71
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
● Optimised seat belts for all seats.
● Seat belt tension devices for driver and passenger.
● Seat belt force limiters for driver and passenger.
● Seat belt warning lamp.
● Frontal airbags for driver and passenger.
● Side airbags for driver and passenger.
● Airbag control lamp .
● Control units and sensors.
● Head restraints optimised for rear-end collision.
● Adjustable steering column.
● If necessary, anchor points for child seats for the rear seats.
● Where applicable, mountings for the child seat upper retaining strap. Situations when the front and side airbags do not deploy:
●
If the ignition is switched off during the collision.
● In frontal collisions when the deceleration measured by the control unit
is too low.
● In minor side collisions.
● In rear collisions.
● In the event of the vehicle overturning.
● When the impact speed is lower than the reference value set in the con-
trol unit.
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72Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Front airbags
Fig. 47 Location and deployment area of the front air-
bag for the driver
Fig. 48 Location and deployment area of the front air-
bag for the driver
In conjunction with the seat belts, the front airbag system gives the front
occupants additional protection for the head and chest in the event of a se-
vere frontal collision. Always remain as far away as possible from the front
airbag ⇒ page 48. This way, the front airbags can completely deploy when
triggered, providing their maximum protection. The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel
⇒ Fig. 47 and
the airbag for the front passenger is located in the dash panel ⇒ Fig. 48. Air-
bags are identified by the word “AIRBAG”.
76Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Child seats (accessories)
Introduction
Before transporting babies and children in a child seat placed in the front
passenger seat, first completely read the information regarding the airbag
system.
This information is extremely important for driver and passenger safety, par-
ticularly that of babies and children.
SEAT recommends the use of child seats from the SEAT accessory pro-
gramme. These child seats have been designed and tested for use in SEAT
vehicles. You can purchase child seats with different mountings from a SEAT
dealership.
Additional information and warnings:
● Seat belts ⇒ page 57
● Airbag system ⇒ page 67
WARNING
Make sure children are properly belted in and correctly secured to avoid
severe or fatal injuries while the vehicle is in motion.
● Never use a rear-facing child seat in the front passenger seat if the
front passenger airbag is enabled.
● Children up to 12 years old should always travel on the rear seat.
● Children must always be protected with an approved child restraint
system suited to their height and weight.
● Children must assume the proper sitting position and be properly bel-
ted in while travelling.
WARNING (Continued)
● Ensure the backrest of a seat is upright when a child seat is being
used on it.
● Do not allow the child's head or other part of his or her body to enter
the deployment area of the side airbags.
● Make sure the seat belt webbing is correctly positioned.
● Never hold children or babies on your lap or in your arms.
● Only one child may occupy a child seat.
● Please read and observe the child seat manufacturer's handling in-
structions.
WARNING
An empty or loose child seat could fly uncontrollably around the vehicle
interior and cause injuries in the event of an accident or sudden braking.
● When not in use while the vehicle is in motion, always safely secure it
or store it in the luggage compartment.
Note
Replace the child seat after an accident, as it may have invisible damage.
77
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
General information on transporting children in the vehicle
Legal regulations and provisions will always take priority over the descrip-
tions of this instruction manual. There are different regulations and provi-
sions for the use of child seats and their mountings ( ⇒ table on page 77).
In some countries, for example, the use of child seats on certain seats in the
vehicle may be forbidden.
The physical principles and the forces acting on the vehicle in the event of a
collision or other type of accidents also apply to children ⇒ page 57. Howev-
er, unlike adults and youngsters, children do not have fully developed mus-
cle and bone structures. In the event of an accident, children are subject to
a greater risk than adults of sustaining severe injuries.
Given that children's bodies are not yet fully developed, child restraint sys-
tems must be used that are especially adapted to their height, weight and
constitution. There are laws in force in many countries that determine the
use of approved seat systems for transporting babies and children.
Only used authorised, approved child seats that are suitable for the vehicle.
Always consult with a SEAT dealership or a Specialised workshop should
you have any doubts.
Checklist
To transport children in the vehicle ⇒
:
¥ Observe the legal requirements specific to each country.
¥ For safety reasons, SEAT recommends that children under 12 years of
age are transported on the rear seats.
¥ Only if you have no alternative should a child travel on the front pas-
senger seat
⇒ page 79. The safest place in the vehicle is on the
rear seat behind the front passenger seat.
¥ Child must always use a child restraint system when travelling in the
vehicle. The child restraint system must be suitable for the height,
weight and constitution of the child.
