
Safety
Passive Safety
General information
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Before setting off
8
Driving safety
8
Safety equipment
8
In this section you will find important information, tips and notes on the sub-
ject of passive safety in your vehicle.
We have combined everything here which you should be familiar with, for ex-
ample, regarding seat belts, airbags, child seats and safety of children.
WARNING■ This chapter contains important information on how to use the vehicle for
the driver and his occupants.■
You can find further information on safety concerning you and those trav-
elling with you in the following chapters of this owner's manual.
■
The complete on-board literature should always be in the vehicle. This
applies in particular, if you rent out or sell the vehicle.
Before setting off
Read and observe 
 on page 8 first.
For your own safety and the safety of the people travelling with you, please
pay attention to the following points before setting off.
Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal system are functioning proper-
ly.
Ensure that the function of the wipers and the condition of the wiper
blades are free of any defects.
Ensure that all of the windows offer good visibility to the outside.
Adjust the rear-view mirror so that vision to the rear is guaranteed.
Ensure that the mirrors are not covered.
Check the tyre inflation pressure.
Check the engine oil, brake fluid and coolant level.
Secure all items of luggage.
Do not exceed the permissible axle loads and permissible gross weight of
the vehicle.
Close all doors as well as the bonnet and boot lid.
Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedals.
Protect children in suitable child seats with correctly fastened seat
belts  » page 19 , Transporting children safely .
Adopt the correct seated position  » page 9, Correct and safe seated
position . Tell your passengers to assume the correct seated position.
Driving safety
Read and observe 
 on page 8 first.
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, al-
cohol or drugs.
Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
Always adjust the driving speed to the road, traffic and weather condi-
tions.
Take regular breaks on long journeys – at least every two hours.
Safety equipment
Read and observe 
 on page 8 first.
The following list contains only part of the safety equipment in your vehicle.
› Three-point seat belts for all the seats.
› Belt force limiters for the front seats.
› Belt tensioners for the front seats.
› Front airbag for the driver and the front passenger.
› Head, thorax, driver and front seat passenger side airbag with head restraint
function; 
8Safety     

The control symbols  or   indicate whether any passengers have put on their
seat belts in the rear seats.
The passenger on the associated rear seat  is belted.
The passenger on the associated back seat  is not wearing a seat belt.
If a seat belt is unfastened on the rear seat during the journey at a speed of
more than 25 km/h, an acoustic signal will sound, and the belt status indicator
  for the rear seats 
flashes for around 30 seconds.
Further information  » page 11, Seat belts .
 City Safe Drive
Read and observe 
 on page 34 first.
If the indicator symbol   
flashes rapidly,  the City Safe Drive system brakes the
car brakes automatically straight away.
If the indicator symbol   
flashes slowly , the system is not available or there is
a system malfunction.
If the system is  turned off and the vehicle is moving at a speed of about 5-30
km/h,  illumination  occurs on the display of the instrument cluster of he warn-
ing symbol    .
If the system is  activated again, the warning light 
 
 
 in the instrument clus-
ter display  illuminates  for about 5 s .
Further information  » page 90, City Safe Drive .
 /  START-STOP
Read and observe 
 on page 34 first.
A  glowing  indicator symbol 
 shows the START-STOP system is active.
A  glowing  indicator symbol 
 shows the START-STOP system is active, but no
automatic engine cut-off is possible.
A  flashing  indicator symbol 
 shows the START-STOP system is not available.
Further information  » page 88, START-STOP .
Unlocking and opening
Unlocking and locking
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Unlock / lock using key and lock
40
Unlocking / locking with the remote control key
41
Opening/closing a door
41
Door opening lever
42
Safe securing system
42
Locking / unlocking the vehicle with the central locking button
43
Child safety lock
43
The central locking system allows you to lock and unlock  all doors and the lug-
gage compartment lid at the same time  » page 44.
The safe securing system  » page 42 is integrated in the central locking sys-
tem. Once the car is locked from the outside, the door locks 1)
 are automatically
blocked by the safe securing system  » 
.
The following is true after unlocking
› All the doors and the boot lid are unlocked.
› The interior light operated via the door contact illuminates.
› The safe securing system is switched off 1)
.
› The indicator light in the driver door stops flashing.
The following is true after locking
› All the doors and the luggage compartment lid are locked.
› The interior light operated via the door contact goes out.
› The safe securing system is switched on 1)
.
› The warning light in the driver door begins flashing.
Fault display
If the warning light in the driver's door initially flashes quickly for around 2 sec-
onds, and then illuminates for 30 seconds without interruption before flashing
again slowly, you will need to seek the assistance of a specialist garage. 
1)
This function only applies to certain countries.
39Unlocking and opening    

