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.
Trade-in and recycling of old cars
ŠKODA meets the requirements of the brand and its products regarding environ-
ment and resource protection. All new
ŠKODA vehicles can be utilized up to 95 %
and always 1)
be returned. In a lot of countries sufficient trade-in networks have £1)
Subject to fulfilment of the national legal requirements. 166
Driving and the environment
WARNING
● Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance - risk of accident!
● Avoid sudden and severe braking manoeuvres immediately after driving
through bodies of water.
● After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and
dried as soon as possible by intermittent braking. Only apply the brakes for
the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions per-
mit this. Do not place any other road users in jeopardy. CAUTION
● When driving through bodies of water, parts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, catalytic converter, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.
● Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permissi-
ble water level for your vehicle.
● Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water making it difficult or im-
possible to drive through the body of water.
● Do not drive through salt water. The salt can lead to corrosion. Immediately
rinse all the parts of the vehicle, which came into contact with the salt water, with
fresh water. Note
After driving through a body of water, we recommend that the vehicle is checked
by a specialist garage.
Off-road driving Important information WARNING
● Never drive too fast, particularly not around curves, and never undertake
extreme driving manoeuvres.
● Always adjust your speed and adapt your style of driving to suit road, off-
road, traffic and weather conditions. WARNING (Continued)
● In case the vehicle is stationary on a hillside at a steep angle, do not exit
the vehicle when it is facing downhill. Through this the overall centre of gravi-
ty can shift in such a way that the vehicle tilts and rolls down the hillside -
hazard! Always carefully exit your vehicle on the side facing uphill
⇒ page 174
.
● A lack of experience and knowledge when driving off-road can lead to criti-
cal situations and serious injuries.
● Never choose a dangerous route and never take a risk which could jeop-
ardize 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. Even a ter-
rain, which looks harmless, can be difficult and dangerous, and may bring you
and your passengers into a critical situation.
● If you have not fastened your seat belt correctly or you are not wearing
your seat belt at all, or you are holding the steering wheel incorrectly when
driving off-road, the risk of severe or even fatal injuries increases. Correctly
fastened seat belts reduce serious injuries in case of sudden braking manoeu-
vers and accidents. As long as the vehicle is in motion, always have your seat
belt and those of your passengers correctly fastened. Take your thumbs off
the steering wheel when driving off-road. Should resistance build up in front
of the wheels, the steering wheel may suddenly and unexpectedly spin and
hurt you. Hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the outer edge in
the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position.
● If you have not fastened your seat belt correctly or you are not wearing
your seat belt at all, or you are holding the steering wheel incorrectly when
driving off-road, the risk of severe or even fatal injuries increases.
● Correctly fastened seat belts reduce serious injuries in case of sudden
braking manoeuvres and accidents. Therefore you and your passengers must
always fasten your seat belts correctly as long as the vehicle is moving.
● Take your thumbs off the steering wheel when driving off-road. If the
wheels hit an obstacle, the steering wheel may suddenly and unexpectedly
spin and hurt you!
● Never use the cruise control system when driving off-road. The use of the
cruise control system when driving off-road is unsuitable and can even be
dangerous.
● Do not drive over embankments, ramps or hillsides at too high a speed.
This can lead to the wheels of the vehicle lifting off the ground so that you
can no longer steer and control the vehicle. £168
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
Driving and the environment Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data
–
Engage the reverse gear and carefully drive backwards in your own tracks.
– Press the foot brake in order to maintain a constant speed.
Downhill
– Switch on the Off-road mode ⇒ page 160 .
– Shift into first gear or select the first driving stage, while in the Tiptronic
mode, to drive downhill on steep hillsides in order to use the Downhill Drive
Support to its maximum.
– Press the foot brake gently, so you do not lose the control over your vehicle.
– If it is feasible and safe, drive straight down (maximum gradient).
– Do not release the clutch or shift into Neutral. WARNING
● Never attempt to drive uphill or downhill if it is too steep for your vehicle.
The vehicle could slip or roll over - risk of accident!
● Never attempt to make a turn on a hillside. The vehicle could tilt or roll
over. This can result in serious accidents.
● If the engine cuts out on a slope or you can no longer go on for whatever
other reason, then stop!
● Never let the vehicle roll down the hillside at idling speed. You can lose the
control over your vehicle.
● If the engine cuts out, press the foot brake and restart the engine. Engage
the reverse gear and carefully drive backwards in your own tracks. Use the en-
gine braking power and press the foot brake in order to maintain a slow and
constant speed.
● Observe the important guidelines ⇒ page 168. Driving at an angle on a hillside Fig. 149 Steer and maintain your trajectory/in direction to exit - facing uphill
Driving at an angle on a hillside is one of the most dangerous situations while
driving off-road. It may look harmless, but you must never underestimate the diffi-
culties and the dangers when driving at an angle on a hillside. Basically you should
avoid moving your vehicle into a sideways position on a hillside. Under certain cir-
cumstances, the vehicle can slide away uncontrollably or roll over.
