2020 AUDI A5 ESP

8W7012721BA
Sitting correctly and safely

> If you secure a child safety seat to the front
passenger's seat, adjust the front passenger's
seat to the highest position.
> Secure the child safety seat according to the
child safety seat manufacturer instructions.
> If necessary, activate the belt retractor lock
=>page 85.
> If the child safety seat is secured on the front
passenger's seat, adjust the front passenger's
seat backrest until it rests flat against the child
safety seat. Also make sure that the upper safe-
ty belt fixture is behind the child safety seat.
> If you secure a child safety seat on the rear
seat, also secure it to the correct top tether an-
chor if possible > page 86.
Activating the belt retractor lock
If you secure a child safety seat using the vehicle
safety belt, you must activate the belt retractor
lock. Follow the child safety seat manufacturer
instructions.
The belt retractor lock prevents the safety belt
from becoming loose while driving, which could
result in the child safety seat no longer being ad-
equately secured.
> Secure the child safety seat according to the
child safety seat manufacturer instructions.
While doing so, pull out the safety belt. Insert
the safety belt into the belt latch that belongs
to that seat until it audibly locks.
> Pull the upper belt out completely and then al-
low it to retract. You will hear a clicking sound
while the belt is retracting. It will not be possi-
ble to pull the safety belt out any farther.
> Push the child safety seat into the seat and al-
low the belt to retract more.
> Make sure that the child safety seat cannot
move more than 1 inch (2.5 cm).
Deactivating the belt retractor lock
> Unbuckle the safety belt from the belt latch.
> Remove the child safety seat according to the
manufacturer instructions.
> Allow the safety belt to retract completely. The
belt retractor lock is deactivated.

ZX WARNING
— A safety belt that is not locked by the belt
retractor lock or a locking device cannot se-
cure a child safety seat while driving or in
the event of an accident, which increases the
risk of fatal injury. Always make sure the
belt retractor lock on the safety belt is acti-
vated if the child safety seat manufacturer
instructions require it.
— Due to the risk of fatal injury, never place a
rear-facing child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat when the front passenger's
airbag is switched on.
— For the child safety seat to offer the maxi-
mum protection, it is especially important
to route the vehicle safety belt correctly. Al-
ways follow the instructions from the child
safety seat manufacturer for routing the
safety belt correctly. Incorrectly fastened
safety belts can cause injuries, even during

minor accidents.

8s

Stowing and using


— Never exceed the permitted axle and load
and vehicle weight > page 284.
— Never secure a child safety seat to the tie-
downs.
— Never leave your vehicle unattended, espe-
cially if the luggage compartment lid is
open. Children could enter the luggage com-
partment and close the luggage compart-
ment lid from the inside. This creates the
risk of fatal injury, since the children would
be locked in and may not be able to escape
by themselves.
— Do not allow children to play in or on the ve-
hicle. Close and lock the luggage compart-
ment lid as well as all other doors when you
leave
the vehicle.
— Never transport passengers in the luggage
compartment. Every passenger must be cor-
rectly secured with the safety belts in the
vehicle > page 72.
— Be careful when releasing the backrest and
folding
it forward. To reduce the risk of be-
ing pinched, pay attention and check when
folding backrests forward.
— The backrest must be securely latched so
objects cannot slide forward out of the lug-
gage compartment during sudden braking.
— The backrest must be latched securely to en-
sure that the safety belt is protecting the
center seating position.
— Always pull forward on the backrest to make
sure it is check if it is correctly locked in
place.



© Note
—To reduce the risk of damage, move the rear
head restraints down before folding the rear
backrests forward = page 71.
— When folding the backrest forward, make
sure the outer safety belts are in the belt
guide recess so that they do not get pinched
in the backrest lock and damaged. Other ob-
jects
should be removed from the rear
bench seat to protect the backrest from
damage.
— To reduce the risk of damaging the front
seats, make sure there is enough space be-
tween the front seat and the rear seat
90
equipment when folding the center backrest
forward.
— If you move the front seat back when the
rear seat backrest is folded forward, you
could damage the head restraints on the
rear seat.
— Make sure that the heating grid strips for
the rear window defogger are not damaged
by abrasive objects.
G) Tips
— The tire pressure must be adapted to the
load > page 244.
— You can purchase straps at specialty stores.

ggage compartment cover
Applies to: vehicles with luggage compartment cover
| Bw-0198
|
Fig. 87 Luggage compartment: cover when the luggage
compartment lid is open

Fig. 88 Luggage compartment: cover behind the rear
bench seat
Follow the safety precautions > page 89.
Removing and installing the luggage
compartment lid cover
> To remove the cover, turn the knob to a hori-
zontal position.