Automatic locking and unlocking
All the doors and the luggage compartment lid are locked automatically once
the car reaches a speed of about 15 km/h.
If the ignition key is withdrawn, the car is then automatically unlocked again. It
is also possible for the driver to unlock the car by pressing the central locking
button.
The vehicle doors can be unlocked and opened at any time by pulling once on
the door opening lever.
Failure of the central locking
If the central locking system fails only the driver's door can be unlocked or
locked with the key. The other doors and the boot lid can be emergency locked
or unlocked.
› Emergency locking of the door 
» page 133.
› Emergency unlocking of the luggage compartment lid 
» page 134.WARNING■
Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, such as children, for example, could lock the car, turn on the
ignition or start the engine - there is a danger of injury and accidents!■
When leaving the vehicle, never leave persons who are not completely in-
dependent, such as children, unattended in the vehicle. The children might,
for example, release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear. The ve-
hicle could then start to move – risk of injury and accidents! These individu-
als might also not be able to leave the vehicle on their own or to help
themselves. Can be fatal at very high or very low temperatures!
■
If the car is locked from the outside and the safelock system is switched
on, there must not be any person in the car as it is then not possible to
open either a door or a window from the inside. The locked doors make it
more difficult for rescuers to get into the vehicle in an emergency – risk to
life.
CAUTION
■ Each key contains electronic components; therefore it must be protected
against moisture and severe shocks.■
Keep the groove of the keys absolutely clean. Impurities (textile fibres, dust,
etc.) have a negative effect on the functionality of the locking cylinder and ig-
nition lock.
■
The battery must be replaced if the central locking does react to the remote
control at less than around 3 metres away  » page 133.
■
When leaving the vehicle, always check if it is locked.■If the driver's door has been opened, the vehicle cannot be locked.
Note
In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed, the locked doors
are automatically unlocked in order to enable rescuers to gain access to the
vehicle.
Unlock / lock using key and lock
Fig. 24 
Left side of the vehicle: Turning
the key for unlocking and locking
the vehicle
Read and observe  and  on page 40 first.
The key allows you to unlock and lock the vehicle via the lock cylinder in the driver's door.
Unlocking / locking the vehicle with the key  » Fig. 24
Unlocking the vehicle
Locking the vehicle
40Using the system      

Unlocking / locking with the remote control keyFig. 25 
Remote control key
Read and observe  and  on page 40 first.
Function and description of the remote control key » Fig. 25
Unlocking the vehicle
Locking the vehicle
Unlocking the boot lid
Button for the extension / retraction of the key
Warning light
Unlocking the vehicle
The turn signal lights flash twice as confirmation that the vehicle has been un-
locked.
If you unlock the vehicle and do not open a door or the boot lid within the next
30 seconds, the vehicle will lock again automatically and the safelock system
will be switched on 1)
. This function is intended to prevent the car being un-
locked unintentionally.
Locking the vehicle
The turn signal lights flash once as confirmation that the vehicle has been
locked.
If the doors or the luggage compartment lid remain open after the vehicle has
been locked, the turn signal lights do not flash until they have been closed.
Unlocking / locking the tailgate
By pressing the symbol key   for about 1 s, only the boot lid is unlocked.
The lid is locked  » page 44 by closing.
ABChecking the battery condition
If the red indicator light B  » Fig. 25  does not flash when you press a button on
the remote control key, the battery is empty. Replace the battery  » page 133.
CAUTION
■
The operation of the remote control may temporarily be affected by signal in-
terference from transmitters close to the car and which operate in the same
frequency range.■
Only operate the remote control when the doors and luggage compartment
lid are closed and the vehicle is in your line of sight.
■
The operating range of the remote control key is approx. 30 m. But this range
of the remote control can be reduced if the batteries are weak.
Opening/closing a door
Fig. 26 
Door handle/door opening lever:
Read and observe 
 and  on page 40 first.
Opening from the outside
›
Unlock the vehicle.
›
Pull on door handle 
A
  » Fig. 26  on the door you wish to open.
Opening from the inside
›
Pull on door opening lever 
B
 of the respective door and push the door away
from you.
Closing from the inside
›
Grasp pull handle 
C
 and close the door. 
1)
This function only applies to certain countries.
41Unlocking and opening      

