
Contents3
ContentsManual structure
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Content
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Safety First
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safe driving
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Proper sitting position for occupants . . . . . . . . . 
Pedal area  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Stowing luggage  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seat belts
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Belt tension devices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Airbag system
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Front airbags  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Side airbags* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Curtain airbags  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Deactivating airbags*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Child safety
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Securing child seats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Operating instructions
 . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cockpit
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Overview  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Instruments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Digital display in the instrument panel  . . . . . . . 
Instrument panel menus* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Steering wheel controls*
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
General information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Audio system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Radio navigation system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Unlocking and locking
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Radio frequency remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Anti-theft alarm system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Sliding/tilting roof* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Lights and visibility
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Interior lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windscreen wipers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Mirrors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seats and stowage
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
The importance of correct seat adjustment . . . . 
Head restraints  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Rear seat bench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Stowage compartments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Ashtrays*, cigarette lighter* and electrical 
sockets* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
First-aid kit, warning triangle, fire extinguisher  
Luggage compartment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning
 . . 
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Climatic*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
2C-Climatronic*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
General notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Driving
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Starting and stopping the engine  . . . . . . . . . . . 
Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Automatic gearbox* / DSG automatic gearbox*  
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Acoustic parking aid system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cruise control system (CCS)*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Practical tips
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Intelligent technology
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brakes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Anti-lock brake system and traction control M-ABS 
(ABS and TCS)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Electronic stabilisation programme (ESP)*  . . . . 
Driving and the environment
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Running-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Exhaust gasses purification system . . . . . . . . . . 
Economical and ecological driving  . . . . . . . . . . 
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
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135 144
147
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190
190
191
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194
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Cockpit
82Differential lock fault (EDL)*
EDL operates along with the ABS in vehicles equipped with an 
Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP)*A malfunction in the EDL is indicated by the ABS warning lamp 
. Please 
take the vehicle to a qualified workshop as soon as possible. For further infor-
mation on the EDL  ⇒page 186, “Electronic differential lock (EDL)*”.
Traction control system (TCS)*
The traction control system prevents the driven wheels from 
spinning when the vehicle is acceleratingThe warning lamp lights up when the ignition is switched on and should turn 
out after about 2 seconds.
When the TCS is operating while drivi ng, the warning lamp flashes. If the 
system is deactivated or if there is any fault in the same, the warning lamp will 
remain lit.
It will also come on if a fault should occur in the ABS because the TCS oper-
ates in conjunction with the ABS. For further information, see  ⇒page 183, 
“Brakes”.
If the TCS button is activated, the TC S function deactivates and the warning 
lamp remains lit.
By pressing again, TCS function is reactivated and the warning lamp switched 
off.
Operating the foot brake 
The footbrake must be depressed when this warning lamp lights up. This is 
necessary when the automatic gearbox*  selector lever is moved out of the 
positions  P or  N.Electronic immobiliser* “Safe”
This warning lamp flashes if an unauthorised key is used.Inside the key there is a chip that deac tivates the electronic immobiliser auto-
matically when the key is inserted into the ignition. The immobiliser will be 
activated again automatically as soon as you pull the key out of the ignition 
lock.
The instrument panel displays the following message
17):  SAFE . The vehicle 
cannot be used in that case  ⇒page 166.
The engine can, however, be started if the appropriate coded SEAT genuine 
key is used.
Note
A perfect operation of the vehicle is ensured if genuine SEAT keys are used.17)Depending on the version of the model.
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Driving173
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
•
If you must stop on a hill, always  hold the vehicle using the footbrake 
to avoid rolling back.
•
The footbrake must not be held fo r a long period of time, not even 
lightly; continuous braking will cause overheating of the brakes and a 
reduction or even a loss of braking power and a significant increase in 
braking distances.
