2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class tailgate

i
The opening dimensions of the tailgate
can be found in the "Vehicle data" section
(Y page 368).
You should preferably place luggage or loads
in the cargo compartment. Observe the load-
ing guidelines (Y page 266).
Do not leave the SmartKey in the cargo com-
partment. You could otherwise lock yourself
out.
The tailgate can be:
R opened and closed manually from outside
R opened/closed automatically from outside
R opened/closed automatically from inside
R unlocked from inside with the mechanical
key Tailgate obstruction detection with
reversing feature
On vehicles with tailgate remote closing fea-
ture, the tailgate is equipped with automatic
obstacle recognition with a reversing feature. If a solid object blocks or restricts the tailgate
when automatically opening or closing, this
procedure is stopped. If the tailgate is stop-
ped during the closing process, the tailgate
automatically opens again slightly. The auto-
matic obstacle recognition with reversing
function is only an aid. It is not a substitute for your attentiveness when opening and closingthe tailgate. G
WARNING
The reversing feature does not react:
R to soft, light and thin objects, e.g. small fin-
gers
R over the last 1/3 in (8 mm) of the closing
movement
This means that the reversing feature cannot
prevent someone being trapped in these sit-
uations. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that no body parts are in close
proximity during the closing procedure. If somebody becomes trapped:
R press the 0054button on the SmartKey, or
R press the remote operating switch on the
driver’s door, or
R press the closing button/STOP button on
the trunk lid or
R pull on the trunk lid handle Opening/closing from outside
Opening X
Press the 0036button on the SmartKey. X
Pull handle 0043.
X Raise the tailgate.
Closing X
Pull the tailgate down using handle 0043.
X Allow the tailgate to drop into the lock.
X If necessary, lock the vehicle with the 0037
button on the SmartKey. 84
Cargo compartmentOpening and closing

Opening/closing automatically from
outside
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Parts of the body could become trapped dur-
ing automatic closing of the tailgate. More-
over, people, e.g. children, may be standing in the closing area or may enter the closing area
during the closing process. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the closing area during the closing process.
Use one of the following options to stop the
closing process:
R press the 0054button on the SmartKey.
R press the remote operating switch on the
driver’s door.
R press the close button or STOP button on
the tailgate.
R pull the handle on the tailgate. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate is open when the engine is running, particu-
larly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes
could enter the passenger compartment.
There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the tail-
gate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the
rear when opened. Therefore, make sure
that there is sufficient clearance above and behind the tailgate.
i The opening dimensions of the tailgate
can be found in the "Vehicle data" section
(Y page 368).
Opening the tailgate automatically You can open the tailgate automatically with
the SmartKey or the handle in the tailgate. X
Press the 0054button on the SmartKey
until the tailgate opens.
or X If the tailgate is unlocked, pull the handle
and let it go again immediately.
Closing the tailgate automatically X
To close: press closing button 0044on the
tailgate.
X To stop the closing process: press STOP
button 0043on the tailgate.
or
X Pull the handle in the tailgate.
or
X Press the 0054button on the SmartKey
until the tailgate opens again.
or X Press the remote operating switch in the
driver's door. Opening/closing automatically from
inside
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate is open when the engine is running, particu-
larly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes
could enter the passenger compartment.
There is a risk of poisoning. Cargo compartment
85Opening and closing
Z

Turn off the engine before opening the tail-
gate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the
rear when opened. Therefore, make sure
that there is sufficient clearance above and behind the tailgate.
i The opening dimensions of the tailgate
can be found in the "Vehicle data" section
(Y page 368).
Opening and closing You can open and close the tailgate from the
driver's seat when the vehicle is stationary
and unlocked.
X To open: pull remote operating switch 0043
for the tailgate until the tailgate opens.
X To close: turn the SmartKey to position 1
or 2in the ignition lock.
X Press remote operating switch 0043for the
tailgate until the tailgate is completely
closed.
You will hear a warning tone during the
closing process. Limiting the opening angle of the tail-
gate
Important safety notes You can limit the opening angle of the tail-
gate. This is possible in the top half of its
opening range. This could be useful, for example, if there is
insufficient space above the tailgate.
! Make sure there is sufficient clearance to
open the tailgate fully when setting the
opening angle. The tailgate could otherwise be damaged. Ideally, set the opening angleoutside.
Activating X
To open the tailgate: pull the handle on
the tailgate.
X To stop the opening procedure at the
desired position: press the closing button
(Y page 85) in the tailgate or pull the handle
on the outside of the tailgate again.
X To store the position: press and hold the
closing button in the tailgate until you hear a short tone.
The opening angle limiter is activated. The
tailgate will now stop in the stored positionwhen opening.
i To open the tailgate fully, pull the handle
on the outside of the tailgate again after it
has stopped automatically. This does not
delete the stored position.
Deactivating X
Press and hold the closing button
(Y page 85) in the tailgate until you hear
two short tones. Tailgate emergency release
If the tailgate can no longer be opened from
outside the vehicle, use the emergency
release on the inside of the tailgate.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the
rear when opened. Therefore, make sure
that there is sufficient clearance above and
behind the tailgate.
i The opening dimensions of the tailgate
can be found in the "Vehicle data" section
(Y page 368). 86
Cargo compartmentOpening and closing

