Driving and operating137Use of the engine braking effect, as
opposed to the use of the foot brake
when driving downhill, can extend the
life of the brakes.
Rocking the vehicle
Rocking the vehicle is only
permissible if the vehicle is stuck in
water, ice, sand, mud, snow or a dip.
Move the selector lever between D
and R in a repeat pattern while
applying light pressure to the
accelerator pedal when the vehicle is in gear. Do not race the engine and
avoid sudden acceleration.
If the vehicle cannot be released after
rocking the vehicle several times,
your vehicle may need to be towed
3 196.
Parking Apply the electrical parking brake and
engage P.
The ignition key can only be removed
when the selector lever is in position
P .Sport mode
Suspension and steering become
more direct and provide better
contact with the road surface. The
engine reacts more quickly to
accelerator pedal movements.
Automatic gear changing is also more
responsive.
Sport mode can reduce the vehicle's
fuel economy. Use normal mode whenever possible.
Note
Sport mode may be unavailable if the charging level of the vehicle
battery is too low.
ActivationPress SPORT to switch on Sport
mode.
Control indicator S illuminates in
the instrument cluster 3 86.
Deactivation
Press SPORT again to return to
normal mode. Control indicator S extinguishes.
138Driving and operatingManual mode
Move selector lever out of position D
towards the left and then forwards or backwards.
<:Shift to a higher gear.]:Shift to a lower gear.
Tip selector lever in the appropriate
direction. It then returns to the centre
position.
Gearshifting in manual mode can be
achieved whilst accelerating. If the
engine speed is too low, the
transmission will automatically shift to a lower gear, even in manual mode,
to prevent the engine from stalling.
If a higher gear is selected when
vehicle speed is too low, or a lower
gear when vehicle speed is too high,
the shift is not executed.
In manual mode, no automatic
shifting to a higher gear takes place
at high engine revolutions.
Gears can be skipped by moving the selector lever repeatedly at short
intervals.
After stopping, 1st gear is
automatically selected. When starting
on slippery surfaces, tip selector lever forwards to engage 2nd gear.
To move back to position D, move
selector lever back to the right.
Electronic driving programmes
● Following a cold start, the operating temperature
programme increases engine
speed to quickly bring the
catalytic converter to the required
temperature.Kickdown
In both automatic and manual modes, if the accelerator pedal is presseddown completely the transmission
shifts to a lower gear depending on
engine speed. Full engine power is
available for acceleration.
Fuel economy mode 3 122.
Fault In the event of a fault in the automatic
transmission, control indicator Z
illuminates in the instrument cluster
3 84 . Automatic shifting may be much
harsher than normal or, in the case of
a serious fault, cancelled altogether.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
If control indicator g illuminates in
the instrument cluster when the
engine is running, this may indicate a
fault in the transmission electronics
3 84. The electronics switch to the
emergency running programme, fuel
consumption may increase and the
driveability of the vehicle may be
affected. Seek the assistance of a
workshop.
140Driving and operatingCaution
It is not advisable to drive with thehand resting on the selector lever.
Fuel economy mode 3 122.
Drive systems
All-wheel drive
All-wheel drive is an active-on-
demand system that engages
automatically, with no action required
by the driver. Depending on the
driving environment, the vehicle
switches between two-wheel drive
and four-wheel drive, to give the vehicle more traction and stability
when necessary.
If the front wheels begin to slip, the
rear wheels will automatically begin to drive the vehicle as required. More
torque is transferred to the wheels
that have the most traction, so the
vehicle has optimum grip at all times. There may be a slight engagement
noise during hard use.
As well as enabling the vehicle to be
driven off-road, this system also
enables the vehicle to be driven on
normal roads without incurring
excessive tyre and drivetrain wear or
causing poor control.Ensure tyres (including the spare) are
inflated to the correct pressure
3 212 and are suitable for the
prevailing road conditions. For
optimum system performance, the
vehicle's tyres should not have
varying degrees of wear.
