2011 SKODA OCTAVIA weight

WARNING
● The parking aid is not a substitute for the driver paying proper attention
and it is always the driver's responsibility to take care when reversing the ve-
hicle or carrying out similar manoeuvres.
● You should therefore satisfy yourself, before reversing, that there is no
small obstacle, such as a rock, thin post, trailer drawbar etc., in front or behind
your vehicle. Such an obstacle might not be within the range detected by the
sensors.
● Under certain circumstances, surfaces of certain objects and types of
clothing cannot reflect the signal of the parking aid. Thus, these objects or
people who wear such clothing are not recognised by the sensors of the park-
ing aid. Note
● Only the front parking aid operates if you are towing a trailer (applies only to
models which feature a factory-fitted towing device).
● If a warning signal sounds for about 3 seconds after activating the system and
there is no obstacle close to your car, this indicates a system fault. The fault is
confirmed additionally when the symbol  flashes in the button ⇒ fig. 103 - left.
Have the fault rectified by a specialist workshop.
● The sensors must be kept clean and free of ice to enable the parking aid to
operate properly.
● If the parking aid is activated and the selector lever of the automatic gearbox
is in the position P , warning signal indicates interruption (vehicle can no longer
move). 
Cruise control system (CCS) Introduction The cruise control system (CCS) maintains a constant speed, more than 30 km/h
(20 mph), once it has been set, without you having to depress the accelerator
pedal. This is only possible within the range which is permitted by the power out-
put and braking power of the engine. The cruise control system makes it possible
- particularly on long journeys - for you to rest your
“accelerator foot”. WARNING
● For safety reasons, the cruise control system must not be used in dense
traffic or on unfavourable road surfaces (such as icy roads, slippery roads,
loose gravel) - risk of accident!
● In order to prevent unintentional use of the cruise control system, always
switch off the system after use. Note
● Models fitted with a manual gearbox: Always depress the clutch pedal if you
switch on the cruise control system when the gearbox is in Neutral! Otherwise the
engine can rev up unintentionally.
● The cruise control system is not able to maintain a constant speed when driv-
ing on steep downhill sections. The weight of the vehicle increases the speed at
which it travels. One should shift down in good time to a lower gear or slow the
vehicle down by applying the foot brake.
● It is not possible on vehicles fitted with an automatic gearbox to switch on the
cruise control system if the selector lever is in the position P, N or R. 
Storing a speed Fig. 104 Operating lever: Rocker button
and switch of the cruise control system
The cruise control system is operated by means of the switch A
⇒  fig. 104 and
the rocker button B in the left lever of the multi-functional switch.
– Press the switch A into the position ON.
– After the desired speed has been reached, press the rocker button B into the
SET position. £104
Starting-off and Driving

Seat belts
Why seat belts? Fig. 117 Driver wearing seat belt
It is a proven fact that seat belts offer good protection in accidents ⇒ fig. 117. Thus
wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most countries.
Seat belts which have been correctly fastened and adjusted hold the occupants of
the car in the correct seated position ⇒ fig. 117. The seat belts reduce the kinetic
energy (energy of motion) to a considerable extent. They also prevent uncontrol-
led movements which, in turn, may well result in severe injuries.
The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened and correctly adjusted their seat
belt, profit to a major extent from the fact that the kinetic energy is optimally ab-
sorbed by the belts. The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other pas-
sive safety measures, such as the airbag system, also contribute to reducing the
kinetic energy. The energy produced is thus absorbed and there is less risk of in-
jury.
Accident statistics prove that seat belts which are fastened and properly adjusted
reduce the risk of an injury and enhance the chance of survival in a major accident
⇒  page 135.
It is important that you pay attention to safety measures, particularly when trans-
porting children in the vehicle ⇒
 page 147, Transporting children safely. WARNING
● Fasten your seat belt each time before setting off - also when driving in
town! This also applies to the people seated at the rear - risk of injury!
● Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the only way
of ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child ⇒ page 137, How are seat
belts correctly fastened?

