G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi- cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the transmission out of park position
P.
R start the vehicle's drive system.
They could also operate the vehicle's equip-
ment. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
! While the vehicle is rolling, do not shift the
transmission directly from Dto R, from Rto D
or directly to P.
Do not open the driver's door while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Otherwise, at low speeds in
transmission position Dor R, park position P
is engaged automatically and the electrical
parking brake is applied.
The transmission could be damaged.
! Always secure the vehicle correctly against
rolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle or its driv-
etrain could be damaged.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
R the electric parking brake must be applied.
R the transmission must be in position P.
R the SmartKey in the ignition lock must be
turned to position 0and removed from the
ignition lock.
R on uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels must be turned towards the curb. Switching off the drive system
G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This can affect
the power steering and the brake boosting
effect, for example. You will require consider- ably more effort to steer and brake. There is a
risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. X
Shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to position P.
X With the SmartKey: turn the SmartKey to
position 0in the ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
X With the Start/Stop button: press the
Start/Stop button (Y page 109).
The drive system and all the indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster go out.
When the driver's door is closed, this corre-
sponds to SmartKey position 1. When the
driver's door is open, this corresponds to
SmartKey position 0: "Key removed".
If you switch the engine off with the transmis-
sion in position Ror D, the transmission auto-
matically shifts to N.
With the SmartKey: if you then open the driv-
er's door or the front-passenger door or remove
the SmartKey from the ignition, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts to P.
With the Start/Stop button: if you then open
the driver's door or the front-passenger door,
the transmission automatically shifts to P.
If you want the transmission to remain in neutral N, e.g. when having the vehicle cleaned in an
automatic car wash with a towing system:
X Vehicles with the Start-Stop button:
remove the Start-Stop button from the igni-
tion lock.
X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
X All vehicles: switch the ignition on.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift to neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock. Parking
129Driving and parking Z
Electric parking brake
General notes G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi- cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the transmission out of park position
P.
R start the vehicle's drive system.
They could also operate the vehicle's equip-
ment. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
The function of the electric parking brake and
the parking lock is dependent on the on-board
voltage. If the on-board voltage is low or if there is a malfunction in the system:
R it may not be possible to apply the released
parking brake
R it may no longer be possible to shift the trans-
mission to position P
X If this is the case, only park the vehicle on
level ground and secure it to prevent it rolling away.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
It may not be possible to release an applied
parking brake if the on-board voltage is low or
there is a malfunction in the system. Contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
The electric parking brake carries out a function check at regular intervals when the drive system
is switched off. The sounds that can be heard
while this is occurring are normal. Applying or releasing manually X
To engage: push handle 0043.
When the electric parking brake is applied,
the red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada
only) indicator lamp lights up in the instru-
ment cluster.
The electric parking brake can also be applied when the SmartKey is removed.
X To release: pull handle0043.
The red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
goes out.
The electric parking brake can only be
released:
R when the SmartKey is in position 1or 2in
the ignition lock (Y page 109) or
R if the ignition was switched on using the
Start/Stop button
Applying automatically When the vehicle's HOLD function is holding the
vehicle at a standstill, the electric parking brake is engaged automatically.
In addition, at least one of the following condi-
tions must be fulfilled:
R the drive system is switched off.
R the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the
driver's door is opened
R there is a system malfunction
R the power supply is insufficient
R the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy period
The red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada only)
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up. 130
ParkingDriving and parking
Releasing automatically
Your vehicle's electric parking brake is auto-
matically released if all of the following condi-
tions are met:
R the vehicle has been started.
R the transmission is in position Dor R.
R the seat belt has been fastened.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
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 position
P or you have previously driven faster than
2 mph (3 km/h).
Ensure that you do not depress the accelerator
pedal unintentionally. Otherwise the parking
brake will be released and the vehicle will start
to move.
Emergency braking The vehicle can also be braked during an emer-
gency by using the electric parking brake.
X While driving, push handle 0043of the electric
parking brake (Y page 130).
The vehicle is braked as long as you keep
handle 0043of the electric parking brake
pressed. The longer the electric parking brake
handle 0043is depressed, the greater the brak-
ing force.
During braking: R a warning tone sounds
R the Release parking brake
Release parking brake message
appears
R the red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is applied. 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 country
in which you are driving. Some jurisdictions pro- hibit 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 sec-
ond. Driving tips
131Driving and parking Z
Drive sensibly – save energy
Observe the following tips to save energy:
R The tires should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tire pressure.
