
WARNING
● The diesel particle filter achieves very high temperatures. Therefore do not
park at points where the hot filter comes into direct contact with dry grass or
other combustible materials - risk of fire!
● Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents
for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filter or heat shields.
When the engine reaches its operating temperature, these materials might ig-
nite – risk of fire. Note
When using diesel fuel with high sulphur content the life of the diesel particle fil-
ter is clearly reduced. A specialist garage will be able to tell you which countries
use only diesel fuel with high sulphur content.
Off-road General Fig. 141 Off-road switch
The Off-road mode comprises functions which assist off-road driving.
The following functions are integrated in the Off-road mode:
● Start-Off Assist ⇒ page 160,
● Downhill Drive Support ⇒ page 161 ,
● EDL Off-road ⇒ page 154,
● TCS Off-road ⇒ page 154,
● ABS Off-road ⇒ page 156. Switch on Off-road
The Off-road mode is switched on by pressing the button
⇒
fig. 141. The warning
light in the button lights up. The warning light lights up in the instrument cluster
if the system is switched on ⇒ page 30.
Switch off Off-road
The Off-road mode is switched off by repeated pressing of the button. The warn-
ing light in the button goes out. When switching off the ignition, the Off-road
mode is also switched off and can be switched on again, if necessary, after
switching on the ignition. If the engine is switched off by accident and restarted
within 30 seconds, the Off-road mode remains switched on.
All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve proper op-
eration of the Off-road mode. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can lead
to an undesirable reduction in the engine output. WARNING
● Always adjust your speed to suit weather, road and traffic conditions. The
increased safety must not tempt you to take a greater safety risk than other-
wise - risk of accident!
● The Off-road equipment can also not overcome the physical limits of your
vehicle.
● The effect of the Off-road equipment depends as well on the tyres.
● The Off-road equipment is not designed for the use on common roads.
Start-Off Assist The Start-Off Assist enhances the driving comfort and can be used when starting
off, in particular on a slope. When the vehicle is stationary, the Start-Off Assist is
activated after switching it on using the button for the Off-road mode ⇒
fig. 141
.
Operating principle
When depressing the accelerator pedal fully, the engine speed required for the
start-up procedure of the stationary vehicle is restricted. The overspeed trip unit
is automatically deactivated after terminating the start-up procedure. As part of
the Assist System, the accelerator pedal is adapted in its characteristics for an
easier start-off on slippery and loose soil. 160
Intelligent technology

Downhill Drive Support
Operating principle
The Downhill Drive Support maintains a constant speed on a steep downhill sec-
tion when driving forwards and backwards by automatically intervening in the
brake system of all wheels. It prevents the wheels locking because the ABS re-
mains active. The warning light in the instrument cluster indicates that the
Downhill Drive Support is available ⇒ page 30.
The vehicle speed, which is maintained by the Assist System, is selected by the
driver while driving on a downhill section as of the moment the first intervention
of the Assist System is performed or else, while driving on a downhill section, the
driver must control the vehicle speed until the Assist System intervenes for the
first time. When the Assist System actively intervenes, this is indicated by the
warning light flashing or by a pulsating movement of the brake pedal, similar to
the intervention of the ABS.
You can increase or reduce the speed, even when no gear is engaged, by operat-
ing the accelerator or brake pedal. Thus the function is always interrupted and is
reactivated afterwards.
The Downhill Drive Support is activated automatically if the following conditions
are met:
● the Off-road mode is switched on and the warning light lights up in the in-
strument cluster,
● the engine of the vehicle is running and either the 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear, the re-
verse gear or no gear is engaged,
● the engine of the vehicle is running, the selector lever of the automatic gear-
box is in the position R, N, D, S or Tiptronic,
● the speed is less than 30 km/h,
● the downhill gradient is at least 10 % (when driving over sleepers the limit can
briefly drop to 8 %),
● neither the accelerator nor the brake pedal is operated.
It is however a requirement that the vehicle has sufficient grip on the soil. The
Downhill Drive Support cannot properly fulfil its function on slushy soil due to
physical reasons (ice or mud).
