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STARTING AND DRIVING
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399
•
The driver makes sweeping steering wheel movements.
• The road is very steep.
• The bonnet is opened.
• When driving at high altitudes when theengine has not reached operating tempera-ture.
• The ABS system has been activated.
• In the event of heavy braking (even withoutthe ABS system having been activated).
• Many starts during a short period of timehave activated the starter motor's thermalprotection.
• The exhaust system's particulate filter is full 4
.
• A trailer is connected electrically to the car
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Related information
• Start/Stop (p. 396)
• Using the Start/Stop function (p. 396)
• Support battery (p. 533)
Drive modes
*
Selection of drive mode affects the car's driving characteristics in order to enhance the drivingexperience and facilitate driving in special situa-tions.
Using the drive modes it is possible to quickly have access to the car's numerous functions andsettings for different driving needs. The followingsystems are adapted to obtain the best possibledriving characteristics in each respective drivemode: • Steering
• Engine/gearbox 5
/all-wheel drive *
• Brakes
• Shock absorption
• Driver display
• Start/Stop function
• Climate settings
Select the drive mode that best suits the current driving conditions. Remember that not all drivemodes can be selected in all situations.
Selecting drive mode
1. Press the drive mode control DRIVE MODE.
> A pop-up menu is opened in the centre display.
2. Roll the wheel upward or downward until the desired drive mode is highlighted.
3. Press the drive mode control or tap directly on the touch screen to confirm the selection.
> The selected drive mode is indicated inthe driver display.
A message is shown when a drive mode is unse- lectable, for example:
•
Cannot be selected because gear is in manual
•Cannot be selected due to low battery
5 Applies to automatic gearbox.
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Cannot be selected due to low temperature
•Cannot be selected due to limitations
•Cannot be selected because speed is too high.
Selectable drive modes
COMFORT
•
This is the car's normal mode.
When the car starts, it is in
Comfort mode and
the Start/Stop function is activated. These set- tings mean that the car feels comfortable, thesteering is light, the shock absorption is soft andbody's movement is smooth. This drive mode is the certification mode for car- bon dioxide emissions.
ECO
• Adapt the car for more energy-efficient and environmentally-conscious driving with the
Eco mode.
The drive mode means, for example, that the Start/Stop function is activated and the output ofcertain climate settings is reduced. The driver display has an ECO gauge that facili- tates fuel-efficient driving. More information on this drive mode is found in the section "Drive mode ECO".
DYNAMIC
•Dynamic mode means that the car has
sportier characteristics and faster response to accelerating.
The gear changes become faster and more dis-tinct, and the gearbox prioritises a gear withgreater traction. Steering response is faster and shock absorption is harder 6
which means that the body follows the
roadway in order to reduce roll during cornering. Start/Stop function is deactivated.
INDIVIDUAL
• Adapting a drive mode according to individ- ual preferences.
Select a drive mode to start from, and then adjustthe settings according to the desired driving cha-racteristics. These settings are saved in an indi-vidual driver profile. An individual drive mode is only available if it is first activated in the centre display.
Settings view 7
for individual drive mode.
1. Press Settings in the top view.
2. Press
My CarIndividual Drive Mode and
select Individual Drive Mode.
6 Applies to Four-C.
7 The figure is schematic, the layout may vary depending on car model or updated software.
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In
Presets, select a drive mode to start from:Eco, Comfort or Dynamic.
Possible adjustments apply to settings for:
•
Driver Display
•Steering force
•Powertrain Characteristics
•Brake Characteristics
•Suspension Control
•ECO Climate
•Start/Stop.
Related information
• Speed-dependent steering force (p. 272)
• Level control
* and shock absorption (p. 405)
• Start/Stop (p. 396)
• Drive mode ECO (p. 402)
• All-wheel drive
* (p. 405)
Drive mode ECO
Driving mode ECO mode optimises the car's
driving characteristics for more fuel efficient and environmentally-conscious driving.
Use this drive mode to save fuel and the environ- ment. The following properties are adapted for Eco driv- ing:
• Gearbox gearshift points 8
.
• Engine management and response from theaccelerator pedal.
• The Eco Coast 9
freewheel function is acti-
vated and engine braking is deactivatedwhen the accelerator pedal is released atspeeds between 65 and 140 km/h(40 and 87 mph).
• Some of the climate control system's set-tings work at reduced power or are deacti-vated.
