Traveling uphill

Approach/departure angle

WARNING

If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a risk of an accident.

Always drive on a steep incline in the line of fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the vehicle.

All vehicles (except AMG vehicles and vehicles with AMG bodystyling)

Vehicles with AMG bodystyling

AMG vehicles

• Observe the rules on off-road driving.

• Do not drive at an angle on slopes, inclines or gradients, but instead follow the direct line of fall. The maximum gradient-climbing capability of your vehicle is 100%, which corresponds to an approach/departure angle of 45°. Note that the climbing ability of your vehicle depends on the terrain conditions.

• Before tackling steep downhill gradients, select shift range 1.

• Drive slowly.

• Avoid high engine speeds. Drive at appropriate engine speeds (maximum 3000 rpm).

• When driving down an incline, make use of the engine's braking effect. Observe the engine speed; do not overrev the engine.

• Check the brakes after prolonged off-road driving.

Hill start assist will aid you when pulling away on a hill.

For more information, see "Hill start assist"  .

Do not switch to transmission position N when driving off-road. If you try to brake the vehicle using the service brake, you could lose control of the vehicle. If the gradient is too steep for your vehicle, drive back down in reverse gear.

Maximum gradient-climbing capability

On good road surfaces the maximum gradient-climbing capability of your vehicle is 100%, which corresponds to an approach/ departure angle of 45°. Note that the vehicle's gradient-climbing capability depends on the off-road conditions.

Accelerate carefully and make sure that the wheels do not spin when driving on steep terrain.

If the load on the front axle is reduced when pulling away on a steep uphill slope, the front wheels have a tendency to spin.

4ETS recognizes this and brakes the wheels accordingly. The rear wheel torque is increased, making it easier to drive off.

Hilltops

When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly reduce pressure on the accelerator immediately before reaching the brow of the hill. Use the vehicle's own impetus to drive over the top of the hill.

This style of driving prevents: • the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the brow of a hill
• the vehicle from traveling too quickly down the other side

Driving downhill

• Drive slowly.

• Do not drive at an angle down steep inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive with the front wheels aligned straight.

Otherwise, the vehicle could slip sideways, tip and rollover.

• Before tackling steep downhill gradients, select shift range 1.

• Activate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake gently. When doing so, make sure that the vehicle is facing in the direction of the line of fall.

• Check that the brakes are working normally after a long downhill stretch.

The special off-road ABS setting enables a precise, brief and repeated locking of the front wheels. This causes them to dig into loose earth. Be aware that the front wheels easily skid across the ground surface if completely braked and therefore lose their ability to steer.