The Downhill Drive Support is deactivated when braking or accelerating or if the
downhill gradient is less than 8 %. Manual gearbox
The vehicle speed is steadily regulated by the Assist System depending on the
type of gearbox or engine:
● 1. gear - approx. 8 1)
- 30 km/h
● 2. gear - approx. 13 1 )
- 30 km/h
● 3. gear - approx. 22 1 )
- 30 km/h
● Reverse gear - approx. 9 1 )
- 30 km/h
● Neutral for driving forwards - as well as driving backwards - approx. 2 1 )
- 30
km/h
Automatic gearbox
● Selector lever in the position D, S or Tiptronic (for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear) for
driving forwards - approx. 2 - 30
km/h
● Selector lever in the position R for driving backwards - approx. 2 - 30 km/h
● Selector lever in the position N for driving forwards as well as backwards - ap-
prox. 2 - 30
km/h Note
● During an intervention of the Downhill Drive Support, the brake lights do not
light up.
● Do not switch off the Off-road mode during an intervention of the Assist Sys-
tem. 1)
The indicated values represent the average of the lower speed limits if a gear is engaged (depending
on the type of gearbox or engine). 161
Intelligent technology Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

–
For vehicles with petrol engine only refuel with unleaded petrol ⇒ page 186,
Fuel.
– Never run the fuel tank completely empty.
– Do not switch off the ignition while you are driving the vehicle.
– Do not pour too much oil into the engine ⇒
page 192, Replenishing engine oil.
If you drive your vehicle in a country in which unleaded petrol is not available, you
must have the catalytic converter replaced later when driving the vehicle into a
country in which use of a catalytic converter is mandatory. WARNING
● In view of the high temperatures which may be produced in the catalytic
converter, one should always park a vehicle in such a way that the catalytic
converter cannot come into contact with easily flammable materials below the
vehicle - a risk of fire!
● Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents
for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields. Such substances
might ignite when driving - risk of fire! CAUTION
● On vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter, never let the fuel tank run com-
pletely empty. An irregular fuel supply can result in poor ignition or misfiring. Un-
burnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and damage the catalytic converter.
● Filling the tank even only once with leaded petrol will result in the catalytic
converter being destroyed.
● If you detect misfiring, a drop in performance or irregular engine running when
driving, reduce your speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected by the
nearest specialist garage. The symptoms described may be caused by a fault in
the ignition system. Unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and damage
the catalytic converter. For the sake of the environment
Even if the exhaust system is operating properly, a sulphur-like exhaust odour
may be produced under certain operating conditions of the engine. This depends
on the sulphur content of the fuel. It is often sufficient to refuel with unleaded
premium-grade petrol of a different brand or at a different filling station. Driving in an economical and environmentally
conscious manner
General Your personal style of driving is a major factor.
Your fuel consumption, any pollution of the environmental and the wear-and-tear
to the engine, brakes and tyres, depend essentially on three factors:
● your personal style of driving,
● the conditions under which your vehicle is operated,
● technical aspects.
You can easily improve your fuel economy by 10 - 15 percent by driving in an eco-
nomical way with foresight. This section is intended to provide you with a number
of tips on how to protect the environment and at the same time save money.
The fuel consumption can naturally also be influenced by factors which are be-
yond the driver's control. It is, for example, normal for the fuel consumption to in-
crease in winter and under worsened conditions such as poor road conditions,
towing a trailer, etc.
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the ve-
hicle have already been built into the vehicle at the works. Special attention has
been given to minimising negative effects on the environment. It is necessary to
take note of the guidelines given in this chapter in order to make best use of
these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness.
The optimal engine speed should be obtained when accelerating, in order to avoid
a high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.
Looking ahead when driving A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs it accelerates.
Avoid accelerating and braking unnecessarily. If you drive with foresight you will
not need to brake so often and will also then not have to accelerate so much. Let
your vehicle coast to a stop, for example, if this is possible, when you see that the
next set of traffic lights is at red. 163
Driving and the environment Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine uses an unnecessarily high amount of fuel.
Having your vehicle serviced regularly at a specialist garge enables you to satisfy
one of the requirements for economical motoring even before you set off on your
journey. Keeping your vehicle properly serviced not only has a positive effect on
the safety of your vehicle and maintaining its value, but also saves on fuel.
