
Ignition lock
Fig. 63 
Positions of the vehicle key in
the ignition lock
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings   on page 68.
Petrol engines
Ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Diesel engines Fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine switched off, the steer-
ing can be locked.
Heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
Starting engine
To  lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel
until the steering locking pin engages audibly.
If the  steering is locked and the key cannot or can only be turned with difficulty
into the position  2
 » Fig. 63, move the steering wheel back and forth and the
steering lock will unlock. ÐStarting engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings   on page 68.
Vehicles with a diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The pre-
glow warning light   comes on after the ignition has been switched on. The en-
gine should be started immediately after the preglow warning light goes out.
ä 1
2
3
1
2
3
ä You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Procedure for starting the engine
› Before starting the engine, place the gearshift lever into neutral or place the se-
lector lever in the position  P or N  and firmly put on the handbrake.
› Fully depress and hold the clutch pedal, switch on the ignition  2
 » Fig. 63 on
page 70 and start  3
 – do not operate the accelerator. Depress the clutch pedal
until the engine starts.
› Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts. After letting go, the vehicle key
will return to position  2
.
› If the engine does not start within 10
 seconds, abort the start-up process and
turn the key to position  1
. Repeat the start-up process after approx. half a mi-
nute.
› Release the handbrake before starting off. Ð Switching off the engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings   on page 68.
Switch off the engine by turning the ignition key into position  1
 » Fig. 63 on
page 70. Ð Brakes and brake assist systems
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information for braking 71
Handbrake 72
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 72
Antilock brake system (ABS) 73
Traction control (ASR) 73
Electronic differential lock (EDL) 73
£
ä
70 Using the system    

Faults in the brake surface
If it is found that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that the
brake pedal can be depressed further, the brake system may be faulty. Visit a
ŠKODA specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropriate-
ly as you will not know how great the damage is.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system. The
level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically 
» page 17, Brake system .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running. ÐHandbrake
Fig. 64 
Centre console: Handbrake
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings   on page 70.
Apply
› Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Loosening
› Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and 
at the same time push in the locking
button  » Fig. 64 .
› Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light   lights up when the handbrake is applied, provided
the ignition is on. Ð
ä Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Fig. 65 
ESC system: TCS button
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings   on page 70.
The ESC helps to maintain control of the vehicle in situations where it is being op-
erated at its dynamic limits, such as a sudden change to the direction of travel.
The risk of skidding is reduced and your car thus offers greater driving stability
depending on the conditions of the road surface.
The direction which the driver wishes to take is determined based on the steering
angle and the speed of the vehicle and is constantly compared with the actual
behaviour of the vehicle. In the event of deviations, such as if the car starts to
skid, the ESC automatically brakes the appropriate wheel.
During an intervention of the system, the warning light   flashes in the instru-
ment cluster.
The following systems are integrated into the  electronic stabilisation control
(ESC):
› Antilock brake system (ABS),
› Traction control (TCS),
› Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
› Brake assistant (HBA)
› Hill hold control (HHC)
It is not possible to deactivate ESC. You can only use the button    » Fig. 65
 to
switch off ASR. The TCS warning light   lights up in the instrument cluster when
the TCS is switched off. £
ä
72 Using the system   

