14Safe driving
Correct adjustment of front seat head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of
passenger protection and can reduce the risk of injuries in
most accident situations.
Fig. 3 Correctly adjusted
head restraint viewed
from the front
Fig. 4 Correctly adjusted
head restraint viewed
from the side Adjust the head restraint correctly in order to achieve maximum
protection.
–
Adjust the head restraint so that its upper edge is at the same
level as the top of your head, or as close as possible to the
same level as the top of your head and, at the very least, at eye
level. ⇒ Fig. 3 and ⇒ Fig. 4.
Adjusting the head restraints ⇒ page 109
WARNING
● Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted
increases the risk of severe injuries.
● Incorrectly adjusted head restraints could result in death in the event
of a collision or accident.
● Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.
● The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the height
of the passenger.
Active head restraints*
Vehicle occupants are pressed into their seats during a rear end collision.
The resulting body pressure on the seat backrest activates the active head
restraint* on the front seat, which moves rapidly forwards and upwards at
the same time. This movement reduces the distance between the occu-
pant's head and the head restraint, thus reducing the risk of head injuries
such as brain trauma.
30Seat belts
Seat belt tensioners
Function of the seat belt tensioner
During a frontal collision, the seat belts on the front seats
are retracted automatically.
The seat belts for the occupants in the front seats are equipped with belt
tensioners. Sensors will only trigger the belt tensioners during severe head-
on, lateral and rear collisions, and only if the seat belt is actually being
worn. This retracts and tightens the seat belts, reducing the forward motion
of the occupants.
The seat belt tensioner can be triggered only once.
The seat belt tensioners will not be triggered in the event of a light frontal,
side or rear collision, if the vehicle overturns or in situations where no large
forces act on the front, side or rear of the vehicle.
Note
● If the seat belt tensioners are triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is
normal and it is not an indication of fire in the vehicle.
● The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or
components of the system are scrapped. Specialised workshops are famili-
ar with these regulations, which are also available to you.
Service and disposal of belt tensioners
The belt tensioners are components of the seat belts that are installed in
the seats of your vehicle. If you work on the belt tensioners or remove and
install parts of the system when performing other repair work, the seat belt
may be damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an acci-
dent, the belt tensioners function incorrectly or not at all. So that the effectiveness of the seat belt tensioner is not reduced and that
removed parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution, regula-
tions, which are known to the specialised workshops, must be observed.
WARNING
● Improper use or repairs not carried out by qualified mechanics in-
crease the risk of severe or fatal injuries. The belt tensioners may fail to
trigger or may trigger in the wrong circumstances.
● Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the belt ten-
sioners or seat belts.
● The seat belt tensioner, seat belt and automatic retractor cannot be
repaired.
● Any work on the belt tensioners and seat belts, including the removal
and refitting of system parts in conjunction with other repair work, must
be performed by a specialised workshop only.
● The belt tensioners will only provide protection for one accident and
must be changed if they have been activated.
38Airbag system
Side airbags*
Description of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.
Fig. 20 Side airbag in
driver seat
The side airbags are located in the backrest cushions of the driver seat
⇒ Fig. 20 and the front passenger seat as well as in the rear seats. The loca- tions are identified by the text “AIRBAG” in the upper region of the backr-
ests.
Together with the seat belts, the side airbag system gives the front seat oc-
cupants additional protection for the upper body in the event of a severe
side collision ⇒ page 40, Safety notes on the operation of the side airbagsystem.
In a side collision, the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to passengers
on the front seats to the areas of the body facing the impact. In addition to
their normal function of protecting the occupants in a collision, the seat
belts also hold the passengers on the front seats and the outer rear seats in
a position where the side airbags can provide maximum protection. The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but it is an integral part
of the vehicle's overall passive safety system. Please bear in mind that the
airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are wearing
their seat belts. Therefore, it is most important to wear the seat belts at all
times, not only because this is required by law in most countries, but also
for your safety
⇒ page 20, Brief introduction.
The side airbag system will not be triggered if:
● the ignition is switched off
● there is a minor side collision
● there is a frontal collision
● there is a rear-end collision
● the vehicle turns over
The main parts of the airbag system are:
● an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit)
● the side airbags in the sides of the backrests of the front and rear seats
● a control lamp on the dash panel ⇒ page 33
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag control
lamp will light up for approx. 4 seconds every time the ignition is switched
on (self-diagnosis).
WARNING
● In a side-on collision the side airbags will not work if the sensors do
not correctly measure the pressure increase on the interior of the doors,
due to air escaping through the areas with holes or openings in the door
panel.
● Never drive the vehicle if the interior panels have been removed.
● Never drive if the interior door panels have been removed or if the
panels have not been correctly fitted.
39
Airbag system
WARNING (Continued)
● Never drive the vehicle if the loudspeakers in the door panels have
been removed, unless the holes left by the loudspeakers have been cor-
rectly closed.
● Always check that the openings are closed or covered if loudspeakers
or other equipment are fitted in the interior door panels.
● Any work carried out to the doors should be made in an authorised
workshop.
● The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if
the occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 10, Sitting position for vehicle
occupants.
● If a fault has occurred in the airbag system, have the system checked
immediately by a specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a side colli-
sion, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.
Operation of side airbags
Inflated airbags can reduce the risk of head or chest injury
in many side impact collisions.
Fig. 21 Illustration of
principle: completely in-
flated side airbags on left
side of vehicle
In some side collisions, the side airbag is triggered on the impact side of
the vehicle ⇒ Fig. 21.
In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas.
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within thousandths of a second, to
provide additional protection in the event of an accident. A fine dust may
develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indication
of fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the occupants of the
front seats and the outer rear seats and help to reduce the risk of injury to
the upper body.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
110Seats and storage
Head restraints cannot be moved up or down or removed on sports
seats.