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fuel consumption which is 10 % higher than
normal.
The foreseen maintenance work should be undertaken exactly according to the
Service schedule by a specialist garage.
Also check the oil level after refuelling. Oil consumption is dependent to a consid-
erable extent on the load and speed of the engine. Oil consumption could be as
high as 0.5 litres/1 000 km depending on your style of driving.
It is quite normal that a new engine has a higher oil consumption at first, and rea-
ches its lowest level only after a certain running in time. It is therefore not possi-
ble to correctly assess the oil consumption of a new vehicle until after you have
driven about 5 000 km. For the sake of the environment
● You can achieve additional improvements in your fuel economy by using high-
lubricity oils.
● Check the ground below your car at regular intervals to detect any leakages in
good time. Please have your vehicle inspected by a specialist garage if you find
any stains caused by oil or other fluids on the floor. Avoid driving short distances Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption.
Fig. 144 Fuel consumption in litres/100
km at different temperatures
– Avoid driving a distance of no more than 4 km if the engine is cold.
The engine and catalytic converter must first have reached their optimal operat-
ing temperature in order to effectively reduce fuel consumption and pollutant
emissions.
The cold engine vehicle consumes approx. 15 - 20 litres/100 km of fuel immediate-
ly after starting. Fuel consumption drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre.
The engine reaches its operating temperature (outside temperature and engine
dependent) only after about 4 to 10 kilometres and the fuel consumption then
stabilizes. You should therefore avoid driving short distances whenever possible.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The
⇒ fig. 144 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance, on the
one hand at +20 °C and on the other hand at -10
°C. Your vehicle has a higher fuel
consumption in winter than in summer.
Checking tyre inflation pressures Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.
Always ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure at all times. The
rolling resistance will be increased if the tyre filling pressure is too low. This will
not only increase fuel consumption but also tyre wear and the driving behaviour
will worsen.
Always check the inflation pressure of the tyres when cold. £ 165
Driving and the environment Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

been created, where you can trade-in your vehicle. After you trade-in your vehicle,
you will receive a confirmation stating the recycling in accordance with environ-
mental regulations.
Vehicles with special built-on types
Technical documents regarding changes carried out on the vehicle must be kept
by the vehicle user, in order to hand over later to the old car user. This ensures the
recycling in accordance with environmental regulations. Note
Detailed information about the trade-in and recycling of old cars is available from
a ŠKODA Service Partner.
Motoring abroad General Other circumstances may exist abroad.
It is also possible, in certain countries, that the ŠKODA Service Partner network is
limited or has not been established yet. This is the reason why obtaining certain
spare parts may be somewhat complicated and specialist garage personnel may
only be able to make limited repairs. ŠKODA in the Czech Republic and its foreign
importers are happy to provide information about technical aspects of the vehicle,
required maintenance work and possibilities for getting repairs done.
Unleaded petrol A vehicle fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded pet-
rol
⇒ page 162
. The automobile associations can provide you with information re-
garding the locations of filling stations which offer unleaded petrol.
Headlight The low beam of your headlights is set asymmetrically. It illuminates the side of
the road on which you are driving to a greater extent. If you drive abroad on the
other side of the road, you will dazzle oncoming traffic.
In order to prevent the dazzling of oncoming traffic, it is necessary that an adjust-
ment of the headlights is carried out by a specialist garage. The adaptation of the headlights with Xenon lights (applies to vehicles which are
designed for driving on the left and on the right) is performed in the menu Set-
tings Travel mode of the information display ⇒ page 18
.
Avoiding damage to your vehicle When driving on poor roads and lanes or when driving over kerbstones, steep
ramps etc., you must pay particular attention to ensuring that any low-slung parts
of the vehicle, such as spoiler and exhaust, do not touch the ground and get dam-
aged.
This particularly applies to models with a lowered suspension (sport suspension)
and also when your vehicle is fully laden.
Driving through bodies of water on roads Fig. 145 Crossing bodies of water
In order to avoid damage to the vehicle when driving through bodies of water (e.g.
flooded roads), observe the following:
● Determine the depth of the water when driving through bodies of water. The
water can reach at the maximum the web on the lower sill of the vehicle
⇒ fig. 145 .
