
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 40
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. :
Driver front air bag
; Passenger front air bag
Knee bags :
Driver’s knee bag
; Passenger knee bag
The knee bags are designed to provide
increased protection for the driver and
passenger against the risk of injuries to
the knees, thighs and lower legs. The knee
bags are located on the lower instrument 36
Occupant safety>> Safety.

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.
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 46
Driving safety systems>> Safety.
* optional

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 ÷in the instru-
ment cluster flashes when the ESP ®
is
engaged.
The ESP ®
warning lamp ÷in 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 ÷in 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, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of an ESP ®
equipped 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-
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 Driving safety systems
47>> Safety. Z

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 thenoise. 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. Anti-theft systems
Electronic immobilizer
The electronic immobilizer prevents
unauthorized persons from starting your
vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
key with you and lock the vehicle. The drive
system can be switched on by anyone with a
key that is left inside the vehicle. 48
Anti-theft 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 activa-
ted.
To prevent theft, however, it is advisable to only unlock the vehicle when you are inclose proximity to it. Locking and unlocking from the out-
side
X Selective unlocking: Press button#on
the key once.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
The driver’s door and the charge socket
flap are unlocked.
X Global unlocking: Press button#on 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 button*on 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 *on 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 #on 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 vehicle
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
:
Seat backrest tilt
; Seat fore and aft adjustment
Seat backrest tilt X
Adjusting: Sit down on the front seat.
X Pull adjustment lever :upwards and
adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel. 58
Seats>> Controls.

X
Release adjustment lever :when 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 ;upwards and
slide the seat to a seating position that
still allows you to reach the accelerator/
brake pedal safely.
X Release adjustment handle ;when 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 :.
X Folding down: Hold front of armrest and
fold it down in direction of arrow ;.
Adjusting armrest angle
You can adjust the angle of the armrest when
it is folded down.
X Turn thumb wheel =.
R Direction of arrow ?: down
R Direction of arrow A: 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 :.
X Move the passenger seat backward as far
as it will go. Seats
59>> Controls.
* optional Z

X
Push latch plate =into seat belt
buckle ?until it clicks.
X If necessary, tighten the lap portion of
the seat belt to a snug fit by pulling
shoulder portion up.
X Unfastening the seat belt: Press release
button A.
X Allow the retractor to completely rewind
the seat belt by guiding latch plate =.
Proper use of seat belts R
Do not twist the seat belt when fastening.
R Adjust the seat belt so that the shoulder
portion is located as close as possible to
the middle of the shoulder (it should not
touch the neck). Never pass the shoulder
portion of the seat belt under your arm.
R Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.
R Place the seat backrest in a position that
is as upright as possible.
R Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.
R Do not fasten a seat belt around a person
and another object at the same time. When using a seat belt to secure infant or tod-
dler restraints or children in booster
seats, always follow the child seat man-
ufacturer’s instructions.
R Check your seat belt during travel to
make sure it is properly positioned.
R Make sure the seat belt is always fitted
snugly. Take special care to maintain a
snug fit when wearing loose clothing. G
WARNING
Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
Do not allow the seat belt to get caught in
the door or in the seat adjustment mecha-
nism. This could damage the seat belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effec-
tiveness of the seat belts. Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Damaged seat belts or seat belts that were
highly stressed in an accident must be
replaced. Contact an authorized electric
drive smart center. Correct driver seat adjustment
G
WARNING
Observe ”Safety notes“ (Y page 58). X
Adjust the driver’s seat properly
(Y page 58).
Make sure that you
R are positioned as far away from the
driver’s front air bag as possible
R can reach steering wheel :with your
arms slightly bent at the elbows
R can fasten seat belt ;properly
R you have adjusted seat backrest =to a
position that is as upright as possible Seat belts
63>> Controls. Z