
Table of Contents
On-board literature4
Notes
5
Structure and more information about the
Owner's Manual
6
Abbreviations
Safety
Passive Safety
8
General information
8
Correct and safe seated position
8
Seat belts
11
Using seat belts
11
Inertia reel and belt pretensioners
13
Airbag system
14
Description of the airbag system
14
Airbag overview
15
Deactivating airbags
19
Transporting children safely
20
Child seat
20
Fastening elements
23
Using the system
Cockpit
27
Overview
26
Instruments and warning lights
28
Instrument cluster
28
Warning lights
31
Information system
40
Driver information system
40
Driving data (Multifunction display)
41
MAXI DOT display
44Service interval display49SmartGate50
Unlocking and opening
53
Unlocking and locking
53
Anti-theft alarm system
58
Luggage compartment lid
59
Electric boot lid
60
Window operations
61
Panorama sliding/tilting roof
64
Lights and visibility
67
Lights
67
Interior lights
74
Visibility
76
Windscreen wipers and washers
77
Rear mirror
79
Seats and head restraints
81
Seats and head restraints
81
Seat features
85
Transporting and practical equipment
89
Useful equipment
89
Multimedia holder
99
Luggage compartment and transport of
cargo
100
Variable loading floor in the luggage
compartment (Estate)
107
Net partition
109
Roof rack
110
Heating and ventilation
112
Heating, manual air conditioning system,
Climatronic
112
Auxiliary heating (auxiliary heating and
ventilation)
117Driving
Starting-off and Driving120
Starting and stopping the engine using the
key
120
Starting and stopping the engine at the push
of the button
122
START-STOPsystem
124
Brakes and parking
126
Manual shifting of gears and pedals
128
Automatic gearbox
129
Running-in and economical driving
132
Avoiding damage to your vehicle
134
Assist systems
135
General information
135
Braking and stabilisation systems
135
OFF ROAD-mode
138
Parking aid (ParkPilot)
140
Rear View Camera
143
Park Assist
144
Cruise Control System
148
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
150
Front Assist
155
Selection of the driving mode (Driving Mode
Selection)
157
Proactive passenger protection (Crew Protect
Assist)
160
Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist)
160
Traffic sign recognition
162
Fatigue detection
164
Tyre pressure monitoring
165
Hitch and trailer
167
Hitch
167
Trailer
1722Table of Contents

Placement of the cup holders » Fig. 89
In the front centre console
In the rear armrestWARNING■ Do not use any cups or beakers which are made of brittle material (e.g.
glass, porcelain). This could lead to injuries in the event of an accident.■
Never put hot cups in the cup holder. If the vehicle moves, they may spill –
risk of scalding!
■
No objects should be placed in the holders that might endanger the vehi-
cle's occupants if the vehicle brakes suddenly or the vehicle is in collision.
CAUTION
Do not leave open beverage containers in the cup holder during the journey.
There is a risk of spilling e.g. when braking which may cause damage to the
electrical components or seat upholstery.
Cigarette lighter
Fig. 90
Cigarette lighter
Read and observe on page 89 first.
Use
›
Press the igniter in as far as the stop » Fig. 90.
›
Wait until the igniter pops out.
›
Remove the glowing igniter and use immediately.
›
Place the cigarette lighter back into the socket.
ABWARNING■
The cigarette lighter also works if the ignition is switched off. When leav-
ing the vehicle, never leave persons who are not completely independent,
such as children, unattended in the vehicle. These could operate the lighter
and get burned, start a fire or damage the interior.■
Take care when using the cigarette lighter! Improper usage can case
burns.
Note
The cigarette lighter socket can also be used as a 12 volt socket.
Ashtray
Fig. 91
Remove front ashtray / open rear ashtray / remove rear ashtray
insert
Read and observe
on page 89 first.
The ashtray can be used for discarding ash, cigarettes, cigars and the like » .
Removing/inserting the front ash tray
›
When removing, do not hold the ashtray on the cover.
›
Pull out the ashtray in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 91 -
.
Insertion takes place in reverse order.
Removing/inserting the rear ashtray insert
›
Pull the upper part of the well and open the ashtray in the direction of arrow
1
» Fig. 91 -
.
›
Grasp the insert in the area marked with the arrows and remove it in the di-
rection of arrow
2
» Fig. 91 -
.
92Using the system

