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95
Transporting
Transporting
Driving tips Introduction
Always transport heavy loads in the luggage compartment and place the
seat backs in a vertical position. Never overload the vehicle. Both the carry-
ing capacity as well as the distribution of the load in the vehicle have ef-
fects on the driving behaviour and braking ability ⇒
.
Additional information and warnings:
● Rear lid ⇒ page 39
● To lower the front passenger seat back ⇒ page 54
● Light ⇒ page 82
● Luggage compartment ⇒ page 98
● Roof carrier ⇒ page 104
● Wheels and tyres ⇒ page 210
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly secured objects can cause serious injury in case
of a sudden manoeuvring or breaking or in case of an accident. This is es-
pecially true when objects are struck by a detonating airbag and fired
through the vehicle interior. To reduce the risks, please note the follow-
ing:
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Always keep equipment and heavy
objects in the luggage compartment.
WARNING (Continued)
● Always secure objects with suitable rope or slings so that they cannot
enter the deployment areas around the frontal or side airbags in case of
sudden braking or an accident.
● Always ensure that objects inside the vehicle cannot move into the
deployment area of the bags while driving.
● While driving, always keep object compartments closed.
● Remove all objects from the front passenger seat when this is fol-
lowed down. When the seat backrest is folded down, it presses on small
and light objects and these are detected by the weight sensor on the
seat; this sends false information to the airbag control unit.
● While the backrest of the front passenger seat is folded, the frontal
airbag must remain disconnected and the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
light on.
● Objects secured in the vehicle should never be placed in such a way
as to make passengers sit in an incorrect position.
● If secured objects occupy a seat then this should not be occupied or
used by anybody.
WARNING
The driving behaviour and braking ability change when transporting
heavy and large objects.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic and
weather conditions.
● Accelerate gently and carefully.
● Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
● Brake early.
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96Transporting
Transporting a load
Secure all objects in the vehicle
●Distribute the load throughout the vehicle and on the roof as uniformly
as possible.
● Transport heavy objects as far forward as possible in the luggage com-
partment and lock the seat backs in the vertical position.
● Check the headlight adjustment ⇒ page 82.
● Use the suitable tyre pressure according to the load being transported.
Read the tire inflation information label ⇒ page 210.
CAUTION
Objects on the shelf could chafe against the wires of the heating element in
the heated rear window and cause damage.
Note
Please refer to the notes on loading the roof carrier ⇒ page 104.
Driving with the rear lid open
Driving with the rear lid open creates an additional risk. Secure all objects
and secure the rear lid correctly and take all measures possible to reduce
toxic gases from entering the vehicle.
WARNING
Driving with the rear lid unlocked or open could cause serious injuries.
● Always drive with the rear lid closed.
WARNING (Continued)
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Loose items could fall out of the ve-
hicle and injure other road users or damage other vehicles.
● Drive particularly carefully and think ahead.
● Avoid sudden manoeuvres and braking given that this could cause an
uncontrolled movement of the open rear lid.
● When transporting objects that protrude out of the luggage compart-
ment, indicate them suitably. Observe legal requirements.
● If objects must project out of the luggage compartment, the rear lid
must never be used to “secure” or “attach” objects.
● If a baggage rack is fitted on the rear lid, it should be removed before
travelling with the rear lid open.
WARNING
Toxic gases may enter the vehicle interior when the rear lid is open. This
could cause loss of consciousness, carbon monoxide poisoning, serious
injury and accidents.
● To avoid toxic gases entering the vehicle always drive with the rear lid
closed.
● In exceptional circumstances, if you must drive with the rear lid open,
observe the following to reduce the entry of toxic gases inside the vehi-
cle:
–Close all windows.
– Disable air recirculation mode.
– Open all of the air outlets on the instrument panel.
– Switch on the blower to maximum.
CAUTION
An open rear lid changes the length and height of the vehicle.
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97
Transporting
Driving a loaded vehicle
For the best handling when driving a loaded vehicle, note the following:
● Secure all objects ⇒ page 96.
● Accelerate gently and carefully.
● Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
● Brake early.
