Seats and storage
General recommendations
Why is your seat adjustment so important?
The safety belts and the airbag system can only provide
maximum protection if the front seats are correctly
adju sted.
Th ere a re various ways of adjusting t he front seats to provide safe and
comfortable support for the driver and the front passenger . Ad just
your seat properly so that :
• you can easily and quickly reach a ll the switc hes and contro ls in the
ins trumen t pa nel
• your body is properly supported thus reducing phys ica l stress and
fatigue
• the safety be lts and airbag system can offer maximum protection
=>
page 190 .
In the following sections, you w ill see exact ly how you can best ad just
your sea ts .
Th ere are special regulations a nd instr uctions for install ing a child
safety seat on the front passenger's sea t. Always follow the informa
tion regarding child safety p rovided in=>
page 215, "Child Safety ".
& WARNING
Incorrect seating posit ion of the dri ver and all other passengers
can result in seriou s personal injury.
• Always keep your feet on the floor when the vehicle is in
motion -never put your feet on top of the instrument panel, out
of the window o r on top of the seat cush ion. This applies especially
to the passengers.
If your seating po sition is incorrect, you
increase the ri sk of injury in the case of sudden braking or an acci-
Controls and equip
ment Safety first
Seats and storage
& WARNING
(con tinu ed)
dent . If the airbag inflates and the seating position is incorrect ,
this could result in per sonal injury or even death .
• It is important for both the dri ver and front passenger to keep
a distan ce of at least 10 inche s (25 cm) between themselves and
the steering wheel and /or instrument panel. If you 're sitting any
closer than this , the airbag system cannot protect you properly. In
addition, the front seats and head restraints must be adjusted to
your body height so that they can give you maximum protection .
• Always try to keep as much distance as possible between your
self and the steering wheel or instrument panel.
• Do not adjust the driver's or front passenger 's seat while the
vehicle is moving. You r seat may move unexpectedly , causing
sudden loss of vehicle control and personal injury . If you adjust
your seat while the vehicle is moving , you are out of position. •
Driver's seat
The correct seat position is important for saf e and
re lax ed driving.
W e recomme nd that you a djust the drive r's sea t in the
f ollowing man ner :
- Ad just the seat in fore and aft direction so that you can
easily pus h the pedals to the floor w hile keeping your
knees slightly bent=>
& in "Why is yo ur seat a djus tme nt
so importa nt?" .
- Adjust the seatback so that when yo u sit with yo ur back
agai nst t he seatback , you can st ill grasp t he top of the
steering w heel. ..,
Vehicle care Technical data
Applies to veh icles : w ith power adjusta ble seats
Adjusting the seat
Position, angl e and shape of the seat can be adjusted
ele ctrically to ensure safe and comfortabl e seating .
Read an d follow the warning notices~ & before you ad just
your seat .
Adjusting the curvature of the lumbar
support*
- Pu sh the switch p late @forwa rd or backward to in crease
or red uce the curvature.
Adjusting the height of the lumbar support*
- Push the sw itch p late @ up or dow n to position the curva
ture higher or lower.
Fore-and-aft adjustment
- P ush t he switc h® forward or backward ~ page 76,
fig .
70 .
Adjusting seat height
- Pull or push t he switch ® up o r down.
Front seat cushion up/ down
- P ress the sw itch ® at the fron t up or down .
Rear seat cushion up/ down
- Press the swi tch ® at the rear up o r dow n.
Adjusting seatback angle
- P ush t he switc h © forward or backw ard .
Controls and equip
ment Safety first
Seats and storage
Head restraint height adjustment*
- P ress the switch @from up to down or t he ot her way.
Lengthening or shortening upper thigh
support*
- Li ft the button @ under the seat cush io n. T he front seat
cushion moves forward under spri ng force .
- Pus h t he s eat c ushion ba ck w hen you hav e finishe d us ing
i t.
& WARNING
• Adjust the driver's seat only when the vehicle is stationary . You
risk an accident oth erwise .
• The power adjustment for the front seat s al so works with the
ignit ion switched off or with the ign ition key removed. For this
rea son, children should never be left unattended in the vehicle -
they could be injured!
