INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
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Instruments and controls
This overview shows the location of the primary displays, and controls/buttons/switches.
Display/function/control
Parking lights, daytime running lights, low beams, high beams, turn signals, rear foglights, trip computer reset
Transmission manual shifting paddle *
Head-up-display*
Instrument panel
Wipers/washers, rain sensor *
Right-side steering wheel keypad
Display/function/control
Steering wheel adjustment
Horn
Left-side steering wheel keypad
Hood open
Display lighting, tailgate unlock, tailgate open/close*
Display/function/control
Front reading lights and courtesy lighting
Laminated panoramic roof *
Display/function/control
Ceiling console display
Manual rearview mirror auto-dim (certain markets only)
Display/function/control
Center display
Hazard warning flashers, max. defroster/ heated windshield*, media player, glove
compartment open
Gear selector
Start knob
Drive modes *
STARTING AND DRIVING
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Starting and driving The vehicle is equipped with features that sup- plement its basic functions, such as shifting gears with steering wheel paddles *.
The vehicle is equipped with an automatic trans- mission that also makes it possible to shift gearsmanually. Certain functions can also be used when the engine is not running, depending on the ignitionmode being used.
Related information
• Starting the engine (p. 390)
• Ignition modes (p. 389)
• Automatic transmission (p. 414)
• Opening/closing the fuel filler door (p. 380)
• Parking brake (p. 369)
Brakes The brake system is a hydraulic system consist- ing of two separate brake circuits. If a problemshould occur in one of these circuits, it is stillpossible to stop the vehicle with the other brakecircuit.
Brake systemIf one of the brake circuits is not functioning, more pressure will be needed on the brake pedal(and the pedal will go down farther) for normalbraking effect. If the brake pedal must be depressed farther than normal and requires greater foot pressure,the stopping distance will be longer. Pressure on the brake pedal is enhanced by the power braking function.
WARNING
If the vehicle does not have electrical current and both the electric motor and gasolineengine are switched off, the brakes cannot beused to stop the vehicle.
When the Hill Start Assist function is being used, it will take slightly longer for the brake pedal toreturn to its normal position if the vehicle isparked on an incline or uneven surface. When driving in very hilly areas or if the vehicle is carrying a heavy load, using brake mode B to
augment the brakes or the
Off Road* drive mode can also be used on steep downgrades to increase the engine braking effect at low speeds.
Anti-lock Braking System
ABS
The ABS system helps to improve vehicle control (stopping and steering) during severe brakingconditions by limiting brake lockup. When ABS is operating, there may be some vibration in the brake pedal, which is normal. The system performs a brief self-diagnostic test when the engine has been started and driverreleases the brake pedal. Another automatic testmay be performed when the vehicle first reachesa speed of approximately 6 mph (10 km/h). Thebrake pedal will pulsate several times and asound may be audible from the ABS controlmodule, which is normal.
Function check when the engine is
started
A Plug-in Hybrid is equipped with a "brake bywire" brake system. A function check is per-formed each time the engine is started and thedriver depresses the brake pedal to move the gear selector from P.
In certain cases, a message may appear in the instrument panel saying that pressure on thebrake pedal is too low. Press harder on the pedal.
Light braking charges the hybrid batteryWhen the brakes are applied lightly, the electricmotor's braking function is used, which converts
STARTING AND DRIVING
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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
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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
STARTING AND DRIVING
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Related information
•Gear selector positions (p. 416)
• Gear shift indicator (p. 415)
• Shiftlock (p. 415)
• Steering wheel paddles
* (p. 418)
• All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 419)
Shiftlock The automatic transmission's shiftlock feature helps prevent inadvertently moving the gearselector between different positions.
Automatic shiftlock
From Park –
P
In order to move the gear selector from the P
position, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition must be in mode II.
From neutral – N
If the gear selector is in N and the vehicle has
been stationary for more than 3 seconds (regard- less of whether or not the engine is running), theshiftlock feature will lock the gear selector in thisposition. In order to move the gear selector from the N
position, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition must be in mode II.
Messages in the instrument panelIf the gear selector is locked in position, a mes- sage such as: Gear lever Press brake pedal
to activate gear lever will be displayed.
There is no mechanical shiftlock function.
Related information
• Gear selector positions (p. 416)
• Automatic transmission (p. 414)
Gear shift indicator
The gear shift indicator in the instrument panel shows the current gear (in manual shiftingmode) and will prompt the driver to shift up ordown to help get the best possible fuel econ-omy.
The gear shift indicator shows the current gear in the instrument panel and uses an upward arrowto recommend shifting to a higher gear. The indi- cator is also shown in mode B or if the steering
wheel paddles * are being used in while the trans-
mission is in mode D.
Gear shift indicator (generic illustration)
Related information
• Gear selector positions (p. 416)
• Steering wheel paddles
* (p. 418)
STARTING AND DRIVING
416
Gear selector positions
The shift-by-wire gear transmission shifts gears electronically instead of mechanically for fasterand more distinct gear shifting.
Selecting gearsSelect gears by moving the spring-loaded, non-locking gear selector forward or rearward.
Gear selector positions
The following gear selector positions are shown in the instrument panel:
P, R, N, D or B (brake).
For manual shifting, the gear indicator in the instrument panel shows the gear currently beingused (1–8).
Park – P
Park is activated using a switch located next to the gear selector. Select P when the vehicle is parked or when the
starting the engine. The vehicle must be station- ary when P is selected.
To select another gear, the ignition must be inmode II and the brake pedal must be depressed.
Help functions: The system will automatically shift to P:
• If the ignition is switched off while
D or R is
selected.
• If the driver unbuckles the seat belt and opens the door while the engine is running if P
has not already been selected.
STARTING AND DRIVING
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In position
P, the transmission is mechanically
locked. Always apply the parking brake when the vehicle is parked.
NOTE
The gear selector must be in the P position
before the vehicle can be locked and the alarm set.
WARNING
Always apply the parking brake when the vehicle is parked, particularly when parking on a hill. The transmission's P mode may not be
able to keep the vehicle stationary if it is parked on an incline.
Reverse – R
The vehicle must be stationary before R can be
selected.
Neutral – N
No gear is selected and the engine can be started. Always apply the parking brake if thevehicle is not moving and the gear selector is in the N position.
The ignition must be in mode II and the brake
pedal must be depressed before the gear selec-tor can be moved from N.
Drive – D
D is the normal driving position and gear shifting
is fully automatic. The vehicle must be stationary when the gear selector is moved from R to D.
Brake – B
B can be selected at any time during a drive. In
this mode, the engine braking function is acti- vated when the accelerator pedal is released,which helps charge the hybrid battery. Thismeans that the hybrid battery is charged even ifthe brake pedal is not depressed.
B mode in the instrument panel
With B selected, manual shifting to lower gears
is possible. The gear indicator in the instrument panel shows the gear currently being used (1–8). Each time the gear selector is pulled rearward, the transmission will shift down one gear. In order to manually shift to higher gears, thevehicle must be equipped with steering wheel paddles
*.
• Press the gear selector forward to return to D
mode.
For smooth shifting and engine performance, the transmission will shift down automatically if thevehicle's speed becomes too low for the selectedgear.
Safety functionTo help avoid excessive rpm that might causeengine damage, the transmission control modulehas a down-shift protection feature that in somesituations may prevent a down-shift or kickdown. During kickdown, the transmission may shift down one or more gears, depending on theengine's rpm and will shift up again when max.rpm is reached for a specific gear.
Related information
• Steering wheel paddles
* (p. 418)
• Shiftlock (p. 415)
• Gear shift indicator (p. 415)