Check before driving in a tilted position, whether there is a different and safer
route. If you have to drive in a tilted position, then the ground should be as firm
and even as possible. Note that the vehicle may slide sideways or sink in and roll
over when driving on slippery or soft ground. Make sure that the inclination is not
too steep when driving over surface irregularities. Otherwise, the vehicle can roll
over and then roll down the hillside.
If the vehicle is at a very steep angle, the wheels on the low side must not sink
deeply into the ground or into troughs and you must not drive over stones, tree
stumps or other obstructions with the alternate raised wheels.
If there is a risk your vehicle may tilt, steer immediately in direction of dip
⇒ fig. 149 and lightly depress the accelerator. The centre of gravity of the vehicle
should be as low as possible. Distribute the weight of all the occupants of the ve-
hicle evenly. Taller and heavier people should be seated on the raised side of the
vehicle. The luggage on the roof should be removed and secured, as the vehicle
could tilt by a sudden shifting of the luggage.
A passenger, seated at the rear, should always remain seated on the seat facing
up the hill during such a journey. In an extreme case, the passenger on the rele-
vant side must exit the vehicle until you have safely crossed the hillside. £174
Driving and the environment
Driving through sand
Do not reduce
the tyre inflation pressure. If you nevertheless reduce the inflation
pressure, do not forget to re-establish the correct tyre inflation pressure level be-
fore you continue driving. Driving with a reduced tyre inflation pressure increases
the risk that you lose control over your vehicle and that the vehicle rolls over.
Driving through mud
Do not change speed or direction when you drive through the mud. The tyres can
lose their grip in the mud. If the vehicle slides, you must steer in the appropriate
direction in order to regain control over the vehicle. WARNING
● Driving through mud can be dangerous. The vehicle can slide uncontrolla-
bly which causes an increased risk of injury. Adopt a particularly cautious style
of driving. Pay attention to the information and warning notes.
● An incorrect tyre inflation pressure may cause a major or fatal accident! An
incorrect tyre inflation pressure may result in bursting of a tyre, which causes
the vehicle to get out of control.
● Observe the important guidelines ⇒ page 168.
Stuck vehicle If you can no longer drive on ...
–
Carefully dig out all the wheels and make sure that no other parts of the vehi-
cle are stuck in the sand.
– Engage reverse gear.
– Gently depress the accelerator and try to drive backwards in your own track.
– Place scrub, footmats or a sackcloth directly in front of the tyres in order to im-
prove the road adherence and thus achieve an improved traction to drive out.
Rocking out vehicle
– Switch off the TCS ⇒ page 155.
– Set the steering wheel straight.
– Drive so far back until the wheels just begin to spin.
– Quickly shift into first gear and drive forwards until the wheels begin to spin. –
Drive back and forth repeatedly until the momentum is sufficient to free the
vehicle.
– Switch on the TCS.
A few tips
– Ensure that the Off-road mode is switched on ⇒ page 160.
– Avoid prolonged spinning of the wheels, otherwise the vehicle would still sink
deeper into the ground.
– Remove mud, dirt and stones from the tread of the tyre.
You need training and experience if you wish to rock out a vehicle. If you make a
mistake, the vehicle can still sink in further and you can only free it with the help
of others. WARNING
Observe the important guidelines ⇒
page 168.
After driving off-road Check the vehicle for damage after driving off-road - especially on the underside
of the vehicle.
–
Switch off the Off-road mode
⇒
page 160.
– Check the tyres and the axles for damage and remove coarse dirt, stones and
foreign bodies from the tyre tread.
– Clean the turn signal lights, the headlights, the number plate and the win-
dows.
– Check the underbody of the vehicle and remove trapped objects, such as scrub
or wood pieces.
– Contact your specialist garage if you detect any damage.
– In case of thick layers of dirt, clean the radiator grille, the engine compartment
and the underbody of the vehicle. £176
Driving and the environment
Towing a trailer
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, the towing device satisfies all technical and le-
gal 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 201. 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 50.
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. 178
Towing a trailer
Driving Tips
–
Do not, as far as possible, drive with your vehicle unladen and the trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the legal maximum speeds. This applies in particular to
downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time.
– Keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if the outside temperature is
high.
Distribution of weight
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trailer
is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this
combination.
Driving speed
Do not drive faster than 80 km/hour for safety reasons. This also applies for coun-
tries in which higher speeds are allowed.
The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination reduces with
increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed should not be used when
there are unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions, particularly near acci-
dent black spots.
You must always reduce your speed immediately as soon as you detect even just
the slightest swaying of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer
from “swaying” by accelerating.
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first and then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting
from the trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating
a downhill section to allow the engine to also act as a brake.
Engine overheating
Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a
lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engine speed when the outside temperature
is very high ⇒ page 11, Coolant temperature gauge
.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area or
even the red area of the scale, reduce your speed immediately. Stop and switch
off the engine if the warning light in the instrument cluster begins flashing.
Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle
⇒ page 193, Inspecting the coolant level. Please refer to the following guidelines
⇒
page 26, Coolant temperature/Coolant
quantity .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear
and increasing the engine speed is not possible since the fan speed is independ-
ent of the engine speed. One should also not drop a gear for this reason when
towing a trailer as long as the engine can manage the slope without any drop in
speed. 179
Towing a trailer Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data