
Contents3
ContentsManual structure
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Content
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
5
6
7
7
7
10
16
17
19
19
20
23
27
29
29
33
36
40
43
45
45
47
49 53
53
53
55
58
64
73
83
83
83
87
91
91
97
98
100
102
104
106
109
109
117
120
121
125
128
128
129
131
133
135 144
147
148
151
151
153
157
161
163
163
164
165
166
169
170
174
176
179
183
183
183
184
185
190
190
191
192
194
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Cockpit53
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Operating instructionsCockpitOverviewOverview of the instrument panel
This overview will help you to  familiarise yourself with the 
controls and displays.
Door release lever 
Light switch  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Lighting control for instrument and  control lighting   . . . . . . . . 
Headlight range control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Air vent
Turn signal and main beam lever and cruise control system* . 
Instrument panel:
− Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Indication lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Horn (works only when the igni tion is on)/ and driver front 
airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windscreen wiper and windscreen wash lever and operation of 
the multi-function display* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Controls on the steering wheel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Left seat heating button  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Controls for
−
Heating* and ventilation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Climatic*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Climatronic*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Radio/Navigator*
Right seat heating button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Indication lamp for deactivated  front passenger airbag  . . . . . 
Front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Glove compartment lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Gear shift lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cup holder compartment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Controls on the centre console:
− Central locking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− ESP* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Tyre pressure control*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Park Pilot* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Cigarette lighter / Socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Wing mirror adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Hazard warning light switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Pedals
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Steering column control lever*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
A1A2
109
A3
113
A4
113
A5A6
116, 179
A7
55
58
73
A8
29
A9
121, 60
A10
83
A11
132
A12
151
153
157
A13A14
132
A15
43
A16
29
A17
135
A18
170
A19
140
A20
91
185
231
176
144
126
A21
174
A22
114
A23A24
165
A25
163
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Cockpit
74
WARNING
•
Failure to observe warning lamps and warning messages can result in 
serious personal injury or damage to your vehicle.
•
The risk of an accident increases if your vehicle breaks down. Use a 
warning triangle to draw the attention of other road users in order to 
prevent danger to thirds.
Item
Symbol
Meaning of warning  and control lamps
Further 
information
Fuel level / reserve 
⇒ page 75 
Coolant level / coolant temperature 
⇒page 75
Rear fog light switched on
⇒page 76
 
Turn signals in operation
⇒page 76
Engine fault (petrol engine)
⇒page 76
Glow plug system for diesel engine
⇒page 76
Main beam switched on
⇒page 77
 
Pollen accumulation in the diesel 
engine particulate filter
⇒page 77
ABS system fault
⇒page 77
Windscreen washer fluid level
⇒page 78
Alternator fault
⇒page 78
Fasten seat belts!
⇒page 19
Tyre pressure 
⇒page 78
Airbag or belt tension device system 
fault or airbag disabled
⇒page 27 
⇒ page 30
A1A2A3A4A5A6A7A8A9A10A11A12A13
Bulb defective
⇒page 79
Parking brake applied
or low brake fluid level or
fault in brake system
⇒page 79
Engine oil pressure
⇒page 80
Cruise control system switched on
⇒page 80
Door open indicator
⇒page 80
Electromechanical steering
⇒page 80
Fault in the emission control system
⇒page 81
If flashing:  electronic stabilisation pro-
gramme (ESP) is working
If it remains lit:  ESP malfunction or off
⇒page 81
Automatic selector lever lock (auto-
matic gearbox)
⇒page 82
SAFE
Electronic immobiliser
⇒page 82
Item
Symbol
Meaning of warning 
and control lamps
Further 
information
A14A15A16A17A18A19A20A21A22
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Cockpit
80This warning lamp can light up together with the anti-lock brake system 
warning lamp.
WARNING
•
Before opening the bonnet, read and observe the warnings on 
⇒ page 213.
•
If the brake warning lamp does not  go out, or if it lights up when 
driving, the brake fluid level  ⇒page 226, “Brake fluid” in the reservoir is 
too low. Risk of accident. Stop the ve hicle and do not drive on. Obtain tech-
nical assistance.
•
If the brake warning lamp 
 lights up together with the ABS warning 
lamp 
, the control function of the ABS could be out of action. This could 
cause the rear wheels to lock quickly when you brake. This could cause the 
rear to break away. Risk of skidding. Stop the vehicle and seek technical 
assistance.
Engine oil pressure 
This warning lamp indicates that the engine oil pressure is 
too low.If this warning symbol starts to flash, and is accompanied by three  audible 
warnings, switch off the engine and check the oil level. If the oil level is too 
low, add more engine oil  ⇒page 216.
The instrument panel displays the following message
15): STOP ENGINE OIL 
PRESSURE INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL .
If the symbol flashes although the oil level is correct, do not  drive on. The 
engine must not even run at idle speed. Obtain technical assistance.
Cruise control system* 
The warning lamp comes on when the cruise control system 
is switched on.The warning lamp 
 lights up when the cruise control system is switched on. 
Further notes on the cruise control system  ⇒page 179.
Indicator for open doors or tailgate* 
This indicator lights if one of th e doors or the tailgate is open.The warning light 
 should go off when all the doors are closed correctly.
The system also works when the ignition is switched off. It should go off 
approx. 15 seconds after the vehicle is locked.
Power steering system* 
For vehicles with power steering, the level of steering assistance depends on 
the vehicle's speed and on the steering angle.
The warning lamp should li ght up for a few seconds when the ignition is 
switched on. It should go out once the engine is started.
If the battery is disconnected, the indicator remains lit, even with the engine 
running. The warning light only goes of f after a distance of approx. 50 m.
