
Airbag system35
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Operation of side airbags
Inflated airbags can reduce the risk of head or chest injury in 
many side impact collisions.In some side collisions , the side airbag is triggered on the impact side of the 
vehicle  ⇒fig. 20 .
In certain types of accident the front and side airbags may be triggered 
together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas.
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within thousandths of a second, to 
provide additional protection in the event of an accident. A fine dust may 
develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indication of 
fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the occupants of the 
front seats and help to reduce the risk of injury to the upper body. The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-
lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and 
chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag.
Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag system
If airbags are used correctly, they can considerably reduce the 
risk of injury in side impact collisions.
WARNING
•If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean forward, or are not seated 
correctly while the vehicle is in motion, you are at a greater risk of injury if 
the side airbag system is triggered in an accident.•In order for the side airbags to provide their maximum protection, the 
prescribed sitting position must always be maintained with seat belts 
fastened while travelling.•Occupants of the outer seats must never carry any objects or pets in the 
deployment space between them and the airbags, or allow children or 
other passengers to travel in this position. It is also important not to attach 
any accessories (such as cup holders) to the doors. This would impair the 
protection offered by the side airbags.•The built-in coat hooks should be used only for lightweight clothing. Do 
not leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.•Great forces, such as hard blows or kicks, must not be exerted upon the 
backrest bolster because the system may be damaged. In this case, the 
side airbags would not be triggered.•Under no circumstances should protective covers be fitted over seats 
with side airbags unless the covers have been approved for use in your 
vehicle. Because the airbag deploys from the side of the backrest, the use 
of conventional seat covers would obstruct the side airbag, seriously 
reducing the airbag’s effectiveness.
Fig. 20  Inflated side 
airbag on left side of 
vehicle
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Airbag system
38
– Check that the warning lamp “AIRBAG OFF” in the console does ⇒page 37, fig. 22  not  light up when the ignition is switched on 
⇒ .
WARNING
•The driver is responsible for the proper position of the key-operated 
switch. •You should only deactivate the front passenger airbag when, in excep-
tional cases, you have to use a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger 
seat  ⇒page 39, “Child safety”.•Never install a child seat facing backwards on the front passenger seat 
unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. Otherwise, there is a 
risk of death. If under exceptional circumstances it is necessary to trans-
port a child in a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, you must 
always disable the front passenger airbag.•As soon as the child seat is no longer needed on the front passenger 
seat, enable the front passenger airbag again.•Only deactivate the passenger airbag when the ignition is off, other-
wise a fault may occur in the airbag system, which could cause the airbag 
to not deploy properly or not deploy at all.•When the passenger airbag is deactivated, if the warning lamp AIRBAG 
OFF is not continuously lit up when the front passenger airbag is disabled, 
there may be a fault in the airbag system:
−Have the airbag system inspected immediately by a specialised 
workshop.
− Do not use a child seat on the front passenger seat! The front 
passenger airbag could be triggered despite the fact that there is a fault 
in the system and, as a result, a child could sustain serious or fatal inju-
ries.
− It is unpredictable whether the front passenger airbag will deploy in 
the event of an accident. Warn all your passengers of this.
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Cockpit49
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Operating InstructionsCockpitOverviewOverview of the dash panel
This overview will help you to  familiarise yourself with the 
controls and displays.
Door release lever 
Light switch  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Light dimmer for instrument panel lighting*   . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Headlight range control*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air vent
Turn signal and dipped beam lever and cruise control 
system*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Instrument panel and warning lamps:
− Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Indicator lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Horn (only works when the ignition is on)/ and driver front 
airbag* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steering and starter lock  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windscreen wash-wipe / rear window wash-wipe lever* and 
operation of the multifunction display*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radio
Glove compartment/Storage compartment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Passenger airbag* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switches for:
−
Heating and ventilation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Air conditioning*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Climatronic*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cigarette lighter / Power socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cup holder/Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Controls on the centre console:
− Hazard warning lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Airbag disconnection warning light*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− ESP  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Tyre pressure control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Heated rear window  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Heated seats* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Central locking*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− AUX connection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Handbrake lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic*/manual gear lever /  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Storage space
Pedals  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steering column control lever*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bonnet release lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steering column controls for audio and telephone*  . . . . . . .