• Exerci se caution when adjusting the seat height. Unsupervis ed
or careless seat adjustment can p inch fingers or hands causing
injuries .
• While the vehicle is moving , the seat backs of the front seats
must not be inclined too far to the rear be cause the effectiveness
of the safety belts and the ai rbag system is severely compromised
- there is a risk of injury .•
Vehicle care Technical data
Seats and storage
-Press the release@=:> page 81, fig. 76 with the mechan
ical key=:>
page 44 and the button @=:> page 81, fig. 75.
Pull the head restraint out of the backrest at the same
time=:> &.
Installing the head restraints
-Slide the posts on the head restraint down into the guides
until you feel the posts click into place .
Press the button@=:>
page 81, fig. 75 and slide the head
restraint all the way down. You should not be able to pull
the head restraint out of the backrest.
So that the driver can have a better view to the rear, the head
restraints should be pushed down completely when the rear seats are
not occupied.
& WARNING
• Only remove the rear seat head restraints when necessary in
order to install a child seat. Install the head restraint again imme
diately once the child seat is removed. Driving without head
restraints or with head restraints that are not properly adjusted
increases the risk of serious or fatal neck injury dramatically.
• Read and heed all WARNINGS~
page 174.
(I) Tips
Correctly adjusted head restraints and safety belts are an extremely
effective combination of safety features.•
Center armrest
The center armrest can be adjusted to several levels.
Adjusting the center armrest
Fig. 77 Armrest
between the
dr iver's/front
passenger's seats.
-To adjust the angle, raise the armrest from the starting
position detent by detent =:> fig. 77.
- To bring the armrest back into the starting position, raise
it out of the top detent and fold it back down.
The armrest can slide forward and back. •
........ _D_ r_iv _i_ n .... g=-- S_ a_f _e _Ly :,.._ ______________________________________________ _
Driving Safely
General notes
Safe driving habits
Please remember -safety first!
Th is chapter contains important information, t ips, instructions and
warnings that you need to read an d observe fo r you r own safe ty, the
safety of you r passengers and others . We have summarized here
w hat you need to know about sa fety belts, airbags, child restra ints as
we ll as child safety . You r safety is for us
priority number 1. Always
observe the information and warnings in this section -for your own
safety as well as t hat of your passengers.
The informat ion in this section applies to all mode l versions of yo ur
veh icle . Some of the fe atures des cribed in this se ctions m ay be st an
dard equ ipment on some models, or may be optional eq uipment on
others. If you a re not sure, ask your a uth o rized Audi dealer.
& WARNING
• Always make sure that you follow the instructions and heed
the WARNINGS in th is Manual. It is in your interest and in the
intere st of your passengers.
• Always keep the complete Owner's Literatu re in your Audi
when you lend or sell your vehicle so that this important informa
tion will always be available to the driver and passengers .
• Always keep the Owner's literature handy so that you can find
it easily if you have questions . •
Safety equipment
The safety features are part of the occupant restraint
s y stem and wor k together to he lp reduce the ris k of injury
in a wide variety of accident situations.
Your sa fety and t he safety o f yo ur passenge rs shou ld no t be left to
chance . Adva nces in technology have made a variety of features avai l
a b le to help re duce the risk of injury in an a cc ident . The fo llow ing is a
list of jus t a few of the safety features in your Audi:
• sophisticated safety belts for driver and a ll passenger seating
p osi tion s,
• belt force limiters for the seats,
• belt pr etensioners fo r th e sea ts,
• hea d restrain ts f or eac h se ating posi tion,
• front airbags,
• side airbags i n the fro nt s eats,
• side c urtain air bags,
• special LATCH anchorages for chi ld restraints,
• a djustable stee ring co lumn.
These ind ividual safety feat ures, can work together as a system to
he lp protec t you and yo ur passengers in a wide r ange of accide nts.
T hese feat ures ca nnot work as a system if they are not a lways
co rrect ly adjusted and correct ly used.
Safety is everybody' s responsibility! •
Driving Safely ---------------------"~'---
Important things to do before driving
Safety is everybody's job! Vehicle and occupant safety
always depends on the informed and careful driver.