If control indicator B flashes in the
instrument cluster during driving, All-
wheel drive is temporarily disabled. If B flashes continuously, there is a fault
in the system; seek the assistance of
a workshop.
All-wheel drive control indicator B
3 86.
On-road driving
The increased traction of All-wheel
drive vehicles offers greater driving
control in adverse road conditions,
particularly heavy snow and ice.
However, All-wheel drive vehicles are not "skid-proof" and do not decrease
stopping distances.
All-wheel drive vehicles have a higher
centre of gravity than conventional vehicles. Always approach curves at
an appropriate driving speed. Do not
attempt to go as fast through turns as
Driving and operating143ABS starts to regulate brake pressure
as soon as a wheel shows a tendency to lock. The vehicle remains
steerable, even during hard braking.
ABS control is made apparent
through a pulse in the brake pedal
and the noise of the regulation
process.
For optimum braking, keep the brake
pedal fully depressed throughout the
braking process, despite the fact that
the pedal is pulsating. Do not reduce
the pressure on the pedal.
After starting off, the system performs a self-test which may be audible.
Control indicator u 3 85.
Fault9 Warning
If there is a fault in the ABS, the
wheels may be liable to lock due
to braking that is heavier than
normal. The advantages of ABS
are no longer available. During
hard braking, the vehicle can nolonger be steered and may
swerve.
You can continue driving, provided
you drive with care and anticipation.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Parking brake
Electrical parking brake
Applying when vehicle is stationary
Pull switch m, the electrical parking
brake operates automatically with
adequate force. For maximum force,
e.g. parking with a trailer or on
inclines, pull switch m twice.
The electrical parking brake can
always be activated, even if the
ignition is off.
Do not operate electrical parking
brake system too often without
engine running as this will discharge
the battery.
Before leaving the vehicle, check the
electrical parking brake status.
Control indicator m 3 85.
Releasing
Switch on ignition. Keep foot brake
depressed and then push switch m.
If the foot brake is not depressed
when attempting to release electrical
parking brake, a warning chime will
sound and control indicator -
illuminates in the instrument cluster
3 90.
Driving and operating145Ride control systems
Electronic Stability Control
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip. It also
prevents the drive wheels from
spinning.
As soon as the vehicle starts to
swerve (understeer/oversteer),
engine output is reduced and the wheels are braked individually. This
considerably improves the driving stability of the vehicle on slippery road
surfaces.
ESC is operational as soon as control indicators b and t extinguish in the
instrument cluster after switching on
the ignition.
When ESC is active b flashes 3 87.9 Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Deactivation
With ESC active, if wheels are
slipping on wet, snowy or icy roads,
engine speed may not increase when
accelerator pedal is depressed. The
vehicle may not move.
Switch off ESC function, to allow
engine rpm to increase, by pressing
t briefly. Control indicator t
illuminates in the instrument cluster.
ESC is reactivated by pressing t
again. The control indicator
extinguishes.
Control indicator t 3 87.
Hydraulic brake assist When the ESC function comes intoaction and recognises any
emergency situation requiring hard
braking, it automatically delivers
increased braking pressure to the
wheels.
Active rollover protection
If the vehicle moves in an unstable
manner, this function helps the
vehicle maintain normal stability.
146Driving and operatingTrailer stability assist
If the system detects snaking
movements, engine power is reduced
and the vehicle/trailer combination is
selectively braked until the snaking ceases. While system is working keep
steering wheel as still as possible.
Fault
If there is a fault in the system the
control indicator b illuminates
continuously. The system is not
operational.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Descent control system The Descent control system (DCS)
allows the vehicle to travel at a low
speed without depressing the foot
brake. The vehicle will automatically
decelerate to a low speed and remain
at that speed when the system is
activated. Some noise or vibration
from the brake system may be
apparent when the system is active.Caution
Use only when descending steep
grades while driving off-road. Do
not use when driving on normal
road surfaces. Unnecessary
usage of the DCS function, such
as while driving on normal roads,
may damage the brake system
and the ESC function.
