54Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Seat functions
Introduction
Additional information and warnings:
● Adjust the seat position ⇒ page 47
● Seat belts ⇒ page 56
● Airbag system ⇒ page 65
● Child seats (accessories) ⇒ page 74
● Exterior mirrors ⇒ page 93
WARNING
Inappropriate use of the seat functions can cause severe injuries.
● Assume the proper sitting position before your trip and remain in it
throughout. This also applies to the other occupants.
● Keep hands, fingers, feet and other limbs away from the seat operat-
ing and adjustment radius.
Seat heating*
Fig. 34 In the centre
console: Front seats
heating switch
The front seat cushions can be heated electrically when the ignition is
switched on.
Switch off seat heating if there is nobody in the seat.
effectAction ⇒ Fig. 34To switch system on:Press button . Seat heating is switched on fully.
All warning signals light up.
Adjusting the heating
output:Press the button again to adjust the desired
heat.
To switch system off:Keep pressing button until all of the lights are
switched off.
56Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Seat belts
Introduction
Check the condition of all the seat belts at regular intervals. If you notice
that the belt webbing, fittings, retractor mechanism or buckle of any of the
belts is damaged, the belt must be replaced immediately by a specialised
workshop ⇒
. The specialised workshop must use the appropriate spare
parts corresponding to the vehicle, the equipment and the model year. SEAT
recommends visiting a Technical Service.
Additional information and warnings:
● Adjust the seat position ⇒ page 47
● Airbag system ⇒ page 65
● Child seats (accessories) ⇒ page 74
● Accessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 222
WARNING
Unbuckled or badly buckled seat belts increase the risk of severe or even
fatal injuries. The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if it is not fas-
tened and used correctly.
● Seats belts are the most effective ways of reducing the risk of sus-
taining severe or fatal injuries In the event of an accident. Seat belts
must be correctly fastened when the vehicle is in motion to protect the
driver and all vehicle occupants.
● Before each trip, every occupant in the vehicle occupants must sit
properly, correctly fasten the seat belt belonging to his or her seat and
keep it fastened throughout the trip. This also applies to other vehicle
occupants when driving in town.
WARNING (Continued)
● When travelling, children must be secured in the vehicle with a child
restraint system suitable for their weight and height and with the seat
belts correctly fastened ⇒ page 74.
● Instruct your passengers to fasten their seat belts properly before
driving off.
● Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and en-
sure it is engaged. Using the latch plate in the buckle of another seat will
not protect you properly and may cause severe injuries.
● Do not allow liquids or foreign bodies to enter the buckle fastenings.
This could damage the buckles and seat belts.
● Never unbuckle your seat belt when the vehicle is moving.
● Never allow more than one passenger to share the same seat belt.
● Never hold children or babies on your lap sharing the same seat belt.
● Loose, bulky clothing (such as a jacket) impairs the proper fit and
function of the seat belt.
WARNING
It is extremely dangerous to drive using damaged seat belts and could re-
sult in serious injury or loss of life.
● Avoid damaging the seat belt by jamming it in the door or the seat
mechanism.
● If the fabric or other parts of the seat belt are damaged, the seat belts
could break in the event of an accident or sudden braking.
● Always have damaged seatbelts replaced immediately by seat belts
approved for the vehicle in question by SEAT. Seat belts which have been
worn in an accident and stretched must be replaced by a specialised
workshop. Renewal may be necessary even if there is no apparent dam-
age. The belt anchorage should also be checked.
● Never attempt to repair, modify or remove a seat belt yourself. All re-
pairs to seat belts, retractors and buckles must be carried out by a speci-
alised workshop.
65
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Airbag system Introduction
Front airbags have been installed for both driver and passenger. The front
airbags can also protect the chest and head of driver and passenger if the
seats, seat belts head restraints and, for the driver, the steering wheel are
correctly adjusted and used. Airbags are considered as additional safety
equipment. An airbag cannot replace the seat belt, which must be worn at
all times, even in front seats where front airbags have been installed.
