We caution you not to rely on the presence
of the air bags in order to avoid wearing
your seat belt.
It is important to your safety and that of
your passenger that you replace deployed
air bags and repair any malfunctioning
air bags to make sure the vehicle will
continue to provide supplemental crash
protection for occupants.
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
and air bag G
WARNING
R Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have
been highly stressed in an accident must
be replaced and their anchoring points
must also be checked. Only use seat belts
installed or supplied by an authorized
electric drive smart center.
R Air bags and Emergency Tensioning
Devices (ETDs) contain Perchlorate
material, which may require special
handling and regard for the environment.
Check with your local government’s dis-
posal guidelines. California residents,
see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/index.cfm .
R Given the considerable deployment
speed, required inflation volume, and
the textile structure of the air bags,
there is the possibility of abrasions or
other, potentially more serious injuries
resulting from air bag deployment.
R Air bags and Emergency Tensioning
Devices (ETDs) are designed to function
on a one-time-only basis. An air bag or
ETD that has deployed must be replaced.
R Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
R Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat
belts.
R No modifications of any kind may be made
to any components or wiring of the SRS. This includes changing or removing any
component or part of the SRS, the instal-
lation of additional trim material,
badges, etc. over the steering wheel hub,
passenger front air bag cover, outboard
sides of the seat backrests, and instal-
lation of additional electrical/elec-
tronic equipment on or near SRS compo-
nents and wiring. Keep area between air
bags and occupants free from objects
(e.g. packages, purses, umbrellas, etc.).
R Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protec-
tion.
R Do not hang hangers on the coat hooks or
handles over the door. These items may
turn into projectiles and cause head and
other injuries when the head-thorax air
bag is deployed.
R Air bag system components will be hot
after an air bag has inflated. Do not touch
them.
R Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
R In addition, improper repair work on the
SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS
inoperative or causing unintended air
bag deployment. Work on the SRS must
therefore only be performed by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized elec-
tric drive smart center.
R For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit
or Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs),
our safety instructions must be followed.
These instructions are available from
any authorized electric drive smart
center.
How an air bag operates An air bag is inflated in a matter of mil-
liseconds. If an air bag is triggered, the Occupant safety
35>> Safety. Z
SRS indicator lamp
0075in the instrument
cluster illuminates.
! If the air bags are activated, you will
hear a loud noise and some dust may be
generated. The explosion fundamentally
represents no risk to your hearing.
An inflated air bag slows down and reduces
the movement of the occupant. When the
occupant makes contact with a front air bag
or head-thorax air bag (cabriolet only),
hot gas flows out of the inflated front air
bags and head-thorax air bags (cabriolet
only). This reduces the load on the occu-
pant’s head and upper body. These air bags
are consequently deflated after the acci-
dent.
Driver front air bag/passenger front air
bag The front air bags are designed to reduce
the potential of injury in certain frontal
impacts.
Driver front air bag and passenger front
air bag are deployed
R at the start of an accident with high
vehicle deceleration in the longitudinal
direction
R independently of other air bags in the
vehicle being deployed
R never in the event of a rollover, unless
high vehicle deceleration in the longi-
tudinal direction is detected
i The front air bags in this vehicle have
been designed to inflate in two stages.
This allows the air bag to have different
rates of inflation that are based on the
rate of relevant vehicle deceleration
and a fastened or unfastened seat belt as
assessed by the air bag control unit.
On the passenger side, the front air bag
deployment is additionally influenced
by the passenger’s weight category as
identified by the Occupant Classifica-
tion System (OCS) (Y page 39). The lighter the passenger side occupant,
the higher the vehicle deceleration rate
required for the second stage inflation
of the air bag.
The air bags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment thresholds. In such instances, the seat
belts are designed to protect you.
The passenger air bag will only be
deployed if
R the system, based on OCS weight sensor
readings, senses that the passenger seat
is occupied and the 0073006F
indicator lamp is not lit (Y page 41)
R the impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
The driver front air bag is located in the
steering wheel housing, the passenger
front air bag above the glove box. 0043
Driver front air bag
0044 Passenger front air bag 36
Occupant safety>> Safety.
i
Canada only:
This device complies with RSS‑210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interfer-
ence, and
2. this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation of
the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
The product label with FCC ID and IC cer-
tification number can be found in the
battery case. Driving safety systems
Introduction
G
WARNING
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:
R Excessive speed, especially in turns
R Wet and slippery road surfaces
R Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in
this section cannot reduce these risks or
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather and traffic con-
ditions and keep a safe distance to other
road users and objects on the street.
i In winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS, the hydraulic
brake assistant, and the ESP ®
is only ach-
ieved with winter tires (Y page 146) or
snow chains* as required. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
G
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
The Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do not
lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The ABS indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (Y page 24) comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
drive system is active.