● Drive no more than at walking speed. At a higher speed, a water wave can
form in front of the vehicle which can cause water to penetrate into the air induc-
tion system of the engine or into other parts of the vehicle.
● Never let the vehicle stand in the water, never drive backwards and do not
switch off the engine. £ 167
Driving and the environment Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Explanation of technical terms
Fig. 146 Embankment angle/slope angle
Fig. 147 Ground clearance/ramp angle
The technical data
⇒
page 230, Angle (in degree) refer to ideal conditions. These
values may differ depending on the load and composition of the soil and the envi-
ronment. The driver is responsible to decide whether a vehicle can overcome a
certain situation.
Embankment angle (front and rear) ATransition from the horizontal plane to an upward slope or from a downward
slope back to the plane. The angle indication determines the angle at which you
can drive the vehicle down the embankment, at a slow speed, without the bumper
or the underbody of the vehicle touching the ground. Slope angle
B The difference of altitude (upward slope) which is overcome on a stretch of road
of 100 m, is indicated in percentage or degrees, i.e the gradiant at which the vehi-
cle can climb a hill on its own (among other things, depending on the road surface
and the engine power).
Ground clearance
C The distance between the road surface and the deepest point of the vehicle un-
derbody.
Ramp angle D The angle indication determines the angle at which you can drive the vehicle over
a ramp, at a slow speed, without the underbody of the vehicle touching the ramp
edge.
WARNING
When exceeding the maximum value given in the table ⇒
page 230, Angle (in
degree), this can result in serious injuries and/or vehicle damage. All of the da-
ta was determined on flat, firm and non-slip road surfaces as well as under dry
weather conditions. There are no ideal off-road conditions. Therefore, never
completely go according to the maximum values, but always leave a safety
margin.
Useful utensils Many items can be very useful when driving off-road, for example:
● compass and maps,
● torch and spare batteries,
● mobile phone or CB radio,
● tow bar or tow rope with sufficient tear strength,
● electrically driven tyre pump for connecting to the 12-volt power outlet of the
vehicle,
● a blanket and rubber boots,
● snow chains,
● a timber plank which is approximately 4 cm thick and about 1 metre long can
be used as a traction aid when the vehicle is stuck or as a base for the lifting jack,
● additional tools and a folding yardstick or a measuring tape, £170
Driving and the environment

●
spare wheel and tyre repair kit,
● shovel.
Safe off-road driving Adopt a correct seated position and always fasten the seat belt correctly. Make
sure that your front passenger and your passengers seated on the rear seats al-
ways fasten their seat belts correctly.
When driving off-road, it is perhaps more useful to adopt a slightly different seat-
ed position. Depending on the terrain, an increased force may be required to turn
the steering wheel because the force is transferred from the front wheels to the
steering wheel. You must be seated in such a way that you have good front visibil-
ity, especially when driving uphill or downhill. You must never be seated in such a
way that the distance between your chest and the middle of the airbag cover is
less than 25 cm ⇒
page 139.
Under no circumstances must you drive off-road with high heels, slippery or open
shoes. You should wear shoes which fit your feet well and allow you to get a feel
for the pedals. WARNING
Observe the important guidelines ⇒
page 168.
Before driving off-road ●
Make sure the tyres are suitable for the planned off-road journey. Before you
drive through difficult terrain, equip your vehicle with off-road tyres.
● Fill up your tank. The fuel consumption of the vehicle is much higher when
driving off-road than when driving on the road.
● Install the towing eye at the front or at the rear before driving off-road. It is
not always possible to install the towing eye if the vehicle got stuck.
● Always check the inflation pressure of all the tyres and if necessary correct it.
● Check the vehicle tool kit and supplement it according to your needs.
● Fill with engine oil up to the line A , so that the engine is sufficiently supplied
with engine oil when the vehicle is in a tilted position ⇒
page 191, Check engine
oil level.
● Top up wash fluid.
● Stow your load as low as possible in the vehicle and attach all the items which
are loose. Off-road driving ●
Never be alone when driving off-road and be prepared to encounter unexpec-
ted situations. Travel together with at least two off-road vehicles. Equipment with
which you can call for help in an emergency is particularly useful.