Warm and cold

3-zone deluxe automatic climate control
Applies to: vehicles with 3-zone deluxe automatic climate control system

B8W-0137



Fig. 100 3-zone deluxe automatic climate control: cockpit controls



B8W-0138

Fig. 101 3-zone deluxe automatic climate control system: rear controls
Press the knobs, buttons or rocker switches to
turn the functions on or off. When the function is
switched on, the LED in the respective button or
knob turns on > fig. 100.
Some rocker switches can be assigned with multi-
ple functions. The various functions can be acti-
vated by pressing on the switch multiple times.
On right-hand drive vehicles*, the functions of
the rocker switches @) and ©) are reversed.
The driver and front passenger settings can be
adjusted separately. You can adjust the settings
for the rear of the vehicle using the controls in
the rear > fig. 101.
96

OFF] Climate control system

The OFF] button switches the climate control
system on or off. It also switches on when you
press another button or a knob. Airflow from out-
side is blocked when the climate control system
is switched off.


A/C} / [A/C MAX|* / [A/C eco}* Cooling mode
You can switch the respective cooling mode on
and off with the rocker switch @).
The cooling mode only functions with the blower
turned on. The air is cooled and dehumidified in
cooling mode. Otherwise the windows can fog >

Driving


— If you leave the vehicle, switch the ignition
off and take the key with you. This is espe-
cially important when leaving persons or an-
imals in the vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicle
could start unintentionally, the parking
brake could release, or electronic equipment
could activate, which increases the risk of an
accident.
— No persons or animals should be left in a
locked vehicle. Locked doors make it more
difficult for emergency workers to enter the
vehicle, which puts lives at risk.
— If you do not begin driving immediately af-
ter releasing the brake pedal, your vehicle
may begin to roll backward. Press the brake
pedal or set the parking brake immediately.
@) Note
If you have to stop on an incline, always press
the brake pedal to hold the vehicle in place to
reduce the risk of the vehicle rolling back-
ward. Do not try to hold the vehicle in place
by pressing and holding the accelerator pedal.
The transmission can overheat, which increas-
es the risk of damage.
Hill hold assist
If you take your foot off of the brake pedal when
driving on hills, the braking force will be held for
several seconds. At that time, you can start driv-
ing without the vehicle rolling backward.

Requirement: the driver's door must be closed,
the engine must be on, and the vehicle must be
traveling uphill.
> To activate hill hold assist, press and hold the
brake pedal for several seconds while the vehi-
cle is stationary.

ZA\ WARNING
— If you do not begin driving immediately af-
ter releasing the brake pedal, your vehicle
may begin to roll backward. Press the brake
pedal or set the parking brake immediately.
— The hill hold assist cannot hold the vehicle
on inclines in every scenario (for example,
on slippery or icy ground).

102
Gears and driving programs
@Q—
2)—*

RAZ-0410]|
i


R
t
N
tt.
D/S
Fig. 103 Center console: selector lever



The automatic transmission shifts automatically
depending on the selected gear and the current
driving style. When driving with a moderate driv-
ing style, upshifting early and downshifting late
will help to improve fuel economy. When driving
with a sporty driving style, the transmission per-
mits higher RPMs.
The gears are displayed next to the selector lever.
— P (Park)
— R (Reverse)
—N (Neutral)
—D (Drive)
Selecting a gear
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
— Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the
brake pedal.
— Press the release button (@) on the selector lev-
er.
—To select the nearest gear, move the selector
lever forward or back until you feel the first
pressure point.
—To skip a gear (for example, move from “D” to
“R”), move the selector lever past the pressure
point in the desired direction.
— The label next to the selector lever for the se-
lected gear will light up.
“N” (Neutral) gear
In the “N” gear, power is not transmitted to the
driving wheels. Use the “N” gear in a car wash
(with conveyor belts), for example.