¥Only one child may occupy a child seat.
¥ Follow the user instructions from the child seat manufacturer and al-
ways keep them in the vehicle.
¥ If the child seat is secured using the seat belt, guide the seat belt
through or around the child seat according to the instructions of the
child seat manufacturer.
¥ Make sure the seat belt webbing is correctly positioned and that the
child is sitting properly.
¥ The child seat should be installed on the rear seat behind the front
passenger seat so that the child can exit the vehicle on the kerb
side.
¥ Do not leave toys or other loose objects on the child seat or on the
seat while the vehicle is in motion.
Specific child seat regulations for each country (selection)
Child seats must comply with the ECE-R 44
1)
regulation. You can consult ad-
ditional information at your SEAT dealership at the internet address
www.seat.es.
Categorisation of child seats according to ECE-R 44
Weight categoryWeight of the childAgeGroup 0children up to 10 kgup to approximately. 9 months
Group 0+children up to 13 kgup to approximately. 18 months
Group 19 to 18 kgapprox. 8 months to 3 1
/2
years
Group 215 to 25 kgapprox. 3 to 7 yearsGroup 322 to 36 kgapprox. 6 to 12 years
Not all children fit in the seat of their weight group. Nor do all seats adapt to
the vehicle. Therefore, always check whether the child fits properly in the
child seat and whether the seat can be installed safely in the vehicle.
1)
ECE-R: Economic Commission for Europe Regulation.
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78Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Child seats approved under the ECE-R 44 regulation are fitted with the corre-
sponding approval symbol. The sign is an upper-case E in a circle with the
identification number below it.
WARNING
Not following the checklist prepared for your own safety could lead to ac-
cidents and severe injuries.
● Always follow the check list and perform the necessary operations.
WARNING
In general, the rear seat is always the safest place for children, who are
belted correctly, in the event of an accident.
● A suitable child seat that is correctly installed and used on one of the
rear seats offer the most protection possible for babies and children up
to 12 years in most accidents.
Different mounting systemsFig. 52 On the rear seats: figure
A shows the basic child restraint system mounting
using lower retaining rings and the upper retaining strap. Figure B shows the child
restraint system mounting using the vehicle's seat belt
Always secure child seats properly and safely in the vehicle according to the
child seat manufacturer's installation instructions.
Mounted child seats must rest correctly on the vehicle's seat and must not
move or rock more than 2.5 cm.
Child seats equipped for a Top Tether strap must also be secured using the
Top Tether retaining strap in the vehicle ⇒ page 83. Only attach the retain-
ing strap to the corresponding retaining rings. Not all rings can be used
with the Top Tether system. Always tighten the Top Tether retaining strap so
that the child seat fits snugly against the corresponding seat in the vehicle.
79
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Specific mounting systems for each country
Attachment variants ⇒ Fig. 52:
Europe: ISOFIX retaining rings and upper retaining strap ⇒ page 81
and ⇒ page 83.
Three-point seat belt and upper retaining strap ⇒ page 80.
The systems include the child restraint system mounting with an upper re-
taining strap (Top Tether) and lower anchoring points on the seat.
Use of the child seat on the front passenger seat
Transporting children on the front passenger seat is not permitted in all
countries. Furthermore, not all child seats are approved for use on the front
passenger seat. Your SEAT dealership has an updated list of all approved
child seats. Only used child seats that are approved for each vehicle.
The frontal airbag on the front passenger side is highly dangerous for a
child. The front passenger seat is life-threatening to a child if he or she is
transported in a rear-facing child seat.
If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating
airbag can strike it with such great force that severe or fatal injuries may re-
sult ⇒
. Therefore, rear-facing child seats must never be used on the front
passenger seat when the front passenger airbag is enabled.
Only use a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat if the front pas-
senger airbag is disabled. When it is disabled, the yellow PASSENGER
AIR BAG ⇒ page 67 control lamp on the dash panel will be lit. If you
cannot disable the front passenger airbag and it remains enabled, it is for-
bidden to transport children on the front passenger seat ⇒
.
A
B
Things to note if using a child seat on the front passenger seat:
●
The front passenger front airbag must be disabled when using a rear-
facing child seat ⇒ page 67.
● The backrest of the front passenger seat must be upright.
● Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.
● The backrest of the front passenger seat must be upright.
Suitable child seats
The child seat must be authorised by the manufacturer especially for use on
a front passenger seat with a frontal or side airbag.