.
● It is important for the belt webbing to be properly routed if the seat belts
are to offer the maximum protection. You can see a description of how safety
belts should be fitted properly on the next pages. Note
Please comply with any differing legal requirements when using the seat belts. 
The physical principle of a frontal collision Fig. 118 The driver is catapulted forward if not wearing a belt/The rear seat occupant is cata-
pulted forward if not wearing a belt
The physical principle of a frontal accident can be explained quite simply:
Motion energy, so-called kinetic energy, is produced as soon as the vehicle is mov-
ing, both for the vehicle and its occupants. The magnitude of this kinetic energy
depends essentially on the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and on the
weight of the vehicle including the occupants. The greater the speed and weight
increase, the greater the amount of energy which has to be absorbed in the event
of an accident. £ 135
Seat belts Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

The speed of the vehicle is, nevertheless, the most important factor. Doubling the
speed of the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy
four times.
The common opinion that it is possible to support your body in a minor accident
with your hands, is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces
acting on the body are such that it is no longer possible to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed within the range from 30 km/hour to 50 km/hour,
the forces which are produced on your body in the event of an accident can easily
exceed 10
000 N (Newton). This equals a weight of one tonne (1 000 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the vehicle not wearing a seat belt,
are thrown forward and strike in an uncontrolled way parts of the interior of the
vehicle, such as steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen, ⇒ fig. 118 - left. The occu-
pants of a vehicle who have not fastened their seat belts may even be thrown out
of the vehicle. This can result in fatal injuries.
It is also important that rear seat occupants fasten their seat belts as they will
otherwise be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontrolled manner in the event
of an accident A rear seat passenger who has not fastened the seat belt is a dan-
ger not only to himself but also for those seated at the front ⇒ fig. 118 - right. 
Important safety information regarding the use of
seat belts The correct use of the seat belts considerably reduces the risk of
injury! WARNING
● The belt webbing must not be jammed in-between at any point or twisted,
or chafe against any sharp edges.
● It is important that the belt webbing is properly routed if the seat belts are
to offer their maximum protection ⇒ page 137, How are seat belts correctly
fastened?

.
● No two persons (also not children) should ever use a single seat belt to-
gether.
● The maximum protection which seat belts can offer is only achieved if you
are correctly seated ⇒

 page 132, Correct seated position. WARNING (Continued)
● The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects (e.g. specta-
cles, ball-point pens, keys etc.) as this may be a cause of injuries.
● Many layers of clothing and loose clothing (e. g. a winter coat over a jacket)
do not allow you to be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of the
seat belts.
● It is prohibited to use clamps or other objects to adjust seat belts (e. g. for
shortening the belts for smaller persons).
● The lock tongue should only be inserted into the lock which is the correct
one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety belt will reduce its capacity to pro-
tect and the risk of injury increases.
● The seat backrests of the front seats must not be tilted too far to the rear
otherwise the seatbelts can lose their effectiveness.
● The three-point seat belt for the rear middle seat can only fulfil its func-
tion reliably when the backrests are correctly locked into position ⇒ page 64

.
● The belt webbing must always be kept clean. Soiled belt webbing may im-
pair proper operation of the inertia reel ⇒

 page 175, Seat belts.
● The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked by paper or similar objects
otherwise the belt tongue will not lock in place properly.
● Inspect the seat belts regularly to ensure they are in good condition. If you
find seat belts which have damage to the belt, the seat belt connections, to
the inertia reel or to the lock, the relevant seat belt must be replaced by a
specialist garage.
● The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not make
an attempt to repair the seat belts yourself.
● Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an accident
and were therefore stretched, must be replaced - this is best done by a spe-
cialist garage. The anchorage points of the belts must also be inspected. The
anchorage points for the belts should also be checked.
● In certain countries it is possible to use seat belts which differ in terms of
their operation from the seat belts which are described on the pages which
follow. 136
Seat belts

