
Safe driving7
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Safety FirstSafe drivingBrief introductionDear SEAT Driver
Safety first!This chapter contains important information, tips, suggestions and 
warnings that you should read and follow in the interest of your own 
safety and the safety of your passengers.
WARNING
•
This manual contains important info rmation concerning the driver's 
and passengers' handling of the vehicle. The other booklets in the vehicle 
wallet also contain further information  that you should be aware of for your 
own safety and for the safety of your passengers.
•
Ensure that the onboard documentatio n is kept in the vehicle at all 
times. This is especially important when lending or selling the vehicle to 
another person.
Safety equipment
The safety equipment is a part of the occupant protection 
system and can reduce the risk of injury during an accident.Never “gamble” with your safety and the safety of your passengers. In the 
event of an accident, the safety equipment could reduce the risk of injury. The 
following list includes most of the safety equipment in your SEAT:•
three-point seat belts,
•
belt tension limiter for the front and rear side seats,
•
belt tension devices for the front seats,
•
front airbags,
•
side airbags in the front seat backrests,
•
curtain airbags,
•
“ISOFIX” anchor points  for child seats in the rear side seats with the 
“ISOFIX” system,
•
height-adjustable head restraints,
•
rear-centre head restraints with in-use position and non-use position,
•
adjustable steering column.
The safety equipment mentioned above works together to provide you and 
your passengers with the best possible protection in accident situations. But 
this safety equipment cannot help you or your passengers if you or your 
passengers assume an incorrect sitting position or do not properly adjust or 
use this equipment.
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Safe driving
8Therefore, information is provided about why this equipment is so important, 
how it protects you, what you have to observe when using it and how you and 
your passengers can achieve the greatest possible benefit from the safety 
equipment fitted. This manual includes  important warnings that you and your 
passengers should observe in order to reduce the risk of injury.
Safety is everyone's business!Before every trip
The driver bears the responsibility for his passengers and the 
operational worthiness of the vehicle.For your own safety and the safety of your passengers, always note 
the following points before every trip:
– Ensure that the vehicle's lights and turn signals operate flaw- lessly.
– Check tyre pressure.
– Ensure that all windows provide a clear and good view of the  surroundings.
– Secure all baggage  ⇒page 15.
– Make sure that no objects can interfere with the pedals.
– Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors properly for your  size.
– Ensure that the passenger in the central rear seat always has the  head restraint in the correct position for use. – Instruct passengers to adjust the head restraints according to 
their height.
– Protect children with appropriate child seats and properly  applied seat belts  ⇒page 42.
– Assume the correct sitting position. Instruct your passengers  also to assume a proper sitting position.  ⇒page 9.
– Fasten your safety belt securely. Instruct your passengers also to  fasten their seat belts properly  ⇒page 16.
What affects driving safety?
Driving safety is largely determined by your driving style and 
the personal behaviour of all occupants.As driver, you are responsible for yourself and your passengers. 
When your concentration or driving  safety is affected, you endanger 
yourself as well as others on the road  ⇒, for this reason:
– Do not allow yourself to be distracted from the traffic around you,  e.g. by passengers or telephone conversations.
– Never drive when your driving ability is impaired (e.g. by medica- tion, alcohol, drugs).
– Observe traffic laws and speed limits.
– Always reduce your speed as appropriate for road, traffic and  weather conditions.
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Seat belts
16Seat belts IntroductionBefore driving: remember your seat belt!
Properly worn seat belts can save lives!In this chapter you will learn why seat belts are so important, how 
they work and how to properly fasten, adjust and wear them.
– Read and observe all the information as well as the warnings in 
this chapter.
WARNING
•
If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or  not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases.
•
Properly worn seat belts can reduce severe injuries in the event of 
sudden braking manoeuvres or accidents. Therefore, you and your passen-
gers should always wear the seat belts properly as long as the vehicle is in 
motion.