Manually deactivating/activating the systemFig. 146
Button for the START-STOP sys-
tem
Deactivating/activating
›
Press the symbol button
» Fig. 146 .
When system is deactivated, the warning light in the button illuminates.
If the system is turned off, it will be automatically reactivated after turning the
ignition off and on.
Note
■ If the system is deactivated when the engine is turned off automatically,
then the automatic start process takes place.■
Selecting the driving mode Eco when the system is deactivated will automat-
ically activate the system » page 157, Selection of the driving mode (Driving
Mode Selection) .
Information messages
The information messages are shown in the instrument cluster display.
Start the engine manually!START MANUALLY
If for example the driver's seat belt is stored, the engine must be started man-
ually.
On vehicles with the starter button, the ignition is turned off by the first press
of the starter button; the start process is only initiated when the button is
pressed for the second time.
Error: start-stop systemSTART STOP ERROR
A system error is present. Seek help from a specialist garage.
Brakes and parking
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
126
Handbrake
127
Parking
128WARNING■ Greater physical effort for braking is required when the engine is switch-
ed off – risk of accident!■
During the braking procedure on a vehicle with manual transmission,
when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs, press the clutch pedal. Other-
wise, the functionality of the brake system may be impaired – risk of acci-
dent!
■
When leaving the vehicle never leave persons leave unattended in the
vehicle who could release the brake. The vehicle might then move off – risk of accident!
■
Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 132.
CAUTION
Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not nec-
essary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer brak-
ing distance and excessive wear.
Information on braking
Read and observe
and on page 126 first.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driv-
ing style.
The brake pads wear more quickly if a lot of journeys are completed in towns
and over short distances or if a very sporty style of driving is adopted.
If operated under severe conditions , the thickness of the brake pads must be
checked by a specialist garage between service appointments as well.
126Driving

Wet roads or road salt
The performance of the brakes can be delayed as the brake discs and brake
pads may be moist or have a coating of ice or layer of salt on them in winter.
The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times »
.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if the vehicle has
been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking
system. The brakes are cleaned by applying the brakes several times »
.
Long or steep slopes
Before travelling a long distance with a steep gradient, reduce speed and shift
into the next lowest gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be
used, reducing the load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be com-
pleted intermittently, not continuously.
Emergency brake display
If the brakes are applied in full and the vehicle systems evaluate the situation
as dangerous for the traffic following behind, the brake light flashes automati-
cally.
After the speed was reduced below around 10 km/h or the vehicle was stop-
ped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system
switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically af-
ter accelerating or driving off again.
Faults in the brake surface
If it is found that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that
the brake pedal can be depressed further, the brake system may be faulty.
Visit a specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropri-
ately, as you will not know the exact extent of the damage.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system.
The level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically » page 32,
Brake sys-
tem .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.
WARNINGOnly apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake
discs if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users
in jeopardy.
Handbrake
Fig. 147
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 126 first.
The hand brake is used when stopping and parking for securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Release
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the lock
button » Fig. 147 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light
lights up when the handbrake is applied, pro-
vided the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the
handbrake applied.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display.
Release the handbrake!RELEASE HANDBRAKE
The handbrake warning is activated if the vehicle is driven at a speed of more
than around 5 km/h for more than 3 seconds.
127Starting-off and Driving

WARNINGPlease note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating. This can
have a negative effect on the operation of the brake system – risk of acci-
dent!
Parking
Read and observe
and on page 126 first.
When stopping and parking, look for a place with a suitable surface » .
Only carry out the activities while parking in the specified order.
›
Bring the vehicle to a stop and depress the brake pedal.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission place the selector lever in the P po-
sition.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
For vehicles with Manual transmission , select 1st gear or Reverse gear R .
›
Release the brake pedal.
WARNINGThe parts of the exhaust system can become very hot. Therefore, never
stop the vehicle at places where the underside of your vehicle can come in-
to contact with flammable materials such as dry grass, undergrowth,
leaves, spilled fuel or such like. - Risk of fire and serious injury can occur!
Manual shifting of gears and pedals
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
128
Pedals
128Manual gear changingFig. 148
Gearshift pattern of 5-gear or 6-
gear manual gearbox
The shift pattern for the individual gear positions is shown on the gear lever » Fig. 148 .
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 41.
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear
on the clutch.
Reverse gear is engaged
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
The clutch pedal is fully depressed.
›
Move the shift lever to the idle position switch and press down.
›
Move the shift lever fully to the left and then forward into R position
» Fig. 148 .
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the
ignition is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident!
CAUTION
■ If not in the process of changing gear, do not leave your hand on the gear-
shift lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gearshift
mechanism to wear excessively.■
When stopping on a slope, never try to hold the vehicle using the clutch and
the accelerator pedal – this may lead to damage to the clutch.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances!
128Driving