•
Never allow the vehicle to coast down a gradient with the selector lever 
in positions N or D, even when the engine is not running. For descents, the 
use of the Tiptronic programme is recommended to keep the speed 
reduced.Caution
•
Never use the automatic gearbox to hold the vehicle stationary on a hill, 
even for short periods, as this may overheat the gearbox and cause damage. 
Apply the handbrake or depress the foot brake to hold the vehicle in position.
•
If the vehicle is allowed to roll with the engine stopped but the selector in 
position N then the gearbox may be damaged because it will not be 
lubricated.
Using the Tiptronic gear system
The Tiptronic system allows the driver to manually select 
gears
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 145  Changing gear 
with TiptronicFig. 146  Steering wheel 
with levers for automatic 
gearbox
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Driving175
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up firmly ⇒ page 174, fig. 147.
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the lever up slightly and press the release knob in the direc- tion of the arrow ⇒ page 174, fig. 147 and guide the handbrake 
lever down fully  ⇒.Always apply the handbrake firmly . This prevents you driving with the hand-
brake applied  ⇒.
The handbrake warning lamp 
 lights up when the handbrake is applied 
and the ignition switched on. The warning turns off when the handbrake is 
released.
If you drive faster than 6 km/h with the handbrake on, the following 
message* will appear on the instrument panel display:  HANDBRAKE ON. Also, 
an audible warning is given.
WARNING
•
Never use the handbrake to stop the vehicle when it is in motion. The 
braking distance is considerably longer, because braking is only applied to 
the rear wheels. Risk of accident!
•
If it is only partially released, this will cause rear brakes overheating, 
which can impair the function of the brake system and could lead to an acci-
dent. This also causes premature wear on the rear brake pads.Caution
Always apply the handbrake before you leave the vehicle. The first gear 
should also be selected.
Parking
The handbrake should always be firmly applied when the 
vehicle is parked.Always note the following points when parking the vehicle:
– Use the foot brake to stop the vehicle.
–Apply the handbrake.
– The first gear should also be selected.
– Switch the engine off and remove the key from the ignition lock.  Turn the steering wheel slightly  to engage the steering lock.
– Always take you car keys with you when you leave the vehicle  ⇒ .Additional notes on parking the vehicle on gradients:
Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle rolls against the kerb if it started 
to roll.•
If the vehicle is parked facing downhill , turn the front wheels so that they 
point  towards the kerb.
•
If the vehicle is parked facing  uphill, turn the front wheels so that they 
point  away from the kerb .
•
Secure the vehicle as normal by applying the handbrake firmly and 
engaging first gear.
WARNING
•
Take measures to reduce the risk of injury when you leave your vehicle 
unattended.
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Intelligent technology183
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Practical tipsIntelligent technologyBrakesBrake servoThe brake servo amplifies the pressure you apply to the brake pedal. It works 
only when the engine is running .
If the brake servo is not functioning due to a malfunction, or if the vehicle has 
to be towed, you will have to press the brake pedal considerably harder to 
make up for the lack of servo assistance.
WARNING
The braking distance can also be affected by external factors.•
Never let the vehicle coast with the engine switched off. Failure to do so 
could result in an accident. The braking distance is increased considerably 
as the brake servo does not function.
•
If the brake servo is not working, for example when the vehicle is being 
towed, you will have to press the brake pedal considerably harder than 
normal.
Brake assist system (BAS)*
The Brake Assist System (BAS) function is only included in 
vehicles with ESP.In an emergency, most drivers brake in time, but not with maximum force. 
This results in unnecessarily long braking distances.
The brake assist system intervenes when you press the brake pedal very 
quickly because the brake assist system registers an emergency situation. It 
then very quickly builds up the full brake pressure so that the ABS can be acti-
vated more quickly and efficiently, thus reducing the braking distance.
Do not reduce the pressure on the br ake pedal. The brake assist system 
switches off automatically as soon as you release the brake.
