
CLIMATE
203
•
Rear climate system controls on the tunnel console (p. 199)
• Perceived temperature (p. 186)
Turning recirculation on and off
Recirculation can be used to shut out exhaust fumes, smoke, etc., from the passenger com-partment.
Recirculation button in Climate view
1. Open Climate view in the center display. 2. Press
Recirc.
> Recirculation is activated (button lights up)/deactivated (button is off)
NOTE
• If recirculation is on for too long, there is a risk of condensation forming on theinsides of the windows, especially in win-ter.
• Recirculation cannot be deactivated ifmax. defroster is being used.
Activating/deactivating the recirculation timer
With the timer activated, recirculation will switch off automatically after 20 minutes. 1.
Tap
Settings in the center display's Top
view.
2. Tap
Climate.
3. Activate/deactivate the timer by selecting/ deselecting the box for
Recirculation
Timer.
Related information
• Climate system controls in the center display (p. 197)

CLIMATE
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* Option/accessory.205
From the center display's Climate view
Activate/deactivate max. defroster
Max. defroster button in Climate view
1. Open Climate view in the center display. 2.
Tap
Max.
> Max. defroster is activated (button lights up)/deactivated (button is off). Max. defroster overrides automatic climate control and recirculation, and activates theair conditioning, changes blower speed to
54 and the temperature to HI4.
When max. defroster is deactivated, the climate system returns to the previoussettings.
Activating/deactivating windshield heating *
Windshield heating button in Climate view
1. Open Climate view in the center display. 2.
Tap
Electric.
> Windshield heating is activated (button lights up)/deactivated (button is off).
NOTE
• Triangular areas at the far sides of the windshield are not heated electrically andwill take slightly longer to defrost/de-ice.
• The heated windshield may affect theperformance/range of e.g., transpondersused to automatically pay highway tolls orother communication equipment.
Activating/deactivating rear window and door mirror heating
Rear window/door mirror heating button in Climate view
1. Open Climate view in the center display. 2.
Tap
Rear.
> Rear window/door mirror heating is acti- vated (button lights up)/deactivated (but- ton is off).
Automatically activating/deactivating the window heating function when theengine is started
The rear window/door mirror/windshield heating *
can be set to start automatically when the engine is started. The heating function switches off auto-matically when the glass surfaces are sufficientlywarm and the condensation/ice has disappeared.
4 In models with the 4-zone climate system *, front seats only.

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CLIMATE
* Option/accessory.
206 1.
Tap
Settings in the center display's Top
view and select Climate.
2. Activate/deactivate the respective defroster functions when the engine is started by selecting/deselecting the boxes for
Auto
Front Defroster and Auto Rear Defroster.
The heating function will switch off automatically when the window/mirror is sufficiently warm andthe ice/condensation has disappeared.
Related information
• Climate system controls (p. 197)
• Climate system controls in the center display(p. 197)
• Defrosting windows and mirrors (p. 204)
• Air conditioning (p. 207)
• Turning recirculation on and off (p. 203)
• Adjusting air distribution (p. 211)
• Setting the blower speed (p. 199)
• Automatic climate control (p. 196)
• Turning front seat ventilation
* on and off
(p. 209)
• Turning steering wheel heating
* on and off
(p. 206)
Turning steering wheel heating * on
and off
The steering wheel can be heated electrically for added comfort in cold weather.
Activating/deactivating steering wheel
heating
Buttons for heated steering wheel and seats in the cli- mate bar
1. Tap the driver side steering wheel and seat button in the center display's climate bar to open the steering wheel and seat heatingcontrols. If the vehicle is not equipped with the optional heated or ventilated seats, the but-ton for steering wheel heating will be directlyaccessible in the climate bar. 2. Tap the steering wheel heating button
repeatedly to select one of four levels:
Off,High, Medium or Low.
> The level changes and is displayed in the button.
Automatic steering wheel heatingThe automatic function starts heating the steer- ing wheel automatically when the engine isstarted if the temperature is sufficiently cold. Thisfeature can be activated/deactivated. 1. Tap
Settings in the center display's Top
view.
2. Tap
Climate.
3. Under
Auto Steering Wheel Heating
Level, select Off, Low, Medium or High to
activate/deactivate the automatic function.
Related information
• Climate system controls (p. 197)
• Climate system controls in the center display (p. 197)
• Steering wheel (p. 164)

