How to set up your mirrors
Interior rearview (centre) mirror
The rearview mirror is an exact representation of the distance of objects behind you, as the glass is flat.
- Sit in your normal driving position – it’s important that you adjust the mirrors in the driving position after you have adjusted the seats correctly or you will need to set the mirror again.
- Using your left hand like a claw (or both hands if you prefer), grip the plastic surrounds of the mirror and move it – be careful not to touch the glass as this will smear it and will produce glare if driving at night.
- Adjust it so that you can see the entire rear window and as little of the interior as possible. Essentially, ‘Frame’ the rear window in the mirror – The black frame around the mirror should line up with black frame around the rear window.
Door mirrors
The side mirrors give you a wider field of vision and objects behind you appear smaller and further away, as the glas is convex.
A good position for the door mirrors (from the driving seat) is when you can just see the tip of the front door handle in the front-bottom corner of the door mirror, and the horizon should be halfway up the mirror (on a flat road).
- Sit in your normal driving position – it’s important that you adjust the mirrors in the driving position after you have adjusted the seats correctly or you will need to set the mirrors again.
- Using the electric function on the driver’s door, adjust the door mirrors (ignition must be switched on).
- Adjust them so that the horizon (the point at which the road disappears into the distance) is in the centre of the mirror.
- Ensure there is only a very small portion of the side of your car in the left side of the mirror (1 or 2 finger widths). This will allow you to see more of the road behind you.
- Test day tip: Set the left mirror slightly lower than the right mirror. This will allow you to have a better view of the kerb whilst doing manoeuvres such as the reverse round a corner. Ensure you do not set the mirror too low and that you can still see clearly the end of the road.
