2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV Owner’s Manual

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV is a great example of how committed the German carmaker is to innovation, luxury, and speed. This small luxury car raises the bar by combining stunning looks, cutting-edge technology, and a wide range of useful features. The GLA SUV gives off an air of modern grace and refinement, from its unique and aerodynamic exterior lines to its carefully made interior. Under the hood, there are a number of powerful and fuel-efficient engine choices that encourage drivers to take to the road with gusto. The optional 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system gives drivers confidence in handling and traction in a variety of driving conditions. The interior of the GLA SUV is a good mix of luxury and usefulness, with high-quality materials, an ergonomic design, and a variety of easy-to-use technology interfaces that make the car more convenient and help you stay connected. Safety is the most important thing, which is shown by the many modern driver assistance systems that give drivers peace of mind on every trip.

Automatic transmission

Holding the vehicle stationary on uphill gradients

WARNING
If the clutch overheats, the electronic management system is automatically deactivated. This interrupts the power transmission. The vehicle may, for example, roll backward on gradients. There is a risk of an accident.
Never hold the vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by depressing the accelerator.

The clutch may overheat if you hold the vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by depressing the accelerator pedal. If the clutch overheats, a warning tone sounds.
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehicles): the Stop Vehicle displShiftay tomessag’P’ Leave Engine Running e appears in the multifunction display. You will
only be able to continue your journey once the clutch has cooled down and the display message in the multifunction display has disappeared.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the Trans. Oil Overheated Drive on with Care display
a message appears in the multifunction display.
Do not hold the vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by depressing the accelerator pedal. Instead, only ever hold the vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by:

• depressing the brake pedal
• activating the HOLD function
• engaging the electric parking brake

Kickdown
Use kick-down for maximum acceleration.

• Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.
  The automatic transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on the engine speed.
• Ease off the accelerator pedal once the desired speed is reached.
  The automatic transmission shifts back up.
  Mercedes-AMG vehicles: it is only possible to use kick down in the automatic drive program and the temporary manual drive program M. When manual drive program M is permanently activated, kick down is not possible.

Rocking the vehicle free
Shifting back and forth between transmission positions h and k can help to free up the vehicle if it gets stuck in mud or snow. The vehi-cle’s engine management system limits the speed to a maximum of 5 mph (9 km/h) when shifting back and forth. To shift repeatedly between transmission positions h and k, move the DIRECT SELECT lever up and down past the point of resistance.

Drive programs
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)

Drive program C (Comfort)
Drive program C is characterized by the following:

• the vehicle delivers comfortable, economical handling characteristics.
• the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
• the vehicle has improved driving stability, for example on slippery road surfaces.
• optimal fuel consumption resulting from the automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
  The vehicle is driven in the low engine speed range and the wheels are less likely to spin.

Drive program S (Sport)
Drive program S is characterized by the following:

• sporty engine settings.
• the automatic transmission shifts up later.
  The fuel consumption possibly being higher as a result of the later automatic transmission shift points.

Offroad drive program
The Off-road drive program is characterized by the following:

• the vehicle exhibits optimal driving characteristics on easily negotiable off-road terrain.
  Drive program E (Economy)
  Drive program E is characterized by the following:
• comfort-oriented engine settings.
• optimal fuel consumption resulting from the automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
• the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
• the vehicle has improved driving stability, for example on slippery road surfaces.
• the automatic transmission shifts up sooner. This results in the vehicle being driven at lower engine speeds and the wheels being less likely to spin.
• gliding mode is activated automatically when engine-internal conditions are fulfilled and the accelerator is not depressed. At the same time the transmission’s clutch opens and the vehicle rolls freely using its kinetic energy. As a result great distances can be completed without the engine brake and fuel consumption reduced.
  The availability of gliding mode depends on various factors, including the following:
• the engine and transmission temperature Rthe downhill gradient
• the vehicle speed
  performing regular adaptation functions When you depress the brake pedal, gliding mode is deactivated, depending on pedal pressure.
  When you activate cruise control or Distance Pilot DISTRONIC, gliding mode is not available.