For your safety and the safety of your passengers, before
driving always:
- Make sure that all lights and signals are operating
correctly.
- Make sure that the tire pressure is correct.
- Make sure that all windows are clean and afford good visi-
bility to the outside.
- Secure all luggage and other items carefully::::>
page 93.
-Make sure that nothing can interfere with the pedals.
- Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors correctly for your height .
- Instruct passengers to adjust the head restraints according to their height.
- Make sure to use the right child restraint correctly to
protect children ::::,
page 215, "Child Safety".
- Sit properly in your seat and make sure that your passen gers do the same::::,
page 73, "General recommenda
tions".
- Fasten your safety belt and wear it properly. Also instruct
your passengers to fasten their safety belts properly
=:> page 181. •
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
What impairs driving safety?
Safe driving is directly related to the condition of the
vehicle, the driver as well as the driver's ability to concen
trate on the road without being distracted .
The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle and all
of its occupants. If your ability to drive is impaired, safety
risks for everybody in the vehicle increase and you also
become a hazard to everyone else on the road::::,,& . There
fore:
Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers or by using
a cellular telephone.
NEVER drive when your driving ability is impaired (by
medications, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
- Observe all traffic laws, rules of the road and speed limits
and plain common sense .
- ALWAYS adjust your speed to road, traffic and weather
conditions.
- Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not drive for more than two hours at a stretch.
- Do NOT drive when you are tired, under pressure or when
you are stressed .
& WARNING
Impaired driving safety increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used.•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
Driving Safely ---------------------" ~'---
& WARNING (continued)
• Always sit in an upright position and never lean against or
place any part of your body too close to the area where the airbags
are located.
• Before driving, always adjust the front seats and head
restraints properly and make sure that all passengers are properly
restrained.
• Never adjust the seats while the vehicle is moving. Your seat
may move unexpectedly and you could lose control of the vehicle.
• Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilted far back! The
farther the backrests are tilted back, the greater the risk of injury
due to incorrect positioning of the safety belt and improper
seating position.
• Children must always ride in child safety seats~
page 215.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat~
page 190. •
Proper seating position for the front
passenger
The proper front passenger seating position is important
for safe, relaxed driving .
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend that you adjust the seat
for the front passenger to the following position:
- Move the front passenger seat back as far as possible.
There must be a minimum of 10 inches (25 cm) between
the breastbone and the instrument panel~&.
- Adjust the angle of the seatback so that it is in an upright
position and your back comes in full contact with it when
ever the vehicle is moving.
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
-
Applies to vehicles with adjustable head restraints: Adjust
the head restraint so the upper edge is as even as possible
with the top of your head . If that is not possible, try to
adjust the head restraint so that it is as close to this posi
tion as possible.
- Keep both feet flat on the floor in front of the front
passenger seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts correctly~
page 185.
For detailed information on how to adjust the front passenger's seat,
see ~
page 73.
& WARNING
Front seat passengers who are unbelted, out of position or too
close to the airbag can be seriously injured or killed by the airbag
as it unfolds. To help reduce the risk of serious personal injury:
• Passengers must always sit in an upright position and never
lean against or place any part of their body too close to the area
where the airbags are located.
• Passengers who are unbelted, out of position or too close to
the airbag can be seriously injured by an airbag as it unfolds with great force in the blink of an eye.
• Always make sure that there are at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the front passenger's breastbone and the instrument
panel.
• Each passenger must always sit on a seat of their own and
properly fasten and wear the safety belt belonging to that seat.
• Before driving, always adjust the front passenger seat and
head restraint properly.
• Always keep your feet on the floor in front of the seat. Never
rest them on the seat, instrument panel, out of the window, etc.
The airbag system and safety belt will not be able to protect you
properly and can even increase the risk of injury in a crash. .,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
1111....__D_ r_iv _i_ n_, g=-- S_ a _ f_e _,Ly _ ______________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued)
• Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilted far back! The
farther the backrests are tilted back, the greater the risk of injury due to incorrect positioning of the safety belt and improper
seating position.
