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▷When locking the vehicle, and when the
low beams are activated.▷Shortly before the battery is discharged
completely, so that the engine can still be
started. This function is only available
when the low beams are turned off.▷When opening and closing the driver door,
if the driver's safety belt is unbuckled and
the low beams are turned off.▷While the driver's safety belt is unbuckled
with driver's door open and low beams off.
The low beams switch to parking lights after
approx. 15 minutes of no use.
When the ignition is switched off automatically
by opening or closing the driver's door, un‐
buckling the driver's safety belt or by the auto‐
matic switching of the low beams to parking
lights, the radio-ready state remains active.
Drive readiness
When drive readiness is activated, the vehicle
is operational. Activated drive readiness is the
equivalent of a running engine in conventional
vehicles. Deactivated engine readiness is
equivalent to switching the ignition off.
Drive readiness in detail
The concept
The following are the different drive readiness
variants:
▷Electric drive readiness, Silent Start, refer
to page 77
The vehicle is powered by the electric mo‐
tor.▷Starting the combustion engine, refer to
page 78
The vehicle is powered by the combustion
engine.Hints
Awareness of vehicle reduced when
driven in electric mode
When driving in electric mode, note that due to
the lack of engine noise pedestrians and other traffic might pay less attention to the vehicle
due to missing engine noises. Please take spe‐
cial care when parking or leaving a parking
space.◀
Do not leave the vehicle unattended
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
drive readiness active; otherwise, it may pose a
risk.◀
Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, e.g., can‐
not start the engine.◀
Apply parking brake and further secure
the vehicle if needed.
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the ve‐
hicle, e.g., by turning the steering wheel in the
direction of the curb.◀
Activating drive readiness1.Close the driver's door.2.Depress the brake pedal.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Drive readiness is activated:
▷Electric drive readiness, Silent Start or▷Starting the combustion engine.
Electric drive readiness, Silent Start The vehicle is ready for driving without starting
the combustion engine.
Silent Start is possible if the requirements for
Electric driving, refer to page 79, are met.
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DisplayREADY indicates drive readi‐
ness.
Starting the combustion engine Enclosed areas
Do not let the engine run in enclosed
areas, since breathing in exhaust fumes may
lead to loss of consciousness and death. The
exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, an
odorless and colorless but highly toxic gas.◀
Unattended vehicle
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running; doing so poses a risk of
danger.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning, set the parking brake and place the trans‐
mission in selector lever position P or N to pre‐
vent the vehicle from moving.◀
Repeated starting in quick succession
Avoid trying to start the vehicle repeat‐
edly and in quick succession. Otherwise, the
fuel is not burned or is inadequately burned,
posing a risk of overheating and damage to the
catalytic converter.◀
The combustion engine is started with Acti‐
vate drive, refer to page 77, readiness under
the following conditions:▷The drive system is not at operating tem‐
perature.▷The temperature of the hybrid system is
too high.▷The high-voltage battery has an insuffi‐
cient charge.
Driving away
1.Activate drive readiness.2.Engage selector lever position D, M/S or R.3.Release the parking brake.4.Drive away.
Deactivating drive readiness
After stopping the vehicle:
1.Engage selector lever position P.2.Press the Start/Stop button.3.Set the parking brake.
After parking the vehicle, you may hear noises
due to operation of the hybrid system, such as
for cooling of the high-voltage battery.
Before driving into a car wash So that the vehicle can roll into a car wash ob‐
serve instructions for going into an automatic
car wash, refer to page 237.
Auto Start/Stop function
The concept The Auto Start/Stop function helps save fuel.
The system switches off the combustion en‐
gine when conditions for electric driving have
been met. The ignition or drive readiness re‐
mains switched on.
The tachometer registers 0 rpm. If necessary,
the combustion engine starts automatically.
The combustion engine is also stopped during
the trip when rolling out or braking. This driving
condition, in which the vehicle is travelling
without power and energy recovery is not ac‐
tive, is referred to as coasting, refer to
page 79.
Note The combustion engine is not switched off au‐
tomatically in the following situations:
▷The combustion engine is not at operating
temperature.▷The transmission selector lever is in posi‐
tion M/S.Seite 78ControlsDriving78
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▷High-voltage battery is heavily discharged
or vehicle electrical system is heavily bur‐
dened.▷High stress of the automatic climate con‐
trol in the heating or cooling phase.▷The engine compartment lid is unlocked.▷The vehicle is being optimized for the cur‐
rent driving style, for instance during the
break-in period or after a service appoint‐
ment.▷The hybrid system is malfunctioning.
Safety mode
An automatically stopped combustion engine
does not start independently when:
▷The driver's door is open and neither the
brake nor accelerator pedal are depressed.▷Unlocked hood.