Transporting children safely
What you should know about transporting children! An introduction to the subject Accident statistics have revealed that children are generally more
safely transported on the rear seats than on the front passenger
seat.
Children who are less than 1.50 m in height and who weigh less than 36 kg should,
under normal circumstances, sit on the rear seat (take note of any national legal
provisions which differ from this). They should be secured there by means of a
child restraint system or by using the existing seat belts depending on their body
size and weight. The child seat should be mounted behind the front passenger
seat for safety reasons.
The physical principle of an accident does, of course, also apply to children
⇒
 page 135, The physical principle of a frontal collision. They differ from adults in
that their muscles and bone structure of children are not yet fully developed. Thus
children are exposed to increased risk of injury.
Children should be transported by using special child safety seats in order to re-
duce this risk of injury.
Only use child safety seats which are officially approved, suitable for children and
which comply with the standard ECE-R 44, which classifies child safety seats into
5 groups ⇒ page 149, Classification of child seats into groups. Child restraint sys-
tems which have been tested for conformity to ECE-R 44 standard have a non-de-
tachable test seal (a large E within a circle and below this the test number) attach-
ed to the seat.
We recommend that you use child safety seats from the ŠKODA Original Accesso-
ries range. These child seats were developed and also tested for use in ŠKODA
vehicles. They fulfil the ECE-R 44 standard. WARNING
Always comply with national legal provisions and instructions from the rele-
vant child safety seat manufacturer when installing and using a child seat
⇒

 page 147. Note
National legal provisions, which deviate from the information contained in these
operating instructions, take precedence over the information contained in the op-
erating instructions. 
Important safety information regarding the use of child safety
seats Correct use of child safety seats considerably reduces the risk of in-
jury!
WARNING
● All the occupants of the car - in particular children - must wear a seat belt
when the car is moving.
● Children who are less than 1.50 m in height and who weigh less than 36 kg
must not use a normal seat belt without a child restraint system, otherwise
this may result in injuries to the stomach and neck areas. Comply with the na-
tional legal requirements.
● One should never carry children, and also not babies! - on one's lap.
● You can transport a child safely in a suitable child safety seat ⇒
 page 149,
Child seat!
● Only one child may be fastened with a seat belt into a child safety seat.
● Never leave the child sitting unattended in the seat.
● Certain outside climatic conditions can cause life-threatening tempera-
tures in the vehicle.
● Never allow your child to be transported in a vehicle without the use of a
suitable restraint system.
● Children should also never stand up in a vehicle or kneel on the seats
when the vehicle is moving. In the event of an accident the child will be
thrown through the vehicle and may as a result suffer fatal injuries, and also
injure other occupants. £ 147
Transporting children safely Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Child safety and side airbag
Children must never be seated in the deployment area of the side
airbags and head airbags.
Fig. 131 Seated position of an unprotected child at risk from side airbag/Child properly pro-
tected by safety seat
In the event of a side collision, the side airbags offer the vehicle occupants en-
hanced protection.
The side airbags are inflated in fractions of a second in order to be able to provide
this protection ⇒
 page 142, Function of the side airbags.
The airbag develops such a strong force that an occupant who has not adopted an
upright seated position may suffer injuries from the airbag or as a result of objects
which are located within the deployment area of the side airbag.
This applies particularly to children if they are not transported in accordance
with legal requirements.
The child is protected when seated in a child safety seat matching its age. Ade-
quate room is available between the child and the deployment area of the side
airbag and head airbag. The airbag offers optimal protection. WARNING
● It is essential to always switch off ⇒ page 145
the front passenger airbag
when attaching a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the
child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also
when the child is facing the direction of travel). If this is not done, there is a
risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger
airbag is deployed. When transporting a child on the front passenger seat,
please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of
child safety seats.
● When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply with
the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
● Children must never be seated with their head in the deployment area of
the side airbag - risk of injury!
● Do not place any objects within the deployment area of the side airbag -
risk of injury! 
Child seat Classification of child seats into groups Only child safety seats which have an official approval and are suit-
able for the child, may be used.
ECE-R 44 standard applies to child safety seats. ECE-R means: Economic Commis-
sion for Europe - Regulation.
Child safety seats which have been tested for conformity to ECE-R 44 standard
have a non-detachable test seal (a large E within a circle and below this the test
number) attached to the seat.
Child safety seats are classified in 5 groups: Group Weight
0 0 - 10 kg ⇒ page 150
0+ up to 13 kg ⇒ page 150
1 9 - 18 kg ⇒ page 150
2 15 - 25 kg ⇒ 
page 151 3 22 - 36 kg ⇒ 
page 151 £ 149
Transporting children safely Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Children who are more than 1.50 m in height or who weigh more than 36 kg can
use normal seat belts without a seat bolster. 
Use of child seats An overview of the usefulness of child seats on each of the seats according to the
ECE-R 44 standard: Child seat
of the group Front passenger
seat Rear seat
outside Rear seat
middle 0 U