Fuse housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A1A2
90
A3
92
A4
92
A5A6
96, 149
A7
51
58
A8
26
A9
131
A10
99, 54
A11A12
111
A13
30
A14
120
123
126
A15
115
A16
114
A17
95
27
155 65
94
109 77
116
A18
145
A19
138, 137
A20A21
14
A22
130
A23
185
A24
70
A25
212
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Cockpit
52Rev counter
The rev counter displays the engine speed in revolutions per 
minute.The start of the red zone ⇒ page 51, fig. 30   indicates the maximum 
engine speed operating at service temperature. However, it is advisable to 
cha nge u p to a  h igh er  gear,  m ove  th e s el e cto r le ve r to D  o r li f t your  fo ot  o f f th e 
accelerator before the needle reaches the red zone.
Caution
The rev counter needle must never enter the red zone on the scale. Risk of 
engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Changing up into higher gears early will help you to reduce fuel consumption, 
emissions and minimise engine noise.SpeedometerThe speedometer is equipped with a digital odometer and a trip recorder, in 
addition to a service intervals display.
During the running-in period, the instructions shown on  ⇒page 158 should 
be followed.
Digital instrument panel displayFuel gauge 
 z and reserve indicator
Instrument panel: fuel gauge
The fuel tank has a capacity of approx. 45 litres.
When the needle reaches the reserve zone  ⇒fig. 31 , the warning lamp will 
light and an acoustic signal will sound  reminding the driver to refuel. At this 
point there are still 7 litres of fuel in the tank.Digital clock* – To set the hour, press button   ⇒ page 51, fig. 30. The “hour” 
option flashes on the digital display and is set using button   
“set”  ⇒page 51, fig. 30 .
A1
Fig. 31  Fuel gauge
A4
A5
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Cockpit53
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
– To set the minutes, press button   again and select the minute 
option. Set from button   “set”.Once the operation has been carried out, the system memorises the time.Outside temperature display
The outside temperature is displayed when the ignition is 
switched on.In addition to the outside temperature display, an ice crystal is displayed and, 
if vehicle speed is over 10 km/h, a warning tone is heard at temperatures 
dropping from between +4 °C and -7 °C and at temperatures rising from -5 °C 
up to +6 °C.
The illumination of the crystal symbol aims to warn the driver of the risk of 
ice, so that he/she proceeds with due care.
When the vehicle is stationary or travelling at very low speeds, the tempera-
ture displayed may be slightly higher than the actual outside temperature as 
a result of heat coming from the engine.
Recommended gear display* 
This display helps to save fuel.Use the gear display to save fuel. If you are not in the correct gear, a triangle 
will appear next to the gear display indicating whether you should change up 
or down ⇒ fig. 32.
A4
A5
Fig. 32  Gear display
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Cockpit
56
WARNING
There could be black ice on the road surface even if the “snowflake symbol” 
is not shown. For this reason you should not rely exclusively on this display 
- Risk of accident!
Note
When the vehicle is stationary or travelling at very low speeds, the tempera-
ture displayed may be slightly higher than the actual outside temperature as 
a result of the heat radiated from the engine.Display field for selector lever position*The position of the automatic selector lever is shown on the display 
⇒ page 138.
OdometerThe upper counter in the display registers the total mileage covered by the 
vehicle.
The lower counter registers the short journeys. The last digit indicates 100-
metre sections. The trip recorder counter may be reset by pressing the reset 
button  ⇒page 51, fig. 30  .Service interval displayThe service indication is shown on the instrument panel display  ⇒fig. 36 .
SEAT distinguishes between services  with engine oil change (e.g. Mainte-
nance Service) and services  without engine oil change (e.g. Inspection 
Service). The service interval display only indicates the dates of services that 
include engine oil change. The dates of all other services, such as Inspection 
Ser vice or brake fluid change, appear in the sticker on the door pillar or in the 
Service Schedule.
Fig. 35  Digital display: 
Gear lever position for 
automatic gearbox.
A5
Fig. 36  Service interval 
display
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