● If necessary, read the instructions for driving with a roof carrier system
⇒ page 104.
WARNING
A sliding load could considerably affect the stability and safety of the ve-
hicle resulting in an accident with serious consequences.
● Secure loads correctly so they do not move.
● When transporting heavy objects, use suitable ropes or straps.
● Lock the seat backs in vertical position.
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98Transporting
Loading luggage compartment
Introduction
Always transport heavy loads in the luggage compartment and place the
seat backs in a vertical position. Never overload the vehicle. Both the carry-
ing capacity as well as the distribution of the load in the vehicle have ef-
fects on the driving behaviour and braking ability ⇒
.
Additional information and warnings:
● Airbag system ⇒ page 65
● Light ⇒ page 82
● Transporting ⇒ page 95
● Wheels and tyres ⇒ page 210
WARNING
When the vehicle is not in use or being watched, always lock the doors
and the rear lid to reduce the risk of serious injury or death.
● Do not leave children unwatched, especially when the rear lid is open.
Children could climb into the luggage compartment, close the rear lid
from inside and be unable to escape themselves. This could lead to seri-
ous injury or death.
● Never allow children to play in or around the vehicle.
● Never transport people in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly secured objects can cause serious injury in case
of a sudden manoeuvring or breaking or in case of an accident. This is es-
pecially true when objects are struck by a detonating airbag and fired
through the vehicle interior. To reduce the risks, please note the follow-
ing:
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Always keep equipment and heavy
objects in the luggage compartment.
● Always secure objects with suitable rope or straps so that they can-
not enter the deployment areas around the frontal or side airbags in case
of sudden braking or an accident.
● While driving, always keep object compartments closed.
● Do not place hard, heavy or sharp objects inside the vehicle interior,
in open storage compartments, the rear shelf or on the dash panel.
● Remove hard, heavy and sharp objects from clothes and pockets in-
side the vehicle and store securely.
WARNING
The transport of heavy object changes vehicle handling and increases
braking distance. Heavy loads that have not been stored or secured cor-
rectly could cause loss of control and result in serious injury.
● The vehicle handling changes when transporting heavy objects due
to a change in the centre of gravity.
● Distribute the load as uniformly and as low down on the vehicle as
possible.
● Store heavy objects in the luggage compartment as far from the rear
axle as possible.
CAUTION
Hard objects on the rear shelf could chafe against the wires of the heating
element in the heated rear window and cause damage.
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99
Transporting
Note
The ventilating slits between the heated rear window and the rear shelf
must not be covered so that used air can escape from the vehicle.
Folding and lifting up the rear seat bench backrest
Fig. 67 Rear seat: unlock
button A; red marking
B
The rear seat backrest can be folded forward to extend the luggage com-
partment.
Folding the rear seat backrest forwards
● Push the head restraint down as far as it will go or remove it if necessary
⇒ page 47 and store it in a safe place.
● Pull the unlock switch
⇒ Fig. 67 A
forwards whilst simultaneously lift-
ing the rear seat backrest.
● The rear seat backrest is not engaged when the red marking of the but-
ton B
is visible.
● If the rear seat backrest is folded, people (including children) are not
permitted to travel in the rear folded seats. Folding up the rear seat backrest
●
Lift back the backrest of the rear seat and push it firmly into the lock un-
til it clicks securely into place ⇒
.
● The red marking on the unlock button B must not be seen.
● Make sure that the backrest of the rear seat is securely locked in posi-
tion so that the seat belts can provide proper protection in the rear seats.
● If necessary, install and adjust the head restraints again ⇒ page 47.
WARNING
Folding and lifting the backrests of the rear seats carelessly without pay-
ing attention could cause serious injury.
● Never fold or lift the seats while driving.
● Do no trap or damage seat belts when raising the seat backrest.
● Keep hands, fingers, feet and other limbs away from the range of the
rear seat backrests when folding and lifting them.
● All seat backrests must engage correctly for the seat belts on the rear
seats to work properly. When the backrest of an occupied seat is not cor-
rectly locked in place, the passenger can be thrust forward with the rear
seat backrest in case of sudden braking, sudden manoeuvres or an acci-
dent.