You can reach the emergency release via the
cargo compartment. Fold the rear backrests
forward (Y page 270).
X Take the mechanical key out of the Smart-
Key (Y page 77). X
Insert mechanical key 0044fully into the
opening in trim 0043.
X Turn mechanical key 004490° clockwise.
X Push mechanical key 0044in the direction of
the arrow and open the tailgate.
i When you lock the vehicle (Y
page 83),
the cargo compartment is also locked. Side windows
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
While closing the side windows, body parts in the closing area could become trapped. There is a risk of injury.
When closing make sure that no parts of the
body are in the closing area. If somebody
becomes trapped, release the switch or press
the switch to open the side window again. G
WARNING
If children operate the side windows they
could become trapped, particularly if they are left unsupervised. There is a risk of injury.
Activate the override feature for the rear side
windows. When leaving the vehicle, always
take the SmartKey with you and lock the vehi- cle. Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle.
Side window reversing feature
The side windows are equipped with an auto- matic reversing feature. If a solid object
blocks or restricts a side window from trav-
eling upwards during the automatic closing
process, the side window opens again auto-
matically. During the manual closing process,
the side window only opens again automati-
cally after the corresponding switch is
released. The automatic reversing feature is
only an aid and is no substitute for your atten- tion when closing a side window. G
WARNING
The reversing feature does not react:
R to soft, light and thin objects, e.g. small fin-
gers
R while resetting
This means that the reversing feature cannot
prevent someone being trapped in these sit-
uations. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that no body parts are in close
proximity during the closing procedure. If
someone becomes trapped, press the switch
to open the side window again. Opening and closing the side win-
dows
The switches for all side windows are located on the driver's door. There is also a switch on
each door for the corresponding side window.
The switches on the driver's door take prec-
edence. Side windows
87Opening and closing Z

X
Tighten wing nut 0044and re-establish con-
tact with connector 0043.
X Close the side trim panel (Y page 119).
Backup lamp and rear fog lamp
Due to their location, have the bulbs in the
backup lamp (vehicles with halogen head-
lamps) and rear fog lamp in the tailgate
changed at a qualified specialist workshop. Windshield wipers
Switching the windshield wipers
on/off
! Do not operate the windshield wipers
when the windshield is dry, as this could
damage the wiper blades. Moreover, dust
that has collected on the windshield can
scratch the glass if wiping takes place when the windshield is dry.
If it is necessary to switch on the windshield
wipers in dry weather conditions, always
use washer fluid when operating the wind-
shield wipers.
! If the windshield wipers leave smears on
the windshield after the vehicle has been
washed in an automatic car wash, wax or
other residues may be the reason for this.
Clean the windshield using washer fluid
after washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash. Combination switch
0047
003F Windshield wiper off
0048 0062 Intermittent wipe, low (rain sensor
set to low sensitivity)
0049 0063 Intermittent wipe, high (rain sensor
set to high sensitivity)
004A 00AA Continuous wipe, slow
004B 00A9 Continuous wipe, fast
0084 00D3 Single wipe/00D4 To wipe the wind-
shield using washer fluid
X Switch on the ignition.
X Turn the combination switch to the corre-
sponding position.
! Vehicles with a rain sensor: if the wind-
shield becomes dirty in dry weather condi-
tions, the windshield wipers may be activa-
ted inadvertently. This could then damage
the windshield wiper blades or scratch the
windshield.
For this reason, you should always switch
off the windshield wipers in dry weather.
Vehicles with a rain sensor: in the0062or
0063 position, the appropriate wiping fre-
quency is automatically set according to the
intensity of the rain. In the 0063position, the
rain sensor is more sensitive than in the 0062
position, causing the windshield wipers to
wipe more frequently.
If the wiper blades are worn, the windshield
will no longer be wiped properly. This could
prevent you from observing the traffic condi-
tions. Windshield wipers
121Lights and windshield wipers Z