8W7012721BA
Driving

If you unintentionally select “N” while driving
(faster than 1 mph (2 km/h)), you can also shift
back to “D” without pressing the brake pedal.
For safety reasons, the vehicle cannot be locked
when the transmission is in the "N” gear.
“Pp” (Park) gear
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
The vehicle is secured from rolling away by the
parking lock when in the “P” gear.
— Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the
brake pedal.
— Press the “P” button (2) on the selector lever.
— The “P” next to the selector lever will light up.
“P” engages automatically if you switch the en-
gine off while the “D” or “R” gear is selected. If
you switch the engine off in “N”, “P” will engage
automatically after approximately 30 minutes.
If you want to switch from “P” to “D” or “R”, the
engine must be running.
If you cannot shift out of “P”, for example be-
cause the vehicle has no power, you may need to
use the emergency release for the parking lock
=> page 105.
Selecting a driving program
Various driving programs can be selected when in
the “D” gear. The programs influence when the
transmission shifts and how the accelerator ped-
al responds.
The selected driving program is displayed in the
instrument cluster.
— D (Drive): normal driving mode
—S (Sport): sporty driving mode
If you select the Dynamic mode in Audi drive se-
lect*, the “S” driving program will be activated.
When the ignition is switched off, the driving pro-
gram may be reset to “D”.
To switch between the current driving program
and “S”, push the selector lever toward the rear.

ZX WARNING
— Before starting to drive, check if the desired
gear is displayed next to the selector lever.
— Always secure your vehicle from rolling
away. Press the brake pedal or shift to “P”.
When leaving the vehicle, also set the park-
ing brake.
— Power is still transmitted to the wheels
when the engine is running at idle. To pre-
vent the vehicle from “creeping”, you must
keep your foot on the brake in all selector
lever positions (except "P" and "N") when
the engine is running.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, do not
press the accelerator pedal when changing
gears if the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is running.
— Never select the “R" or "P” gears while driv-
ing. Doing so could cause an accident.
—The vehicle can roll even if the ignition is


switched off.

G) Tips
If you shift between “D” and “R” within one
second, you do not need to press the brake
pedal. This makes it possible to “rock” if it is
stuck, for example.
103

8W7012721BA
Driving

Saisie laine eN eae (eA
driving

Your driving style greatly influences the amount
of fuel and energy consumed, the environmental
impact, and the wear on the engine, brakes, and
tires. Note the following information for efficient
and environmentally-conscious driving:
— Turn off electrical equipment that is not need-
ed, for example seat heating*.
— Anticipate upcoming traffic situations while
driving to avoid unnecessary acceleration and
braking.
— Avoid driving at high speeds.
— Avoid adding extra weight to the vehicle if pos-
sible, for example by not leaving roof racks or
bike racks installed when they are not needed.
— Make sure the tire pressure is correct.
— Have maintenance performed regularly on the
vehicle.
— Do not drive with winter tires during the summ-
er.
— Do not let the engine run while the vehicle
parked.
— Use the Start/Stop system.
— Utilize the engine braking effect.
— Avoid driving short distances when possible.
G) Tips
The amount of noise produced by the vehicle
can increase significantly when driving with a
sporty style. Show respect to others around
you and the environment with the way you op-
erate your vehicle, especially at night.
Energy management
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent ener-
gy management system for distributing electrici-
ty. This significantly improves the starting ability
and increases the vehicle battery life.
@ Tips
— If you drive short distances frequently, the
vehicle battery may not charge enough
while driving. As a result, convenience func-
tions for electrical equipment may be tem-
porarily unavailable.
— The vehicle battery will gradually drain if
the vehicle is not driven for long periods of
time, or if electrical equipment is used
when the engine is not running. To ensure
that the vehicle can still be started, the
electrical equipment will be limited or
switched off.
WE Te [1 y
B Drive system: malfunction! Safely stop vehi-
cle
There is a malfunction in the drive system. The
brake
booster and the power steering may stop
working. Stop the vehicle immediately or as soon
as possible and do not continue driving. Have the
problem corrected by an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility.
B Drive system: malfunction! Please contact
Service
There is a malfunction in the drive system. Drive
slowly to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
Start/Stop system
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
The Start/Stop system can help increase fuel
economy and reduce CO2 emissions.
In Start/Stop mode, the engine shuts off auto-
matically when stopped, for example at a traffic
light. The ignition and important assist systems
such as power steering and the brake booster will
remain available during the Stop phase. The en-
gine will restart automatically when needed.
The Start/Stop system is automatically activated
once the ignition is switched on.
Switching the Start/Stop system off and on
The & button is located above the selector lever
in the center console. The LED in the button turns
on when the function is switched off.
> Press & to switch on or off.
107

