2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA Owners Manual

in the transmission position display
(Ypage 143) in the multifunction display.
Transmission position and drive
program display
The current transmission position and drive
program appear in the multifunction display.
Transmission position display
Drive program display
iThe arrows in the transmission position
display show how and into which
transmission positions you can change
using the DIRECT SELECT lever.
!If the transmission position display in the
multifunction display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to checkwhether
the desired transmission position is
engaged. Ideally, you should select
transmission positionDand drive program
EorS.
Engaging parkposition P
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever in the
directionofarrowP.
Transmission position displayPis shownin
the multifunctiondisplay.
iWhen you engage park positionP, make
sure that the transmission position display
showsPin the multifunction display.
iYou can only engage park positionPwhen
the vehicle is stationary.
iThe automatic transmission shifts into
park positionPautomatically:
Rif you open the driver's door while the
vehicle is stationary in transmission
positionDorR
Rif you open the door while traveling at
very low speeds in transmission position
DorR
In addition, a warning tone sounds and a
display message is shown.
iDepressing the brake and pushing the
DIRECT SELECT lever up or down
disengages the parking lock.The
transmission is inNneutral.
At transmission fluid temperatures below
4‡(20 †), you can only shift out of park
positionPinto another transmission
position whenthe engine is running.
In order to shift from park positionP
directly intoRorD:
Rdepress the brake pedal and
Rpush the DIRECT SELECT lever up or
down past the first point of resistance
!If the engine speed is too high or the
vehicle is moving, do not shift the
automatic transmission directly fromDto
R, fromRtoDor directly toP.The
automatic transmission could otherwise be
damaged.
Engaging reverse gear R
!Only shift the automatic transmission to
Rwhen the vehicle is stationary.
iThe ECO start/stop function is not
available when reverse gear is engaged.
Further information on the ECO start/stop
function (Ypage 139).
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever up past the
first point of resistance.
Automatic transmission143
Driving and parking
Z

Shifting to neutral N
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down
to the first point of resistance.
If the engine has been switched off, the
automatic transmission automatically shifts
toN.
Remaining in neutral N
If the automatic transmission is to remain in
neutralN, e.g. for washing the vehicle in car
washes with a towing device, please observe
the following instructions:
GWARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
Ropen the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
Rget out and disrupt traffic.
Roperate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshifting the automatic transmission out of
park positionP
RStart the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children.
RMake sure that the ignition is switched on.
RWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
RShift to neutralN.
RRelease the brake pedal.
RIf the electric parking brake is engaged,
release it.
RSwitch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
Engaging drive position D
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever down past
the first point of resistance.
Selector lever
Selector lever in AMG vehicles with P button
Park position with parking lock
Reverse gear
Neutral
Drive
Transmission position and drive
program display
Example
Transmission position display
Drive program display
The current transmission position and drive
program appear in the multifunction display.
144Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Engaging park position P
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, pressP
button.
Transmission positions
Parkposition
Do not shift the transmission into
positionPunless the vehicle is
stationary (Ypage 153). The
parking lock should not be used as
a brake when parking.Always
apply the electronic parking brake
in additionto the parking lock in
order to secure the vehicle.
If the vehicle electronics are
malfunctioning, the transmission
may be locked in positionP.
Have the vehicle electronics
checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission toR
when the vehicle is stationary.

Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP®is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to
positionNif the vehicle is in danger
of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
When you switch off the engine, the
automatic transmission
automatically shifts into neutralN.
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the
individual gears automatically when it is in
transmission positionD.This automatic
gearshifting behavior is determined by:
Rthe selected drive program (Ypage 146)
Rthe position of the accelerator pedal
Rthe road speed
Driving tips
Holding the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients
GWARNING
If the clutch overheats, the electronic
management system is automatically
deactivated. This interrupts the power
transmission. The vehicle may, for example,
roll backwards on gradients. There is a risk of
an accident.
Never hold the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients by depressing the accelerator.
Automatic transmission145
Driving and parking
Z

The clutch may overheat if you hold the
vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by
depressing the accelerator pedal. If the clutch
overheats, a warning tone sounds.
All vehicles (except AMG vehicles):the
StopVehicleShifttoPLeaveEngine
Runningdisplay message appears in the
multifunction display.You will only be able to
continue your journey once the clutch has
cooled down and the display message in the
multifunction display has disappeared.
AMG vehicles:theTrans. Oil
Overheated Drive on with Caredisplay
message appears in the multifunction
display.
Do not hold the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients by depressing the accelerator
pedal. Instead, only ever hold the vehicle
stationary on uphill gradients by:
Rdepressing the brake pedal
Ractivating the HOLD function
Rengaging the electric parking brake
Kickdown
AMG vehicles:kickdown is only possible in
temporary manual drive programM. For
further information on manual drive program
M(Ypage 148).
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
XDepress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
XEase off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Rocking the vehicle free
Shifting the transmission repeatedly between
gearsDandRmay help to free the vehicle if
it has become stuck in slush or snow. The
vehicle's engine management system limits
the speed to a maximum of 5 mph (9 km/h)
when shifting back and forth. To shift back
and forth between transmission positionsD
andR, move the selector lever up and down
beyond the pressure point.
Programselector button
General notes
The program selectorbutton allows you to
choose between drive programs with
different driving characteristics.
Example: program selector button
EEconomyComfortable, economical
driving
SSportSporty driving style
MManualManual gear shifting
Only change from automatic drive program
EorSto manual drive programMwhen the
vehicle is stationary.
XPress program selector button
repeatedly until the letterfor the desired
gearshift program appears in the
multifunction display.
iThe automatic transmission shifts to
automatic drive programEeach time the
engine is started.
iFor further information on the automatic
drive program, see (Ypage 147).
146Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

