2023 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA Owners Manual

Driving
Notes on Mercedes-AMG vehicles
Observe the notes on the following additional top-ics in the Supplement, as you may otherwise fail
to recognize dangers:
= Emotion Start
= AMG exhaust system
= RACE START
= DRIFT MODE
= AMG adaptive sport suspension system
= AMG steering-wheel buttons
Switching on the power supply or the vehicle
&WARNING Risk of accident and injury due
to children les unattended in the vehicle
If you leave children unattended in the vehicle,
they could, in particular:
= open doors, thereby endangering other
persons or road users.
= get out and be struck by oncoming traPc.
= operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example.
In addition, the children could also set the vehicle in motion by, for example:
= releasing the parking brake.
= changing the gearbox position.
= starting the vehicle.Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.When leaving the vehicle, always take the key with you and lock the vehicle.Keep the key out of reach of children.
Requirements
= The key is in the vehicle and is recognized.
= Vehicles with automatic transmission: The
brake pedal is not depressed.
To switch on the power supply: press button
1 once.
You can, for example, switch on the windshield
wipers.
The power supply will be switched oM again if the
following conditions are met:
= You open the driver\bs door.
= You press button 1 twice more.
Driving and parking143

To switch on the vehicle: press button 1
twice.
Indicator and warning lamps will light up on
the instrument display.
The vehicle will be switched oM again if one of the
following conditions is met:
= Vehicles with automatic transmission: You do
not start the vehicle within 15 minutes and the transmission is in position ] or the electric
parking brake is applied.
= You press button 1 once.
Starting the vehicle

qStarting the vehicle with the start/stop button
&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.&WARNING Risk of Nre due to Oammable
materials in the engine compartment or
on the exhaust system
Flammable materials may ignite.
Therefore, regularly check that there are
no Oammable foreign materials in the
engine compartment or on the exhaust
system.
Requirements
= The key is in the vehicle and is recognized.
Shis the transmission to position ] or \\.Depress the brake pedal and press button 1
once.Keep the brake pedal depressed until the vehi-
cle starts.If the vehicle does not start: switch oM non-
essential consumer equipment and press but-
ton 1 once.If the vehicle still does not start and the Place
the Key in the Marked Space See Operator's
Manual display message appears on the
instrument display: start the vehicle with the
key in the marked space (emergency opera-
tion mode) (  page 144).\bYou can switch oM the vehicle while driving. To
do this, press and hold button 1 for approx.
three seconds or press button 1 three times
within three seconds. Observe the safety
notes concerning this under "Driving tips"
(  page 147).
Observe any information regarding display mes-
sages that may be shown on the instrument dis-
play.

q Starting the vehicle with the key in the marked
space (emergency operation mode)
If the vehicle does not start and the Place the
Key in the Marked Space See Operator's Manual
message appears on the instrument display, you can start the vehicle in emergency mode.
144Driving and parking

Marked space (example with cup holder without
cover)
Open the cover of marked space 2 if neces-
sary.Make sure that marked space 2 is empty.Remove key 1 from the key ring.Place key 1 on symbol 3 in marked space
2 .
The vehicle will start aser a short time.
If you remove key 1 from marked space 2,
the vehicle can still be driven. For further
engine starts, however, key 1 must be loca-
ted on symbol 3 in marked space 2 during
the entire journey.Have key 1 checked at a qualiNed specialist
workshop.
If the vehicle does not start:
Place key 1 in marked space 2 and leave it
there.Depress the brake pedal and start the vehicle using the start/stop button.Keep the brake pedal depressed until the vehi-
cle has started.\bYou can switch on the power supply or the
vehicle with the start/stop button.
Observe any information regarding display mes-
sages that may be shown on the instrument dis-
play.
Starting the vehicle via Remote Online Services

q Cooling or heating the vehicle interior before
starting the journey
Ensure the following before starting the engine:
= The legal stipulations in the area where your
vehicle is parked allow engine starting via
smartphone.
= It is safe to start and run the engine where
your vehicle is parked.
= The fuel tank is suPciently full.
= The starter battery is suPciently charged.

q Charging the starter battery before starting the
journey
You can receive a message on your smartphone
when the state of charge of the starter battery is low. You can then start the vehicle with the smart-
phone to charge the battery. The vehicle is auto- matically switched oM aser ten minutes.
Ensure the following before starting the engine:
= The legal stipulations in the area where your
vehicle is parked allow engine starting via
smartphone.
Driving and parking145

=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.
= Increase the engine speed only gradually and
accelerate the vehicle to full speed aser
1000 miles (1500 km).
This also applies when the engine or parts of the drivetrain have been replaced.
146Driving and parking

Please also observe the following breaking-innotes:
= 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.Driving and parking147

&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.148Driving and parking

*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 108).
= Drive attentively, and avoid abrupt starts, brak-
ing and steering as well as rapid cornering.
Driving and parking149

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 314).
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.
Notes on oM-road driving
&WARNING Risk of accident if you do not
keep to line of fall on inclines
If you drive at an angle or turn on an incline,
the vehicle could slip sideways, tip and roll-
over.
Always drive on inclines in the line of fall
(straight up or down) and do not turn.&WARNING Risk of Nre caused by Oamma-
ble material on hot exhaust system com-
ponents
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system.
When driving on an unpaved road or oM-
road, check the vehicle underside regu-
larly.150Driving and parking