Braking At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in
the brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is
regulating the brake pressure.
X
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the pul-
sation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
A pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.
Emergency brake maneuver X
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal. G
WARNING
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the
hydraulic brake assistant and the ESP ®
are
also switched off. 46
Driving safety systems>> Safety.
* optional
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the
braking distance. G
WARNING
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction
afforded. The ABS cannot prevent acci-
dents, including those resulting from
excessive speed in turns, following
another vehicle too closely, or hydroplan-
ing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents. The capabil-
ities of an ABS equipped vehicle must never
be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user’s
safety or the safety of others. Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®
)
Your vehicle is equipped with the Elec-
tronic Stability Program (ESP ®
). The ESP ®
is operational as soon as the drive system
is switched on and it monitors the vehicle’s
traction (force of adhesive friction
between the tires and the road surface) and
handling.
The ESP ®
recognizes when a wheel is spin-
ning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By
applying brakes to the appropriate wheel
and by limiting the power output, the ESP ®
works to stabilize the vehicle. The ESP ®
is
especially useful while driving off and on
wet or slippery road surfaces. The ESP ®
also
stabilizes the vehicle during braking and
steering maneuvers.
The ESP ®
warning lamp 00E5in the instru-
ment cluster flashes when the ESP ®
is
engaged.
The ESP ®
warning lamp 00E5in the instru-
ment cluster comes on when you switch on the ignition. It goes out when the drive
system is active.
Depending on the driving situation, the
ESP ®
R reduces the speed
R selectively brakes individual wheels
R equalizes the speed of the driven wheels
R stabilizes the vehicle when braking
R assists you in evasive maneuvers on all
roads G
WARNING
If the ESP ®
warning lamp 00E5in the
instrument cluster flashes, proceed as fol-
lows:
R While driving off, apply as little throt-
tle as possible.
R While driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP ®
cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed. G
WARNING
The ESP ®
cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The
ESP ®
cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, or hydroplaning. Only a safe, atten-
tive, and skillful driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ESP ®
equip-
ped vehicle must never be exploited in a
reckless or dangerous manner which could
jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
! Because the ESP ®
operates automati-
cally, the ignition must be switched off
when the parking brake is being tested
on a brake test dynamometer. Active
braking action through the ESP ®
may oth- Driving safety systems
47>> Safety. Z
erwise seriously damage the brake sys-
tem which is not covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
i The ESP ®
will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended tire
size (Y page 216). Hydraulic brake assistant
The hydraulic brake assistant operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the hydraulic brake
assistant automatically provides full
brake boost, thereby potentially reducing
the braking distance.
X Apply continuous full braking pressure
until the emergency braking situation is
over.
The ABS will prevent the wheels from
locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the
brakes function again as normal. The
hydraulic brake assistant is then deacti-
vated. G
WARNING
When the hydraulic brake assistant is mal-
functioning, the brake system is still func-
tioning normally, but without the addi-
tional brake boost that would normally be
provided during an emergency braking
maneuver. Therefore, the braking distance
may increase. G
WARNING
The hydraulic brake assistant cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle, nor can it increase braking
efficiency beyond that afforded by the con-
dition of the vehicle brakes and tires or the
traction afforded. The hydraulic brake
assistant cannot prevent accidents,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, following another vehicle
too closely, or hydroplaning. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents. The capabilities of a hydraulic
brake assistant equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dan-
gerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
Activating the hazard warning flasher
after an emergency braking maneuver
If you bring the vehicle to a complete stop
by strongly braking at a speed of more than
43 mph (70 km/h), the hazard warning
flasher comes on automatically as soon as
the vehicle is at a standstill. The hazard
warning flasher will remain on until it is
switched off using the hazard warning
flasher switch (Y page 68) or until the
speed of the vehicle has exceeded 6 mph
(10 km/h). Acoustic Vehicle Indication*
Vehicles with electric motors develop con-
siderably lower driving noises than vehi-
cles with combustion engines. Therefore
your vehicle in traffic might not be acous-
tically noticed by other road users in cer-
tain situations.
In order to avoid this, a built-in sound
generator emits a certain noise (Acoustic
Vehicle Indication) within a speed range
between 0 to 20 mph (30 km/h). Thus, other
road users, especially pedestrians and
bicycle riders can notice your vehicle bet-
ter. Acoustic Vehicle Indication can also
be heard inside of the vehicle.
The volume of Acoustic Vehicle Indication
depends on the current engine speed (rpm).
