
Child safety
48Child seatsCategorisation of child seats into groups
Use only child seats that are officially approved and suitable
for the child.Child seats are subject to the regulation ECE-R 44. ECE-R stands for: Economic
Commission for Europe Regulation
The child seats are grouped into 5 categories:
Group 0 : children up to 10 kg
Group 0+ : children up to 13 kg
Group 1 : from 9 to 18 kg
Group 2 : from 15 to 25 kg
Group 3 : from 22 to 36 kg
Child seats that have been tested and approved under the ECE R 44 standard
bear the test mark on the seat (the letter E in a circle with the test number
below it).
Group 0 and 0+ child seats
A suitable child seat and a correctly adjusted seat belt can
help you to protect your child.Group 0: For babies from about 9 months old and 10 kg in weight the most
suitable seats are those appearing in the illustration ⇒ fig. 29.
Group 0+: For babies from about 18 months old and 13 kg in weight the most
suitable seats are those appearing in the illustration.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend you to include the manufacturer's Child Seat instruction
manual together with the on-board documentation.
WARNING
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use of
child seats ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 46.
Fig. 29 A group 0 rear-
facing child seat fitted on
the rear seat.
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 48 Freitag, 3. September 2010 11:41 11

Child safety51
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Securing child seatsWays to secure a child seat
A child seat can be secured differently on the rear seat and on
the front passenger seat.You can secure a child seat to the rear seat or front passenger seat in the
following ways:•Child seats in groups 0 to 3can be secured with a seat belt.•Seats for children aged 0, 0+ and 1 with the “ISOFIX” system can be
secured without fastening seat belts, using the “ISOFIX”and/or Top Tether
securing rings ⇒page 52.
U: Suitable for universal approved restraining systems for use in this age category (universal retention systems are those fitted using the adult
seat belt).
*: Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible, as high as possible and always deactivate the airbag.
L: Suitable for retention systems using the “ISOFIX” anchors.
WARNING
•When travelling, children must be secured in the vehicle with a
restraint system suitable for age, weight and size.•Never install a child seat facing backwards on the front passenger seat
unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This could cause fatal
injuries to the child! However, if, in exceptional cases, it is necessary to
transport a child in the front passenger seat, the front passenger airbag
⇒ page 44, “Deactivating airbags” must always be disabled and the seat
adjusted to its highest position, where possible.•Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 46.
Category
Weight
Seat locations
Front
passenger
Rear outer
Rear centre
Group 0
<10 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 0+
<13 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 1
9-18 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 2 / 3
15-36 kg
U*
U
U
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 51 Freitag, 3. September 2010 11:41 11

Seats and storage compartments135
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
•Be careful when adjusting the seat height. Injuries can be caused if the
seat height is adjusted without due care and attention.
Adjusting the backrest angle– Lean forwards to take your weight off the backrest.
– Turn the adjuster wheel ⇒ page 134, fig. 106 to set the angle
of the backrest as required.
WARNING
The front backrests must not be reclined for driving. Otherwise, seat belts
and the airbag system might not protect as they should, with the subse-
quent danger of injury.Adjusting lumbar support*– Do not exert any pressure on the backrest and turn adjuster wheel ⇒page 134, fig. 106 to adjust lumbar support.As you make the adjustments, the curvature of the cushioned area of the
lumbar region becomes more or less acute. In this way, it adapts to the
natural curvature of the spine.
WARNING (continued)
A3
A4
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 135 Freitag, 3. September 2010 11:41 11

Seats and storage compartments
152Attachment points
The roof rack must be attached at the marked points only.The cross-bars must be fitted exactly between the points marked on the roof
railings ⇒fig. 130 . The markings are visible on the inside of the railings.
Caution
A roof rack unit must not be used if the vehicle is not equipped with roof rails
(basic support).
Roof load
Loads carried on the roof must be securely attached. The
vehicle's handling is affected whenever you carry loads on
the vehicle.The authorised load on the roof of your vehicle is 75 kg. Use the weight of the
roof rack system and that of the load as a basis to calculate the roof load.
If less resistant systems are used, the roof rack must not be loaded to the
maximum weight permitted. If less resistant systems are used, these must
only be loaded to the maximum weight permitted indicated in the assembly
instructions.
WARNING
•Loads carried on the roof must be securely attached. Failure to do so
could result in an accident.•Do not exceed the maximum roof load for the vehicle, the maximum
axle loads or the maximum gross vehicle weight. Failure to do so could
result in an accident.•When transporting heavy or bulky loads on the roof, bear in mind that
the vehicle's handling is affected by the extra weight on the roof and a
possible susceptibility to cross winds. Adjust your speed and driving style
accordingly to avoid accidents.Caution
Please take extra care not to let the tailgate strike the roof load when open.
For the sake of the environment
Roof racks are often left attached for convenience, even when they are not
being used. However, the increased air resistance means that the vehicle
Fig. 130 Attachment
points for cross bars
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 152 Freitag, 3. September 2010 11:41 11