The indicator lights come on. The combustion
engine can only be started via the Start/Stop
button.
Switching off the vehicle during an automatic engine stop
During an automatic engine stop, the vehicle
can be switched off permanently, e. g., when
leaving it.
1.Press the Start/Stop button.▷The ignition is switched off.▷The radio-ready state is activated.▷The Auto Start/Stop function is deacti‐
vated.▷Transmission position P is engaged
automatically.2.Set the parking brake.
Malfunction
The Auto Start/Stop function no longer
switches of the combustion engine automati‐
cally in the event of a malfunction. A message is displayed. It is possible to continue driving.
Have the system checked.
Electric driving: eDRIVE
Requirements Electric driving is possible:▷The high-voltage battery is sufficiently
charged.▷Transmission position D or R is set.▷The drive system is at operating tempera‐
ture.▷The accelerator pedal is only slightly de‐
pressed.▷The driver's door is closed.
Possible up to speed of approx. 35 mph, ap‐
prox. 60 km/h.
Possible cruising range
Depending on the charge of the high-voltage
battery, the vehicle can be driven using electric
power constantly for up to 2-2.5 miles/3-4 km.
CoastingThe combustion engine is automatically stop‐
ped and disengaged from the drivetrain. This
driving condition of rolling is referred to as
coasting.
Requirements
Coasting is possible:
▷The high-voltage battery is sufficiently
charged.▷Transmission position D or R is set.▷The drive system is at operating tempera‐
ture.▷The driver's door is closed.▷In COMFORT mode: when rolling at
speeds exceeding 35 mph, approx.
60 km/h or when braking at speeds above
50 mph, approx. 80 km/h.▷In ECO PRO: mode, when coasting, with‐
out operating the brake, at speeds below
100 mph, approx. 160 km/h.Seite 79DrivingControls79
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After the coasting, the combustion or electric
motor restarts depending on the operating
state.
Driving with combustion
engine: DRIVE
The combustion engine provides the primary
performance to move the vehicle. If necessary,
the high-voltage battery is charged at the
same time.
Automatic start while driving The combustion engine is automatically
started under the following conditions while
driving:▷By pressing the accelerator pedal beyond
the resistance point at the full throttle posi‐
tion, kickdown.▷Transmission position M/S is set.▷The speed for electric driving is exceeded
while accelerating.▷The high-voltage battery has an insuffi‐
cient charge.▷High-voltage battery is completely
charged, e.g., when driving downhill.▷During intense accelerations or on inclines.▷System-related requirement for hybrid
components.▷Adapting to the course of the road when
destination guidance is activated.
Automatic parking while driving
When reducing speed, the combustion engine
is switched off when the conditions for electric
driving, refer to page 79, are met.
Assistance for the
combustion engine
The combustion engine provides the primary
performance to move the vehicle.
The electric motor provides assistance as
needed with additional propulsive power.
ASSIST
During normal vehicle operation, the electric
motor assists the combustion engine, depend‐
ing on the situation.
eBOOST
Accelerating quickly, such as when passing,
requires the maximum available power from
the electric motor. To do this, apply extra force
to the accelerator pedal.
Energy recovery: CHARGEThe hybrid system makes it possible to con‐
vert kinetic energy into electrical power when
braking and coasting. This recovered energy
charges the high-voltage battery. If necessary,
this stored electrical energy is output to the
electric motor.
The following conditions must be met to re‐
cover kinetic energy:▷The vehicle is moving.▷Transmission position D, M/S is set.▷The high-voltage battery is not fully
charged.
Energy recovery displays in the instrument
cluster, refer to page 93.
Parking brake
The concept The parking brake is used to prevent the vehi‐
cle from rolling when it is parked.
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At a glance
SettingApply parking brake and further secure
the vehicle if needed.
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the ve‐
hicle, e.g., by turning the steering wheel in the
direction of the curb.◀
Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, e.g., can‐
not release the parking brake.◀
Pull the reel.
The LED lights up.
The indicator lamp lights up red. The
parking brake is set.
While driving
Use as emergency brake while driving:
Pull the reel and hold it. The vehicle brakes
hard while the reel is being pulled.
The indicator lamp lights up red, a sig‐
nal sounds and the brake lights light
up.
A Check Control message is displayed.
If the vehicle is slowed down down to a speed of approx. 2 mph/3 km/h the parking brake is
set.
Releasing
With the ignition switched on:
Press the reel while stepping on the
brake pedal or transmission position P is
set.
The LED and indicator lamp go out.
The parking brake is released. Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, e.g., can‐
not release the parking brake.◀
Automatic release For automatic release, step on the accelerator
pedal.
The LED and indicator lamp go out.
The parking brake is automatically released
when you step on the accelerator:▷Drive readiness on.▷Drive mode engaged.▷Driver buckled in and doors closed.