Adjusting height
–Take hold of the sides of the head restraint and pull upwards.
– To lower the hear restraint, press button A
⇒ Fig. 73 while
pushing the head restraint downwards.
Fitting and removing head restraints on front seats
– Push the head restraint up as far as it will go.
– Press catch A
⇒ Fig. 73 and remove the head restraint.
– To refit, insert the head restraint into the holes in the backrest,
pushing it down until it engages.
Fitting and removing head restraints on rear seats
– Push the head restraint up as far as it will go.
– Press catch 1
⇒ Fig. 73 while pressing on the catch in hole 2with a max. 5 mm flat-headed screwdriver and remove the head
restraint.
– To refit, insert the head restraint into the holes in the backrest,
pushing it down until it engages.
For maximum head restraint protection, adjust the head restraint so that its
upper edge is at the same level as the top of your head.
The head restraint must be adjusted in line with the height of users. Correct
adjustment of the head restraint, together with the seat belts, ensure effec-
tive passenger protection ⇒ page 10.
WARNING
● Badly adjusted head restraints increase the risk of injuries in the
event of an accident.
● Never drive with the head restraints removed. Risk of injuries!
● If the seats are in use, never drive with the rear head restraints in
their out-of-use position.
Rear seats
Folding the rear backrest
Fig. 74 Unlocking the backrest
111
Seats and storage
Folding
– Before folding the rear seats, adjust the position of the front
seats so that they cannot be damaged by the rear seats 1)
.
– Insert the seat belt latch plate into hole A
⇒ Fig. 74 located on
the corresponding side of the vehicle – safety position.
– Press the lock button B
to unlock the backrest and fold it for-
wards.
Returning to the initial position
– Where the head restraint has been removed, insert it into the
backrest when partially raised.
– Push the backrest backwards to its original position until the
lock button engages – check that it is locked by pulling on the
backrest ⇒
.
– Make sure the red protruding part C
is not visible.
WARNING
● Once the backrests have been lifted, the seat belts and their buckles
must be in their initial position – ready for use.
● The backrests must be safely locked to ensure any items in the lug-
gage compartment cannot move around the interior of the vehicle in the
event of a sudden braking manoeuvre. Risk of injuries!
● Make sure the rear backrests are correctly locked. Only then will the
three-point automatic seat belt on the rear central seat work correctly.
CAUTION
Take care when handling the rear backrests so as not to damage the seat
belts. The seat belt must never be left behind the lifted backrest.
Armrest on rear seats
Fig. 75 Rear seats: arm-
rest
The armrest can be folded away for greater comfort using the handle
⇒ Fig. 75.
1)
When the front seats are adjusted to the rear position, their head restraints should be re-
moved before folding the backrests on the rear seats. Store the removed head restraints in
such a way that they cannot be soiled or damaged.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
115
Seats and storage
Rear shelf
Fig. 80 Removing the
shelf
Fig. 81 Removing the
shelf
The shelf can be removed if a large load is to be transported.
Removing the shelf
– Remove the straps from the shelf 1
⇒ Fig. 80.
– Remove the shelf from its housing 2
by knocking it gently from
underneath between the supports. Fitting the shelf
–
Place the shelf on the side supports on the trim.
– Adjust the shelf supports 3
⇒ Fig. 81 to fit the supports 2 in
the trim.
– Fit into place by knocking the top of the shelf gently between
the supports.
– Attach the straps 1
to the tray.
WARNING
Do not place objects on the rear shelf that could endanger the vehicle oc-
cupants in case of a sudden braking manoeuvre or an accident.
CAUTION
● The rear shelf supports a maximum load of 1 kg.
● If handled incorrectly, the tray could bend on closing the rear lid and be-
come damaged or damage the trim. Follow the instructions below.
–The shelf supports 3
⇒ Fig. 81 must be securely in place in the trim
supports 2.
– The size of the load must not exceed the height of the shelf.
– When open, the shelf must not be bent against the shelf seal.
– There must be no objects in the space between the open shelf and
the backrest of the rear seat.
Note
The shelf will lift when the rear lid is opened.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
116Seats and storage
Roof carrier*
Introduction
WARNING
● The load on the roof carrier must be properly secured. Risk of acci-
dent!
● Always secure the load using retaining straps in good condition.
● Distribute the load evenly.
● When transporting heavy or large objects on the roof, any change in
the normal vehicle behaviour due to a change in the centre of gravity or
an increased wind resistance must be taken into account. Risk of acci-
dent! For this reason, a suitable speed and driving style must be used.
● Avoid sudden manoeuvres and braking.
● Adjust your driving style to suit visibility, the weather and road and
traffic conditions.
● Never exceed the allowed axle loads or allowed maximum weight.
Risk of accident!
CAUTION
● Only use SEAT-authorised roof carriers.
● Where roof carriers from other systems are used or where they are not
fitted properly, any damage caused to the vehicle will not be covered by the
warranty. Therefore, carefully follow the Instruction Manual for installation
of the roof carrier.
● On vehicles fitted with a sliding sunroof, make sure it does not hit the
load on the roof when opened
● Remember that the rear lid must not hit the roof load.
● The total height of the vehicle increases according to the roof load. Com-
pare the height of the vehicle with the heights of bridges or, for example,
the size of the garage door. ●
Do not forget to remove the roof carrier before entering an automatic
carwash.
● Take into account that the load must not damage the aerial located on
the roof.
For the sake of the environment
The increased air resistance means that the vehicle uses more fuel.
Attachment points
Fig. 82 Basic roof carrier attachment points
Location of the basic roof carrier attachment points ⇒ Fig. 82.
rear attachment points
front attachment points
Install and remove following the instructions given.
CAUTION
Follow the instructions given in the manual.
A
B