•
Pregnant women or persons with physical disabilities must also use 
seat belts. Like all other occupants,  these persons can also sustain severe 
injuries if they are not wearing their seat belts properly.
Number of seatsYour vehicle has  five passenger places, two individual front seats and three 
places on the rear seat. Each seat is equipped with a three-point seat belt.
WARNING
•
Never transport more people than there are seats available in the 
vehicle.
•
Every occupant in the vehicle must  properly fasten and wear the seat 
belt belonging to his or her seat. Children must be protected with an appro-
priate child restraint system.
Seat belt warning lamp* 
The warning lamp acts as a reminder to the driver to fasten 
the seat belt.Before starting the vehicle:
– Fasten your safety belt securely.
– Instruct your passengers to fasten their seat belts properly before  driving off.
– Protect children by using child seats of the correct height for the  age of the child.The warning lamp 
 in the combi-instrument lights up if the driver seat belt 
is not fastened when the ignition is switched on. In addition, an acoustic 
signal can also be heard for a couple of seconds.
The warning lamp*  does not go out until the driver seat belt is fastened 
while the ignition is switched on.
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Seat belts23
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Seat belt release
The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has 
come to a standstill.– Press the red button on the belt buckle  ⇒fig. 15. The latch plate 
is released and springs out ⇒ .
– Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim  is not damaged.
WARNING
Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. If you do, you 
increase the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.
Adjusting the seat belt height
Seat belt height adjusters can be used to adjust the position 
of the seat belt at the shoulder.The seat belt adjuster for the front seats can be used to adjust the 
proper belt position at the shoulder.
– Press the upper part of the shoulder belt guide and hold it in this position  ⇒fig. 16 .
– Move the shoulder belt guide up or down until you have adjusted  the seat belt to the correct position.
– After adjusting, pull the shoulder belt sharply to check that the  catch on the shoulder belt guide is engaged securely.
Fig. 15  Removing latch 
plate from buckle
Fig. 16  Location of the 
belt height adjuster
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Airbag system
32Safety notes on front airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the 
risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
•
It is important for the driver and  front passenger to maintain a distance 
of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel. If the minimum 
distance is not observed then the airbags do not correctly protect the 
vehicle occupants; risk of fatal injuries! In addition, the front seats and 
head restraints must always be positioned correctly for the height of the 
occupant.
•
If you are not wearing a seat belt or if you lean forward or to the side or 
assume an incorrect sitting position, the risk of injury is increased 
substantially. This increased risk of injury will be further increased if you 
are struck by an inflating airbag.
•
Never let a child travel on the front seat without an appropriate restraint 
system. If the airbag is triggered in an accident, children can sustain 
serious or fatal injuries from the airbag as it inflates  ⇒page 42, “Child 
safety”.
•
Occupants sitting in the front of the vehicle must never carry any 
objects or pets in the deployment s pace between them and the airbags, or 
allow children or other passenger s to travel in this position.
•
The airbags provide protection for one  accident only, if they have been 
deployed they must be replaced.
•
It is also important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or 
telephone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.
•
Do not attempt to modify components  of the airbag system in any 
way.
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Child safety
42Child safetyBrief introductionIntroduction
Statistics show that children are generally safer on the rear 
seat than on the front passenger seat.We recommend that children under 12 years of age be transported on the rear 
seats. Children travelling on the rear seat must use a child restraint system or 
the seat belts provided, depending on their age, height and weight. For 
safety reasons, the child restraint system should be installed in the centre of 
the rear seat or behind the front passenger's seat.
The physical principles involved and the forces acting in a collision apply to 
children just as much as adults  ⇒page 17, “Why wear seat belts?”. But 
unlike adults, children do not have fully developed muscle and bone struc-
tures. This means that children are subject to a greater risk of injury.
To reduce this risk, children must always use special child restraint systems 
when travelling in the vehicle.
We recommend the use of child safety products from the SEAT Genuine Acces-
sories Program including systems for all ages made by “Peke”
1).