Inadvertent operation of the accelerator
pedal
Make sure that the accelerator pedal is not op‐
erated unintentionally; otherwise, the vehicle is
set in motion and there is a risk of an acci‐
dent.◀
Automatic Hold
The concept This system assists the driver by automatically
setting and releasing the brake, such as when
moving in stop-and-go traffic.
The vehicle is automatically held in place when
it is stationary.
On inclines, the system prevents the vehicle
from rolling backward when driving off.
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Overview
Automatic Hold
Safety information Secure the vehicle against rolling
Before leaving the vehicle with activated
drive readiness, engage position P of the Step‐
tronic transmission and ensure that the park‐
ing brake is set. Otherwise, the vehicle may
begin to move.◀
Under the following conditions, Automatic
Hold is automatically deactivated and the park‐
ing brake is set:
▷Drive readiness is deactivated.▷A door is opened and driver's safety belt is
unbuckled while the vehicle is stationary.▷The moving vehicle is brought to a stand‐
still using the parking brake.
The indicator lamp switches from
green to red and the letters AUTO H go out.
Activating
This function can be activated when the driv‐
er's door is closed, the safety belt is fastened,
and drive readiness is activated and the engine
is running.
Press button.
The LED and the letters AUTO H light
up.
The indicator lamp lights up.
Automatic Hold is activated.
Deactivating Press button again.
The LED and the letters AUTO H go
out.
Automatic Hold is deactivated.
If the vehicle is being held by Automatic Hold,
press on the brake pedal to deactivate it.
When the parking brake is set manually, Auto‐
matic Hold is deactivated automatically.
Driving Automatic Hold is activated: the vehicle is au‐
tomatically secured against rolling when it
stops.
The indicator lamp lights up green.
Step on the accelerator pedal to drive
off.
The brake is released automatically.
The indicator lamp goes out.
Before driving into a car wash
Before driving into the car wash, deacti‐
vate Automatic Hold; otherwise, the parking
brake will be set when the vehicle is stationary
and the vehicle will no longer be able to roll.◀
Parking
The parking brake is automatically set if drive
readiness is deactivated while the vehicle is
being held by Automatic Hold.
The indicator lamp changes from green
to red.
The parking brake is not set if drive readiness
is deactivated while the vehicle is coasting to a
halt. Automatic Hold is deactivated.Seite 82ControlsDriving82
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Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, e.g., can‐
not release the parking brake.◀
Malfunction
In the event of a failure or malfunction of the
parking brake, secure the vehicle against roll‐
ing using a wheel chock, e.g., when leaving it.
Manual release Before releasing, secure the vehicle
against rolling
Before releasing the parking brake manually,
and whenever you park the vehicle with the
parking brake released, ensure that position P
of the Steptronic transmission is set.
Secure the vehicle in a manner appropriate to
the inclination of the road, e.g., with a wheel
chock; otherwise, there is a danger of an acci‐
dent and injuries if the vehicle rolls uninten‐
tionally.◀
The parking brake can be released manually in
the event of a power failure or electrical fault.
Unlocking Have the malfunction corrected
If the parking brake has been released
manually in response to a malfunction, only
technicians can return it to operation.
Have the malfunction corrected by your serv‐
ice center.◀1.Remove the screwdriver from the onboard
vehicle tool kit.2.Fold up the cargo floor panel.3.Take out the floor trim in the cargo area,
removing the screws with the screwdriver,
arrows.Seite 83DrivingControls83
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4.Insert the screwdriver through the loop, ar‐
row.5.Forcefully pull the screwdriver up against
the resistance until you notice a marked in‐
crease in the resistance and the parking
brake releases audibly.
After a power failure
Only put the parking brake into operation
after a power failure
The parking brake should only be put into op‐
eration again if it was manually released due to
an interruption in the supply of electrical
power. Otherwise, it cannot be ensured that
the parking brake will function properly.◀
Putting the parking brake into
operation
1.Switch on the ignition.2. Press the reel while stepping on the
brake pedal or selector lever position P is
set.It may take several seconds for the brake to be
put into operation. Any sounds associated with
this are normal.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out as soon as the parking
brake is ready for operation.
Turn signal, high beams,
headlight flasher
Turn signal
Hints Do not adjust the exterior mirrors
Do not adjust the exterior mirror while
driving and when turn signals/hazard warning
flashers are on, or else the additional turn sig‐
nal lights in the exterior mirror are out of posi‐
tion and can't be seen.◀
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To switch off manually, press the lever to the
resistance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator lamp
indicates that a turn signal bulb has failed.
Triple turn signal activation Press the lever to the resistance point.
The turn signal flashes three times.
The function can be activated or deactivated.
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