Switching the rear window wiper on/
off Combination switch
0043
00C5 Switch
0048 00E2 To wipe with washer fluid
0049 ITo switch on intermittent wiping
004A 0To switch off intermittent wiping
004B 00E2 To wipe with washer fluid
X Turn the SmartKey to position 1or 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 143).
X Turn switch 0043on the combination switch
to the corresponding position.
When the rear window wiper is switched on,
a symbol appears in the assistance graphic in the instrument cluster. Replacing the wiper blades
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the windshield wipers begin to move while
you are changing the wiper blades, you could be trapped by the wiper arm. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
ignition before changing the wiper blades.
! To avoid damaging the wiper blades,
make sure that you touch only the wiper
arm of the wiper.
! Never open the hood/tailgate if a wiper
arm has been folded away from the wind-
shield/rear window. Never fold a windshield wiper arm without a
wiper blade back onto the windshield/rear window.
Hold the windshield wiper arm firmly whenyou change the wiper blade. If you release
the wiper arm without a wiper blade and it
falls onto the windshield/rear window, the
windshield/rear window may be damaged
by the force of the impact.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the wiper blades changed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Changing the windshield wiper blades Removing the wiper blades
X Remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
X Fold the wiper arm away from the wind-
shield. X
Press both release clips 0044.
X Fold wiper blade 0043in the direction of
arrow 0087away from wiper arm 0085.
X Remove wiper blade 0043in the direction of
arrow 0083. 122
Windshield wipersLights and windshield wipers

If the transmission is in position
R, the tailgate
must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake:
R the driver's door is closed.
R you have shifted out of transmission posi-
tion Por you have previously driven faster
than 2 mph (3 km/h).
i Ensure that you do not depress the accel-
erator pedal unintentionally. Otherwise the
parking brake will be released and the vehi-
cle will start to move.
Emergency braking The vehicle can also be braked during an
emergency by using the electric parking
brake.
X While driving, push handle 0043of the electric
parking brake (Y page 160).
i The vehicle is braked for as long as han-
dle 0043of the electric parking brake is
pressed. The longer electric parking brake
handle 0043is depressed, the greater the
braking force.
During braking:
R a warning tone sounds
R the Release park. brake Release park. brake message
appears
R the red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument clus- ter flashes
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand- still, the electric parking brake is engaged. Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging. If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
six weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a result of lack of use.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop. Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If you operate mobile communication equip-
ment while driving, you will be distracted from traffic conditions. You could also lose controlof the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicleis stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the coun- try in which you are driving. Some jurisdic-
tions prohibit the driver from using a mobile
phone while driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone
when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers
a distance of 44 ft (approximately 14 m) per
second. 162
Driving tipsDriving and parking

The electric parking brake automatically
secures the vehicle if the HOLD function is
activated and:
R the driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
R a system malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is not sufficient.
On steep uphill or downhill inclines or if there
is a malfunction, the transmission may also
automatically be shifted into position P.RACE START
Important safety notes RACE START enables optimal acceleration
from a standing start. The precondition for
this is a suitable high-grip road surface.
RACE START is intended solely for activation
on dedicated race circuits.
i RACE START is only available in AMG vehi-
cles.
Conditions for activation You can activate RACE START if:
R the doors, hood and the tailgate are closed.
R the engine is running and the transmission,
all-wheel drive clutch and the engine are at
operating temperature.
R SPORT handling mode is activated.
(Y page 70)
R the steering wheel is in the straight-ahead
position.
R the vehicle is stationary and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot).
R the transmission is in position D.
R drive program Mis selected (Y page 152).Activating RACE START X
Depress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.
X Pull and hold both steering wheel shift pad-
dles.
X The RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP
Cancel: Paddle DOWN
Cancel: Paddle DOWN message appears
in the multifunction display.
X Release both steering wheel shift paddles.
i If the activation conditions are no longer
fulfilled, RACE START is canceled. The
RACE START Not Possible See Opera‐
RACE START Not Possible See Opera‐
tor's Manual tor's Manual message appears in the
multifunction display.
X To cancel: pull the left steering wheel pad-
dle shifter (Y page 153).
or
X To confirm: pull the right steering wheel
paddle shifter (Y page 153).
The RACE START Available Depress
RACE START Available Depress
gas pedal
gas pedal message appears in the multi-
function display.
i If you do not depress the accelerator
pedal within a few seconds, RACE START is canceled. The multifunction display shows
the RACE START Canceled
RACE START Canceled message.
X Fully depress the accelerator pedal.
The engine speed is increased.
The RACE START Release brake to RACE START Release brake to
start
start message appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within a short time, RACE START will be
canceled. The multifunction display shows
the RACE START Canceled
RACE START Canceled message.
X Take your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum accel-
eration.
The RACE
RACE START START Active
Active message appears
in the multifunction display.
RACE START is deactivated when the vehicle
reaches a speed of approximately 30 mph
(Canada: 50 km/h). Drive program Sis acti- Driving systems
183Driving and parking Z