+ U

+
T U
0+ U

+ U

+
T U
1 U

+ U

+
T U
2 and 3 U U U
Universal category - seat is suitable for all approved types of child safety
seats.
The seat can be fitted with fixing eyes for the

“ISOFIX ”system.
The divided rear seat - seat can be fitted with fixing eyes for the system “ Top
Tether” ⇒ page 153, Attaching child seat using the “Top Tether” system. 
Child seats of group 0/0+ Fig. 132 Child seats of group 0/0+
The optimal solution for babies of up to about 9 months old weighing up to 10 kg
or children up to about 18 months old weighing up to 13 kg is a child safety seat
which is fastened in the opposite direction of travel ⇒

 fig. 132.
U +
T Child seats in which the child is facing with its back towards the direction of
travel should not be used on the front passenger seat when the vehicle is fitted
with a front passenger airbag
⇒

 page 148, Use of child safety seats on the front
passenger seat. WARNING
● It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag at a special-
ist garage or with the switch for front passenger airbag when attaching in ex-
ceptional circumstances a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where
the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel ⇒

 page 146, Switch
for the front passenger airbag.
● Please comply with any differing national legal regulations regarding the
use of child safety seats.
● If this is not done, a child seated on the front passenger seat may suffer
severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag or airbags are de-
ployed.
● You should have the front passenger airbag (or airbags) reactivated just as
soon as you no longer use a child safety seat on the front passenger seat. 
Child safety seats in Group 1 Fig. 133 Child seat with padded table in
Group 1 installed on rear seat bench fac-
ing the direction of travel
Child seats in Group 1 are for babies and small children up to 4 years of age with a
weight of between 9 and 18 kilograms. It is best for children in the lower range of
this group, to use a child seat which allows the child to sit with its back to the di-
rection of travel. It is best for children in the upper range of the Group 0+, to use a
child seat which allows the child to sit ⇒ fig. 133 in the direction of travel. £150
Transporting children safely

Do not drive with winter tyres all year round for this costs about 10 % more fuel.
Winter tyres are also louder.

