2021 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK towing

Changing bulbs (only
forve hicles with hal-
ogen headlamps) ......................................... 143
Wi ndsc reen wipers and windscreen
wa sher system ............................................ 145
Mir rors ........................................................ 149 Climat
Climat
e contr
e control ol........................................... 153 153
Overview of climate control systems ............ 153
Operating the climate control system .......... 154 Dr
Dr
iving and par
iving and par king
king..................................... 162 162
Driving ........................................................1 62
DY NAMIC SELECT switch ........................... .178
Manual transmission ................................... 181
Au tomatic transmission .............................. .183
Fu nction of the 4MATIC ...............................1 87
Re fuelling .................................................... 188
Charging the high-voltage battery (plug-in
hy brid) ........................................................ 194
Pa rking .......................................................2 11
Driving and driving saf ety sy stems ............... 219
Tr ailer hitch ................................................ .270
Bicycle rack function ................................... 274
Ve hicle towing instructions .......................... 276 Ins
Ins
tr
trument displa
ument displa y and on-boar
y and on-boar d com-
d com-
put
put er
er........................................................... 277 277
No tes on the inst rument display and on-
board computer .......................................... 277
Overview of instrument display .................... 278
Overview of buttons on the steering wheel ... 279
Operating the on-board computer ................2 79
Fu nction of the po wer me ter (plug-in
hy brid) ........................................................ 281
Fu nction of the electric mo tor po wer
av ailability displ ay(plug-in hybrid) ................ 281
Displaying the po wer me ter (plug-in
hy brid) ........................................................ 282
Overview of displa ysinthe inst rument
display ........................................................ 282
Head-up display .......................................... 282 MBUX multimedia syst MBUX multimedia syst
em
em........................... .285
285
Overview and operation ............................... 285
System settings .......................................... 294
Plug-in hybrid settings ................................ .298
Na vigation .................................................. .299
Te lephone ................................................... 308
Mercedes me app ....................................... 311 Mercedes-Benz emer
gency call system ....... 320
Ra dio & media ............................................ .324
Sound settings ............................................ 329 Maint Maint
enance and car
enance and car e
e................................. 330 330
ASS YST PLUS service inter val display .......... 330
Engine compartment ................................... 331
Cleaning and care ....................................... 337 Br Br
eakdo
eakdo wn assist
wn assist ance
ance................................. 346 346
Emer gency .................................................. 346
Flat tyre ...................................................... 348
Battery (vehicle) .......................................... 354
To w- starting or towing away ........................ 358
Electrical fuses ............................................ 364 Wheels and tyr Wheels and tyr
es
es......................................... 368 368
No tes on noise or unusual handling char-
acteristics ................................................... 368
No tes on regula rly inspecting wheels and
tyres .......................................................... .368
No tes on snow chains ................................. 368
Ty re pressure .............................................. 369 Contents
3 3

1
Safetyve sts →
346
2 Fire extinguisher →
347
3 ; me button →
311
G SOS button →
311
4 £ Hazard warning light system →
137
5 Stow age compartment for customer literature
6 Starting assis tance →
357
7 Tocheck and top up operating 0uids →
393
8 Tow- starting or towing away →
360
9 Flat tyre →
348 A
B-pillar with:
QR code for accessing there scue card →
42
B Tow- starting or towing away →
360
C Warning triangle →
346
D TIREFIT kit →
350
E Firs t-aid kit (soT sided) →
347
F Fuel /ller 0ap with:
information label on fuel type →
188
information label on tyre pressure →
370
QR code for accessing there scue card →
42 At
a glance – Emer gencies and breakdowns
21 21

