An FMCW radar method is presented in which a radar system of a motor vehicle emits and receives radar waves, and in which a distance between an object and the motor vehicle is determined from a frequency shift between transmitted and received radar waves, and in which a speed of an object is determined from phase positions of received radar waves. The method is defined by the fact that in first time periods (T_A, T_B) it is carried out for objects in at least a first partial area (A, B) of the surroundings of the motor vehicle, and in second time period (T_C, T_D, T_E, T_F, T_G) distances, but not speeds, are determined for objects in at least a second partial area (C, D, E, F, G) of the surroundings.