Hill Start Assist

Hill start assist helps the driver when accelerating from a stop on an incline or side of a hill. Hill start assist supports the driver during drive-off situations on upward gradients when the driver releases the vehicle brake by preventing the vehicle from rolling back in the opposite direction. The system engages automatically when the following conditions are met:

• Road inclination of approximately 4 degrees or more is detected.
• The driver applies the vehicle brake and the vehicle is at a complete stop.
• The vehicle transmission information must indicate that the driver intends to drive up the hill.
• The parking brake is not engaged.

When the driver releases the brake pedal in drive gear, hill start assist holds the car stationary for up to 3 seconds giving the driver time to accelerate the vehicle. As the vehicle accelerates hill start assist gradually reduces the brake pressure to ensure that the vehicle is neither rolling back nor driving off until there is sufficient driving torque to accelerate the vehicle forward. Hill start assist functions if the vehicle is facing downhill if the reverse gear is selected.

There is 1 message displayed by the multifunction display that informs the driver of the status of the hill start assist. HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE is displayed and the hill start assist indicator in the IPC is illuminated when it is not available.