AMG vehicles
CControlled
Efficiency
Comfortable, economical
driving
SSportSporty driving style
MManualManual gear shifting
Only change from automatic drive program
CorSto manual drive programMwhen the
vehicle is stationary.
XPress program selector button
repeatedly until the letterfor the desired
gearshift program appears in the
multifunction display.
iThe automatic transmission shifts to
automatic drive programCeach time the
engine is started.
iFor further information on the automatic
drive program, see (Ypage 147).
Steering wheel paddle shifters
Left steering wheel paddle shifter (shifts
down)
Right steering wheel paddle shifter (shifts
up)
In drive programM, you can change gear
yourself using the steering wheel paddle
shifters.
If you pull the left or right steering wheel
paddle shifter when in automatic drive
programE(drive programCon AMG vehicles)
orS, the automatic transmission shifts into
drive programMfor a limited time.
Depending on which paddle shifter is pulled,
the automatic transmission immediately
shifts into the next gear down or up.
AMG vehicles:you can activate drive
programMRACE START (Ypage 173) using
the steering wheel paddle shifters.
iYou can only change gear with the
steering wheel paddle shifters when the
transmission is in positionD.
iFor further information on the manual
drive program, see (Ypage 148).
Automatic drive program
Drive programE(drive programCon MAG
vehicles) is characterized by the following:
Rcomfort-oriented engine settings
Roptimal fuel consumption resulting from
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner
Automatic transmission147
Driving and parking
Z

Rthe vehicle pulling away moregently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the
accelerator pedal is depressed fully
Rincreased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for
example
Rthe automatic transmission shifting up
sooner.This results in the vehicle being
driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin
Drive programSis characterized by the
following:
Rsporty engine settings
Rthe automatic transmission shifting up
later
Rthe fuel consumption possibly being higher
as a result of the later automatic
transmission shift points
Manual drive program
Introduction
In manual drive programM, you can change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel
paddle shifters. For this, the transmission
must be in positionD. The gear currently
selected and engaged is shown in the
multifunction display.
Manual drive programMdiffers from drive
programsE(drive programCon AMG
vehicles) andSwith regard to spontaneity,
responsiveness and smoothness of gear
changes.
GearDriving situations
You can use the engine's braking
effect
\nYou can use the braking effect of
the engine on downhill gradients
and for driving:
Ron steep mountain roads
Rin mountainous terrain
Rin arduous conditions
To use the braking effect of the
engine on extremely steep downhill
gradients and on long downhill
stretches
Switching on the manual drive program
Activating permanently
XPress the program selector button
(Ypage 146) repeatedly untilMappears in
the multifunction display.
Manual drive programMremains active
until drive programE(drive programCon
AMG vehicles) orSis selected.
Activating temporarily
XPull the right or left steering wheel paddle
shifter (Ypage 147).
Mis shown in the multifunction display.
Manual drive programMis temporarily
active. Depending on which paddle shifter
is pulled, the automatic transmission
immediately shifts into the next gear down
or up.
iWhen manual drive programMis
activated via the steering wheel paddle
shifters, the temporarily active manual
drive programMwill be deactivated
automatically after a limited time, if the
driving situation permits. The automatic
transmission switches to the previously
activated drive programE(drive program
Con AMG vehicles) orS.When driving on
downhill gradients, the temporarily active
manual drive programMwill only be
deactivated if the accelerator pedal is
depressed while the vehicle is rolling
downhill.
148Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Upshifting
XPull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Ypage 147).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
iAll vehicles (except AMG vehicles):in
order to preventengine damage the
automatic transmission automatically
shifts up:
Rif the maximumengine speed on the
currently engaged gear is reached and
Ryou continue to accelerate.
AMGvehicles:
!In manual drive programM, the automatic
transmission does not shiftup
automatically evenwhen the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached. When the engine limiting speed is
reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent
the engine from overrevving. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
AMG vehicles
!In manual drive programM, the automatic
transmission does not shift up
automatically even when the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached. When the engine limiting speed is
reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent
the engine from overrevving. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
Gear indicator
Upshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the
multifunction display.
XIf the color in the speedometer
multifunction display changes to red and
theUPdisplay message is shown, shift up
a gear.
Downshifting
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Ypage 147).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
iIf you slow down or stop without shifting
down, the automatic transmission
automatically shifts down.
iFor maximum acceleration, pull the left-
hand steering wheel paddle shifter until the
transmission selects the optimum gear for
the current speed.
iIf the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission protects against
engine damage by not shifting down.
Kickdown
AMG vehicles:kickdown is only possible in
temporary manual drive programM.
You can also use kickdown for maximum
acceleration in manual drive programM.
XDepress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
XShift back up once the desired speed is
reached.
iDuring kickdown, you cannot change gear
using the steering wheel paddle shifters.
iIf you apply full throttle, the automatic
transmission shifts up to the next gear
when the maximum engine speed is
Automatic transmission149
Driving and parking
Z

reached. This prevents the engine from
overrevving.
Switching off the manual drive program
XPress the programselectorbutton
(Ypage 146) repeatedly untilEorS
appears in the multifunction display.
Deactivatingthe temporary manual drive
program
XPull and hold the right steering wheel
paddle shifter until the automatic
transmission shifts into the last active
automatic drive programE(drive program
Con AMG vehicles) orS.
iWhen manual drive programMis
deactivated, the automatic transmission in
automatic drive programE(drive program
Con AMG vehicles) orSmay shift from the
current gearinto a higherorlower gear.
This is dependent on the position of the
accelerator pedal, speed and load.
150Automatic transmission
Driving and parking