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STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
428
Related information
• Rear Collision Warning (p. 338)
• BLIS
* (p. 339)
• Brake functions (p. 419)
Transmission The transmission is part of the vehicle's driveline (power transmission) between the engine andthe drive wheels. The function of the transmis-sion is to change gears depending on speedand power needs.
The vehicle has an 8-speed automatic transmis- sion and an electric motor for rear-wheel drive.The number of gears allows the engine's torqueand power band to be effectively utilized. Two ofthe gears are overdrive gears that save fuel whendriving at a constant engine speed. The steering wheel paddles
* can be used to shift up or down
manually. The instrument panel shows the gear currently in use.
CAUTION
Check the operating temperature of the transmission to help avoid damage to any ofthe drive system components. If there is a riskof overheating, a warning symbol will appearin the instrument panel and a text messagewill be displayed. Follow the recommenda-tions given.
Symbols in the instrument panelIf a problem should occur with the transmission, a symbol and a message will appear in the instru-ment panel.
SymbolMeaning
Information and messages related to the transmission. Follow the rec-ommendations provided.
Hot or overheated transmission. Follow the recommendations provi-ded.
Reduced performance/Acceler-
ation performance reduced
In the event of a temporary fault in the driveline, the vehicle may gointo a "limp home" mode withreduced power output to help avoiddamage to the driveline.
Related information
• Gear selector positions for automatic trans- missions (p. 429)
• Gear indicator
* (p. 432)

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STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
430 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 driver's door while the vehicle isrunning with the gear selector in a gear other than
P.
To park a vehicle with an unbuckled seat belt andopen door – end P mode by shifting to R or D
again.
Reverse - R
Select R when backing up. The vehicle must be
stationary when Reverse is selected.
Neutral - N
No gear is selected and the engine can be started. Apply the parking brake if the vehicle is stationary with the gear selector in N.
To move the gear selector from Neutral to another gear, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition in mode II.
D drive mode
D is the normal driving gear position. The trans-
mission shifts up or down automatically depend- ing on acceleration and speed. The vehicle mustbe stationary when the gear selector is moved from R to D.
Brake - B
B can be selected at any time during a drive. In B
mode, the engine braking function is activated when the accelerator pedal is released, whichhelps charge the hybrid battery. This offers addi-tional opportunities to recharge the hybrid bat-tery, since the battery is charged even when thebrake pedal is not depressed.
B mode in the instrument panel.
From B mode, it is possible to manually shift to
lower gears. The currently selected gear (1-8) will be displayed in the instrument panel.
• Pull the gear selector backward once to shiftdown one gear.
• Pull the gear selector backward again to shiftdown to lower gears.
To shift manually to a higher gear, the vehicle must be equipped with steering wheel paddles *. •
Push the gear selector forward to return to
D
mode.
For smooth shifting and engine performance, the
transmission will shift down automatically if the vehicle's speed becomes too low for the selectedgear.
Related information
• Shiftlock (p. 432)
• Using the steering wheel paddles
* to shift
(p. 431)
• The kickdown function (p. 432)
• Gear indicator
* (p. 432)

STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.431
Using the steering wheel paddles *to shift
The steering wheel paddles are a supplement to the gear selector and make it possible to shiftmanually without removing your hands from thesteering wheel.
Activating the steering wheel paddlesIn order to shift gears using the paddles, they must first be activated:
–Pull one of the paddles toward the steering wheel.
> A number in the instrument panel indi- cates the current gear being used.
Instrument panel when the paddles are activated for shifting.
ChangeTo shift one gear:
–Pull one of the paddles toward the steering wheel and then release.
"-": Shift down one gear.
" + ": Shift up one gear.
As long as the engine speed (rpm) is within the permissible range for the selected gear, a gearshift will take place each time a paddle is pulled. After each gear shift, a number indicating the current gear will be displayed in the instrumentpanel.
Turning off Start/Stop
Manual deactivation in gear D and B
–Deactivate the paddles by pulling the right paddle ( +) toward the steering wheel and
holding it until the number of the current gear is no longer displayed in the instrumentpanel. > The transmission will revert to gear D or B
depending on which gear was selected before the paddles were activated.
Automatic deactivation
In gear position D, the steering wheel paddles
are deactivated after a short period of time if they are not used. The number of the current gear willno longer be displayed in the instrument panel. In gear position B, the paddles will not activate
automatically.
Related information
• Gear selector positions for automatic trans- missions (p. 429)
• Gear indicator
* (p. 432)

STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory.435
Drive modes
Drive modes affect the vehicle's driving charac- teristics in different ways to enhance and sim-plify the driving experience in certain types of sit-uations.
Drive modes enable easy access to the vehicle's many functions and settings in different drivingsituations. The following systems are adapted tohelp optimize driving characteristics in each drivemode: • Steering
• Engine/transmission/all-wheel drive
• Brakes
• Pneumatic suspension
* and shock absorbers
• Instrument panel
• Climate control settings
Select the drive mode that is best suited to the current driving conditions. Keep in mind that notall drive modes are available in all situations.
Available drive modes
WARNING
Keep in mind that the vehicle does not emit any engine noise when using the electricmotor and may therefore be difficult to detectfor children, pedestrians, cyclists or animals.This is particularly true at low speeds, e.g. inparking lots.
WARNING
Do not leave the vehicle in an unventilated area with a drive mode activated and the com-bustion engine switched off. The engine willstart automatically if the charge level in thehybrid battery is low and the resulting exhaustgases can be very harmful to people and ani-mals.
HYBRID
• This is the default mode in which the electric motor and combustion engine work together.
The vehicle starts in Hybrid mode. The control system uses both the electric motor and the gas-oline engine - separately or in tandem - and cal-culates optimal utilization with regard to perform-ance, fuel consumption and comfort. At highspeeds, ground clearance is automatically low- ered 4
to reduce air resistance. Driving capacity on
the electric motor alone is determined by factors such as the hybrid battery's charge level, the need for heat/cooling in the passenger compart-ment, etc. If there is sufficient charge in the battery, it is possible to drive solely on electric power. Whenthe accelerator pedal is pressed, only the electricmotor will be activated until the battery reaches acertain charge level. Above this level, the currentin the battery cannot supply the power requestedby the accelerator pedal and the combustionengine will start. When the hybrid battery's charge level is low, the combustion engine will start more frequently tosave the remaining current in the battery. Chargethe hybrid battery from a 120-240 volt outlet using a charging cable, or activate
Charge in
Function view to reset the option of only using the electric motor. This drive mode is designed for low energy con- sumption with an optimized mix between theelectric motor and gasoline engine, without com-promising on climate comfort or driving experi-ence. When faster acceleration is requested bythe driver, the electric driveline will be utilized tohelp provide maximum additional power. Thevehicle also monitors the driving conditions andautomatically engages all-wheel drive if neces-sary. All-wheel drive and extra electric power arealways available regardless of the battery'scharging status.
4 For vehicles with pneumatic suspension.

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437
OFF ROAD
•Maximizes the vehicle's ability to traverse dif- ficult terrain or poor roads.
In this mode, ground clearance 4
is high, steering
is light, and all-wheel drive and Hill DescentControl are activated. This drive mode is only available at low speeds, up to 40 km/h (25 mph). If this speed is excee-ded, Off road mode will be cancelled and AWDmode will be activated instead. All-wheel drive requires both the combustion and electric motor to be in continuous operation,which results in higher fuel consumption. In Off road mode, a compass will be displayed between the speedometer and the tachometer inthe instrument panel. The permissible speedrange will be shown in the speedometer. This drive mode is optimized for maximum control when driving at low speeds on very poor roads or difficult terrain. It raises the chassis 4
, reduces
driveline throttle response, and locks the vehicle in all-wheel drive. The Hill Descent Control func-tion facilitates controlled driving on steep down-grades.NOTE
This drive mode is not designed to be used for normal street driving.
NOTE
Due to the increased ground clearance, if the OFF ROAD mode was selected when theengine was switched off, the suspension willlower when the engine is restarted.
CAUTION
Do not use the OFF ROAD drive mode when towing a trailer without an electrical connec-tion. This could result in damage to the pneu-matic suspension system's bellows.
AWD
• Improves the vehicle's traction and handling by increasing all-wheel drive.
This drive mode locks the vehicle in all-wheeldrive. An optimal distribution between front andrear axle torque helps provide the best possiblecontrol, stability and traction, e.g. on slipperyroads or when towing a heavy trailer or anothervehicle. The AWD drive mode is always availableregardless of the hybrid battery's charge status. Both the combustion engine and the electricmotor are engaged to enable all-wheel drive,which results in higher fuel consumption. In the other drive modes, the vehicle automati- cally adapts the need for all-wheel drive accord-ing to the road surface, and can activate the elec-tric motor or start the combustion engine as nee-ded.
POWER
•
Power mode is designed to provide sportier driving characteristics and a faster accelera-tion response.
This drive mode maximizes the combined powerfrom the combustion engine and the electricmotor by providing power to both the front andrear wheels. Gear shifting will be faster and moredistinct and the transmission will prioritize gearswith a higher traction force. Steering response isfaster, suspension is stiffer and ground clearance is lower 4
to help reduce body roll when cornering.
Both the combustion engine and the electric motor are engaged to enable all-wheel drive,which results in higher fuel consumption. This drive mode is optimized for maximum per- formance and throttle response. It changes thethrottle response, gear shifting program andturbo boost system. Chassis settings and steer-ing and brake response are also optimized. ThePower drive mode is always available regardlessof the hybrid battery's charge status.
4 For vehicles with pneumatic suspension.