Additional information and warnings:
● Driving tips ⇒ page 25
● Correct sitting position ⇒ page 47
● Seat belts ⇒ page 56
● Child seats (accessories) ⇒ page 74
● Care and cleaning of the vehicle interior ⇒ page 205
● Accessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 222
● Notes for the user ⇒ page 233
WARNING
Never exclusively trust the airbag system as a means of protection.
● Even when triggered, airbag protection is only auxiliary.
● The airbags provide the best protection when the seat belts are prop-
erly fastened, thus reducing the risk of sustaining injuries ⇒ page 56,
Seat belts.
● Before each trip, every occupant must sit properly, correctly fasten
the seat belt belonging to his or her seat and keeping it fastened
throughout the trip. This rule is valid for all vehicle occupants.
WARNING
Occupants sitting in the front of the vehicle must never carry any objects
in the deployment space between them and the airbags, as this increa-
ses the risk of sustaining injuries if the airbag is triggered. This modifies
the airbag deployment space or the objects may fly uncontrollably and
hit your body.
● Never carry objects in your hand or on your lap while the vehicle is in
motion.
● Never transport objects on the front passenger seat. In the event of
sudden braking and manoeuvres, the objects may end up in the airbag
deployment space and fly uncontrollably around the interior if the airbag
is activated.
● Occupants of the front and rear seats must never carry any other peo-
ple, pets or objects in the deployment space between them and the air-
bags. Make sure children and other passengers also respect this recom-
mendation.
WARNING
The airbag system provides protection for one accident only. If they have
been deployed, they must be replaced.
● Ensure deployed airbags and the system components involved are im-
mediately replaced with new, SEAT-approved components for the vehicle.
● Have any repairs or modifications carried out at a specialised work-
shop. Specialised workshops have the necessary tools, diagnostics
equipment, repair information and qualified personnel.
● Never fit recycled or reused airbag components in your vehicle.
● Never modify the airbag system components.
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical specifications
68Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
WARNING
In the event of a fault in the airbag system, the airbag may not trigger
correctly, may fail to trigger or may even trigger unexpectedly, leading to
severe or fatal injuries.
● Have the airbag system checked immediately by a specialised work-
shop.
● Never mount a child seat in the front passenger seat or remove the
mounted child seat! The front passenger front airbag may deploy during
an accident in spite of the fault.
CAUTION
Always pay attention to any lit control lamps and to the corresponding de-
scriptions and instructions to avoid damage to the vehicle.
Description and function of the airbag
The airbag can protect vehicle occupants in the event of an accidents, cush-
ioning the movement of the occupants in the direction of the collision in
frontal and side accidents.
Deployed airbags fill with a propellant gas. This causes the airbag covers to
break and the airbags to deploy extremely quickly in their entire deploy-
ment space within fractions of a second. When an occupant with the seat
belt properly fastened puts pressure on the inflated airbag, the propellant
gas escapes to absorb the force of the impact and slow the movement. This
reduces the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Airbag deployment does not
mean that other types of injury such as swelling, bruising and skin injuries
can be ruled out. Upon deployment of the airbag, friction can cause the
generation of heat.
Airbags do not protect the arms or the lower part of the body. The most important factors for triggering the airbag are the type of accident,
the angle of impact, the vehicle speed and the characteristics of the object
the vehicle hits. Therefore, airbags are not triggered every time the vehicle
is visibly damaged.
The activation of the airbag system depends on the magnitude of the decel-
eration of the vehicle caused by a collision, which registers through an elec-
tronic control unit. If the deceleration magnitude value is below the refer-
ence value programmed in the control unit, the airbags will not deploy de-
spite serious damage being caused to the vehicle by the accident. Damage
suffered by the vehicle, reparation costs or absence of damage suffered
from the accident are not indications of whether an airbag should have
been deployed. Due to the varying nature of collision situations, it is impos-
sible to define a speed range of the vehicle and reference values. For this
reason, it is not possible to cover all types of collisions and collision angles
resulting in the deployment of the airbag. Factors necessary for the airbag
to be deployed can be, the characteristics of the object (hard or soft)
against which the vehicle collides, the collision angle and the vehicle
speed.