Universal seats for children can be fitted in the front passenger seat, in
groups 0, 0+, 1, 2 or 3 according to the ECE-R 44 regulation.
WARNING
If a child seat is mounted on the front passenger seat, the risk of the
child sustaining severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident increa-
ses. Rear-facing child seats must never be mounted on the front passen-
ger seat when the front passenger airbag is enabled. This is life-threaten-
ing to the child should the frontal airbag deploy, as the child seat would
be struck by the inflated airbag and thrown against the backrest.
WARNING
If, in exceptional circumstances, a child must be transported in a rear-fac-
ing child seat on the front passenger seat, strictly observe the following:
● Always disable the front passenger airbag and leave it disabled.
● The child seat must be approved by the manufacturer for use on a
front passenger seat with frontal and side airbag.
● Follow the installation instructions of the child seat manufacturer and
observe the warnings.
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80Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
WARNING (Continued)
● Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible and adjust it to
its highest position to keep as far away as possible from the frontal air-
bag.
● Move the backrest to the upright position.
● Children must always be protected with an approved child restraint
system suited to their height and weight.
Use of the child seat on the rear seat
If a child seat is mounted on the rear seat, adapt the position of the front
passenger seat so that the child has enough space. Therefore, adapt the
front passenger seat to the size of the child seat and the height of the child.
Ensure the passenger is in the correct position ⇒ page 48.
Suitable child seats
The manufacturer must authorise the child seat for use in the rear seats with
side airbags.
Universal seats for children can be fitted in the passenger seat, in groups 0,
0+, 1, 2 or 3 according to the ECE-R 44 regulation.
The rear seats are suitable for child seats with the ISOFIX system specially
designed for this type of vehicle in accordance with regulation ECE-R 44.
ISOFIX child seats approved for rear seats
ISOFIX child seats are divided into certified categories “universal”, “semi-
universal” or “specific categories for the vehicle”.
● If the ISOFIX child seat is certified “universal”, it must be supported by
the lower anchor points and the Top Tether retaining strap.
● If the ISOFIX child seat is certified “semi-universal” or “specific catego-
ries for the vehicle”, check that the child seat is certified for the vehicle be-
fore employing it. The child seat manufacturer supplies, in addition to the ISOFIX child seat, a list of vehicles for which the corresponding ISOFIX child
seat has been certified. If necessary, contact the child seat manufacturer for
an updated list of vehicles.
Securing child seats with the seat belt
The seat belt may be used to secure child seats with the universal marking
(on the orange label) to the vehicle seats marked with a u in the table be-
low.
CategoryFront passengerRear seatsGroup 0
Up to 10 kguu
Category 0+ Up to 13 kguu
Group 1
9 to 18 kguu
Group 2
15 to 25 kguu
Group 3
22 to 36 kguu
Securing the child seat using the seat belt
● Please read and observe the child seat manufacturer's handling instruc-
tions.
● Move the front passenger seat, or the rear seat bench back as far as pos-
sible and, in the case of an adjustable backrest, set it in the upright posi-
tion ⇒ page 48.
● Positioning the child seat on the seat according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
● Fasten the seat belt or pass it around the child seat structure in the man-
ner described in the manufacturer's instructions.
81
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
● Make sure the seat belt is not twisted.
● Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and push it
down until it is securely locked with an audible click.
● Ensure that the upper belt web lies tightly on the child seat.
● Pull the belt (it must be no longer possible to pull the lower belt web-
bing out).
Removing the child seat
The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has come to a stand-
still ⇒
.
● Press the red button on the buckle. The latch plate is released from the
buckle.
● Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim will not
be damaged.
● Remove the child seat from the vehicle.
WARNING
Unbuckling the seat belt while the vehicle is in motion can cause severe
or fatal injuries in the event of an accident or sudden braking.
● The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has come to a
standstill.
Securing the child seat using the lower anchor points (ISOFIX, LATCH)
Fig. 53 On the vehicle
seat: Identification var-
iants of the anchor points
for the child seats Each seat of the rear seat bench has
two retainers named lower anchor
points.
Overview of ISOFIX installation
In compliance with the European directive ECE 16, The following table de-
tails the installation possibilities for ISOFIX child seats with the lower an-
chor points in each of the vehicle seats.
The allowed body weight for the child seat or information regarding size A
to G is indicated on the label on the child seat with certification “universal”
or “semi-universal”.
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