● Drive slowly through unclear terrain.
● You must stop when encountering difficult passages and explore the continu-
ation of the route on foot. If you cannot go on or if you doubt the safety of the
route, turn back and choose another way.
● Drive slowly over hilltops. Make sure that the wheels of the vehicle do not lift
off the ground, as this could severely damage the vehicle and it may become disa-
bled.
● Drive slowly on difficult stretches of the route. When driving on a slippery
ground, shift up into the next higher gear and make sure that the vehicle always
stays in motion. Do not drive too fast so that you don't lose control over your vehi-
cle.
● If your vehicle got stuck in sand, snow or sludge, it may be more effective to
reverse the vehicle than trying to drive forwards.
● Place stones, footmats or pieces of wood under the spinning wheels in order
to achieve traction on a sandy or slippery ground.
● Do no drive through water before reading what you must take into account
⇒ page 167.
● Keep sufficient distance from other vehicles even at low speeds. When the
first vehicle suddenly gets stuck, the following vehicle can still stop in time with-
out getting stuck itself.
● Do not plan day trips which are too far in distance.
● Do not use the cruise control system when driving off-road. It is only intended
for driving on the road. WARNING
● The intelligent engineering of your vehicle cannot overcome the physical
limits of your vehicle.
● Be very alert and look ahead when driving off-road. Excessive speed or in-
correct driving manoeuvres can cause damage to the vehicle and lead to seri-
ous injuries.
● Observe the important guidelines ⇒ page 168. £ 171
Driving and the environment Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

WARNING
Observe the important guidelines ⇒ page 168. CAUTION
● On no account drive over large objects (such as pieces of rock or tree stumps),
neither in the middle nor on one side. When driving over objects which are larger
than the ground clearance, the chassis and its components can get damaged. Your
vehicle could break down far away from any assistance.
● Even objects that are smaller than the existing ground clearance can come in-
to contact with the underbody of the vehicle and can lead to damage or failure of
the vehicle. This applies especially when there is a hollow or soft ground in front
or behind the object or if you drive too fast over the object and thus the vehicle is
deflected. For the sake of the environment
Leaking engine oil and brake fluid pollute the environment and contaminate the
bodies of water. The disposal e.g. of engine oil soaked soil can be costly.
Crossing bodies of water Particular attention is required when driving through bodies of water
⇒
page 167.
Driving through snow-covered terrain –
Before you drive through snow-covered terrain, mount snow chains on the
front wheels or on the rear wheels ⇒ page 205, Snow chains in order to ach-
ieve the best possible traction.
– Switch on the Off-road mode ⇒ page 160
.
Even harmless looking sections of terrain can be dangerous. This applies in partic-
ular for sections where no ruts or other tracks are visible. WARNING
● Driving through snow-covered terrain poses special dangers. Never choose
a dangerous route and never take a risk which could jeopardize your safety
and that of your passengers. If you cannot go on or if you doubt the safety of
the route, turn back and choose another way.
● Potholes, troughs, trenches, precipices, sheets of ice or other obstructions
are often completely or partially obscured by snow.
● The hidden dangers of snow can cause an accident, serious injuries or your
vehicle to break down under extreme weather conditions.
Driving over steep terrain Driving uphill and downhill
–
Stop the vehicle before driving uphill or downhill, exit the vehicle and explore
the situation.
– Walk a stretch and check the firmness of the soil and look for obstructions or
other hidden dangers.
– Check how the route continues beyond the slope.
– Switch on the Off-road mode ⇒ page 160
.
– Drive slowly and steadily straight uphill or downhill.
– Do not stop the vehicle on a hillside or attempt to turn around.
– You must prevent the engine from cutting out.
Driving uphill
– Check before driving over a hilltop, how it continues on the other side. If you
drive up a steep hill, the vehicle faces the sky and you cannot see what is di-
rectly in front of the vehicle.
– Switch on the Off-road mode
⇒ page 160
.
– Do not shift gears or release the clutch during the climbing phase.
– Depress the accelerator only as much as is necessary in order to handle the
slope.
If you can go no further on a slope
– Never attempt to make a turn with the vehicle on a hillside.
– If the engine cuts out, press the foot brake and restart the engine. £ 173
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