2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA SUV ground clearance

XTo stop the closing process: press but-
ton :on the tailgate again.
or
XPull the handle in the tailgate.
or
XPress the Fbutton on the SmartKey until
the tailgate stops.
or
XPress or pull the remote operating switch on
the driver's door.
HANDS-FREE ACCESS
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The vehicle exhaust system can become very
hot. If you use HANDS-FREE ACCESS, you
could burn yourself by touching the exhaust
system. There is a risk of injury. Always
ensure that you make the kicking movement
only within the detection range of the sensors.
!If the SmartKey is within the rear detection
range of KEYLESS-GO, the following situa-
tions, for example, could lead to the uninten-
tional opening of the tailgate:
Rwhen using an automatic car wash
Rwhen using a power washer
Make sure that the SmartKey is at least 10 ft
(3 m) away from the vehicle.
iYou can also deactivate KEYLESS-GO. Fur-
ther information on deactivating and activat-
ing KEYLESS-GO (
Ypage 70).
General notes
With KEYLESS-GO and HANDS-FREE ACCESS,
you can open or close the tailgate or stop the
procedure without using your hands. This is use- ful if you have your hands full. To do this, make
a kicking movement under the bumper with your
foot.
Observe the following points:
RCarry your KEYLESS-GO key about your per-
son. The SmartKey must be at the rear of the vehicle in the detection range of KEYLESS-
GO.
RWhen making the kicking movement, make
sure that you are standing firmly on the
ground and that there is sufficient clearance
to the rear of the vehicle. You could otherwise
lose your balance, for example on ice.
RAlways ensure that you only make the kicking
movement within the detection range of sen-
sors :.
RStand at least 12 in (30 cm) away from the
rear area while doing so.
RDo not come into contact with the bumper
while making the kicking movement. Other-
wise, the sensors may not function correctly.
RHANDS-FREE ACCESS does not function dur-
ing engine start.
RDirt caused by road salt or snow around sen-
sors:may restrict functionality.
Using the HANDS-FREE ACCESS with a pros-
thetic leg may restrict functionality.
RIf a KEYLESS-GO key is at the rear of the vehi-
cle in the detection range of KEYLESS-GO,
HANDS-FREE ACCESS could be triggered.
The tailgate could thus be opened or closed
unintentionally, for example, if you:
-set something down or lift something up
behind the vehicle.
-polish the rear of the vehicle.
Do not carry the KEYLESS-GO key about your person in these situations or in situations sim-
ilar to these. This will prevent the uninten-
tional opening/closing of the tailgate.
80Cargo compartment
Opening and closing

checked in a qualified specialist workshop as
soon as possible. Adapt your driving style to the
different braking characteristics.
Driving off-road increases the likelihood of dam-
age to the vehicle, which, in turn, can lead to
failure of the mechanical assembly or systems.
Adapt your driving style to suit the terrain con-
ditions. Drive carefully. Have damage to the
vehicle rectified immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Do not shift into transmission position iwhen
driving off-road. You could lose control of the
vehicle if you attempt to brake the vehicle using
the service brake. If the gradient is too steep for
your vehicle, drive back down in reverse gear.
General notes
HEnvironmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
Read this section carefully before driving your
vehicle off-road.
Off-road driving is only possible with the
ON&OFFROAD package.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted for driving over easily negotiable off-
road terrain:
ROff-road program (Ypage 167)
ROff-road ABS (Ypage 60)
ROff-road 4ETS (Ypage 64)
ROff-road ESP®(Ypage 66)
RDSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
(Ypage 166)
Observe the following notes:
RStop the vehicle before starting to drive along
an off-road route. If necessary, activate the
off-road program (
Ypage 130).
RTo avoid damaging the vehicle, make sure
there is always sufficient ground clearance.
RCheck that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(
Ypage 252).
RAlways keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient. Activate
DSR (
Ypage 166).
RDrive slowly and evenly, if necessary at a
walking pace.
REnsure that the wheels are in contact with the
ground at all times.
RDrive with extreme care on unfamiliar off-road
routes where visibility is poor. For safety rea-
sons, get out of the vehicle first and survey
the off-road route.
RCheck the depth of water before fording rivers
and streams.
RWatch out for obstacles.
RTake care when turning on an uphill or down-
hill slope or when driving across a slope. The
vehicle could otherwise tip over.
RAlways keep the side windows and the pano-
rama roof with power tilt/sliding panel closed
during the journey.
RDo not deviate from marked routes.
RDo not use the HOLD function when driving
off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gradients
or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD
function cannot hold the vehicle on such sur-
faces.
Checklist before driving off-road
XEngine oil level: check the engine oil level
and add oil if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the engine
oil level must be sufficiently high to ensure a
correct oil supply in the vehicle.
XWheels and tires: check the tire tread depth
and tire pressure.
XCheck for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tires.
XReplace any missing valve caps.
XReplace dented or damaged wheels.
XRims: dented or bent rims can result in a loss
of tire pressure and damage the tire bead.
Before driving off-road, check the wheels and
replace them if necessary.
Checklist after driving off-road
!If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
XDeactivate off-road program (Ypage 130).
XDeactivate DSR (Ypage 166).
XClean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
152Driving tips
Driving and parking