The stronger you accelerate, the louder the
noise. At speed of more than 20 mph
30 km/h the noise is switched off. From this
speed on the natural noises of the vehicle
are sufficient so that other road users can
notice the vehicle on time. 48
Driving safety systems>> Safety.
* optional
absorbing objects) and interference
emitted by other radio transmission sys-
tems. Similarly, the operating range
fluctuates in line with the direction
from which the remote control is acti-
vated.
To prevent theft, however, it is advisable
to only unlock the vehicle when you are
in close proximity to it. Locking and unlocking from the out-
side
X Selective unlocking: Press button0034on
the key once.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
The driver’s door and the charge socket
flap are unlocked.
X Global unlocking: Press button0034on the
key twice.
All turn signal lamps flash once again.
The passenger door and the tailgate are
unlocked in addition to the driver’s door
and the charge socket flap.
X Global locking: Press button0038on the
key.
With the doors, the tailgate(s), and the
charge socket flap closed, the turn sig-
nal lamps flash three times.
The indicator lamp on the central lock-
ing switch flashes (Y page 53).
The interior lamps come on and then go
out again after 12 seconds. Automatic locking
Auto-relock function The vehicle will lock again automatically
within approximately 60 seconds of
unlocking with the key if neither the
driver’s nor passenger door is opened.
! To prevent an inadvertent lockout,
never leave your key lying in the vehicle. Drive lock function The vehicle locks automatically when the
ignition is switched on and the wheels are
turning at vehicle speeds of approximately
8 mph (14 km/h) or more. The drive lock
function is enabled at the factory.
X
Switching on: Switch off the ignition.
X Press the central locking switch
(Y page 53) and button 0038on the key
simultaneously.
An acoustic signal sounds.
The drive lock function is switched on.
X Switching off: Switch off the ignition.
X Press the central unlocking switch
(Y page 53) and button 0034on the key
simultaneously.
An acoustic signal sounds.
The drive lock function is switched off. Locking and unlocking from the inside
G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take it with
you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s
unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious per-
sonal injury.
You can lock and unlock the vehicle from
inside using the central locking or unlock-
ing switch. This can be useful, for example,
if you want to unlock the passenger door
from inside or lock the vehicle before
starting to drive. Opening and closing
53>> Controls. Z
Seats
Safety notes
G
WARNING
All seat adjustments, as well as fastening
of seat belts, must be done before the vehi-
cle is operated. G
WARNING
When adjusting the seat, make sure no one
becomes trapped.
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driv-
ing. Adjusting the seat while driving could
cause the driver to lose control of the vehi-
cle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined posi-
tion 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 possi-
ble 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 appro-
priately sized infant restraint, toddler
restraint, or booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child. For addi-
tional 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
vehicle and/or the child is not properly
secured in the child restraint. G
WARNING
Contact an authorized electric drive smart
center if the seats have become damaged.
The seat is an integral part of the vehicle’s
safety system in the same way as seat belts
and air bags. Damage to the seats may
reduce their ability to protect the occu-
pants in an accident. Seat adjustment
0043
Seat backrest tilt
0044 Seat fore and aft adjustment
Seat backrest tilt X
Adjusting: Sit down on the front seat.
X Pull adjustment lever 0043upwards and
adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel. 58
Seats>> Controls.
X
Release adjustment lever 0043when the
desired seat backrest tilt is reached.
When you hear an audible click, the seat
backrest is again fixed into place.
X Check for proper engagement before
driving.
i When adjusting the tilt of the backrest
without any load on the seat then hold on
to the backrest with one hand.
Seat fore and aft adjustment X
Pull adjustment handle 0044upwards and
slide the seat to a seating position that
still allows you to reach the accelerator/
brake pedal safely.
X Release adjustment handle 0044when the
desired seating position is reached.
When you hear an audible click, the seat
is again fixed into place.
X Check for proper engagement before
driving.
Seat height The seat guide is inclined in the horizon-
tal plane. Seat fore and aft adjustment also
alters the seat height.
Armrest* on driver’s seat Folding up and down
X
Folding up: Hold front of armrest and fold
it up in direction of arrow 0043.
X Folding down: Hold front of armrest and
fold it down in direction of arrow 0044.
Adjusting armrest angle
You can adjust the angle of the armrest when
it is folded down.
X Turn thumb wheel 0087.
R Direction of arrow 0085: down
R Direction of arrow 0083: up Passenger seat
You can expand the cargo compartment by
folding down the passenger seat.
Observe the loading instructions
(Y page 108).
Folding down X
Remove the seat belt from seat belt
guide 0043.
X Move the passenger seat backward as far
as it will go. Seats
59>> Controls.
* optional Z