• The driver display shows information in anECO gauge which facilitates environmentally-conscious and fuel-efficient driving.
Selecting ECO modeThe Eco mode is deactivated when the engine isswitched off, and it must therefore be activatedafter each time the engine is started. The driver display shows ECO when the function is acti-vated.
With drive mode control
*
1.
Press the drive mode control DRIVE MODE.
> A pop-up menu is opened in the centre display.
2. Roll the wheel upward or downward until the desired drive mode is highlighted.
3. Press the drive mode control or tap directly on the touch screen to confirm the selection.
8Only cars with automatic gearbox.
9 Only cars with automatic gearbox.
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In the centre display's function view
A car without drive mode con- trol has a function button for
Driving mode ECO in the
centre display's function view.
–Press the button in order to activate the function.
> An indicator in the button illuminates when the function is activated.
Freewheel function Eco Coast 10The freewheel function Eco Coast means in prac- tice that engine braking ceases, meaning in turnthat the car's kinetic energy is used to freewheelfor longer distances. When the driver releasesthe accelerator pedal the gearbox is automaticallydisengaged from the engine whose speed isreduced to idling speed with reduced consump-tion. The function is best used where it is possible to freewheel a long way, e.g. roads with a slightdownhill gradient or when there is a predictablespeed reduction to freewheel into a zone with alower speed limit.
Activating the freewheel function
The function is activated when the accelerator pedal is fully released, in combination with thefollowing parameters:
• Drive mode
Eco is activated.
• The gear selector is in
D position.
• Speed within the range of approx. 65-140 km/h (40-87 mph).
• The road's downhill gradient is not steeperthan approx. 6%.
The driver display shows
COASTING when the
freewheel function is being used.
Limitations
The freewheel function is not available if:
• Engine and/or gearbox are not at normal operating temperature.
• The cruise control is activated.
• The gear selector is moved from the
D posi-
tion and the manual position.
• The speed is outside the range ofapprox. 65-140 km/h (40-87 mph).
• The road's downhill gradient is steeper thanapprox. 6%.
• Manual gear changing is performed with the steering wheel paddles
*.
Deactivating and switching off the freewheel function
In certain situations it may be desirable to deacti- vate or switch off the function in order to useengine braking. Examples of such situations maybe on steep downhill gradients or before animminent overtaking manoeuvre - in order to beable to do it in the safest way possible. Deactivate the freewheel function as follows:
• Actuate the accelerator or brake pedal.
• Move the gear selector to manual position.
• Changing gear with steering wheel paddles
*.
Switch off the freewheel function as follows:
• Change drive mode
*, or switch off the
Driving mode ECO in the function view.
Even without the freewheel function, it is possible to freewheel for short distances. This, in turn,reduces consumption. However, for the best fueleconomy it is better to have the freewheel func-tion activated and be able to freewheel for longerdistances.
ECO gauge in the driver displayThe ECO gauge indicates how fuel-efficient thedriving is:
10 Only cars with automatic gearbox.
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With fuel-efficient driving, the gauge shows a low value with the pointer in the green zone.
• With non-fuel-efficient driving, e.g. duringheavy braking or heavy acceleration, thegauge shows a high value.
The ECO gauge also has an indicator to showhow a reference driver would drive the car underthe same driving conditions. This is indicated withthe short pointer on the gauge.
Eco gauge in the 12-inch driver display.
Eco gauge in the 8-inch driver display.
ECO climate controlIn the Eco drive mode, ECO climate control is
activated automatically in the passenger com- partment in order to reduce energy consumption.
NOTE
When the ECO function is activated, several parameters in the climate control system'ssettings are changed, and several electricityconsumer functions are reduced. Certain set-tings can be reset manually, but full function-ality is only regained by switching off the ECO function or adapting
Individual* drive mode
with full climate functionality.
In the event of difficulties due to misting, press the button for max. defroster which has normalfunctionality.
Related information
• Economical driving (p. 422)
• Start/Stop (p. 396)
• Drive modes
* (p. 400)
• Activating/deactivating defrost of windowsand door mirrors (p. 194)
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Level control * and shock absorption
Level control and shock absorption are regula- ted automatically in the car.
With rear level control, the car maintains the same height at the rear regardless of load. Levelcontrol can also occur even after the car hasbeen parked.
