
or the wheel trims, etc.) - There is a risk of cuts!■
Only apply slight pressure when cleaning the vehicle's paintwork.
Automatic car wash systems
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 152.
The usual precautionary measures must be taken before washing the vehicle in
an automatic car wash system (e.g. closing the windows and the sliding/tilting
roof etc.).
If your vehicle is fitted with any particular attached parts, such as a spoiler, roof
rack system, two-way radio aerial etc., it is best to consult the operator of the car
wash system beforehand.
After an automatic wash with wax treatment, the lips of the wipers should be cleaned with cleaning agents specially designed for the purpose, and then de-
greased.
WARNINGFold in the exterior mirrors to prevent damage before washing the vehicle in
an automatic car wash system.
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 152.
When washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, the instructions for use
of the equipment must be observed. This applies in particular to the pressure
used and to the spraying distance .
Maintain a sufficiently large distance to the parking aid sensors and soft materials
such as rubber hoses or insulation material.
WARNINGNever use circular spray nozzles or dirt cutters!
CAUTION
■ If washing the vehicle in the winter using a hose or high-pressure cleaner, en-
sure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locking cylinders or the
door/panel joints – risk of freezing!■
To avoid damaging the parking aid sensors while cleaning with high-pressure
cleaners or steam jets, the sensors must only be directly sprayed for short periods
while a minimum distance of 10 cm must be observed.
■
The temperature of the water used for cleaning must not exceed 60 °C – risk of
damaging the vehicle.
■
See also Washing cars with decorative films using a high-pressure clean-
er » page 155 .
Taking care of your vehicle exterior
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Taking care of your vehicle's paintwork
154
Plastic parts
154
Rubber seals
155
Chrome parts
155
Decorative films
155
Windows and exterior mirrors
155
Headlight lenses
156
Door lock cylinders
156
Cavity protection
156
Wheels
156
Underbody protection
157
Regular and proper care help to retain the efficiency and value of your vehicle. It
may also be one of the requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims relat- ing to corrosion damage and paint defects on the bodywork.
153Vehicle care

Rubber sealsFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 153.
All door seals and window guides are factory-treated with a colourless matt var- nish layer to prevent the freezing of painted body parts and to protect against
driving noise.
Do not treat the door seals and window guides with any products whatsoever.
CAUTION
Applying additional treatments to the seals can corrode the protective coating,
and driving noise may occur.
Chrome parts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 153.
First clean the chrome parts with a damp cloth and then polish them with a soft,dry cloth.
If this method does not completely clean chrome parts, use a specific chrome care product.
CAUTION
Do not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment - risk of surface scratches.
Decorative films
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 153.
Wash the films with a mild soap solution and clean, warm water. Never use harsh
cleaning products or chemical solvents, as this could damage the films.
The following instructions must be followed when washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner.
› The minimum distance between the nozzle and the vehicle body should be 50
cm.
› Keep jet perpendicular to the film surface.
› The maximum water temperature is 50 °C.
› The maximum water pressure is 80 bar.
CAUTION
In the winter months, do not use an ice scraper to remove ice and snow from the
areas with films. Do not use any other objects to remove frozen layers of snow or
ice – risk of film damage.
Windows and exterior mirrors
Fig. 130
Fuel filler flap: Ice scraper
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 153.
Use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and mir-rors.
The ice scraper can be found on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
›
Open the fuel filler flap.
›
Slide out the ice scraper in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 130.
Regularly clean windows from the inside with clean water. Dry the glass surfaces with a clean chamois leather or a cloth intended for this
purpose.
155Vehicle care

When drying the windows after washing the vehicle, do not use window leathers
that have been used to polish the bodywork. Residues of preservatives in the
window leather can make the window dirty and reduce visibility.
CAUTION
■ The ice scraper should not be moved forward and backward but in one direction
to avoid any damage to the surface of the glass.■
Snow or ice that is contaminated with coarse dirt such as fine gravel, sand or
salt must not be removed from the windows and mirrors – there is a risk of dam-
age to the surface of the windows and mirrors.
■
Do not remove snow or ice from glass parts using warm or hot water – risk of
cracks forming in the glass.
■
When removing snow or ice from windows and mirror lenses ensure that the
paintwork of the vehicle is not to damage.
■
Do not clean the inside of the windows with sharp-edged objects or corrosive
and acidic cleaning agents – there is a risk of damaging the heating elements or
window aerial.
Headlight lenses
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 153.
Clean plastic front headlight lenses using clean, warm water and soap.
CAUTION
■ Never wipe headlights with a dry cloth.■Do not use any sharp objects to clean the plastic lenses, as this may damage
the protective paintwork and consequently cause cracks to form on the headlight
lenses.■
Do not use any harsh cleaning products or chemical solvents to clean the head-
lights, as this could damage the headlight lenses.
Door lock cylinders
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 153.
Specific products must be used for de-icing door lock cylinders.
CAUTIONWhen washing your vehicle, ensure as little water as possible gets into the lock-
ing cylinders.
Cavity protection
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 153.
All the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protected for
life by a layer of protective wax applied in the factory.
This wax protection does not need to be inspected or re-applied. If any small amount of wax flow out of the cavities at high temperatures, thesemust be removed with a plastic scraper and the stains cleaned using a petroleum
cleaner.
WARNINGSafety regulations should be observed when using petroleum cleaner to re-
move wax – risk of fire!
Wheels
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 153.
Wheel rims
Also thoroughly wash the wheel rims when washing the vehicle on a regular ba-
sis.
Regularly remove salt and brake abrasion, otherwise the rim material will be cor-
roded.
Damage to the paint layer on the wheel rims must be touched up immediately.
Light alloy wheels
After washing thoroughly and treat the wheel rims with a protective product for
light alloy wheels. Products which cause abrasion must not be used to treat the
wheel rims.
156General Maintenance