R Remove unnecessary loads.
R Remove roof racks when they are not needed.
R Avoid frequent acceleration or braking.
Energy consumption also increases when driv-
ing in low or high outside temperatures, in stop-
start traffic, on short journeys and in hilly ter-
rain.
Drinking and driving G
WARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent is greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or tak-
ing drugs. ECO display
The ECO display shows you how economical
your driving style is. The ECO display assists you in achieving the most economical driving style
for the selected settings and prevailing condi-
tions. Your driving style can significantly influ-
ence the vehicle's consumption. 0043
Acceleration
0044 Coasting
0087 Constant
0085 Additional range achieved Range
0085is shown under Bonus Bonusfr. fr.Start
Start and
represents the additional range achieved since
the beginning of the journey as a result of an
adapted driving style.
If the battery charge level has dropped into the
reserve range, the display message Battery Battery
Reserve
Reserve Level
Levelis shown instead of range 0085in
the multifunction display.
The ECO display consists of three sections, with an inner and outer area. The sections corre-
spond to the following three categories: 0043
Acceleration
(evaluation of the
acceleration processes):
R the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: moderate
acceleration, especially at higher
speeds
R the outer area empties and the
inner area is gray: sporty acceler-
ation 0044
Coasting
(evaluation of all decelera-
tion processes):
R the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: anticipatory
driving, keeping your distance and
early release of the accelerator.
The vehicle can coast without use
of the brakes.
R the outer area empties and the
inner area is gray: frequent heavy
braking 0087
Constant
(continuous evaluation
over the entire journey):
R the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: constant
speed and avoidance of unneces-
sary acceleration and deceleration
R the outer area empties and the
inner area is gray: fluctuations in
speed The three inner areas display the current driving
style and light up green as a result of a particu-
larly economical driving style. Depending on the driving situation, up to two areas may light up
simultaneously.
At the beginning of the journey, the three outer
areas are empty and fill up as a result of eco-
nomical driving. A higher level indicates a more
economical driving style. If the three outer areas 132
Driving tipsDriving and pa
rking
are completely filled at the same time, the driver
has adopted the most economical driving style
for the selected settings and prevailing condi-
tions. The ECO display border lights up.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual fuel
consumption. The additionally achieved range
displayed under Bonus fr. Start
Bonus fr. Start does not
indicate a fixed consumption reduction.
In addition to driving style, the actual consump- tion is affected by other factors, such as:
R Load
R Tire pressure
R Cold start
R Choice of route
R Active electrical consumers
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
An economical driving style specially requires
driving at moderate engine speeds.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
"Acceleration" and "Constant", drive the vehicle
in drive program E+orE.
On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g. on the highway, only the outer area for "constant" will
change.
The ECO display summarizes the driving style
from the start of the journey to its completion.
Therefore, there are more marked changes in
the outer areas at the start of a journey. On lon-
ger journeys, there are fewer changes. For more
marked changes, perform a manual rest
(Y page 158).
For more information on the ECO display, see
(Y page 156). Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you increase the recuperation level on slip- pery road surfaces, the drive wheels may lose
their traction. There is an increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Do not increase the recuperation level on slip-
pery road surfaces. The braking performance of the electric motor
using recuperative braking is, in some operating
modes, either reduced or not effective:
R when the condition of charge of the high-volt-
age battery increases
R if the high-voltage battery is not yet at a nor-
mal operating temperature
R when driving close to the maximum speed
R when the vehicle is almost stationary
R in transmission position N
R during and after ESP stability control
If you do not make an additional effort to apply
the brake yourself, the braking effect may not be
sufficient. If necessary, counteract the reduced regenerative braking effect by applying the
brake yourself.
Downhill gradients On long, steep gradients, you must reduce the
load on the brakes by selecting maximum recu-
peration. This helps you to avoid overheating the
brakes and wearing them out excessively.
Recuperation allows the vehicle to be deceler-
ated without placing a load on the braking sys-
tem.
Do not depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. causing the
brakes to rub by constantly applying light pres-
sure to the pedal. This results in excessive and
premature wear to the brake pads.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately. Drive on for a short while. This allows the airflow to
cool the brakes more quickly. Driving tips
133Driving and parking Z
their traction. There is an increased danger of
skidding and accidents.
Do not increase the recuperation level on slip- pery road surfaces.
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road sur- faces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and
braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to position N.
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing
point do not guarantee that the road surface is
free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in
wooded areas or on bridges.