These systems have been especially designed and approved, complying with 
the ECE-R44. regulation.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats. Always read and observe 
⇒ page 43, “Safety notes on using child seats”. We recommend that you include the manu
facturer's directions for child seat 
use in the vehicle wallet and always keep them in the vehicle.
1)Not for all countries
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Child safety43
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Safety notes on using child seats
Proper use of child seats substantially reduces the risk of 
injury in an accident!As the driver, you are responsible for any children you transport in 
your vehicle.
– Protect your children by properly using appropriate child seats 
⇒page 44.
– Always ensure that the belt webbing is properly positioned  according to the instructions prov ided by the manufacturer of the 
child seat.
– When travelling, do not allow children to distract you from traffic.
– Take breaks regularly during long trips. Take a break at least  every two hours.
WARNING
•
Never install a child seat facing backwards (or rear-facing) on the front 
passenger seat unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This 
could lead to a risk of pote ntially fatal injuries to the child! However, if it is 
necessary, in exceptional cases, to transport a child in the front passenger 
seat, the front passenger airbag must always be disabled  ⇒page 40, 
“Deactivating airbags*”. If the passe nger seat has a height adjustment 
option, move it to the highest position.
•
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the 
airbag off, an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.
•
All passengers, especially children, must assume the proper sitting 
position and be properly belted in while travelling.
•
Never hold children or babies on your lap, this can result in potentially 
fatal injuries to the child!
•
Never allow a child to be transported in a vehicle without being properly 
secured, or to stand up or kneel on a  seat while travelling. In an accident, 
the child could be flung through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal injuries 
to themselves and other occupants.
•
If children assume an improper sitting position when the car is moving, 
they expose themselves to greater risk of injury during a sudden braking 
manoeuvre or in an accident. This is particularly the case if the child is trav-
elling on the front passenger seat and the airbag system is triggered in an 
accident; this could have consequences including serious injury or death.
•
A suitable child seat can protect your child!
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Never leave a child unsupervised in a child seat or alone in the vehicle.
•
Depending on weather conditions, it may become extremely hot or cold 
inside the vehicle. This can be fatal.
•
Children who are less than 1.5 metres  tall must not wear a normal seat 
belt without a child restraint system, as this could cause injuries to the 
abdominal and neck areas during a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an 
accident.
•
Do not allow the belt webbing to become twisted or jammed, or to rub 
on any sharp edges.
•
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause injuries even in a minor collision 
or sudden braking manoeuvres.
•
The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web is 
properly positioned  ⇒page 20, “Seat belts”.
•
Only one child may occupy a child seat  ⇒page 44, “Child seats”.WARNING (continued)
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Seats and stowage
106Removing or adjust ing head restraints
The head restraints can be adjusted by moving them up and 
down.Adjusting height (front seats)
– Press the button on the side and pull upwards to the desired  position.
– To lower the head restraint, press the button and push head  restraint downwards.
– Make sure that it engages securely into position.
Adjust height (rear outer seats)
– Press the button on the side and pull upwards or downwards to  the desired position. – Make sure that the head restrain
t engages securely in one of its 
positions.
Adjusting height (rear central seat)
– Press the button on the side and pull upwards to the desired  position.
– To lower the head restraint, press the button and push head  restraint downwards.
– Make sure that the head restrain t engages securely in one of its 
positions  ⇒page 13.
Angle adjustment (front seats)
– Press the head restraint forward or back to the required position.
Removing the head restraint
– Push the head restraint up as far as it will go.
– Press the button  ⇒fig. 74  (arrow).
– Pull head restraint out of fitting without releasing the button.
Fitting the head restraint
– Insert the head restraint into the guides on the rear backrest.
– Push head restraint down.
– Adjust the head rest to suit body size  ⇒page 12.
WARNING
•
Never drive if the head restraints have been removed. Risk of injury.
Fig. 74  Adjusting and 
removing the head 
restraints
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