XClean the front and rearlicense plates.
XClean the wheels and tires with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects.
XClean the wheels, wheel housings and the
veh icle undersi de with a water jet; check for
any foreign objects and damage.
XCheck whether twigs or other parts of plants
have become tr apped.These increase the risk
of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake
hoses or the air bellowsof the axle joints and
propeller shafts.
XAfter the trip, examine without fail the entire
undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes, body-
work structure, steering, chassis and exhaust
system for damage.
XAfter drivinginsand, mud, gravel, water or
similar dirt y conditions, have the foll owing
checked and cleane d:
Rbrakediscs
Rwheels
Rbrake pads
Raxlejoints
XIf you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects inthe wheels
and drive train and remove them ifnecessary.
Foreign objects can disturb the balance and
cause vibrations.
Dr ivin g over poor road surfaces places greater
demands on your veh iclethan driving on normal
roads. After driving off-road, check the veh icle.
This allows you to detect damage prompt lyand
reduce the risk of an acc ident to yourself and
other road users.
Driving on sand
Observe the foll owing rules when driving on
sand:
RActivate the off-road program (Ypage 130).
RAvoid high engine speeds.
RUse the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter to shift to a lower gear appropriate to
the terrain.
RDrive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
ance. Otherwise the vehicle's wheels could
become stuck inloose ground.
RDrive inthe tracks of other vehicles if possi-
ble. Make sure that:
-the tire ruts are not too deep.
-the sand issufficiently firm.
-the ground clearance of the vehicle issuf-
ficient.
Tire ruts and gravel roads
!Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged or
bottom out and get stuck.
Observe the foll owing rules when driving along
ruts inoff-road terrain or on roads with loose
gravel:
RActivate the off-road program (Ypage 130).
RAvoid high engine speeds.
RShift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
ing wheel paddle shifter.
RDrive slowly.
RWhere ruts are too deep, drive with the
wheels of one sideon the center grassy area,
if possible.
Traveling uphill
Approach/departure angle
GWARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slipsideways, tip and rollover. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle.
RObserve the warnings for off-road driving
(Ypage 151).
RFollow the line of fall when driving on slopes
and steep inclines.
RBefore driving on extreme uphill and downhill gradients, select the off-road program
(
Ypage 130).
RDrive slowly.
Driving tips153
Driving and parking
Z

Mercedes‑AMG
vehicles
Wheelbase106.3 in
(2699 mm)
Minimum ground
clearance6.1 in
(155 mm)
Turning radius38.7 ft
(11.8 m)
Maximum roof load165.3 lb (75 kg)
All other models
Vehicle length174.1 in
(4424 mm)
Vehicle width
including exterior
mirrors79.6 in
(2022 mm)
Vehicle height60.3 in
(1532 mm)
Minimum ground
clearance8.0 in
(204 mm)
Wheelbase106.3 in
(2699 mm)
Turning radius38.7 ft
(11.84 m)
Maximum roof load165.3 lb
(75 kg)
Vehicle data for off-road driving
Approach/departure angle
Missing values were not available at time of
going to print.
:;
Approach
and depar-
ture angles
when the
vehicle is loa-
ded and
ready to drive
When the vehicle is loaded and ready to drive, it
has a full tank, all fluids have been refilled and
the driver is in the vehicle.
For further information about approach/depar-
ture angles, see (
Ypage 153).
Maximum gradient-climbing capabil-
ity
Note that the vehicle's gradient-climbing capa-
bility depends on the off-road conditions and the
road surface conditions.
GLA 250: the maximum gradient climbing abil-
ity is 40%.
GLA 250 4MATIC: the maximum gradient
climbing ability is 65%.
Missing values for the
Mercedes‑AMG GLA 45 4MATIC were not avail-
able at the time of going to print.
Accelerate carefully and make sure that the
wheels do not spin when driving on steep ter-
rain.
334Vehicle data for off-road driving
Technical data