START/STOP
Fig. 69 
Dash panel: Button for the
START-STOP system
The START-STOP system helps you to save fuel while at the same time reducing
harmful exhaust emissions and CO 2 emissions.
The function is automatically activated each time the ignition is switched on.
In the start-stop mode, the engine automatically switches to the vehicle's idle
phase, e.g. when stopped at traffic lights.
Information regarding the current state of the 
START-STOP system is indicated in
the display of the instrument cluster.
Automatic engine shut down (stop phase)
› Stop the vehicle (where necessary, apply the handbrake).
› Take the vehicle out of gear.
› Release the clutch pedal.
Automatic renewed engine restart (start phase).
› Depress the clutch pedal.
Switching the 
 START-STOP system on and off
The START/STOP system can be switched on/off by pressing the button   » Fig. 69
.
When start-stop mode is deactivated, the warning light in the button lights up.
If the vehicle is in the stop phase when manually switching off the system, the
engine starts immediately.
The 
START-STOP system is very complex. Some of the procedures are hard to
check without servicing. The general conditions for the proper functioning of the
START-STOP system are listed in the following overview. Conditions for the automatic engine shut down (stop phase)
› The gearshift lever is in Neutral.
› The clutch pedal is not depressed.
› The driver has fastened the seat belt.
› The driver's door is closed.
› The bonnet is closed.
› The vehicle is at a standstill.
› The factory-fitted towing device is not electrically connected to a trailer.
› The engine is at operating temperature.
› The charge state of the vehicle battery is sufficient.
› The stationary vehicle is not on a steep slope or a steep downhill section.
› The engine speed is less than 1
 200 rpm.
› The temperature of the vehicle battery is not too low or too high.
› There is sufficient pressure in the braking system.
› The difference between the outdoor- and the set temperature in the interior is
not too great.
› The vehicle speed since the last time the engine was switched off was greater
than 3 km/h.
› No cleaning of the diesel particle filter takes place 
» page 21.
› The front wheels are not turned excessively (the steering angle is less than 3/4
of a steering wheel revolution).
Conditions for an automatic restart (start phase) › The clutch is depressed.
› The max./min. temperature is set.
› The defrost function for the windscreen is switched on.
› A high blower stage has been selected.
› The START STOP button is pressed.
Conditions for an automatic restart without driver intervention
› The vehicle moves at a speed of more than 3 km/h.
› The difference between the outdoor- and the set temperature in the interior is
too great.
› The charge state of the vehicle battery is not sufficient.
› There is insufficient pressure in the braking system.
If the driver's seat belt is removed for more than 30 seconds or the driver's door is
opened during stop mode, the engine must be started manually with the key. The
following messages in the instrument cluster display must be observed. £
77
Starting-off and Driving 

Automatic gearbox
Automatic gearbox
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Introductory information 79
Starting-off and driving 80
Selector lever positions 80
Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic) 81
Selector lever lock 81
Kickdown function 82
Dynamic shift programme 82
Emergency programme 82
Selector lever-emergency unlocking 83
WARNING
■ Do not depress the accelerator if changing the position of the selector lever
when the vehicle is stationary and the engine is running – risk of accident!
■ Never move the selector lever into position  R  or P when driving – risk of an
accident!
■ When the engine is running and the vehicle is stationary, it is necessary to
hold the car with the brake pedal in all the positions of the selector lever (ex-
cept P and N) since the power transmission is never completely interrupted,
also not when the engine is idling – the vehicle creeps.
■ The selector lever must be placed into position  P and the handbrake firmly
applied before the bonnet can be opened and work on the running engine can
be completed – risk of accident! The safety guidelines must always be ob-
served  » page 126, Engine compartment .
■ If stopping on a hill (downhill gradient), never try to maintain the vehicle sta-
tionary with the gear engaged by means of the 
 “accelerator pedal”, i.e. by let-
ting the clutch slip. This can lead to overheating of the clutch. If there is a risk
of overheating of the clutch due to overload, the clutch is opened automati-
cally and the vehicle rolls backward – risk of accident! WARNING (Continued)
■ If you have to stop on a slope, depress and hold the brake pedal to prevent
the vehicle from rolling back.
■ On a smooth or slippery road surface using the kickdown function can cause
the driven wheels to spin – risk of skidding! CAUTION
■ The double clutch on the automatic gearbox DSG is equipped with an overload
protection. If the uphill function is used when the vehicle is stationary or driving
slowly uphill, the thermal stress on the clutches is increased. ■ If the clutch system overheats, the symbol   is shown in the information dis-
play along with the message  Gearbox overheated. Stop! Owner's man.! appears.
An audible signal sounds as a warning signal. Stop the vehicle, switch off the en-
gine, and wait until the symbol   disappears – risk of gearbox damage! You can
continue your journey as soon as the symbol disappears. Ð Introductory information
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings   on page 79.
Shifting up and down through the gears is performed automatically. The gearbox
can also be switched to 
Tiptronic mode. This mode makes it possible for you to
also shift gears manually  » page 81.
The engine can only be started  when the selector lever is in position  P or N . If
the selector lever is not in the  P or N  positions when locking the steering, switch-
ing the ignition on or off or when leaving the engine on, the following message
will appear in the Information display  Move selector lever to position P/N! or, in
the instrument cluster display:   P/N .
At temperatures below -10 °C the engine can only be started in the selector lever
position P.
When parking on a level road surface, it suffices to engage selector lever position
P. When parking on a slope, the handbrake should be applied firmly before the
park position is selected. This ensures that there is no excessive pressure on the
lock mechanism and that it is subsequently easier to move the selector lever out
of position  P. £
ä
79
Automatic gearbox     