Activation
At speeds below approx. 50 km/h,
press u. The green control indicator
u flashes in the instrument cluster, to
show DCS is in operation. DCS will
not activate at speeds above
50 km/h, even if the button is pressed.
Deactivation
Press u again. The green control
indicator u extinguishes. Depressing
the foot brake or accelerator will also
cause the system to be deactivated.
Fault
The yellow control indicator u flashes
to indicate that the system is not
ready for conditions to operate, due to the high temperature (approx.
350 - 400 °C) of friction material,
through severe or repeated braking. It
will extinguish when the temperature
drops below 350 °C.
The yellow control indicator u
illuminates when there is a
malfunction in the system, due to the
extremely high temperature
(over 400 °C) of friction material,
through severe or repeated braking. It will extinguish when the temperaturedrops below 350 °C. These
Driving and operating147temperatures may differ according to
vehicle conditions or outside
conditions.
Flashing or illumination of the yellow
control indicator u reminds the driver
that the friction material needs to cool
down: drive the vehicle without
braking as much as possible. If the
control indicator does not extinguish,
have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
DSC control indicators u 3 86.
Automatic level control
The rear level of the vehicle is
automatically adjusted to the load
conditions while driving. Suspension
and ground clearance are increased,
which improves driving conditions.
The automatic level control is
activated after the vehicle has been
driven for some distance, depending
on the vehicle load and the road
conditions.
Do not use full payload in the event of
a fault. Have the cause of the fault
remedied by a workshop.
Headlight range adjustment 3 106.Driver assistance
systems9 Warning
Driver assistance systems are
developed to support the driver
and not to replace the driver's
attention.
The driver accepts full
responsibility when driving the
vehicle.
When using driver assistance
systems, always take care
regarding the current traffic
situation.
Cruise control
The cruise control can store and
maintain speeds above 40 km/h.
Deviations from the stored speeds
may occur when driving uphill or
downhill.
For safety reasons the cruise control
cannot be activated until the foot
brake has been operated once.
Do not use the cruise control if it is not advisable to maintain a constant
speed.
With automatic transmission, only activate cruise control in automatic
mode.
Control indicator m 3 91.
Switching on
Press e ; control indicator m
illuminates yellow in the instrument
cluster.
Driving and operating149The system consists of four ultrasonic
parking sensors in both the front and
rear bumpers.
Control indicator r 3 87.
Activation
With the ignition on, the system must
be activated manually.
Press r on the instrument panel.
The LED in the button will illuminate
and will activate when a forward gear
or reverse gear is engaged and the
electrical parking brake is released.
An obstacle is indicated by an
acoustic signal. The interval between
the sounds becomes shorter as the
vehicle gets closer to the obstacle.
When the distance is less than
30 cm, the signal is continuous. The
acoustic signal may differ depending
on the type of object detected.
Deactivation To deactivate, press the button again
and the LED in the button will
extinguish. The control indicator r
in the instrument cluster will illuminate
until the vehicle speed exceeds
25 km/h.
The system is deactivated
automatically when the vehicle speed is above 8 km/h or when selector
lever is in neutral (automatic
transmission in N or P).
If b is pressed again, the LED in the
button will extinguish and the system
will be reactivated as soon as a
forward gear or reverse gear is
engaged and the electrical parking brake is released.
Fault
In the event of a fault in the system,
control indicator r illuminates in the
instrument cluster.If the acoustic signal sounds 3 times
continuously when there are no
obstacles near the front or rear
bumper, there is a fault in the system. Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Important hints for using the
parking assist system9 Warning
Under certain circumstances,
various reflective surfaces on
objects or clothing as well as
external noise sources may cause the system to fail to detect
obstacles.
Special attention has to be paid to
low obstacles which can damage
the lower part of the bumper.