A method for operating a motor vehicle which has a drive and an exhaust system with at least one controllable heating device to be placed in contact with exhaust gas, includes at least the following steps: (a) detecting at least one operating parameter of the exhaust system, (b) determining at least one influential variable of the heating device, (c) comparing the at least one influential variable with a target parameter of the exhaust system, and (d) activating the heating device in such a way that the operating parameter reaches the target parameter. A motor vehicle having a drive and an exhaust system is also provided.