There is a fault in the electromechanical steering system if the lamp does not 
go out or lights up whilst the vehicle  is in motion. The indicator may appear 
in two different colours to indicate faults . If it lights yellow, this indicates a 
minor fault. If it lights red, seek workshop assistance immediately, if no 
assistance is available stop driving. Stop the vehicle and seek technical 
15)Depending on the version of the model.
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 80  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Driving179
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
To w i n g  b r a c k e tIn towing mode, the rear parking sensors are not enabled when you select 
reverse gear or press the switch 
. This function may not be guaranteed on 
towing brackets that are not factory fitted. This results in the following restric-
tions:
SEAT parking system*
No warning is given.
SEAT parking system plus*
There is no rear distance warning. The system will still give a warning when 
obstacles are detected while driving forwards. The optical display changes to 
towing mode.
Fault messagesIf you hear a long beep for a few seconds and the LED on the switch 
* starts 
flashing when you switch on the parking aid, a system fault has occurred. 
Please refer the problem to an Authori sed SEAT dealer or specialised work-
shop.
Note
If the fault is not corrected before you switch off the ignition, it will only be 
indicated by the flashing LED on the switch 
 the next time you switch on 
the parking aid.
Cruise control system (CCS)*Description
The cruise control system is able to maintain the set speed in 
the range from approx. 30 km/h to 180 km/h.Once the speed setting has been saved, you may take your foot off the accel-
erator.
WARNING
It could be dangerous to use the cruise control system if it is not possible 
to drive at constant speed.•
For safety reasons the cruise control system should not be used in 
dense traffic, in sections with bends or where roads are in bad conditions 
(e.g. aquaplanning, loose chippings, slippery surfaces, snow). Risk of acci-
dent.
•
Always switch the CCS off when finish to use it in order to avoid an 
involuntary use.
•
It is dangerous to use a set speed which is too high for the current road, 
traffic or weather conditions. Risk of accident.Note
The cruise control cannot maintain a constant speed when descending down-
hills. The vehicle will accelerate due to its own weight. Use the foot brake to 
slow the vehicle.
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Driving
180Switching the cruise control system on and offSwitching on the system
–Push the switch  ⇒fig. 149    to the left to  ON.
Switching off system
– Either push the switch   to the right to  OFF or turn the ignition 
off when the vehicle is stationary.When the cruise control is on and a speed is programmed, the indicator   on 
the instrument panel is lit.
20)
If the cruise control system is  switched off, the 
 symbol is switched off. The 
system will also be fully switched off when the  1st gear is selected.*
Setting speed*–Press the lower part  SET/- of the rocker switch  ⇒fig. 150  
once briefly when you have reached the speed you wish to set.When you release the rocker switch, the current speed is set and held 
constant.
20)Depending on the model version
Fig. 149  Indicator and 
main beam headlight 
lever: switch and rocker 
switch for the cruise 
control
AB
AB
Fig. 150  Indicator and 
main beam headlight 
lever: switch and rocker 
switch for the cruise 
control
AA
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 180  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Driving181
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Adjusting set speed*
The speed can be altered without touching the accelerator or 
the brake.Setting a higher speed
– Press the upper part  RES/+ of the rocker switch  ⇒fig. 151   to 
increase the speed. The vehicle will continue to accelerate as 
long as you keep the rocker switch pressed. When you release 
the switch, the new speed is stored.
Setting a lower speed
–Press the lower part  SET/– of the rocker switch   to reduce the 
speed. The vehicle will automatically reduce its speed for as long 
as you keep the switch pressed. When you release the switch, the 
new speed is stored.
When you increase speed with the accelerator and then release the pedal, the 
system will automatically restore the set speed. This will not be the case, 
however, if the vehicle speed is more than 10 km/h higher than the stored 
speed for longer than 5 minutes. The speed will have to be stored again.
Control of the set speed is switched off if you reduce speed by depressing the 
brake pedal. You can reactivate the control by pressing once on the upper part 
of the rocker switch RES/+  ⇒ fig. 151  .
WARNING
It is dangerous to use a set speed whic h is too high for the current road, 
traffic or weather conditions. Risk of accident.Switching off system temporarily*The cruise control system will be switched off in the following situations:•
if the brake pedal is depressed,
Fig. 151  Indicator and 
main beam headlight 
lever: switch and rocker 
switch for the cruise 
control
AA
AA
AA
Fig. 152  Indicator and 
main beam headlight 
lever: switch and rocker 
switch for the cruise 
control
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 181  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Driving
182•
if the clutch pedal is depressed,
•
if the vehicle is accelerated to over 180 km/h,
•
when the lever   is moved to the position “CANCEL” without reaching 
the “OFF” position. Once the “CANCEL” operation is completed, the lever is 
released and returns to its initial position.
To resume the cruise control, release the brake or clutch pedal or reduce the 
vehicle speed to less than 180 km/h and  press once on the upper part of the 
rocker switch  RES/+ ⇒ page 181, fig. 152  .
WARNING
It is dangerous to use a set speed which is too high for the current road, 
traffic or weather conditions. Risk of accident.Turning off the cruise control system*
Vehicles with a manual gearbox
The system is completely turned off  by moving the control   all the way to 
the right hand side (OFF engaged), or when the vehicle is stationary, ignition 
off.
Vehicles with automatic gearbox / DSG* automatic gearbox
To completely disengage the system, the selector lever must be placed in one 
of the following positions:  P, N , R or  1 or with the vehicle stopped and the 
ignition turned off.
AB
AA
Fig. 153  Indicator and 
main beam headlight 
lever: switch and rocker 
switch for the cruise 
control
AB
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 182  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12