Starting the car

You start the car by pressing the brake pedal and turning the start knob clockwise. Starting the car also requires a present and correctly used key.

Location of the start knob
Turn the start knob clockwise to start your car.
Before you start driving, make sure that:
  • All doors are closed.
  • All occupants are properly seated and wearing their seatbelts correctly.
  • The driver seat, the steering wheel position and the mirrors are adjusted to your driving position.
  • No charging cables are connected.
  • The driver area and the pedals are not obstructed.

 Tip

The car can alert you to certain conditions you should address before driving. If something is preventing you from starting the car, have a look in the driver display for guidance.
Make sure you have a key with you.
Press and hold the brake pedal down.

Turn the start knob all the way round clockwise and release it.

The engine starts and the start knob returns to its original position automatically.

 Note

If you want to turn the ignition on without starting the engine, turn the start knob clockwise without pressing the brake pedal. This lets you operate the windows or adjust the climate settings, for example. Keep in mind that having the ignition on drains the battery.

Select gear D or R using the gear selector.
The selected gear is indicated in the driver display. The ready symbol also appears, emphasising the transition from parked to a driving gear.

 Note

The ready symbol disappears when the car's speed exceeds walking pace.

 Warning

Don't leave the car running in an enclosed space. Even when the engine is turned off, it starts automatically when the battery level gets low. The fumes from a running engine can cause serious harm to people or animals.

 Tip

In normal circumstances, the car starts using the motor and the engine stays turned off. However, there are situations where the engine starts, such as at low temperatures or if the traction battery needs to be charged.

If the engine doesn't start after three attempts, try again after a few minutes. Waiting a while before trying again allows the 12V battery to recover.

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