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438
INDIVIDUAL
•Customizes drive mode to personal preferen- ces.
Select one of the drive modes as a basis andadjust the settings to achieve your preferred driv-ing characteristics. These settings will be storedin your driver profile. Individual drive mode is only available if it has been activated in the center display.
Settings view 5
for Individual drive mode.
1. Tap Settings in the Top view.
2. Tap
My CarIndividual Drive Mode and
select Individual Drive Mode. 3.
Under
Presets, select one of the following
drive modes as a basis: Pure, Hybrid orPower.
The following settings can be modified: •
Driver Display
•Steering force
•Powertrain Characteristics
•Brake Characteristics
•Suspension Control
•ECO Climate.
Using the combustion engineAn advanced control system determines the dis- tance that the vehicle can be driven on the com- bustion engine, electric motor, or both at the same 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 combustion engine.
5 The image is schematic and the details may vary depending on vehicle model or software update.

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STARTING AND DRIVING
444
NOTE
When LSC with HDC is activated in the OFF ROAD drive mode, the feel of the acceleratorpedal and engine response will change.
NOTE
This drive mode is not designed to be used for normal street driving.
NOTE
The function is deactivated when driving at high speeds and must be reactivated at lowerspeeds if so desired.
Related information
•Activating and deactivating Low Speed Con- trol using the function button (p. 444)
• Changing drive mode (p. 439)
• Hill Descent Control (p. 444)
• All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 433)
Activating and deactivating LowSpeed Control using the functionbutton
Vehicles that are not equipped with drive mode controls in the tunnel console have a function button for Low Speed Control with
Hill Descent
Control in the center display's Function view.
Selecting Low Speed Control in the center display's Function view
–Tap the Hill Descent Control button to
activate or deactivate the function.
> An indicator light in the button will illumi- nate when the function is activated.
When the engine is switched off, the function will be automatically deactivated.
NOTE
The function is deactivated when driving at high speeds and must be reactivated at lowerspeeds if so desired.
Related information
• Low Speed Control (p. 443)
• Changing drive mode (p. 439)
Hill Descent Control The function for assisting when driving downhill, Hill Descent Control (HDC), is a low-speedfunction with increased engine braking. Thefunction makes it possible to increase ordecrease the vehicle's speed on steep downhillgradients by only using the accelerator pedal,without applying the brakes. The function is included in the Off Road drive mode.
HDC is designed for driving on rough roads at low speeds and downhill gradients with slipperyor otherwise difficult road surfaces. The driverdoes not need to use the brake pedal but caninstead focus on steering.
WARNING
HDC is only intended to be a supplementary braking aid and it does not function in all sit-uations. The driver is always ultimately responsible for operating the vehicle in a safe manner.
FunctionHill Descent Control allows the vehicle to move forward or backward at very low speeds assistedby the brake system. The driver can increase thespeed by pressing the accelerator pedal. Whenthe accelerator pedal is released, the vehicle willreturn to very low speed regardless of how steep

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446
Related information
•Hill Descent Control (p. 444)
• Changing drive mode (p. 439)
Economical driving
Drive economically and environmentally con- scious by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid startsand stops and adapting driving style and speedto the current traffic conditions.
Planning for electric drivingIt is important to plan electric motor use carefully to achieve the best possible mileage:
Charge
• Charge the vehicle regularly by plugging it into an electrical outlet. Make it a habit to always begin trips with the hybrid battery fully charged.
• Locate charging stations along your route.
• If possible, choose parking spots with charg-ing stations.
NOTE
Charge the vehicle from the electricity grid as often as possible!
Preconditioning
•
Whenever possible, precondition the vehicle before driving by connecting the chargingcable to an electrical outlet.
• Avoid parking the vehicle somewhere wherethe interior will become too hot or too coldwhile the vehicle is parked. If possible, parkthe vehicle in a climate-controlled garage. •
During a short drive after passenger com-partment preconditioning, turn off the pas-senger compartment fan or the air condition-ing in a hot climate.
• If preconditioning is not possible when it iscold outside, use seat and steering wheelheating first. Avoid heating the entire pas-senger compartment to reduce the amountof current being taken from the hybrid bat-tery.