• Children must always ride in child safety seats~
page 215.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat~
page 190. •
Proper seating positions for passengers in
rear seats
Rear seat passengers must sit upright with both feet on
the floor consistent with their physical size and be prop
erly restrained whenever the vehicle is in use.
To reduce the risk of injury caused by an incorrect seating
position in the event of a sudden braking maneuver or an
accident , your passengers on the rear bench seat must
always observe the following :
- Make sure that the seatback is securely latched in the
upright position ~
page 84.
-Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front of the rear seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts properly~
page 185.
-Make sure that children are always properly restrained in a
child restraint that is appropriate for their size and age
~page 215.
& WARNING
Passengers who are improperly seated on the rear seat can be seri
ously injured in a crash.
& WARNING (continued)
• Each passenger must always sit on a seat of their own and
properly fasten and wear the safety belt belonging to that seat.
• Safety belts only offer maximum protection when the seatback
is securely latched in the upright position and the safety belts are
properly positioned on the body. By not sitting upright, a rear seat
passenger increases the risk of personal injury from improperly
positioned safety belts!
• Always adjust the head restraint properly so that it can give
maximum protection. •
Proper adjustment of head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraints are an important part
of your vehicle 's occupant restraint system and can help
to reduce the risk of injuries in accident situations .
Fig. 165 Head
restraint: viewed from
the front
The head restraints must be correctly adjusted to achieve the
best protection.
- Adjust the head restraints so the upper edge is as even as
possible with the top of your head. If that is not possible,
try to adjust the head restraint so that it is as close to this
position as possible~ fig . 165. .,
Driving Safely ---------------------"~'---
Adjusting head restraints=> page 80.
& WARNING
Driving without head rest raints or with head restraint s that are
not properl y adju sted increa se s the risk of seriou s or fatal neck
injury dramatically. To help reduce the risk of injur y:
• Always drive w ith the head restraints in place and properly
adjusted.
• Every person in the vehicle must have a prope rly adju sted head
restraint.
• Always make sure each person in the vehicle properly ad justs
their head restraint. Adju st the head restraints so the upper edge
i s as even a s pos sible with th e top of your head . If that is not
possible, try to adjust the head re straint so that it is as close to
this position as po ssible.
• Never attempt to adjust head restraint while driving. If you
have driven off and must adjust the driver headrest for any reason ,
first stop the vehicle safely before attempting to adju st the head
restraint.
• Children must alwa ys be properly restrained in a child re straint
that is appropriate for their age and size =>
page 215 . •
Examples of improper seating positions
The occupant res traint sy stem can o nly redu ce the risk of
injury i f veh icle occup ants are pr operly sea ted .
Im proper seati ng positio ns can caus e ser ious inju ry o r death .
Safety belts can on ly work w hen t hey are pro perly posi tio ned
on t he body. Impro per sea tin g posit io ns re duce the effect ive
ness of safety belts and w ill even increase the risk of i nju ry
and deat h by moving the s afety belt to crit ic a l areas of the
body. Imp roper seati ng positions also increase the r is k of
serious inju ry and death when an airbag deploys an d str ikes
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
an occ
upan t who is not in th e proper s eati ng pos ition . A
d river is respons ib le f or t he safe ty o f all vehic le occu pants
a nd especial ly for children . Therefore:
- Never allow anyone to a ssum e an in correc t sea ting pos i-
t ion whe n the v ehic le is bei ng us ed::::;, &.
The follow ing b ulletins list only some sample positions that will
increase the risk of serious in ju ry and death. O ur hope is that these
examples will ma ke you more awa re of seat ing posi tions t hat are
dangero us.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is moving :
• never stand up in the vehicle
• never stand on the seats
• never knee l on t he se ats
• never ride with the seatback reclined
• never lie down on the rear sea t
• never le an up agains t th e ins tru ment panel
• never sit on the edge of the seat
• neve r sit s ideways
• never lean o ut the win dow
• never put your feet out the window
• never p ut yo ur feet on the ins trumen t panel
• never rest your feet on the seat c ush ion or back of the seat
• never ride in the footwell
• never ride in the cargo area
& WARNING
Improper seating position s in crease the ri sk of seriou s personal
injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used. _,.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data