Communication
Mobile phones and two-way radio systems
ŠKODA permits the operation of mobile phones and two-way radio systems with
a professionally installed external aerial and a maximum transmission power of
up to 10 watts.
Please refer to a ŠKODA Service Partner for information about the possibilities of
installing and operating mobile phones and two-way radio systems that have a
transmission power of more than 10
 W.
Operating mobile phones or two-way radio systems may interfere with the func-
tionality of the electronic systems in your vehicle.
The reasons for this are as follows:
› no external aerial;
› external aerial incorrectly installed;
› transmission power greater than 10 watts. WARNING
■ Concentrate fully at all times on your driving! As the driver you are fully re-
sponsible for road safety. Use the telephone system only to such an extent
that you are in full control of your vehicle at any time.
■ The national regulations for using a mobile phone in a vehicle must be ob-
served.
■ If a mobile phone or a two-way radio system is operated in a vehicle without
an external aerial or an external aerial which has been installed incorrectly,
this can increase the strength of the electromagnetic field inside the vehicle. ■ Two-way radio systems, mobile phones or mounts must not be installed on
airbag covers or within the immediate deployment range of the airbags.
■ Never leave a mobile phone on a seat, on the dash panel or in another area,
from which it can be thrown during a sudden braking manoeuvre, an accident
or a collision – risk of injury.
■ In the event of air transport, the Bluetooth ®
 function for the hands-free sys-
tem must be switched off by a specialist garage. Note
■ We recommend that the installation of mobile phones and two-way radio sys-
tems in a vehicle be carried out by a ŠKODA
 Service Partner.
■ Not all mobile phones that enable Bluetooth ®
 communication are compatible
with the universal telephone preinstallation GSM
  II. You can ask an authorised
ŠKODA Service Partner whether your telephone is compatible with the universal
telephone preinstallation GSM II. ■ The range of the Bluetooth ®
 connection to the hands-free system is restricted
to the vehicle interior. The range is dependent on local factors, e.g. obstacles be-
tween the devices and mutual interferences with other devices. If your mobile
phone is in a jacket pocket, for example, this can lead to difficulties when estab-
lishing a connection with the hands-free-system or transferring data. Ð Universal telephone preinstallation GSM II
Introductory information
The universal telephone preinstallation GSM
  II (hands-free system) includes a
convenience mode for the mobile phone via voice control, the multifunction
steering wheel, the radio or navigation system.
The universal telephone preinstallation GSM II comprises the following functions. › Phone Phonebook » page 85.
› Convenience operation of the telephone via the multifunction steering
wheel  » page 85 .
› Operation of the telephone via the information display 
» page 87.
› Voice control of the telephone 
» page 87.
› Music playback from the telephone or other multimedia units 
» page 89.
All communication between a mobile phone and your vehicle's hands-free system
is established with the help of Bluetooth ®
 technology. Note
The following guidelines must be observed  » page 84, Mobile phones and two-
way radio systems. Ð
84 Using the system    

Phone Phonebook
A phone phonebook is part of the hands-free system. This phone phonebook can
be used depending on the type of mobile phone.
After the first connection of the telephone, the system begins to load the phone
book from the phone and the SIM card into the memory of the control unit.
Each time the telephone has established a new connection with the hands-free
system, an update of the relevant phone book is performed. The updating can
take a few minutes. During this time the phone book, which was stored after the
last update was completed, is available. Newly stored telephone numbers are on-
ly shown after the updating has ended. The update is interrupted if a telephone event (e.g. incoming or outgoing call,
voice control dialogue) occurs during the updating procedure. After the telephone
event has ended, the updating starts anew.
The internal phonebook provides 2
 500 free memory locations. Each contact can
contain up to 4 numbers.
If the number of contacts loaded exceeds 2 500, the phone book is not complete. ÐOperating the phone on the multifunction steering wheel
Fig. 73 
Multifunction steering wheel:
Mobile phone operation The driver can set the basic functions of the telephone by simply operating the
buttons located on the steering wheel so that he can concentrate on the traffic
situation without being distracted as little as possible by operating the tele-
phone 
» Fig. 73.
This applies only if your vehicle has been equipped with the universal telephone
preinstallation (hands-free system) at the factory.
If the side lights are switched on, the buttons and the symbols   and   on the
multifunction steering wheel are illuminated.
Button Action Operation1
Press briefly
Accept call, terminate call, entry in the main menu of the telephone, list of selected numbers1 Press button for a long period
of time Reject call, last dialled number
a)
, switch on/off voice control b)2
Press briefly
Switch on/off voice control2
Turn upwards
Increase volume2
Turn downwards
Decrease volumea)
Valid for vehicles with the Amundsen+ navigation system.
b) Valid for vehicles without the Amundsen+ navigation system. Ð
85
Communication 