Locking / unlocking the vehicle with the central locking buttonFig. 28 
Central locking button
Read and observe  and  on page 40 first.
When the vehicle has not been locked from outside, the » Fig. 28 button can
be used to unlock or lock the vehicle.
Unlocking / locking  » Fig. 28
Locking
Unlocking
The central locking system also operates if the ignition is switched off.
The following applies after locking.
› Opening the doors and the boot lid from the outside is not possible.
› The doors can be unlocked and opened from the inside by a single pull on the
opening lever of the respective door.
› In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed, the locked
doors are automatically unlocked in order to enable rescuers to gain access
to the vehicle.
WARNING■ Doors locked from the inside make it difficult for rescuers to get into the
vehicle in an emergency – risk to life!■
If the safelock system is switched on  » page 42, the door opening lever
and the central locking buttons do not operate.
CAUTION
If at least one door has been opened, the vehicle cannot be locked.Child safety lockFig. 29 
Rear door: left / right
Read and observe 
 and  on page 40 first.
The child safety lock prevents the rear door from being opened from the in- side. The door can only be opened from the outside.
Switching the child safety system on and off  » Fig. 29
Switching on
Switching off
You can switch the child safety lock on and off using the vehicle key.
Luggage compartment lid
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Opening/closing
44
Delayed locking of the boot lid
44WARNING■ Ensure that the lock is properly engaged after closing the luggage com-
partment lid. Otherwise, the lid might open suddenly while the vehicle is
moving, even if the lid was locked – risk of accident!■
Never drive with the luggage compartment lid open or ajar, as otherwise
exhaust gases may get into the interior of the vehicle – risk of poisoning! 
43Unlocking and opening        

WARNING (Continued)■Do not press on the rear window when closing the luggage compartment
lid, as otherwise this could crack – risk of injury!■
Make sure that when closing the boot lid, no body parts are crushed -
there is danger of injury!
Note
The function of the button in the grip above the licence plate is deactivated
when starting off or at a speed of 9 km/hour or more for vehicles with central
locking. The function is restored after the vehicle stops and the door is
opened.
Opening/closing
Fig. 30 
Luggage compartment lid
Read and observe 
 on page 43 first.
Unlocking in vehicles without remote control
›
Unlock the driver's door with the vehicle key  » page 40.
Unlocking in vehicles with remote control
›
Press the symbol button  
 in the vehicle key.
Unlocking with the remote control key
›
Press the symbol button  
 in the vehicle key until the luggage compart-
ment lid is unlocked.
Opening
›
Open the luggage compartment lid by pressing the  » Fig. 30 - 
 button.
Closing›Reach into the recesses  » Fig. 30 -   and pull the luggage compartment lid
down.›
Close the lid with a slight swing.
Delayed locking of the boot lid
Read and observe 
 on page 43 first.
If the boot lid is unlocked with the symbol button  
 on the remote control
key, then the door is automatically locked after closing.
The period after which the boot lid is locked automatically can be extended by a specialist garage.
After activation of delayed locking, the boot lid can be opened again after clos-
ing within a limited period.
Delayed locking can be deactivated by a specialist garage at any time.
CAUTION
There is a risk of unwanted entry into the vehicle before the boot lid is locked
automatically. We therefore recommend locking the vehicle with the symbol
button  
 on the remote control key.
Electric Windows
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Open / close windows
45
Manually opening/closing rear windows
45
The electrical power windows can only be operated when the ignition is
switched on.
WARNING■ Ensure that no persons are still left in the vehicle when locking the vehi-
cle. In an emergency, the windows will no longer be able to be opened from
the inside.■
When closing the windows, proceed with caution so as to avoid causing
crushing injuries - risk of injury! 
44Using the system       