8W7012721BA
Driving

Engine start system: malfunction! Please con-
tact Service
There is a malfunction in the Start/Stop system.
Drive the vehicle to an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Service Facility as soon as possible to
have the malfunction corrected.
Brakes
General information
You can apply the vehicle's brakes using the brake
pedal.
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depending on the
speed, braking force, and outside conditions such
as temperature and humidity.
Braking effect
The response time from the brakes depends on
the weather and environmental conditions. To
ensure the optimal braking effect, the brake sys-
tem is cleaned at regular intervals. This is done
by applying the brake pads to the brake rotors for
a short period of time when driving at high
speeds when the windshield wipers are switched
on.
If the brake system becomes damp, for example
after driving in heavy rain, the braking effect may
be delayed. Other factors that could temporarily
increase the response time of the brakes include:
— Wet conditions
— Low temperatures, ice, and snow
— Roads covered in salt
— Dirty brake pads
Corrosion
Corrosion may form on the brake rotors if there is
no heavy braking, if the vehicle is not driven for
long periods of time, or if the vehicle is not driv-
en
frequently or for long distances. In this case,
braking heavily several times while driving at
high speeds can clean the brake rotors > A\.
Brake pads
New brake pads do not achieve their full braking
effect during the first 250 miles (400 km). They
must be “broken in” first. However, you can com-
pensate for the slightly reduced braking force by
pressing firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy
braking during the break-in period.
Brake pad wear depends largely on the way the
vehicle is driven and on operating conditions.
Brake pad wear increases when driving frequently
in the city or short distances or when using a very
sporty driving style.
Ceramic brakes
Applies to: vehicles with ceramic brakes
Ceramic brakes provide excellent deceleration
rates.
The break-in period for new ceramic brakes may
be significantly longer than for standard brake
rotors. Due to the properties of the material,
they may cause noises at lower speeds. Ceramic
brakes also absorb more moisture in wet condi-
tions. Therefore, there will temporarily be less
braking force than when the brakes are dry. You
can compensate for this by pressing the brake
pedal harder.

ZA\ WARNING
— Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
traffic conditions permit. You must not en-
danger other road users and increase the
risk of an accident.
— Due to the risk of injury, only have an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility work on the brake system.
Incorrect repairs could impair the function.
— Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident.
— During automatic braking maneuvers, the
brake pedal may move downward automati-
cally. To reduce the risk of injury, do not
place your foot under the brake pedal.

@) Note
— Never let the brakes “rub” by pressing the
pedal lightly when braking is not actually
109
>

Driving

necessary. This can cause the brakes to over-
heat and increases braking distance and
causes wear.
— Observe the important information for driv-
ing downhill > page 112. This especially ap-
plies when towing a trailer.
@ Tips
— If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil-
er, wheel covers or similar items, make sure
that the air flow to the brakes is not ob-
structed. Otherwise the brake system can
overheat.
— Also refer to the information about brake
fluid > page 229.
Messages
Ge / @ Brakes: malfunction! Safely stop ve-
hicle
There is a malfunction in the brake system. If
fs / © and B also turn on, there is a malfunc-
tion in the ABS, ESC, and braking distribution.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance. Read and follow the other safety pre-
cautions > A\.
BRENG / ) Warning! No brake booster function
If the brake booster is not working, you have to
use much more force when braking the vehicle.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
HG / | Brake pads: wear limit reached. You
can continue driving. Please contact Service
The brake pads are worn. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility as
soon as possible to have the malfunction correct-
ed.
Brake booster: limited functionality.You can
continue driving. Please contact Service
There is a brake booster malfunction. The brake
booster is available, but its effectiveness is re-
duced. The braking performance may be different
compared to the usual performance. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
110
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
Brake booster: deactivated. See owner's manual
The brake booster remains active for a brief peri-
od of time after switching off the ignition. Secure
the vehicle from rolling by selecting “P” and set-
ting the parking brake.
Other indicator lights
When you switch the ignition on, the indicator
light Ea / ® turns on briefly to check the
function. If the indicator light does not turn on,
there is a system malfunction.
if fie /@) stays on, there is a malfunction in
the brake system.
@® - There was a heavy load on the brakes. Fol-
low the instructions in the message to utilize the
engine braking effect and to relieve the brakes.

ZA WARNING
If a malfunction occurs in the ABS, ESC, and
braking distribution, interventions that stabi-
lize the vehicle will no longer be available.
This could cause the vehicle to swerve, which
increases the risk that the vehicle will slide.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.

Electromechanical
parking brake
Operating the parking brake
The electromechanical parking brake is used to
secure the vehicle from rolling away unintention-
ally.
The ©) switch is located under the selector lever
in the center console. It turns on when the park-
ing brake is set. You can release the parking brake
manually or automatically when you start to
drive.
Setting and releasing the parking brake
> Setting: pull the © switch.