or
R when theve hicle is towing a trailer and there
is a risk of a rear impact
The system will not initiate any braking application
in thefo llowing situations:
R whilst driving
or
R when entering or exiting a parking space while
using Active Parking Assist A A
ut
ut omatic measur
omatic measur es
esaTer
aTer an accident
an accident
Depending on the type and se verity of the acci-
dent, and depending on theve hicle's equipment,
th efo llowing measures can be implemented, for
ex ample:
R automatic braking (post-collision brake)
R activating the hazard warning lights
R triggering an automatic emer gency call
(/ page 320)
R switching o. the engine To
start theve hicle again, switch theve hicle
o. and on once more (/ page 166). Depend-
ing on the type and se verity of the accident,
yo u may no longer be able tostart theve hicle.
R switching o. the fuel supply
R v
v ehicles wit
ehicles wit h h
h hybr
ybr id dr
id dr iv
ive:
e: switching o. the
hy brid system and high-voltage on-board elec-
trical system
R unlocking theve hicle doors
R lowe ring the side windo ws
R displaying the emer gency guide in the multi-
media system display
R switching on the interior lighting
F
F unction of t
unction of t he pos
he post-collision brt-collision br ake
ake
Depending on the accident situation, the post-col-
lision brake can minimise the se verity of a fur ther
collision or evenavo id it.
If an accident is de tected, the post-collision brake
can implement automatic braking. When theve hi-
cle has come toa standstill, the electric parking
brake is automatically applied. The driver can cancel automatic braking
bytaking
th efo llowing actions:
R braking more strongly than automatic braking
R fully depressing the accelerator pedal with
fo rce Saf
Saf
el
ely tr
y tr anspor
anspor ting c
ting childr
hildren in t
en in t he v
he vehicle
ehicle Alw
ay
Alw ays observ
s observ e when c
e when c hildr
hildren ar
en ar e trav
e tr avelling in t
elling in t he
he
v
v ehicle
ehicle %
Also strictly obser vethe saf ety no tesfo rthe
speci/c situation. In this wa yyo u can recog-
nise po tential risks and avoid dangers if chil-
dren are tr avelling in theve hicle
(/ page 62).
Be dilig
Be dilig ent
ent
Bear in mind that negligence when securing a
ch ild in thech ild restraint system ma y haveseri-
ous conse quences. Alw ays be dili gent in securing
a ch ild carefully before every journe y.
Ne ver allow babies and children totrave l sitting
on the lap of ano ther vehicle occupant. Occupant saf
ety
61
61

de
tected bythe system. The maximum permissi-
ble speed applying toave hicle with a trailer is not
de tected bythe system.
Ad just the speed in these situations. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident due toActive
Speed Limit Assist ada pting theve hicle's
speed
The speed adop tedby Active Speed Limit
Assist may be too high or incor rect in some
individual cases, such as:
R at speed limits below 20 km/h
R inwe t conditions or in fog
R when towing a trailer #
Ensure that the driven speed complies
with tra1c regulations. #
Adjust the driving speed tosuit cur rent
tra1c and weather conditions. F F
unction of r
unction of r out
oute-based speed adapt
e-based speed adapt ation
ation
When Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is acti va-
te d, theve hicle speed will be adap ted accordingly
to thero ute events ahead. Depending on the drive prog
ram selected, theve hicle neg otiates a route
ev ent ahead in an economical, comfor table or
dynamic manner. When thero ute event has been
passed, theve hicle accelerates again tothe
stored speed. The set distance totheve hicle in
front, vehicles de tected ahead and speed restric-
tions ahead are take n into account.
Yo u can activate and deactivate route-based
speed adap tation in the multimedia system
(/ page 238).
The following route events are take n into account:
R Bends
R T-junctions, roundabouts and toll stations
R Turns and exits
R Tra1c jams ahead (only with Live Tra1c Infor-
mation )
% When theto ll station is reached, Active Dis-
ta nce Assist DISTRONIC ado ptsth e speed as
th e stored speed.
Also, the speed is reduced if the turn signal indi-
cator tochange lanes is switched on and one of
th efo llowing situations is de tected:
R Turning o. at junctions R
Driving on slowing-down lanes
R Driving on lanes adjacent toslowing-down
lanes
The driver is responsible forch oosing theright
speed and observing other road users. This
applies in particular tojunctions, roundabouts and
tra1c lights, as route-based speed adap tation
does not brake theve hicle toa standstill.
When route guidance is active, the /rst speed
adjustment is car ried out automaticall y.Ifth e turn
signal indicator is switched on, the selected route
is con/rmed and fur ther speed adjustment is acti-
va ted.
Speed adap tation is cancelled in thefo llowing
cases:
R Ifth e turn signal indicator is switched o.
before thero ute event.
R Ifth e driver depresses the accelerator or
brake pedal during the process.
Syst
Syst em limits em limits
Ro ute-based speed adap tation does not take right
of wa yre gulations into account. The driver is Driving and parking
237
237

re
sponsible for complying with road tra1c regula-
tions and driving at a suitable speed.
The speed ada ptation made bythe system may
not alw ays be suitable, particular lyin thefo llowing
situations:
R thero ad's course not clear lyvisible
R road nar rowing
R varying maximum permissible speeds in indi-
vidual lanes, forex ample at toll stations
R wetro ad sur faces, snow or ice
R when towing a trailer
In these situations the driver must inter vene
accordingl y. &
W
WARNI NG
ARNI NGRisk of accident in spi teof
ro ute-based speed adap tation
Ro ute-based speed adap tation can malfunc-
tion or be temp orarily una vailable in thefo l-
lowing situations:
R Ifth e driver does not follow the calculated
ro ute R
If map data is not up-to-date or available
R Intheev ent of roadwor ks
R In bad weather or road conditions
R Ifth e accelerator pedal is depressed
R Intheeve nt of electronically displa yed
speed limi tations #
Adapt the speed tothe tra1c situation. Se
Se
tting r
tting r out
oute-based speed adapt
e-based speed adapt ation
ation
R
R eq
eq uir
uir ements:
ements:
R Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is acti va-
te d.
R ECO Assist is active.
Multimedia system: 4 © 5
Settings 5
Assistance
5 Route-based speed adapt. #
Activate or deactivate the function.
When the function is active, theve hicle speed
is adjusted depending on thero ute events
ahead. %
Further information on the route-based speed
adap tation (/ page 237). A
A
ctiv
ctiv eSt
e St eer
eer ing Assist
ing Assist F
F
unction of A
unction of A ctiv
ctiveSt
e St eer
eer ing Assist
ing Assist
Ac tive Steering Assist is only available up to a
speed of 210 km/h. The system helps youto stay
in the centre of the lane bymeans of moderate
steering inter ventions. Depending on the speed
driven, Active Steering Assist uses theve hicles
ahead and lane markings as a refere nce.
% Depending on the countr y,in the lo wer speed
ra nge Active Steering Assist can use the sur-
ro unding tra1c as a refere nce. If necessar y,
Ac tive Steering Assist can then also pr ovide
assistance when driving outside the centre of
th e lane, forex ample, toform are scue lane.
If th e de tection of lane markings and vehicles
ahead is impaired, Active Steering Assist switches
to passive mode. The system pr ovides no support
in this case. 238
238
Driving and parking

R
The windsc reen is dirty, misted up, damaged
or co vered in the vicinity of the camera, e.g.
by a stic ker.
R No, or se veral, unclear lane markings are pres-
ent for one lane, or the markings change
qu ickl y,forex ample, in a construction area or
junctions.
R The lane markings are wornawa y,dark or co v-
ered up, e.g. bydirt or sno w.
R Ifth e distance totheve hicle in front is too
short and thus the lane markings cannot be
de tected.
R The road is na rrow and winding.
R There are obs tacles on the lane or projecting
out into the lane, such as object mar kers.
The system does not pr ovide assistance in thefo l-
lowing conditions:
R On tight bends and when turning.
R When crossing junctions.
R Atroundabouts or toll stations.
R When towing a trailer.
R When the tyre pressure is too lo w. &
W
WARNI NG
ARNI NGRisk of accident if Active Steer-
ing Assist unexpectedly stops functioning
If th e system limits of Active Steering Assist
are reached there is no guarantee that the
system will remain active or will keep theve hi-
cle in lane. #
Alwayske ep your hands on the steering
wheel and obser vethe tra1c carefull y. #
Always steer theve hicle paying attention
to tra1c conditions. &
W
WARNI NG
ARNI NGRisk of accident if Active Steer-
ing Assist unexpectedly inter venes
The de tection of lane markings and objects
may malfunction and cause unexpected steer-
ing inter ventions. #
Steer according totra1c conditions. A A
ctiv
ctiv ating/deactiv
ating/deactiv ating A
ating Activ
ctiveSt
e St eer
eer ing Assist
ing Assist
R
R eq
eq uir
uir ements:
ements:
R ESP ®
is activated, but is not inter vening. R
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is acti va-
te d.
Multimedia system: 4 © 5
Settings 5
Quick access #
Select aAct. Steer. Asst . F
F
unction of A
unction of A ctiv
ctive Emerg
e Emerg encySt
ency Stop Assist
op Assist If
th e system de tects that the driver has not
steered theve hicle for a considerable period of
time or has remo vedth eir hands from the steering
wheel, display 1appears in the Instrument Dis-
pla y.Ifth e driver still does not steer theve hicle,
or gives no con/rmation tothe system, a warning 240
240
Driving and parking

Do not
exceed thefo llowing values:
R Perm issible towing capacity
R Perm issible rear axle load of theto wing vehi-
cle
R Perm issible gross weight of theto wing vehicle
R Perm issible gross weight of the trailer
R Maximum permissible speed of the trailer
Ensure thefo llowing before starting a journe y:
R The tyre pressure on there ar axle of theto w-
ing vehicle is set for a maximum load
R The lighting of the connected trailer is opera-
tional
R V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit hout LED headlam
hout LED headlam ps or MUL
ps or MULTI-
TI-
BEAM LED headlam
BEAM LED headlam ps:
ps:the headlamps ha ve
been set cor rectly
In theev ent of increased rear axle load, the car/
trailer combination must not exceed a maximum
speed of 100 km/h forre asons conce rning the
operating permit. This also applies in countries in
which the permissible maximum speed for car/
trailer combinations is abo ve100 km/h. F
F
olding t
olding t he ball nec
he ball nec k out and in
k out and in &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident due tothe ball
neck not being engaged
If th e ball neck is not engaged, the trailer may
come loose. #
Always engage the ball neck as descri-
bed. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of injury from ball neck
swinging outwards
The ball neck may swing outwards when
unlocking or when it has not been proper ly
engaged.
There is a risk of injury within the ball neck's
ra nge of mo vement! #
Unlock the ball neck only when its range
of mo vement is unobstructed. #
Always be sure the ball neck is engaged
when folding in wards. *
N NOOTE
TE Increased risk of damage toprop-
erty due tofolded-out ball neck #
When the trailer is not coupled or the
bicycle rack is attached, fold in the ball
neck or, in the case of a fully electric
trailer hitch, retract the ball nec k. *
N
NO
OTE
TE Damage totheve hicle due toincor-
re ct use of the trailer hitch When a trailer hitch is used
toreco ver a vehi-
cle, theve hicle may be damaged in the proc-
ess. #
Use the trailer hitch only for pulling a
trailer or attaching appr oved car rier sys-
te ms (e.g. a bicycle rack ). R
R
eq
eq uir
uir ements:
ements:
R The vehicle is secured against rolling away.
R The swivel range is clear.
R The trailer cables or ada pter plugs ha vebeen
re mo ved. Driving and parking
271
271

2
Horizontal distance between centre of grav ity
and ball head
3 The centre of grav ity is on theve hicle's cent re
axis
Obser vethefo llowing information when you are
loading the bicycle rack with up tothre e bicycles:
Loading t
Loading t he bicy
he bicycle r
cle rack
ack T
T
o
o t
tal w
al w eight
eight
of bicy
of bicy cle
cle
r
r ac
ac k and load
k and load Max. dist
Max. dist
ance
ance
1
1 Max. dist
Max. dist
ance
ance
2
2
Up to75 kg 420 mm 300 mm V
V
ehicle to
ehicle towing ins
wing ins tr
tr uctions
uctions
The vehicle is not suitable forth e use of tow bar
systems that are used for 0at towing or dinghy
to wing, forex ample. Attach ing and using tow bar
systems can result in damage totheve hicle.
When you are towing a vehicle with tow bar sys-
te ms, safe driving characteristics cann otbe guar-
anteed forth eto wing vehicle or theto we dve hicle.
The vehicle-trailer combination may swer vefrom
side toside. Obser
vethefo llowing information:
R Perm itted towing me thods (/ page 358)
R Plug-in h Plug-in h ybr ybrid:
id:permitted towing me thods
(/ page 359)
R The no tes on towing theve hicle with bo th
axles on thegr ound (/ page 360) 276
276
Driving and parking