CLIMATE
* Option/accessory.
208
Turning seat heating * on and off
The seats can be heated for added comfort in cold weather.
Activating/deactivating front seat heating
Steering wheel and seat buttons in the climate bar
1. Tap the left or right side steering wheel and seat button in the center display's climate bar to open the steering wheel and seatheating controls. If the vehicle is not equipped with the optional heated steering wheel or ventilatedseats, the button for seat heating will bedirectly accessible in the climate bar. 2. Tap the seat heating button repeatedly to
select one of four levels:
Off, High, Mediumor Low.
> The level changes and is displayed in the button.
Activating/deactivating rear seat heating
From the front seat
Temperature buttons for Rear climate in Climate view
1. Open Climate view in the center display and
tap Rear climate.
2. Tap the button repeatedly to select one of the following seat heating levels:
Off, Low,Medium or High.
> The level will change and will be displayed in the button.
From the rear seat
Seat heating indicator and control on the climate panel on the rear side of the tunnel console
–Tap repeatedly on the left or right side seat heating buttons on the climate panel on therear side of the tunnel console to select one of four levels:
Off, High, Medium or Low.
> The level changes and is displayed on the screen in the climate panel.
Automatically activating/deactivating the seat heating function when theengine is started
The seat heating * can be set to start automati-
cally when the engine is started. The automatic function starts heating the seats when the ambient temperature is sufficiently cold. 1. Tap
Settings in the center display's Top
view.

STARTING AND DRIVING
409
Factors that determine the electric motor's driving range
Factors outside of the driver's control
The following are examples of factors that the driver cannot control:
• The current traffic situation
• Driving short distances
• Topography
• Ambient temperature and headwinds
• Road conditions/road surface
The following table shows the approximate rela-
tionship between ambient temperature and driv-ing range using the electric motor with reducedclimate system (ECO) functionality. Up to a cer-tain limit, warmer temperatures increase the elec-tric motor's driving range.
Ambient tempera- ture ECO cli-mate sys-tem set-tingsNormal cli-mate sys-tem set-tings
86 °F(30 °C) 95% 80%
68 °F (20 °C) 100% 90%
50 °F (10 °C 90% 80%
32 °F (0 °C) 80% 60%
14 °F (-10 °C) 70% 40%
Factors in the driver's control
The driver should be aware of the following fac- tors in order to utilize the vehicle's electric motormost efficiently:
• Charge the hybrid battery regularly
• Preconditioning
• The
Pure drive mode
• Climate system settings
• Speed and acceleration
• The
Hold function
• Tires and inflation pressure
The following table shows the approximate rela-
tionship between constant speed and driving range where driving at a lower constant speedhelps increase the electric motor's driving range.
Constant speed
62 mph (100 km/h) 50%50 mph(80 km/h) 70%
37 mph (60 km/h) 90%
31 mph(50 km/h) 100%
NOTE
• The figures in the preceding tables per- tain to a new vehicle.
• None of the figures are absolute and areaffected by e.g., driving style, weather,traffic conditions, etc.
Driving with the electric motorUse the Pure drive mode for the most energy-
efficient driving to help maximize driving range using the electric motor only. Use the button in the center display to activate the
Hold function at highway speeds when trav-
eling farther than is possible using the hybrid bat- tery's capacity.
Related information
• Driving economically (p. 372)
• Drive modes (p. 411)

STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory.411
Drive modes
Selecting a drive mode affects the vehicle's driv- ing characteristics to help make driving moreenjoyable or easier in certain types of situations.
The following systems are adapted to help pro- vide the best vehicle performance in the respec-tive drive modes: • Steering
• Engine/transmission/All Wheel Drive
*
• Brakes
• Pneumatic suspensionSuspension control
• Instrument panel
• Climate system settings
Select the drive mode best suited to the current driving conditions. Please be aware that not all modes can be selected in all driving situations. The selectedmode will be displayed in the instrument panel.
Selecting a drive mode
1. Press the DRIVE MODE control in the tun-
nel console.
> A pop-up menu will open in the center display.
2. Roll the control upward or downward to scroll to the desired drive mode.
3. Press the control again to select it. A drive mode can also be selected by tapping its button on the center display.
> The selected drive mode will be displayedin the instrument panel.
When a drive mode cannot be selected, one of the following messages may be displayed:
•
Not possible to select due to gear in manual
•Not possible to select due to low battery
•Not possible to select due to low temperature
•Not possible to select due to limitations
•Not possible to select due to high speed.
Available drive modes
WARNING
• Keep in mind that a hybrid vehicle using the electric motor does not emit enginenoise and may be difficult to detect fore.g., children, pedestrians, cyclists or ani-mals. This is particularly true at lowspeeds.
• Do not leave the vehicle in an unventila-ted area with a drive mode activated andthe gasoline engine switched off. Theengine will start automatically if thecharge level in the hybrid battery is lowand the resulting exhaust gases can bevery harmful to people or animals.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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413
•
If the vehicle's speed goes above approx. 78 mph (125 km/h)
• If the driver wants more response than theelectric motor alone can provide
• If factors such as cold weather, etc., affectthe system or components
ECO climate
In the Pure drive mode, ECO climate in the pas-
senger compartment is activated automatically to help reduce energy consumption.
NOTE
When the Pure drive mode is activated, set-
tings for certain climate system/electricity- consuming functions are reduced. Some ofthese settings can be reset manually but fullfunctionality will only be restored by leaving the
Pure drive mode or by adapting the set-
tings in the Individual drive mode to full cli-
mate system functionality.
If condensation forms on the windows, tap the max. defroster button, which will function nor-mally.
OFF ROAD
This mode helps maximize the vehicle's capacity to traverse difficult terrain or poor roads. In OFF ROAD, ground clearance is maximized, the steering is light, All Wheel Drive and HillDescent Control are activated and a compass will be displayed between the speedometer and tach-ometer in the instrument panel. This drive mode can only be activated at low speeds (the permissible speed range will beshown on the speedometer). At higher speeds,OFF ROAD mode will be cancelled and AWD willbe activated.
CAUTION
OFF ROAD drive mode may not be used if the vehicle is towing a trailer without an elec-trical connection. This could result in damageto the pneumatic suspension system's bel-lows.
NOTE
•
This mode is not intended for normal street driving.
• Due to the increased ground clearance, ifthe OFF ROAD mode was selected whenthe engine was switched off, the suspen-sion will lower when the engine is restar-ted.
AWD
This mode offers improved traction on slippery surfaces by using four-wheel drive. It also helpsincrease directional stability at higher speeds, forexample when towing a trailer. In this mode, both the electric motor and the gas-oline engine are utilized, which results in higherfuel consumption. In the other drive modes, the vehicle automati- cally adapts the need for all-wheel drive accord-ing to the road surface and may activate the elec-tric motor or start the gasoline engine asrequired.
POWER
Power mode is intended for sportier, more active
driving. This mode maximizes the combined effects of the electric motor and the gasoline engine andprovides power to all four wheels. Response topressure on the accelerator pedal is more imme-diate and the transmission shifts up at higherrpm. Steering response is also more immediate,the suspension is stiffer and lower ground clear-ance reduces body roll when cornering. In this mode, both the electric motor and the gas- oline engine are utilized, which results in higherfuel consumption.

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STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
414
INDIVIDUAL
This setting allows you to adapt a drive mode to your personal preferences. Select one of the other drive modes as a basis and change the settings to provide the drivingcharacteristics that you prefer. These settingscan be saved in a driver profile. INDIVIDUAL is only available if it has been acti- vated in the center display. 1.
Tap
Settings in the center display's Top
view.
2. Tap
My CarIndividual Drive Mode and
tap Individual Drive Mode.
3. Under
Presets, select: Pure, Hybrid orPower.
The following settings can be modified: •
Driver Display
•Steering force
•Powertrain Characteristics
•Brake Characteristics
•Pneumatic suspension and shock absorbers
•ECO Climate
Use of the gasoline engineAn advanced control system determines the dis- tance that the vehicle can be driven using the gasoline engine, electric motor or both at thesame time. Its primary function is to use the motor/engine and the current available in the hybrid battery asefficiently as possible based on the characteris-tics of the various drive modes and the poweroutput requested by the driver by pressing theaccelerator pedal. In certain cases, temporary limitations in the sys- tem or mandatory functions to help maintain alow overall emissions level may result in greateruse of the gasoline engine.
Related information
•
Adjustable steering force
* (p. 258)
• Loading (p. 216)
• Driver profiles (p. 179)
• General information about Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid vehicles (p. 16)
• All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 419)
• Hill Descent Control (HDC) (p. 366)
• Brakes (p. 362)
• Hybrid-related information in the instrumentpanel (p. 133)
• Maintaining/increasing the hybrid battery'scharge while driving (p. 410)
Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission has 8 forward gears and an electric motor that powers the rear wheels. Steering wheel paddles * make it possi-
ble to shift manually. The gear indicator in the instrument panel shows the gear currently beingused or gear shift mode.
CAUTION
The transmission