›
It is recommended to speak louder at higher speeds, so that the tone of your
voice is louder than the increased surrounding noise.
› During the dialogue, limit additional noise in the vehicle, e.g. passengers talking
at the same time.
› Do not speak, if the system makes an announcement.
The microphone for voice control is inserted in the moulded headliner and direc-
ted to the driver and front passenger. Therefore the driver and the front passen-
ger can operate the equipment.
Entering a phone number
The telephone number can be entered as a continuous series of individually spo-
ken digits (the whole number at once) or in the form of digital blocks (separated
by short pauses). After each order of digits (separation through brief voice pause)
all of the digits detected up to now are repeated by the system.
The digits  0 – 9, symbols  +, , #  are permitted. The system detects no continuous
digit combinations such as twenty-three, but only individually spoken digits (two,
three).
Switching on voice control
By briefly pressing the button  2
 on the multi-function steering wheel 
» page 85,
Operating the phone on the multifunction steering wheel .
Switching off voice control
If the system is currently playing a message, you will need to end the message
currently being played by briefly pressing the button  2
 on the multi-function
steering wheel.
If the system expects a voice command, you can end the dialogue yourself:
› with the 
CANCEL voice command;
› by briefly pressing the button  2
 on the multifunction steering wheel.
Note
■ The dialogue of an incoming call is immediately interrupted.
■ The voice control is only possible in vehicles fitted with a multi-function steer-
ing wheel with telephone control. Ð Voice commands
Basic voice commands Voice command Action
HELP After this command the system repeats all possible
commands.
CALL XYZ This command calls up the contact from the phone
book.
PHONE BOOK After this command, for example, the phone book
can be repeated back to you, a voice entry for the
contact can be updated or deleted, etc.
CALL HISTORY Lists of dialled numbers, missed calls, etc.
DIAL NUMBER After this command, a telephone number can be en-
tered to establish a connection with the requested
party.
REDIAL After this command the system calls the last dialled
number.
MUSIC a)
Play music from the mobile phone or another paired
device.
FURTHER OPTIONS After this command the system offers additional
context-dependent commands.
SETTINGS Selection for setting Bluetooth ®
, dialogue etc.
CANCEL The dialogue is ended. a)
On vehicles fitted with the Amundsen+ navigation system, this function can be accessed via the navi-
gation system menu; refer to the operating instructions for the Amundsen+ navigation system.
If a voice command is not detected, the system answers with 
“Sorry?” and a new
entry can be completed. After the 2nd error the system repeats the aid. After the
3rd error the answer “Cancelled ” is given and the dialogue is ended.
Store voice recording of a contact
If automatic name recognition does not work reliably for some contacts, you can
choose to save your own voice entry for the contact in the menu  Phone book –
Voice Tag  – Record .
Your own voice entry can also be saved using the voice control in the menu  FUR-
THER OPTIONS . Ð
88 Using the system  

Multimedia
Music playback via Bluetooth
®
The universal telephone preinstallation GSM  II makes it possible to play back mu-
sic via Bluetooth ®
 from the devices such as MP3 player, mobile phone or note-
book.
To ensure the music can be played back via Bluetooth ®
, it is necessary to connect
the terminal device with the hands-free system in the menu  Phone – Bluetooth  –
Media player. The music playback process is performed on the connected device.
The universal telephone preinstallation GSM
  II ensures that the music played back
via the hands-free system can be controlled with the remote control  » page 88,
Voice commands . Note
The device being connected must support the Bluetooth ®
 A2DP profile; refer to
the operating instructions for the relevant device being connected. ÐOperating the radio and navigation system on the multifunction steering wheel
Fig. 74 
Multifunction steering wheel:
control buttons
The multifunction steering wheel comprises buttons for setting the basic func-
tions for the factory-fitted radio and navigation system » Fig. 74. The radio and navigation system can of course still be operated on the devices. A
description is included in the relevant operating instructions.
If the side lights are switched on, the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel are illuminated.
The buttons apply for the respective operating mode of the current radio or navi-
gation system.
The following functions can be completed by pressing or turning the buttons.
Button Action Radio, traffic information CD/MP3/Navigation1
Press briefly
Switch off/on tone1 Press button for a
long period of time Switch the unit on/off1
Turn upwards
Increase volume1
Turn downwards
Decrease volume2
Press briefly
Switch to the next stored radio station
Interruption of the traffic report Changing to the next title2 Press button for a
long period of time Search forwards
Fast forward£ 89
Communication