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RearA storage compartment is located in the center
armrest between the seats.
Opening
Depending on the equipment in your vehicle,
the button is in the depression at the front of
the center armrest or on top of the center arm‐ rest.
Cupholders
Hints Shatter-proof containers and no hot
drinks
Use light and shatter-proof containers and do
not transport hot drinks. Otherwise, there is
the increased danger of injury in an accident.◀
Unsuitable containers
Do not forcefully push unsuitable con‐
tainers into the cupholders. This may result in
damage.◀
Front
To open: press on the cover.
Rear In the front of the center armrest.
To open: press the button.
To close: slide back.
Clothes hooks
The clothes hooks are located next to the grab
handles in the rear and on the door pillar in the
rear.
Do not obstruct view
When suspending clothing from the
hooks, ensure that it will not obstruct the driv‐
er's view.◀
No heavy objects
Do not hang heavy objects from the
hooks; otherwise, they may present a danger
to passengers during braking and evasive ma‐
neuvers.◀
Cargo area Net
Smaller objects can be stored in the net on the
side of the cargo area.
To transport larger objects, it can be pushed
down.
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Storage under the cargo floor panel
Fold up the cargo floor panel.
Lashing eyes To secure the cargo, refer to page 192, there
are lashing eyes in the cargo area.
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Driving tips
This chapter provides you with information useful in dealing with specific driving and operating modes.Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 956 056 - X/14
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Things to remember when drivingVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
Breaking-in period
General information Moving parts need time to adjust to one an‐
other (break-in time).
The following instructions will help accomplish
a long vehicle life and good efficiency.
Engine, transmission, and axle drive Always obey the official speed limit.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Do not exceed the maximum engine and road
speed:▷For gasoline engine 4,500 rpm and
100 mph/160 km/h.
Avoid full load or kickdown under all circum‐
stances.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be
increased.
Tires
Tire traction is not optimal due to manufactur‐
ing circumstances when tires are brand-new;
they achieve their full traction potential after a
break-in time.
Drive conservatively for the first
200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of ap‐
prox. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimal per‐
formance between brake discs and brake
pads. Drive moderately during this break-in pe‐
riod.
Following part replacement The same break-in procedures should be ob‐
served if any of the components above-men‐
tioned have to be renewed in the course of the
vehicle's operating life.
Using the hybrid system
efficiently
The concept
The vehicle's hybrid system runs automati‐
cally. Through foresighted driving, the hybrid
properties are efficiently used, i.e., fuel con‐
sumption and energy recovery are optimized.
Optimizing energy recovery
Types of energy recovery
Energy recovery is used to charge the high-
voltage battery. It is important for the supply of
electrical components and thus a prerequisite
for fuel efficiency. It appears in three stages
during coasting to a halt and braking.
Low energy recovery:
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During coasting to a halt without stepping on
the brake.
Average energy recovery:
During a slight deceleration by gently pressing
the brake pedal.
Maximum energy recovery:
During firmer pressing on the brake pedal.
Foresighted driving and decelerating helps
with optimizing energy recovery.
Brake according to traffic and circum‐
stances
Brake in accordance with the traffic conditions,
or there is the risk of accident.◀
Optimum energy recovery As soon as the display shows the maximum
energy recovery, only press the brake pedal
harder if required by the situation.
Exemplary traffic situations for fuel efficiency
In many driving situations, the hybrid system
allows for a particularly efficient energy man‐
agement.▷Stop-and-go traffic:
The combustion engine is switched on or
over automatically by the hybrid system.▷Driving with constant speed:
With the ASSIST acceleration support, the
electric motor relieves the combustion en‐
gine periodically by being switched on au‐
tomatically.
Discharge of the high-voltage battery
In normal operation, a sufficient charging of the
high-voltage battery is ensured by energy re‐
covery.
Longer idle periods can reduce the charge
state of the high-voltage battery.
Do not allow the vehicle to sit idle for ex‐
tended periods with a low charging state
Before storing the vehicle for an extended pe‐
riod, check the battery charge indicator to en‐
sure that the high-voltage battery is fully
charged. If necessary, charge the high-voltage
battery by driving the vehicle. Check the
charge level regularly, and if needed recharge
the high-voltage battery by driving the vehicle.
Don't allow battery charge status to drop too
low - it will damage the battery.◀
Charging by driving
In order to charge the high-voltage battery
most effectively when driving, activated the
transmission's Sport program DS, refer to
page 88.
Coasting to a standstill and braking phases are used more often to recover energy.
eDRIVE electric driving and the Auto Start
Stop function will also be deactivated.
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Fast chargingIn exceptional cases it can be charged in place,
such as before extended idle phases in order
to prevent damage to the high-voltage battery.1.Start the engine.2.Engage transmission position P and set
parking brake.3.Press and hold down brake pedal.4.Use the accelerator pedal to maintain an
engine speed of approx. 2,000 rpm.
After a few minutes, the high-voltage battery is
fully charged again.
The battery charge indicator in the instrument
cluster, refer to page 91, is used to check the
status.
General driving notes
Closing the trunk lid Drive with the trunk lid closed
Only drive with the tailgate closed; other‐
wise, in the event of an accident or braking and
evasive maneuvers, passengers and other traf‐
fic may be injured, and the vehicle may be
damaged. In addition, exhaust fumes may en‐
ter the vehicle interior.◀
If driving with the tailgate open cannot be
avoided:
▷Close all windows and the glass sunroof.▷Greatly increase the air flow from the vents.▷Drive moderately.
Hot exhaust system
Hot exhaust system
High temperatures are generated in the
exhaust system.
Do not remove the heat shields installed and
never apply undercoating to them. Make sure
that flammable materials, e. g. hay, leaves,
grass, etc. do not come in contact with the hot
exhaust system while driving, while in idle po‐
sition mode, or when parked. Such contact
could lead to a fire, resulting in an increased
risk of serious personal injury as well as prop‐
erty damage.
Do not touch hot exhaust pipes; otherwise,
there is a danger of getting burned.◀
Climate control windshield
The marked area is not covered with heat re‐
flective coating.
Use this area for garage door openers, devices
for electronic toll collection, etc.
Climate control laminated tinted
safety glass
The vehicle glass provides full protection
against the harmful effects of UV radiation on
the skin.
Mobile communication devices in thevehicle
Mobile communication devices in the ve‐
hicle
It is not recommended to use mobile phones,
such as mobile phones, in the vehicle interior
without a direct connection to an external aer‐
ial. Otherwise, the vehicle's electronics and
mobile communication devices can interfere
with each other. In addition, there is no assur‐
ance that the radiation generated during trans‐
mission will be conducted away from the vehi‐
cle interior.◀
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