The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 41.
Switching to manual shifting›
Push the gear selector from position D/S towards the right, or left in a right-
hand drive vehicle.
When switching to the manual shifting while driving, the current gear is main-
tained.
Shifting up gears
›
Push the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 151 .
›
Pull the paddle +
» Fig. 151 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Shifting down gears
›
Push the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 151 .
›
Pull the paddle -
» Fig. 151 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Temporarily switching to manual shifting in position D/S
›
Pull one of the -/+ paddles
» Fig. 151 briefly towards the steering wheel .
If you do not pull one of the rocker switches -
/+ for more than 1 Minute, man-
ual shifting of gears is deactivated. The temporary switch to manual gear shift-
ing can also be deactivated by pulling the +
paddle towards the steering
wheel for more than 1 second.
Note
■ It may be beneficial, for example, when travelling downhill, to use manual
shifting of gears. Shifting to a lower gear reduces the load on the brakes and
hence the wear of the brakes » page 126.■
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the higher gear
just before the maximum permissible engine speed is reached.
■
If a lower gear is selected, the gearbox does not shift down until there is no
risk of the engine overrevving.
Starting-off and driving
Read and observe
and on page 129 first.
Starting off
›
Start the engine.
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Press the lock button in the direction of
1
» Fig. 150 on page 130 and hold.
›Move the selector lever into the desired position
» page 129 and then release
the lock button.›
Release the brake pedal and accelerate.
Stopping (while the car is moving)
›
Depress the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Keep holding the brake pedal until driving is resumed.
The selector lever position N does not have to be selected when stopping for a
short time, such as at a cross roads.
Kickdown
The kickdown function allows you to achieve the maximum acceleration of
your vehicle while driving.
When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the kickdown function is activa-
ted in any forward driving mode.
The gearbox shifts down one or more gears depending on the vehicle speed
and engine speed, and the vehicle accelerates.
The gearbox does not shift up into the highest gear until the engine has
reached its maximum revolutions for this gear range.
Driving in neutral position in mode E (free-wheel)
›
Move the selector lever into the position D/S.
›
Select the driving mode Eco or Individual (Drive - Eco) » page 157, Selection
of the driving mode (Driving Mode Selection) .
›
Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal (the speed is higher than 20
km/h).
The vehicle moves without the braking effect of the engine.
The gear is selected again automatically, when you briefly depress the acceler- ator brake pedal or pull the left rocker switch -
towards the steering wheel
» page 130 , Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic) .
This function is not available when towing a trailer or when another accessory
is connected to the trailer socket.
Launch control 1)
The launch control function allows the vehicle in mode S or Tiptronic to reach
its maximum acceleration when starting off.
›
Disable the TCS » page 135, Braking and stabilisation systems .
1)
This function is only valid for some engines.
131Starting-off and Driving

