Volkswagen Golf Owners Manual: Downhill driving assistant

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings 

The downhill driving assistant in vehicles with an automatic gearbox helps when braking and travelling downhill  . The downhill driving assistant uses the braking power of the engine.

The automatic gearbox selects the best gear for the circumstances by taking the steepness of the hill and the current speed into consideration. To do this the selector lever must be in position D or S. The downhill driving assistant is not active in Tiptronic mode.

As the downhill driving assistant can only shift down as far as the 3rd gear, it may be necessary to activate the Tiptronic mode when driving down particularly steep inclines. When in Tiptronic mode, select the 2nd or 1st gear manually in order to make use of the braking effect of the engine and to relieve the brakes.

Activating the downhill driving assistant automatically:

• If the incline is greater than approximately 6%.

• AND: if the selector lever is in position D or S.

• In addition, if the CCS or ACC is switched off: if the vehicle speed is less than approximately 80 km/h (50 mph) or the brake pedal is depressed.

• In addition if the CCS or ACC is active: if the stored speed is exceeded.

Deactivating the downhill driving assistant automatically:

• If the incline becomes less steep.

• OR: if the gearbox shifts up a gear because the engine speed is higher than approximately 4,500 rpm.

• Or in addition if the CCS or ACC is active: if the stored speed can be maintained.

WARNING

• The downhill driving assistant is only a support function and may not be able to brake the vehicle sufficiently in all situations when driving downhill.

• The vehicle may become faster despite the downhill driving assistant.