No unnecessary ballast Transporting ballast costs fuel.
The fact that every kilogram of extra weight increases your fuel consumption
means that it is worth taking a look in the luggage compartment to avoid trans-
porting any unnecessary ballast.
It is particularly in town traffic, when one is accelerating quite often, that the vehi-
cle weight will have a significant effect upon the fuel consumption. A rule of
thumb here is that an increase in weight of 100 kilograms will cause an increase in
fuel consumption of about 1 litre/100 kilometres.
You may frequently also leave a roof rack fitted on just out of convenience, al-
though you no longer need it. The increased aerodynamic drag of your vehicle
causes it to use about 10 % more fuel than normal at a speed of 100 - 120 km/h,
even when you are not carrying a load on the roof. 
Saving electricity Generating electricity costs fuel.
– Switch off electrical components as soon as you no longer need them.
When the engine is running, the alternator generates and supplies electrical pow-
er. If more electrical components of the electrical system are switched on, more
fuel is needed to operate the alternator. 
Keeping a log of your fuel consumption If you really wish to keep a close check on your
fuel consumption, it is best to en-
ter the figures in a logbook. This does not take much time but is a very worthwhile
exercise. It enables you to detect any change (positive and negative) at an early
stage and to take any appropriate action.
If you find that your fuel consumption is too high, you should reflect on how,
where and in what conditions you have driven the vehicle since you last refuelled. Environmental compatibility Environmental protection has played a major role in the design, selection of mate-
rials and manufacture of your new ŠKODA. Particular emphasis has been paid to a
number of aspects, including:
Design measures
● Joints designed to be easily detached.
● Simplified disassembly due to the modular structure system.
● Improved purity of different classes of materials.
● Identification of all plastic parts in accordance with VDA Recommendation
°260.
● Reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emission CO
2.
● Minimum fuel leakage during accidents.
● Reduced noise.
Choice of materials
● Extensive use of recyclable material.
● Air conditioning filled with CFC-free refrigerant.
● No cadmium.
● No asbestos.
● Reduction in the “vaporisation” of plastics.
Manufacture
● Solvent-free cavity protection.
● Solvent-free protection of the vehicle for transportation from the production
plant to the customer.
● The use of solvent-free adhesives.
● No CFCs used in the production process.
● Without use of mercury.
● Use of water-soluble paints. £ 165
Driving and the Environment Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Towing a trailer
Technical requirements Your vehicle is designed primarily for transporting persons and luggage. It can,
however, also be used for towing a trailer - provided certain technical equipment
is fitted.
If your vehicle has been
factory-fitted with a towing device or has a towing device
from ŠKODA Original Accessories, then the towing device satisfies all technical
and legal requirements.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin power socket for the electrical connection be-
tween the vehicle and trailer. If the trailer which you wish to tow has a 7-pin con-
nector, you can use a suitable adapter from
ŠKODA Original Accessories.
This work must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's specifica-
tions if a towing device is retrofitted.
Authorised ŠKODA Service Partners can provide detailed information about retro-
fitting a towing device and for any necessary modifications to the cooling system. WARNING
We recommend that you have the towing device from ŠKODA Original Acces-
sories installed by an authorised
ŠKODA Service Partner. He is familiar with all
the relevant details relating to retrofitting such equipment. There is a risk of
an accident if the towing device is not properly fitted! 
General Maintenance Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must on no account be exceeded.
You can negotiate appropriately steeper inclines and descents if you do not make
full use of the permissible trailer load.
The trailer loads specified only apply for
altitudes up to 1000 metres above mean
sea level. The fact that the engine power output drops with increasing height due
to a lowering of air pressure and thus the ability to climb, means that the towed
weight must be reduced by 10 % for every further increase of 1 000 metres in height above sea level. The towed weight is the weight of the (laden) vehicle and
the (laden) trailer together. One should take this into account before driving up to
higher altitudes.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing device
are merely test data for the towing device The data relating to your vehicle,
which is often less than this test data, can be found in your vehicle registration
documents.
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that any heavy items are located as
close as possible to the axle. Secure the items to prevent them slipping.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for that of

“fully laden”
⇒  page 192. The inflation pressure of the tyres fitted to the trailer adjust in ac-
cordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. Both exterior mirrors
should be attached to folding arms. Adjust the mirrors so that they provide you
with an adequate field of view to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights.
Alter the setting as necessary with the aid of the headlight beam adjuster
⇒  page 49.
Detachable ball head
The ball head is detachable on vehicles with towing device and can be obtained
from ŠKODA Original Accessories. It is stowed together with separate fitting in-
structions in the spare wheel well in the luggage compartment of the vehicle. Note
● We recommend that you also have your vehicle inspected between service in-
tervals if you tow a trailer frequently.
● The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and de-
coupling the trailer. 168
Towing a trailer