Synchronising the remote controlFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 193.
If the vehicle does not unlock when pressing the remote control, the key may not
be synchronised. This can occur when the buttons on the remote control key are actuated a number of times outside of the operative range of the equipment or
the battery in the remote control key was replaced.
Synchronise the key as follows.
›
Press any button on the remote control key.
›
Pressing of the button means that the door will unlock with the key within 1 mi-
nute.
Emergency unlocking/locking
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Locking a door
194
Unlocking the tailgate
194
Selector lever-emergency unlocking
195
Locking a door
Fig. 160
Left rear door: Emergency lock-
ingFirst read and observe the introductory information given on page 194.
An emergency locking mechanism is located on the face side of the doors which
have no locking cylinder, it is only visible after opening the door.
›
Remove the panel
A
» Fig. 160 .
›
Insert the key into the slot
B
and turn it into the horizontal position in the di-
rection of the arrow (mirror-inverted on the right doors).
›
Replace the cover.
After closing the door, it cannot be opened from the outside. The door is unlocked by pulling on the door opening lever and is then opened from the outside.
Unlocking the tailgate
Fig. 161
Emergency unlocking of the boot
lid
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 194.
Unlocking
›
Fold the rear seat backrest forward » page 55.
›
Insert the vehicle key into the slot in the trim panel as far as it goes » Fig. 161
.
›
Unlock the lid by moving it in the direction of the arrow.
›
Open the boot lid.
194Do-it-yourself

›Reinsert the cover into the dash panel in the opposite direction to the arrow
such that the guide pins are guided into the dash panel openings.
Carefully push the cover in.
Assignment of the fuses in the dash panel
Fig. 166
Schematic representation of the fuse box for vehicles with left-
hand steering/right-hand steering
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 197.
No.Power consumer1S-contact2START - STOP3Instrument cluster, headlight range adjustment, telephone, oil level
sensor, diagnostic port4Control unit for ABS/ESC, steering angle sensor strip with switches5Petrol engine: Speed regulating system6Reversing light (manual gearbox)7Ignition, engine control unit, automatic gearbox8Brake pedal switch, clutch switch, engine cooling fan9Operating controls for the heating, electronic control unit for air condi-
tioning system, park distance control, window lift, engine cooling fan, heated washer nozzles10DC-DC converter11Mirror adjustmentNo.Power consumer12Control unit for trailer detection13Electronic control unit for automatic gearbox, selector lever of the au-tomatic gearbox14Headlight beam control15Not assigned16Power steering, speed sensor, engine control unit, control unit for fuel
pump17Daytime running lights/radio for vehicles with START-STOP18Mirror heater19Ignition lock input20Engine control unit, electronic control unit for fuel pump, fuel pump21Reversing lamp (automatic gearbox), fog lights with the function
CORNER
22
Operating controls for the heating, electronic control unit for air condi- tioning system, telephone, instrument cluster, steering angle sender,
multi-function steering wheel, ignition key removal lock, diagnostic
port23Interior lighting, storage compartment and luggage compartment, side
lights24Central control unit25Not assigned26Rear window wiper27Not assigned28Petrol engine: Purge valve, PTC heater29Injection, coolant pump30Fuel pump, ignition system, cruise control31Lambda probe32High pressure fuel pump, pressure valve33Engine control unit34Engine control unit, vacuum pump35Switch illumination, number plate light, parking light36Main beam37Rear fog light, DC-DC converter38Fog lights 198Do-it-yourself

The operating weight also contains the weight of the driver (75 kg), the weight ofthe operating fluids, the tool kit, and a fuel tank filled to 90 % capacity.
It is possible to calculate the approximate loading capacity from the differencebetween the permissible total weight and the operating weight »
.
The payload consists of the following components: › Passengers
› All items of luggage and other loads
› Roof load including roof rack system
› Equipment not included in the operating weight
› Trailer drawbar load when towing a trailer (max. 50 kg).
Fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions according to ECE regulations and EU
directives
The measurement of the intra-urban cycle begins with a cold start of the engine. Afterwards standard urban driving is simulated.
In the extra-urban driving cycle, the vehicle is accelerated and decelerated in all
gears, corresponding to daily routine driving conditions. The driving speed varies
between 0 and 120 km/h.
The calculation of the combined fuel consumption considers a weighting of about 37 % for the intra-urban cycle and 63 % for the extra-urban cycle.
WARNINGDo not exceed the specified maximum permissible weights – risk of accident
and damage!
Note
■ If required, you can find out the precise weight of your vehicle at a specialist ga-
rage.■
The fuel consumption and emission values have been determined in accordance
with rules and under conditions set out by legal or technical requirements for de-
termining operational and technical data for motor vehicles.
■
Depending on the range of equipment, style of driving, traffic situation, weather
influences and vehicle condition, consumption values may deviate from the indi-
cated values.
Dimensions
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 207.
Vehicle dimensions (mm)
RapidRapid SpacebackLength44834304Width17061706Width including exterior mirror19401940Height1461/1488 a)
(1474/1500 a)
) b)1459/1471 a)
(1472/1484 a)
) b)Clearance136/143 b)134/141b)Wheel base26022602Track gauge front/rear1457/1494
(1463/1500) c)1457/1494
(1463/1500) c)a)
Valid for vehicles with the Amundsen+ navigation system.
b)
Applies to vehicles with a rough road package.
c)
Applies to cars fitted with the 1.2 l/55 kW MPI and 1.2 l/63 kW TSI engines and 14" wheel rims.
208Technical data