A control system for a motor vehicle is provided, having a manual operating device with a plurality of degrees of freedom for selecting and/or activating entries in a menu structure with a plurality of menu levels, and a screen display with a plurality of presentation areas representing the menu structure, where the presentation areas respectively include at least one field for presenting one of the entries. In at least one menu level in one of the presentation areas, at least one first entry or parameter can be selected and/or activated or altered by a first or second adjusting movement which corresponds to an orientation of the at least one presented entry or parameter in an active presentation area on the screen display, wherein the active presentation area is exited by a right-angled third or fourth adjusting movement.