Lights and visibility
Lights
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Operation of the light function
48
Daylight running lights (DAY LIGHT)
49
Turn signal and main beam
49
Fog lights
50
Rear fog light
50
Hazard warning light system
50
Parking light
51
Driving abroad
51
Unless otherwise stated, the lights only work when the ignition is on.
The arrangement of the controls right-hand drive models may differ from the layout shown in  » Fig. 35 on page 48 . The symbols which mark the positions
of the controls are identical.
WARNING■ The activation of the lights should only be undertaken in accordance with
national legal requirements.■
The driver is always responsible for the correct settings and use of the
lights.
■
Never drive with only the side lights on! The side lights are not bright
enough to light up the road sufficiently in front of you or to be seen by oth-
er oncoming traffic. Therefore always switch on the low beam when it is
dark or if visibility is poor.
Note
■ The instruments are also illuminated when the side light or low beam light is
switched on.■
The headlights may mist up temporarily. When the driving lights are switched
on, the light outlet surfaces are free from mist after a short period, although
the headlight lenses may still be misted up in the peripheral areas. This mist
has no influence on the life of the lighting system.
Operation of the light functionFig. 35 
Light switch / Knob for headlamp beam adjustment
Read and observe 
 on page 48 first.
Switching lights on and off
Depending on the equipment configuration, the light switch  » Fig. 35 - 
  can
be moved to the following positions.
Turn switch Switching off lights (except daytime running lights)
Switching on the parking light or parking light  » page 51
Turn on the low beam
Pull switch Switch on the front fog lamp  » page 50
Switching on the rear fog light  » page 50
  Headlight range control
Turning the rotary switch  » Fig. 35 - 
  from the position 
 to 
 gradually ad-
justs the headlight range control and shortens the light cone.
The positions of the width of illumination correspond approximately to the fol- lowing car load.
Front seats occupied, boot empty
All seats occupied, boot empty
All seats occupied, boot loaded
Driver seat occupied, boot loaded 
48Using the system    

Example: In the event of a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h, an object
with a weight of 4.5 kg produces an energy, which corresponds to 20 times its
own weight. This means that it results in a weight of approx. 90 kg “ ”.WARNING■ Always store transported objects in the boot and attach them to the lash-
ing eyes.■
Loose objects can be thrown forward during a sudden manoeuvre or in
case of an accident and can injure the occupants or other road users.
■
Loose objects could hit a deployed airbag and injure occupants – danger
of death!
■
Please note that transporting heavy objects alters the handling proper-
ties of the vehicle due to the displacement of the centre of gravity – risk of
accident! The speed and style of driving must be adjusted accordingly.
■
If the items of luggage or objects are attached to the lashing eyes with
unsuitable or damaged lashing straps, injuries can occur in the event of
braking manoeuvres or accidents. To prevent items of luggage from moving
around, always use suitable lashing straps which must be firmly attached
to the lashing eyes.
■
The transported items must be stowed in such a way that no objects are
able to slip forward on sudden driving or braking manoeuvres – risk of in-
jury!
■
When transporting objects in the luggage compartment that has been en-
larged by folding the rear seats forward, ensure the safety of the passen-
gers transported on the other rear seats  » page 10, Correct seated position
for the passengers in the rear seats .
■
If the rear seat next to the folded forward seat is occupied, ensure maxi-
mum safety, e.g. by placing the goods to be transported in such a way that
the seat is prevented from folding back in case of a rear collision.
■
Do not drive with the luggage compartment lid fully opened or slightly
ajar otherwise exhaust gases may get into the interior of the vehicle – risk
of poisoning!
■
Do not exceed the permissible axle loads and permissible gross weight of
the vehicle – risk of accident!
■
Do not transport people in the boot!
CAUTION
■ Please ensure that the heating elements for the rear window heater are not
damaged as a result of abrasive objects.■
Tyre pressure must be adjusted to the load  » page 118.
Lashing eyesFig. 65 
Lashing eyes
Read and observe  and  on page 66 first.
Fixing eyes are located on the sides of the loading area for lashing the goods
to be loaded  » Fig. 65.
CAUTION
The maximum permissible static load of the individual lashing eyes is 3.5 kN
(350 kg).
Bag hooks
Fig. 66 
Bag hooks
Read and observe  and  on page 66 first.
The luggage compartment has bag hooks used to secure smaller items of lug- gage, e.g. bags, etc.  » Fig. 66.
WARNINGNever use the bag hooks for lashing loaded goods. The bag hooks may tear
off during sudden braking manoeuvres or in the event of an accident. 66Using the system