Seats and storage compartments
160
WARNING
For safety reasons, the glove compartment must always be closed when
the vehicle is moving. Failure to do so could result in an accident.Compartments in the door trim
Storage compartments are provided in the door trims.
WARNING
The storage compartments in the door trims should only be used to store
small objects. Make sure that they are stored safely inside the compart-
ment, as they might otherwise impair the protection offered by the side
airbags.
Coat hooks
There is a coat hook above each of the rear doors.
WARNING
•Please make sure that any items of clothing hanging from the coat
hooks do not obstruct your view to the rear.•The coat hooks should only be used for lightweight clothing. Do not
leave any heavy or sharp objects in the pockets.•Do not use clothes hangers to hang up the clothing, as this could inter-
fere with the function of the head-protection airbags*.
Fig. 139 Door trim with
storage compartment
Fig. 140 Area above the
rear doors: Coat hooks
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 160 Freitag, 3. September 2010 11:41 11

Seats and storage compartments161
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Compartments in the front seats
There is a storage compartment with a lid at the front of each
front seat.Opening
– Pull the handle to open the compartment.
Closing
– Close the lid and push it in until it engages.
NoteThe compartments will hold a maximum weight of 1 kg.
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 161 Freitag, 3. September 2010 11:41 11

Driving
180SEAT Parking System*
There is no distance warning.
SEAT Parking System Plus*
There is no rear distance warning. The system will still give a warning when
obstacles are detected while driving forward.Fault messages*If you hear a long beep for a few seconds and the LED on the
button* starts
flashing when you switch on the parking aid, a system fault has occurred.
Please have the fault corrected by a Dealer or qualified workshop.
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*Introduction
The cruise control system allows you to maintain a constant
speed.Using this system, any speed over 30 km/h can be kept constant, as long as
the engine power allows it. This is subject to power output and braking ability
of the engine. This helps to reduce fatigue, especially on long journeys. The indicator lamp
on the instrument panel lights up when the cruise
control system is operating.
WARNING
For safety reasons, the cruise control system should not be used in dense
traffic or poor road conditions (with ice, slippery surfaces, loose grit or
gravel), as this could cause an accident.
Caution
In vehicles with a manual gearbox: do not go into neutral if the device is
enabled without previously releasing the clutch, as the engine will increase
its revs and, under certain conditions, could break down.
Note
The cruise control cannot maintain a constant speed when travelling down
steep hills. The vehicle tends to accelerate under its own weight. Change
down to a lower gear or use the foot brake to slow the vehicle.
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 180 Freitag, 3. September 2010 11:41 11

Driving and the environment
200Avoid driving at high speed
We advise you not to drive at the top speed permitted by the vehicle. Fuel
consumption, exhaust emissions and noise levels all increase very rapidly at
higher speeds. Driving at moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Avoid idling
It is worthwhile switching off the engine when waiting in a traffic jam, at level
crossings or at traffic lights with a long red phase. The fuel saved after only
30 - 40 seconds is greater than the amount of fuel needed to restart the
engine.
The engine takes a very long time to warm up when it is running at idling
speed. Mechanical wear and pollutant emissions are also especially high
during this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore best to drive off immediately
after starting the engine. Avoid running the engine at high speed.
Periodic maintenance
Periodic maintenance work guarantees that, before beginning a journey, you
will not consume more than the required amount of fuel. A well-serviced
engine gives you the benefit of improved fuel efficiency as well as maximum
reliability and an enhanced resale value.
A badly serviced engine can consume up to 10% more fuel than necessary.
Avoid short journeys
To reduce the consumption and emission of polluting gases, the engine and
the exhaust filtration systems should reach the optimum service tempera-
ture .
With the engine cold, fuel consumption is proportionally higher. The engine
does not warm up and fuel consumption does not normalise until having
driven approximately four kilometres. This is why we recommend avoiding
short trips whenever possible.
Maintain the correct tyre pressures
Bear in mind that keeping the tyres at an adequate pressure saves fuel. If the
tyre pressure is just 1 bar too low, fuel consumption can increase by as much as 5%. Due to the greater rolling resistance, under-inflation also increases
tyre wear
and impairs handling.
The tyre pressures should always be checked when the tyres are cold.
Do not use winter tyres all year round as they increase fuel consumption by
up to 10%.
Avoid unnecessary weight
Every kilo of extra weight will put up the fuel consumption, so it is worth
checking the luggage compartment occasionally to make sure that no unnec-
essary loads are being transported.
A roof rack is often left in place for the sake of convenience, even when it is
no longer needed. At a speed of 100-120 km/h your vehicle will use about
12% more fuel as a result of the extra wind resistance caused by the roof rack
even when it is not in use.
Save electricity
The engine activates the alternator, which produces electricity. With the need
for electricity, fuel consumption is also increased. Because of this, always
turn off electrical components when you do not need them. Examples of
components that use a lot of electricity are: the fan at high speeds, the rear
window heating or the seat heaters*.
Note
•If you vehicle has Start-Stop, it is not recommended to disconnect this
function.•It is recommended to close the windows when driving at more than 60
km/h•Do not drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal, as the pressure can
make the plate spin, more fuel will be used and it can burn the clutch plate
lining, causing a serious fault.
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 200 Freitag, 3. September 2010 11:41 11