You should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around freezing
point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see (Y page 259).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see (Y page 259).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-
tion (Y page 259). Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. Change into transmis-
sion position D-
(Y page 115) on long and steep
downhill gradients. This increases recuperation
in overrun mode. This relieves the load on the
brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly.
When the engine is running, you can use the
cruise control lever to limit the speed to any
speed between 20 mph (30 km/h) and the tech-
nically permitted maximum speed of the vehicle. Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady
speed for a prolonged period.
The speed indicated in the speedometer may
differ slightly from the speed stored.
Important safety notes If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise con-
trol can neither reduce the risk of an accident
nor override the laws of physics. Cruise control
cannot take into account the road, traffic and
weather conditions. Cruise control is only an
aid. You are responsible for the distance to the
vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in
good time and for staying in your lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g. in
heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid
R in poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or
snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever 0043
Activates or increases speed
0044 Activates or reduces speed
0087 Deactivates cruise control
0085 Activates at the current speed/last stored
speed
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the multifunction display for
five seconds. 136
Driving systemsDriving an
d parking
i
When you switch off the engine, the last
speed stored is cleared. HOLD function
General notes The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
R when pulling away, especially on steep slopes
R when maneuvering on steep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the driver
having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away despite being braked by the HOLD function if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R the HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
! If the HOLD function is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
the HOLD function in the following or other
similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
Deactivating the HOLD function (Y page 138).Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R the vehicle is stationary
R the engine is running or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/stop
function
R the driver's door is closed or your seat belt is
fastened
R the electric parking brake is released
R the transmission position D,Ror Nis engaged
Activating the HOLD function X
Make sure that the activation conditions are
met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until 0043appears in the multifunction display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first time
does not activate the HOLD function, wait
briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated automatically
if:
R you accelerate. On vehicles with automatic
transmission: only when the transmission is in
position Dor R.
R the transmission is in position P.
R you depress the brake pedal again with a cer-
tain amount of pressure until 0043disappears
from the multifunction display.
R you secure the vehicle using the electric park-
ing brake.
i After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake. 138
Driving systemsDriving and parking
The electric parking brake secures the vehicle
automatically if the HOLD function is activated
and:
R the driver's seat belt is not fastened and the
driver's door is open.
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 insufficient.
The Brake Immediately Brake Immediately message may also
appear in the multifunction display.
X Immediately depress the brake firmly until the
warning message in the multifunction display goes out.
The HOLD function is deactivated. The horn
sounds at regular intervals if you have switched
off the engine, released the seat belt and
opened the driver's door with the HOLD function activated. The sounding of the horn alerts you to
the fact that the HOLD function is still activated.
If you attempt to lock the vehicle, the tone
becomes louder. The vehicle cannot be locked
until you have deactivated the HOLD function.
i After switching off the engine, it can only be
started again once you have deactivated the
HOLD function. Parking Assist PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is an electronic
parking aid with ultrasound. It monitors the area
around your vehicle using six sensors in the
front bumper and six sensors in the rear
bumper. Parking Assist PARKTRONIC visually
and audibly indicates the distance between your
vehicle and an object.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is
not a replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering, parking and
exiting a parking space. When maneuvering,
parking or pulling out of a parking space, make
sure that there are no persons, animals or
objects in the area in which you are maneuver-
ing.
! When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such as
flower pots or trailer drawbars. Parking Assist PARKTRONIC does not detect such objects
when they are in the immediate vicinity of the
vehicle. You could damage the vehicle or the
objects.
The sensors may not detect snow and other
objects that absorb ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic car
wash, the compressed-air brakes of a truck or
a pneumatic drill could cause Parking Assist
PARKTRONIC to malfunction.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC may not function
correctly on uneven terrain.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is activated auto-
matically when you: R switch on the ignition
R shift the transmission to position D,Ror N
R shift the transmission to position D,Ror N
R release the electric parking brake
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is deactivated at
speeds above 11 mph (18 km/h) . It is reactiva-
ted at lower speeds.
Range of the sensors General notes
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC does not take into
account obstacles located:
R below the detection range, e.g. people, ani-
mals or objects.
R above the detection range, e.g. overhanging
loads, tail sections or loading ramps of goods
vehicles. 0043
Sensors in the front bumper, left-hand side
(example)
The sensors must be free from dirt, ice or slush. They can otherwise not function correctly. Clean
the sensors regularly, taking care not to scratch
or damage them (Y page 237). Driving systems
139Driving and parking Z