Emergency braking function
When the vehicle detects sudden braking, the hazard warning lights auto-
matically come on to warn vehicles behind. The hazard warning lights go off 
when the vehicle accelerates or the hazard warning light switch is pressed.
WARNING
•
The risk of accident is higher if yo u drive too fast, if you do not keep 
your distance to the vehicle in front, and when the road surface is slippery 
or wet. The increased accident risk cannot be reduced by the brake assist 
system.
•
The brake assist system cannot defy the laws of physics. Slippery and 
wet roads are dangerous even with the brake assist system! Therefore, it is 
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Intelligent technology
184essential that you adjust your speed to  suit the road and traffic conditions. 
Do not let the extra safety features tempt you into taking any risks when 
driving.Anti-lock brake system and traction control 
M-ABS (ABS and TCS)Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
The anti-lock brake system prevents the wheels locking 
during braking.The anti-lock brake system (ABS) is an important part of the vehicle's active 
safety system.
How the ABS works
If one of the wheels is turns too slowly in relation to the road speed, and is 
close to locking, the system will reduce the braking pressure for this wheel. 
The driver is made aware of this control process by a  pulsating of the brake 
pedal  and audible noise. This is a deliberate warning to the driver that one or 
more of the wheels is tending to lock  and the ABS control function has inter-
vened. In this situation it is important to keep the brake pedal fully depressed 
so the ABS can regulate the brake application. Do not “pump”.
If you brake hard on a slippery road surface, the best possible control is 
retained as the wheels do not lock.
However, ABS will not necessarily guarantee shorter braking distances in  all 
conditions. The braking distance could even be longer if you brake on gravel 
or on fresh snow covering a slippery surface.
WARNING
•
The anti-lock brake system cannot defy the laws of physics. Slippery 
and wet roads are dangerous even with ABS! If you notice that the ABS is 
working (to counteract locked wheels under braking), you should reduce 
speed immediately to suit the road and  traffic conditions. Do not let the 
extra safety features tempt you into taking any risks when driving.
•
The effectiveness of ABS is also determined by the tyres fitted 
⇒ page 230.
•
If the running gear or brakes are mo dified, the effectiveness of the ABS 
could be severely limited.
Traction control system (TCS)*
The traction control system prevents the drive wheels from 
spinning when the car is accelerating.Description and operation of the traction  control system during acceleration 
(TCS)
TCS reduces engine power to help prevent the drive wheels of front-wheel 
drive vehicles losing traction during acceleration. The system works in the 
entire speed range in conjunction with ABS. If a malfunction should occur in 
the ABS, the TCS will also be out of action.
TCS helps the vehicle to start moving, accelerate and climb a gradient in slip-
pery conditions where this may otherwise be difficult or even impossible.
The TCS is switched on automatically when the engine is started. If necessary, 
it may be turned on or off pushing  the button on the centre console.
When the TCS is off, the warning lamp is lit. The TCS should normally be left 
switched on at all times. Only in exceptional circumstances, when slipping of 
the wheels is required, should it be disconnected for example
WARNING (continued)
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Intelligent technology185
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
•
With compact temporary spare wheel.
•
When using the snow chains.
•
When driving in deep snow or on loose surfaces
•
When the vehicle is bogged-down, to free it by “rocking.”
The TCS should be switched on again afterwards as soon as possible.
WARNING
•
It must be remembered that TCS cann ot defy the laws of physics. This 
should be kept in mind, particular ly on slippery and wet roads and when 
towing a trailer.
•
Always adapt your driving style to  suit the condition of the roads and 
the traffic situation. Do not let the extra safety afforded by TCS tempt you 
into taking any risks when driving, this can cause accidents.Caution
•
In order to ensure that TCS function correctly, all four wheels must be 
fitted with the same tyres. Any differences in the rolling radius of the tyres can 
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
•
Modifications to the vehicle (e.g. to  the engine, the brake system, running 
gear or any components affecting the wh eels and tyres) could affect the effi-
ciency of the ABS and TCS.