Shock absorption (Four-C)The shock absorption is adapted according to theselected drive mode and according to the speedof the car. Shock absorption is normally set forthe best possible comfort and is regulated con-tinuously depending on the road surface, thecar's acceleration, braking and cornering.
Settings for level control
Deactivation of air suspension and level control
In certain cases, the function must be deacti- vated, e.g. before the car is raised with a jack *.
The difference in level created by raising the car with a jack can otherwise cause problems for theair suspension. Deactivating the function via the centre display:1. Press
Settings in the top view.
2. Press
My CarSuspension .
3. Select
Disable Leveling Control.
Change the damping level 11
Cars with active chassis (Four-C) and without the drive mode function
* can adjust the shock
absorption level via the centre display: 1. Press
Settings in the top view.
2. Tap on
My CarDrive ModeSuspension Control and select the level.
During transportDuring transport of the car on a ferry, train or truck, the car must be lashed around the tyresand not around other parts of the chassis.Changes in the air suspension may occur duringtransport, which could affect the lashing nega-tively.
Related information
• Drive modes
* (p. 400)
• Loading (p. 227)
All-wheel drive
*
All-wheel drive, AWD (All Wheel Drive), means that the car is driving all four wheels at the sametime, which improves traction.
To achieve the best possible traction and prevent wheel spin the motive force is distributed auto-matically to the wheels with the best grip. Thesystem continuously calculates the need for tor-que to the rear wheels, and can immediatelyredistribute up to half of the motor's torque to therear wheels. All-wheel drive also has a stabilising effect at higher speeds. Under normal driving conditions,the majority of power is transmitted to the frontwheels. When stationary, the all-wheel drive isalways engaged in preparation for maximum trac-tion during acceleration. All-wheel drive characteristics vary depending on the selected drive mode *.
Related information
• Drive modes
* (p. 400)
11
Depends on the car's equipment.
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Brake functions
The car's brakes are used to reduce the speed or prevent the car from rolling.
Besides the foot brake and parking brake, the car is equipped with several automatic brake assistfunctions. These can assist the driver by notneeding to keep his/her foot on the brake pedalwhen stationary at a traffic light, when starting onan uphill gradient or when driving on a downhillgradient. Depending on the car's equipment, the following auto braking functions are available:
• Automatic braking when stationary (AutoHold)
• Hill start assist (Hill Start Assist)
• Auto braking after a collision
• City Safety
Related information
•
Foot brake (p. 406)
• Parking brake (p. 409)
• Hill start assist (p. 412)
• Automatic braking when stationary (p. 412)
• Auto braking after a collision (p. 408)
Foot brake
The foot brake is used to reduce the car's speed while driving.
Foot brake systemThe car is equipped with two brake circuits. If a brake circuit is damaged, the brake pedal willengage deeper. Higher pressure on the pedal willtherefore be needed to produce the normal brak-ing effect. The driver's brake pedal pressure is assisted by a brake servo.
WARNING
The brake servo only works when the engine is running.
If the foot brake is used when the engine is switched off then the pedal will feel stiff and ahigher pedal pressure must be used to brake thecar. In very hilly terrain or when driving with a heavy load the brakes can be relieved by using enginebraking in manual gearshift mode. Engine brakingis most efficiently used if the same gear is useddownhill as up.
Anti-lock braking systemThe car has anti-lock brakes, Anti-lock BrakingSystem (ABS), which prevent the wheels fromlocking while braking and allows maintained steering control. Vibration may be felt in thebrake pedal when this is engaged and this is nor-mal. A short test of the ABS system is made automat- ically after the engine has been started when thedriver releases the brake pedal. A further auto-matic test of the system may be made at lowspeed. The test may be experienced as pulses inthe brake pedal.
Braking on wet roadsWhen driving for a prolonged period of time inheavy rain without braking, the braking effect maybe delayed slightly when next using the brakes.This may also be the case after a car wash. It isthen necessary to depress the brake pedal moreforcefully. You should therefore maintain agreater distance to the vehicles in front. Brake the car firmly after driving on wet roads or using a car wash. This warms up the brake discs,enabling them to dry faster and protecting themagainst corrosion. Bear in mind the current trafficsituation when braking.
Braking on salted roadsWhen driving on salted roads, a layer of salt mayform on the brake discs and brake linings. Thismay extend braking distance. You should there-fore maintain an extra large safety distance tovehicles in front. In addition, make sure you dothe following: