2023 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA Owners Manual

=It is safe to start and run the engine where
your vehicle is parked.
= The fuel tank is suPciently full.

q Starting the vehicle (Remote Online)&WARNING Risk of crushing or entrapment
due to unintentional starting of the engine
Limbs could be crushed or trapped if the
engine is started unintentionally during service
or maintenance work.
Always secure the engine against unin-
tentional starting before carrying out
maintenance or repair work.
Requirements
= Park position ] is selected.
= The anti-thes alarm system is not activated.
= The panic alarm is not activated.
= The hazard warning light system is switched
oM.
= The hood is closed.
= The doors are closed and locked.
=The windows and sliding sunroof are closed.Start the vehicle using the smartphone.
Aser every engine start, the engine runs for
ten minutes.
You can carry out a maximum of two consecutive
starting attempts. You must start the engine with the key before trying to start the vehicle againwith the smartphone.
You can switch oM the vehicle at any time as fol-
lows:
= Via the Smartphone App
= By pressing the Ü or ß button on the
key
\bFurther information can be found in the smartphone app.
Securing the vehicle against starting before carry-
ing out maintenance or repair work:
Switch on the hazard warning light system.
or
Unlock the doors.
or
Open a side window or the sliding sunroof.
Notes on breaking in a new vehicle
To preserve the engine during the Nrst 1000 miles
(1500 km):
= Drive at varying road speeds and engine
speeds.
= No faster than 85 mph (140 km/h).
= Drive the vehicle in drive mode A or  .
= Shis to the next higher gear at the very latest
when the needle reaches the last third before
the red area in the tachometer.
= Do not shis down manually in order to brake.
= Avoid overstraining the vehicle, e.g. driving at
full throttle.
= Vehicles with automatic transmission: do not
depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point (kickdown).
= Increase the engine speed only gradually and
accelerate the vehicle to full speed aser
1000 miles (1500 km).
Driving and parking135

This also applies when the engine or parts of thedrivetrain have been replaced.
Please also observe the following breaking-in
notes:
= In certain handling and driving safety systems,
the sensors adjust automatically while a cer-
tain distance is being driven aser the vehicle
has been delivered or aser repairs. Full sys-
tem eMectiveness is reached only when this
teaching-in process has concluded.
= Brake pads, brake disks and tires that are
either new or have been replaced achieve opti-
mum braking eMect and grip only aser driving
several hundred kilometers. Compensate the
reduced braking eMect by applying greater
force to the brake pedal.
Notes on driving
&WARNING Risk of accident due to objects
in the driver\bs footwell
Objects in the driver\bs footwell may impede
pedal travel or block a depressed pedal.
This jeopardizes the operating and road safety
of the vehicle.Stow all objects in the vehicle securely so that they cannot get into the driver\bs
footwell.Always install the Ooor mats securely
and as prescribed in order to ensure that
there is always suPcient room for the
pedals.Do not use loose Ooor mats and do not
place Ooor mats on top of one another.&WARNING Risk of accident due to incor-
rect footwear
Incorrect footwear includes, for example:
= Shoes with platform soles
= Shoes with high heels
= Slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Always wear suitable footwear so that
you can operate the pedals safely.&WARNING Risk of accident if the vehicle is
switched oM while driving
If you switch oM the vehicle while driving,
safety functions are restricted or no longer
available.
This may aMect the power steering system and
the brake force boosting, for example.
You will need to use considerably more force
to steer and brake, for example.
Do not switch oM the vehicle while driv-
ing.&DANGER Risk of death caused by exhaust
gases
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases is hazardous to health
and leads to poisoning.
Never leave the engine or, if present, the
auxiliary heating running in an enclosed
space without suPcient ventilation.136Driving and parking

&WARNING Risk of skidding and of an acci-
dent due to shising down on slippery road
surfaces
If you shis down on slippery road surfaces to
increase the engine braking eMect, the drive
wheels may lose traction.
Do not shis down on slippery road surfa-
ces to increase the engine braking
eMect.&DANGER Risk of fatal injury due to poison-
ous exhaust gases
If the tailpipe is blocked or suPcient ventila-
tion is not possible, poisonous exhaust gases
such as carbon monoxide may enter the vehi- cle. This is the case, for example, if the vehicle
gets stuck in the snow.
Keep the tailpipe and the area around
the vehicle free from snow when the
engine or the stationary heater is run-
ning.Open a window on the side of the vehicle
facing away from the wind to ensure an
adequate supply of fresh air.&WARNING Risk of accident and injury due
to being under the inOuence of alcohol
and drugs while driving
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations. Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can aMect
your reOexes, perceptions and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent are greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or
allow anyone to drive who has been
drinking or taking drugs.&WARNING Risk of accident due to the
brake system overheating
If you leave your foot on the brake pedal when
driving, the brake system may overheat.
This increases the braking distance and the
brake system can even fail.Never use the brake pedal as a footrest.Do not depress the brake pedal and the
accelerator pedal at the same time while
driving.*NOTE Engine damage due to excessively
high engine speeds
The engine will be damaged if you drive with
the engine in the overrevving range.
Do not drive with the engine in the over- revving range.*NOTE Wearing out the brake linings by
continuously depressing the brake pedalDo not depress the brake pedal continu-
ously whilst driving.To use the braking eMect of the engine,
shis to a lower gear in good time.Driving and parking137

*NOTE Damage to the drivetrain and
engine when pulling awayDo not warm up the engine while the
vehicle is stationary. Pull away immedi-
ately.Avoid high engine speeds and driving at
full throttle until the engine has reached
its operating temperature.*NOTE Damage to the catalytic converter
due to non-combusted fuel
The engine is not running smoothly and is mis-
Nring.
Non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic
converter.
Only depress the accelerator pedal
slightly.Have the cause rectiNed immediately at
a qualiNed specialist workshop.*NOTE Reduced battery life due to frequent
short-distance trips
The 12 V battery may not be suPciently
charged when the vehicle is used only for
short-distance trips. This reduces the life of
the battery.
Drive longer distances regularly to
charge the battery.*NOTE Damage to the vehicle due to not
observing the maximum permitted head-
room clearance
If the vehicle height is greater than the maxi- mum permitted headroom clearance, the roof
and other parts of the vehicle may be dam-
aged.
Observe the signposted headroom clear- ance.If the vehicle height is greater than the permitted headroom clearance, do not
enter.Observe the changed vehicle height with add-on roof equipment.\bPlease bear in mind that all the speed values
stated in this Operator\bs Manual are approxi-
mate and are subject to a certain tolerance.
Notes on driving with a roof load, trailer or fully laden vehicle
When driving with a loaded roof luggage rack or trailer as well as with a fully laden or fully occu-
pied vehicle, the vehicle\bs driving and steering
characteristics change.
You should therefore bear the following in mind:
= Do not exceed the permissible roof load and
towing capacity. Also observe the information
in the Technical Data.
= Distribute the roof load and the load inside the
vehicle evenly, placing heavy objects at the
bottom. Also comply with the notes on loading the vehicle (  page 103).
= Drive attentively, and avoid abrupt starts, brak-
ing and steering as well as rapid cornering.
138Driving and parking

Advice on driving on salt-strewn roadsThe braking eMect is limited on salt-strewn road
surfaces.
Therefore, observe the following notes:
= Due to salt build-up on the brake disks and
brake pads, the braking distance can increase
considerably or result in one-sided braking.
= Maintain a much greater safety distance to the
vehicle traveling in front.
Remove salt build-up as follows: = Brake occasionally, paying attention to the
traPc conditions
= Carefully depress the brake pedal at the end
of the journey and when starting the next jour- ney
Notes on hydroplaning
Hydroplaning can take place if a certain depth of
water has built up on the road surface.
Observe the following notes during heavy precipi-
tation or in conditions in which hydroplaning may
occur:
= Reduce speed=Avoid tire ruts
= Avoid sudden steering movements
= Brake carefully\bAlso observe the notes on regularly checking
wheels and tires (  page 299).
Notes on driving through water on the road
Water ingress can damage the engine, electrics
and transmission.
Water can also enter the air intake of the engine and cause engine damage.
Observe the following if you have to drive through
water:
= The water, when calm, may reach no higher
than the lower edge of the vehicle body.
= Drive at a walking pace at most; water can
otherwise enter the vehicle interior or engine
compartment.
= Vehicles traveling in front, or oncoming vehi-
cles, can create waves which may exceed themaximum permissible depth of water.
The braking eMect of the brakes is reduced aser
fording. Brake carefully, paying attention to the
traPc conditions until braking power has been
fully restored.
ECO start/stop function

q ECO start/stop function
\bThe ECO start/stop function is not available
in all drive programs, depending on the
engine. Observe the status display on the instrument display concerning this.
If all vehicle conditions for an automatic engine
stop are met, the engine will be switched oM auto-
matically:
= You brake the vehicle to a standstill in trans-
mission position [ or \\.
= You activate the HOLD function or engage
transmission position ].
\bIf the system detects an intelligent stop inhibi-
tor, e.g. a stop sign, the engine will not stop.
If you activate the HOLD function or engage
the park position ], the engine can be
switched oM in spite of an intelligent stop
inhibitor.Driving and parking139

\bIn transmission position ^, the engine will
not be switched oM automatically even when
the HOLD function is switched on.
The engine will restart automatically in the follow-
ing cases:
= You engage transmission position [ or ^.
= You depress the accelerator pedal.
= The vehicle requires an automatic engine
start.
Status display on the instrument display: = The

ECO display function
The ECO display summarizes your driving charac-
teristics from the start of the journey to its com- pletion and assists you in achieving the most eco-nomical driving style.
You can inOuence consumption by doing the fol-
lowing:
= Driving with particular care.
= Vehicles with automatic transmission: Driving
in drive program .
= Following the gearshis recommendations.
The lettering in the segment will light up brightly,
the outer edge will light up and the segment willNll up when the following driving style is adopted:
= 1 Steady speed
= 2 Gentle deceleration and rolling
= 3 Moderate acceleration
The lettering in the segment will be gray, the outer
edge will be dark and the segment will empty
when the following driving style is adopted:
= 1 Fluctuations in speed
= 2 Heavy braking
= 3 Sporty acceleration
The ECO display will show you when you have
driven economically:
= The three segments will Nll up completely at
the same time
= The edges around all three segments will light
up
The additional range achieved as a result of your driving style in comparison with a driver with a
very sporty driving style will be shown in the cen-ter of display 4. The range displayed does not
indicate a Nxed reduction in consumption.
DYNAMIC SELECT switch
Function of the DYNAMIC SELECT switch
*NOTE Mercedes-AMG vehiclesObserve the notes in the Supplement.
You could otherwise fail to recognize
dangers.\bDepending on the engine and equipment, the vehicle has diMerent drive programs.
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT switch to change
between the following drive programs.
The drive program selected appears on the instru- ment display.
Individual
= Individual settings
C Sport
= Continues to oMer stability but with a sporty
setup
Driving and parking141

=Enables a sporty driver to adopt a more active
driving style
= Suitable only for good road conditions, a dry
surface and a clear stretch of road
A Comfort
= Comfortable and economical driving
= Balance between traction and stability
= Recommended for all road conditions
 Eco
= Available only for vehicles with automatic
transmission
= Particularly economical driving
= Balance between traction and stability
= Recommended for all road conditions\bThe ESP n
settings in the drive programs 
and A are designed for stability. Therefore,
choose one of these drive programs espe- cially when transporting roof loads, in trailer
operation and when the vehicle is fully loaded
or fully occupied.Depending on the drive program, the following systems will change their characteristics:
= Drive
- Engine and transmission management
- Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
= ESP n
= Vehicles with adaptive damping adjustment:
suspension
= Electric power steering
Selecting the drive program
\bDepending on the equipment, the vehicle will
be installed with either a switch or a button.Push DYNAMIC SELECT switch 1 forwards or
backwards.
The drive program selected will appear on the
Instrument Display.142Driving and parking