● A red signal on the button B
warns that the backrest is not engaged.
Always check that the red marking is not visible when the backrest of the
rear seat is in the upright position.
● No seat must be occupied if the backrest of the rear seat is folded or
not correctly engaged.
CAUTION
Before folding the seat backrest of the rear seat, adjust the front seats so
that the head restraint or seat backrest do not hit them when it is folded. If
necessary, remove the head restraints ⇒ page 47 and store them safely.
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100Transporting
Rear shelf*
Fig. 68 In the luggage
compartment: removing
and installing the rear
shelf
You may put light items of clothing on the rear shelf. Check that the rear
view is not limited.
Lifting up the rear shelf
Lift up the rear shelf and secure it into the side locks ⇒ Fig. 68 1
. Check
that it is correctly engaged. To lower the rear shelf, press it until it is re-
leased from the locks.
Removing the shelf
Pull the rear shelf upwards, removing it from the side supports 2
.Lifting up the rear shelf
Press the rear shelf downwards into the side supports
2
.
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly secured objects or animals on the rear shelf
could cause serious injuries in case of a sudden manoeuvre or braking or
even an accident.
● Do not leave hard, heavy or sharp objects (loose or in bags) on the
rear shelf.
● Never transport animals on the rear shelf.
● Never drive with the rear shelf raised. Always lower it or remove it be-
fore the journey.
CAUTION
To prevent the rear shelf from being damaged:
● Always check that the rear shelf is firmly engaged into the side supports.
● Regulate the height of the load in the luggage compartment to ensure
the rear shelf does not press down on the load with the rear lid closed.
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101
Transporting
Luggage compartment variable floor
Fig. 69 A: Open the luggage compartment varia-
ble floor. B: raised luggage compartment variable
floor.
Fig. 70 C: extending the luggage compartment
downwards D: extending the luggage compart-
ment forwards.
Raising and lowering the luggage compartment floor
● To raise the floor, raise handle ⇒ Fig. 69 1
in the direction of the arrow
and pull from the floor upwards ⇒ Fig. 69 .
● To lower it , guide the floor downwards. Extending the luggage compartment downwards
●
Raise the luggage compartment floor and push it downwards in the rail
⇒ Fig. 70 (arrows)
● Place the variable floor over the floor lining.
● If necessary, fold the backrest of the rear seat forwards ⇒ page 99.
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102Transporting
Extending the luggage compartment forwards
● Disassemble the luggage compartment tray ⇒ page 100.
● Disassemble the rear headrests ⇒ page 47.
● Fold the backrest of the rear seat forwards ⇒ page 99.
● If necessary, expand the luggage compartment downwards.
CAUTION
Do not let the luggage compartment floor fall when closing it. Always care-
fully guide it downwards in a controlled manner. Otherwise, the lining and
the floor of the luggage compartment could be damaged.
Fastening rings*
In the front part of the luggage compartment, there may be fastening rings
to secure the luggage.
In order to use the fastening rings, they must be lifted beforehand.
WARNING
If unsuitable or damaged belts or retaining straps are used, they could
break in the event of braking or an accident. Objects could then be
launched across the passenger compartment and cause serious or fatal
injuries.
● It is important to always use belts or retaining straps that are suita-
ble and in a good condition.
● Belts and retaining straps should be securely fastened to the fasten-
ing rings.
● Objects in the luggage compartment that are unsecured could move
suddenly and modify the handling of the vehicle.
WARNING (Continued)
● Small and light objects must also be secured.
● The maximum tensile load of the fastening ring for securing objects
should never be exceeded.
● A child seat should never be secured with the fastening rings.
Note
● The maximum tensile load that the fastening rings can support is 3.5
kN.
● Belts and securing systems for the appropriate load can be obtained
from specialised dealerships. SEAT recommends visiting a SEAT dealership
for this.
Retaining hooks
Fig. 71 In the luggage
compartment: retaining
hooks
There may be hooks in the upper left and right part of the luggage compart-
ment.