Read this section carefully before driving your vehicle off-road. Practice by driving over more gentle off-road terrain first.

Familiarize yourself with the characteristics of your vehicle and the gear shift operation before driving through difficult terrain.

The following driving systems are specially adapted to off-road driving:

• off-road drive program (for vehicles without Off-Road Pro engineering package)
• LOW RANGE off-road gear
• off-road ABS
• off-road 4ETS
• off-road ESP®()
• hill start assist
• differential locks
• DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)

Observe the following notes:

• Stop your vehicle and, if necessary, select the off-road drive program or the LOW RANGE off-road gear before driving off-road.
• Select a vehicle level suitable for the offroad terrain. Make sure there is always sufficient ground clearance to prevent damage to the vehicle.
• Activate the differential locks.
• Check that items of luggage and loads are stowed safely and are well secured.
• Always keep the engine running and in gear when driving on a downhill gradient.
Activate DSR.
• Always keep the doors, tailgate, windows and sliding sunroof closed while driving.
• Adapt your speed to the terrain. The rougher, steeper or more ruts on the terrain, the slower your speed should be.
• Drive slowly and at an even speed through the water. Ensure that a bow wave does not form as you drive.
• Drive with extreme care on unknown offroad routes where visibility is poor. For safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first and survey the off-road route.
• Look out for obstacles such as rocks, holes, tree stumps and furrows.
• Check the depth of water before fording rivers and streams.
• When fording, do not stop and do not switch off the engine.
• On sand, drive quickly to overcome the rolling resistance. Otherwise, the vehicle could dig itself into the sand.
• Do not jump with the vehicle as this will interrupt the vehicle's propulsion.
• Always keep the engine running and in gear when driving on a slope.
• Do not shift the automatic transmission to transmission position N.