Mercedes-AMG vehicles

Drive program I (Individual)
In drive program I the following properties of the drive program can be selected:

• the drive (engine management)
• the transmission management
• Rthe suspension (vehicles with AMG adaptive sport suspension system)
• ESP®
  Information about configuring drive program I with the multimedia system can be found in the Digital Operator’s Manual.
  Drive program C (Comfort)
  Drive program C is characterized by the following:
• the vehicle delivers comfortable, economical handling characteristics.
• the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
• the vehicle has improved driving stability, for example on slippery road surfaces.
• optimal fuel consumption resulting from the automatic transmission shifting up sooner. The vehicle is driven in the low engine speed range and the wheels are less likely to spin.
• gliding mode is available.
• the ECO start/stop function is available.
  Drive program S (Sport)
  Drive program S is characterized by the following:
• the vehicle exhibits sporty driving character- istics.
• the automatic transmission shifts up later.
• gliding mode is not available.
• the ECO start/stop function is not available.

Drive program S+ (Sport Plus)
Drive program S+ is characterized by the following:

• the vehicle exhibits particularly sporty driving characteristics.
• the automatic transmission shifts up later.
• the fuel consumption possibly being higher as a result of the later automatic transmission shift points.
• the suspension exhibits particularly stiff springing and damping settings (vehicles with
  AMG adaptive sport suspension system).
  Rgliding mode is not available.
• the ECO start/stop function is not available.
  Drive program RACE (vehicles with AMG adaptive sport suspension system)
  The RACE drive program is characterized by the following:
• the vehicle exhibits driving characteristics suitable for the racetrack.
• all vehicle systems are set for maximum sportiness.
• the automatic transmission shifts up later.
• the fuel consumption possibly being higher as a result of the later automatic transmission shift points.
• the suspension exhibits particularly hard springing and damping settings.
• gliding mode is not available. the ECO start/stop function is not available.

Tire pressure

Checking the tire pressures
Important safety notes
Observe the notes on tire pressure (page 343).
Information on air pressure for the tires on your vehicle can be found:

• on the vehicle’s Tire and Loading Information placard on the B-pillar
• in the tire pressure table in the fuel filler flap (page 170)
• in the “Tire pressure” section

Checking tire pressures manually
To determine and set the correct tire pres-sure, proceed as follows:

• Remove the valve cap of the tire that is to be checked.
• Press the tire pressure gauge securely onto the valve.
• Read the tire pressure and compare it to the recommended value on the Tire and Loading Information placard or the tire pressure table (Y page 343).
• If the tire pressure is too low, increase the tire pressure to the recommended value.
• If the tire pressure is too high, release air. To do so, press down the metal pin in the valve, using the tip of a pen for example. Then check the tire pressure again using the tire pressure checker.
• Screw the valve cap onto the valve.
• Repeat these steps for the other tires.

Tire pressure loss warning system (Canada only)
General notes
While the vehicle is in motion, the tire pres-sure loss warning system monitors the set tire pressure using the rotational speed of the wheels. This enables the system to detect significant pressure loss in a tire. If the speed of rotation of a wheel changes as a result of a loss of pressure, a corresponding warning message will appear in the multifunction dis-play.
You can recognize the tire pressure loss warning by the Run Flat Indicator Active Press ‘OK’ to Restart message in the multifunction display in the Serv. menu. Information on the message display can be found in the “Restarting the tire pressure loss warning system” section (Y page 347).

Important safety notes
The tire pressure warning system does not warn you of an incorrectly set tire pressure. Observe the notes on the recommended tire pressure (Y page 343).
The tire pressure loss warning does not replace the need to regularly check the tire pressure. An even loss of pressure on several tires at the same time cannot be detected by the tire pressure loss warning system.
The tire pressure monitor is not able to warn you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the tire is penetrated by a foreign object. In the event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring the vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Avoid abrupt steering movements.
The function of the tire pressure loss warning system is limited or delayed if:

• snow chains are mounted on your vehicle’s tires.
• road conditions are wintry.
• you are driving on sand or gravel.
• you adopt a very sporty driving style (cor- nering at high speeds or driving with high rates of acceleration).
• you are driving with a heavy load (in the vehicle or on the roof).

Restarting the tire pressure loss warning system
Restart the tire pressure loss warning system if you have:
Changed the tire pressure

• changed the wheels or tires
• mounted new wheels or tires

Before restarting, make sure that the tire pressures are set properly on all four tires for the respective operating conditions.
The recommended tire pressure can be found on the Tire and Loading Information placard on the B-pillar. Additionally, a tire pressure table is attached to the fuel filler flap. The tire pressure loss warning system can only give reliable warnings if you have set the correct tire pressure. If an incorrect tire pressure is set, these incorrect values will be monitored.

FAQ