XDS*
Driveshaft differentialWhen taking a bend, the driveshaft differential mechanism allows the outer 
wheel to turn at a higher speed than the inner wheel. In this way, the wheel 
which is turning faster (outer wheel) receives less drive torque than the inner 
wheel. This may mean that in certain situations the torque provided to the  inner wheel is too high, causing the wheels to spin. On the other hand, the 
outer wheel receives a lower drive torque than it could transmit. This causes 
an overall loss of lateral grip on the front shaft, resulting in understeering or 
“lengthening” of the path.
The XDS system is able, using the ESP sensors and signals, to detect and 
correct this effect.
The XDS, via the ESP, brakes the inner wheel thus counteracting the excess 
drive torque in this wheel. This means that the path requested by the driver 
is more precise,
The XDS system operates in combination with the ESP and is always active, 
even when the traction control, TCS, is disconnected.
Electronic stabilisation programme (ESP)*General notes
The electronic stabilisation programme increases the 
vehicle's stability on the road.The electronic stabilisation programme helps to reduce the danger of skid-
ding.
The electronic stabilisation programme (ESP) consists of 
ABS, EDL, TCS and 
Steering manoeuvre recommendations.
Electronic Stabilising Program (ESP)*
ESP reduces the danger of skidding by braking the wheels individually.
The system uses the steering wheel angle and road speed to calculate the 
changes of direction desired by the driver, and constantly compares them 
with the actual behaviour of the vehi cle. If the desired course is not being 
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Intelligent technology
188speed suitable for the road conditions. Failure to do so could result in an 
accident.Brakes
What factors can have a negative effect on the brakes?New brake pads
New brake pads do not provide optimal performance during the first 400 km 
they must be “run in”. However, the reduced braking capacity may be 
compensated by pressing on the brake pedal a little harder. Avoid over-
loading the brakes during run-in.
Wear
The rate of wear on the  brake pads depends a great deal on how you drive and 
the conditions in which the vehicle is operated. Negative factors are, for 
instance, city traffic, frequent short tr ips or hard driving with abrupt starts 
and stops.
Wet roads; road salt
When the velocity is  over 80 km/h windscreen wipers are  on, the brake 
system moves the pads towards the brake discs for a few seconds. This 
occurs - without warning to the driver - at regular intervals and requires a 
more rapid response from the brakes when driving on wet roads.
In certain conditions, such as in heavy  rain, or after washing the car or driving 
through water, the full braking effect ca n be delayed by moisture (or in winter 
by ice) on the discs and brake pads. The brakes should be “dried” by pressing 
the pedal to restore full braking effect.
The effectiveness of the brakes can also be temporarily reduced if the car is 
driven for some distance without using the brakes when there is a lot of salt  on the road in winter. In this case, the layer of salt on the brake discs and pads 
has to wear off before braking.
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on the brake pads and corrosion 
to form on the discs if the car is used infrequently, or if you only drive low 
mileages without using the brakes very much.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or 
if rust has formed on the disks, it is 
advisable to clean off the pads and disks by braking firmly a few times from a 
moderately high speed ⇒ .
Faults in the brake system
If the brake pedal travel should ever increase  suddenly, this may mean that 
one of the two brake circuits has failed. Drive immediately to the nearest qual-
ified workshop and have the fault rectified. On the way to the dealer, be 
prepared to use more pressure on the brake pedal, and allow for longer stop-
ping distances.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the brake fluid level is too low. 
The brake fluid level is monitored electronically.
Brake servo
The brake servo amplifies the pressure you apply to the brake pedal. The 
brake servo works only when the engine is running.
WARNING
•
When applying the brakes to clean off deposits on the pads and discs, 
select a clear, dry road. Be sure not to inconvenience or endanger other 
road users. Risk of accident.
•
Ensure the vehicle does not move wh ile in neutral, when the motor is 
stopped. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
WARNING (continued)
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