Traction control (TCS)136Electronic differential lock (EDL and XDS)137
Driver Steering Recommendation (DSR)
137
Brake Assist (HBA)
137
Hill Start Assist (HHC)
137
Multi collision brake (MCB)
138
Trailer stabilization system (TSA)
138
This chapter describes the functions of the brake and stabilization systems.
The error display is in Chapter » page 31, Warning lights .
The brake and stabilization systems are automatically activated each time the
ignition is switched on, unless otherwise indicated.
WARNINGThe general information relating to the use of assistance systems must be
observed » page 135, in section Introduction .
Stability Control (ESC)
Read and observe
on page 136 first.
The ESC improves vehicle stability in dynamic driving situations, such as when
the vehicle starts to skid.
The ESC monitors whether the desired direction of the current vehicle motion
is occurring. In case of any deviation (e.g. oversteer), the ESC automatically
brakes individual wheels to maintain the desired direction.
During an intervention of the system, the warning light flashes in the instru-
ment cluster.
Enable/disable ESC Sport
The activation of the ESC sports allows a sportier driving style. With a slight
over or under steering of the vehicle take no ESC interventions take place and
the TCS is restricted so that the spinning of the wheels of the driven axle can
occur.
The activation or deactivation of the ESC sports can be done in one of two
ways. ▶ By pressing the Symbol key for the activation and briefly pressing the but-
ton for the deactivation » Fig. 155 on page 136 .
▶ Infotainment » Owner´s Manual Infotainment , chapter CAR - vehicle set-
tings .
Upon activation, in the instrument cluster the indicator light comes on and
the display shows the following message.ESC sport: directional stabil. restricted.ESC SPORT
Upon deactivation, in the instrument cluster the control indicator
turns off
and the display shows the following message.
Stabilisation control (ESC) activated.ESC ON
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Read and observe
on page 136 first.
ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking. Thus helping the driver to
maintain control of the vehicle.
The intervention of the ABS is noticeable from the pulsating movements of
the brake pedal which is accompanied by noises.
When the ABS system is active, do not brake periodically or reduce the pres- sure on the brake pedal.
Traction control (TCS)
Fig. 155
System button: Vehicle with ESC / vehicle without ESC
Read and observe
on page 136 first.
TCS prevents the spinning of the wheels of the driven axle. TCS reduces the
drive power transmitted to the wheels in the case of slipping wheels. Thus, for
example, driving on road surfaces with low grip is made easier.
136Driving

During a TCS intervention, the indicator light flashes in the instrument clus-
ter.
Activating/deactivating TCS
The activation or deactivation of TCS can be done, depending on equipment, in
one of the following ways. ▶ Infotainment » Owner´s Manual Infotainment , chapter CAR - vehicle set-
tings .
▶ By briefly pressing the symbol key
» Fig. 155 .
▶ By briefly pressing the symbol key
» Fig. 155 .
Upon deactivation, in the instrument cluster the indicator light
lights up and
the display shows the following message.Traction control (ASR) deactivated.ASR OFF
Upon activation, in the instrument cluster the indicator turns and the display
shows the following message.
Traction control (ASR) activated.ASR ON
The TCS should normally always be enabled. The system should be deactivated
only in the following situations, for example. ▶ When driving with snow chains.
▶ When driving in deep snow or on a very loose surface.
▶ When it is necessary to “rock” a car free when it has become stuck.
Note
On vehicles without the ESC system, the warning light does not illuminate
upon deactivation of the TCS system, but a message is only displayed on the
display of the instrument cluster.
Electronic differential lock (EDL and XDS)
Read and observe
on page 136 first.
EDL
EDL prevents the turning of the respective wheel of the driven axle. EDL
brakes the spinning wheel, if necessary, and transmits the driving force to the
other driving wheel. Driving becomes easier on road surfaces with different
traction under each wheel of the driven axle.
EDL switches off automatically to avoid excessive heat generation on the
brake of the wheel being braked. Once the brakes have cooled down, there is
an automatic re-activation of EDL.
XDS
XDS is an extension to the electronic differential lock. XDS does not respond to
traction, but to the load relief of the inner front wheel of the driving axle dur-
ing fast cornering.
The automatic brake intervention on the brake of the wheel with reduced load
prevents the wheel from spinning. Thus, the traction is improved and the vehi-
cle can continue to follow the desired track.
Driver Steering Recommendation (DSR)
Read and observe
on page 136 first.
The DSR indicates to the driver in critical situations a steering recommenda-
tion in order to stabilise the vehicle. The DSR is activated, for example, on the
right and left vehicle side when braking sharply on different road surfaces.
Brake Assist (HBA)
Read and observe
on page 136 first.
HBA increases the braking effect and helps to shorten the braking distance.
The HBA is activated by the very quick operation of the brake pedal. To ach-
ieve the shortest possible braking distance, the brake pedal must be applied
firmly until the vehicle has come to a complete standstill.
The HBA is automatically switched off when the brake pedal is released.
Hill Start Assist (HHC)
Read and observe
on page 136 first.
HHC allows you, when driving on slopes, to move your foot from the brake
pedal to the accelerator pedal without having to use the handbrake.
The system holds the brake pressure produced by the activation of the brake pedal for approx. 2 seconds after the brake pedal is released.
The HHC is active from a 5% slope if the driver's door is closed. HHC is always
active on slopes when in forward or reverse start off.
137Assist systems