Before I bought my Cross from a Car Supermarket, I availed myself of the local Dealer and tried a number of their Demonstrators.
I remember being sat in the car (it was a keyless version) and was told by the salesman that I just had to put the car in gear and drive through the electric handbrake, there was no need to switch it off. Which it did.


Is this a result of a menu setting, as I've never been able to replicate this on mine: have to press brake pedal and handbrake switch at the same time to switch it off and then foot on clutch and gas, which is a fiddle.


In an old school car, you release the handbrake as you press the accelerator and clutch, simples!

The car will just pull away and release the handbrake as you drive away. Set the brakes option to auto in the settings on the info screen. When you pull up and stop the engine it will engage . There is no need to touch the actual handbrake switch at all.

twobigdogs said:

The car will just pull away and release the handbrake as you drive away. Set the brakes option to auto in the settings on the info screen. When you pull up and stop the engine it will engage . There is no need to touch the actual handbrake switch at all.

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'Brakes option to Auto'- check and thanks!


Most days I find something new to play with: I pressed the 'Apps' button the other day and got on to the Green Driving Screen( sorry it probably has a proper name) and amused myself with that for the journey!

i think ours must be set to auto as it will indeed release the brake itself. However, this does not work on our gravel drive, only on a hard tarmac surface. I 'm sure there's a simple explanation for this. At lease the function and setting menus are easier to find than on the Panda. My acid test though will be when it comes to setting the clock for summer/winter time... that is something i never managed 'un-aided' in the Panda!

Clock auto updates for winter/summertime

Well would you believe it! This little FIAT is out-tech'ing every other car I've driven?

4x4Panda said:

Well would you believe it! This little FIAT is out-tech'ing every other car I've driven?

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Hmm, could not find the Menu that sets the EPB. Could someone very kindly say where it is located please? Tried the menus in the centre dial that are controlled by the steering wheel buttons. There was display/safety and one other but could not find it in there.
Sorry to be such a luddite, wonder if the Cross has the function ....!

Keep ignition on and press the setting button on the radio then use the touchscreen up and down arrows to get to brake settings

twobigdogs said:

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Spent 10 mins looking for the Menu as advised in Radio, no luck then noticed the '2 cogs' symbol looked familiar.. and later driving along realised it was top left button on the infotainment unit. Pressed that and a whole load of other settings available. Brake now done. Thanks


Seems odd you have 1. the settings in the centre binnacle, 2. the uconnect ones in 'Apps' and also a further set under the 2 cogs symbol, also in the infotainment unit. Why split them in 3 different places?

Yeah it does seem a bit of a game.You would think it would be all on the centre touch screen? Fiat quirkiness I think[emoji2]