Airbags act in conjunction with three-point seat belts in the event of certain
accidents, when the vehicle deceleration rate is severe enough to trigger
the airbags. Airbags only deploy once and only under certain circumstan-
ces. Seat belts remain present to offer protection in situations where air-
bags are not triggered or where they have already deployed. For example,
when a vehicle hits another after an initial collision or is hit by another vehi-
cle.
The airbag system is an integral part of the car's passive safety system. The
airbag system can only work effectively when the vehicle occupants are
wearing their seat belts correctly and have adjusted the head restraints
properly
⇒ page 47.
Vehicle safety components
The following safety equipment makes up the vehicle safety design to re-
duce the risk of severe and fatal injuries. Depending on the vehicle equip-
ment, some equipment may not be fitted in the vehicle or may not be avail-
able in some markets.
69
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
● Front 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.
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical specifications
71
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
When the front airbags are triggered they fill the zones marked in
red ⇒ Fig. 47 and ⇒ Fig. 48 (radius of action). Therefore, objects should
never be placed or mounted in these areas ⇒
, Factory-fitted accessories
are outside the range of the front airbag for the driver and the front passen-
ger, e.g. the baseplate for the mobile phone support.
The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel ⇒ Fig. 47 or dash panel
⇒ Fig. 48 when the driver and front passenger airbags are triggered. The air-
bag covers remain connected to the steering wheel or the dash panel.
WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the front airbags vacant.
● Never secure objects to the covers or in the deployment area of the
airbag modules, e.g. drink holders or phone supports.
● The deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags
must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.
● Never fix any object to the windscreen above the front airbag on the
front passenger side.
● Do not alter, cover or stick anything to the steering wheel hub or the
surface of the airbag module on the passenger side of the dash panel.
WARNING
Front airbags are deployed in front of the steering wheel ⇒ Fig. 47 and
the dash panel ⇒ Fig. 48.
● When driving, always hold the steering wheel on the outer edge of
the ring with both hands: 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position.
WARNING (Continued)
● Adjust the driver seat so that there is a distance of at least 25 cm
(10 inches) between the centre of your chest and the hub of the steering
wheel. If you physical constitution prevents you from meeting these re-
quirements, make sure you contact a specialised workshop.
● Adjust the front passenger seat so there is as much distance as possi-
ble between the front passenger and the dash panel.
Deactivating and activating the front passenger front
airbag using the key switch
Fig. 49 On front passen-
ger side: key switch for
disabling and enabling
the front passenger front
airbag
The front passenger front airbag must be disabled when a rear-facing child
seat is mounted.
Disabling the front passenger front airbag
● Switch the ignition off.
● Open the door on the front passenger side.
● Unfold the key shaft ⇒ page 28.
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical specifications
72Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
● Using the vehicle key, turn the key switch to OFF ⇒ Fig. 49.
● Close the door on the front passenger side.
● The PASSENGER AIR BAG control lamp on the dash panel will re-
main lit while the ignition is switched on ⇒ page 67.
Activating the front passenger front airbag
● Switch the ignition off.
● Open the door on the front passenger side.
● Unfold the key shaft ⇒ page 28.
● Using the vehicle key, turn the key switch to ON ⇒ Fig. 49.
● Close the door on the front passenger side.
● Check that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF control lamp on the dash
panel does not light up ⇒ page 67 while the ignition is switched on.
How to know whether the front passenger front airbag is disabled
Disabling of the front passenger airbag is only indicated by the PASSENGER
AIR BAG control lamp that remains lit on the dash panel ( re-
mains yellow) ⇒ page 67.
If the control lamp on the dash panel does not remain lit or is lit in
combination with the control lamp on the instrument panel, a child re-
straint system cannot be mounted on the front passenger seat for safety
reasons. The front passenger front airbag may deploy during an accident.
WARNING
The front passenger front airbag must only be disabled in special cases.
● Disable and activate the front passenger front airbag when the igni-
tion is switched off to avoid damage to the airbag system.
● It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that the key operated switch
is set to the correct position.
WARNING (Continued)
● Only disable the front passenger front airbag when a child seat is to
be mounted under exceptional circumstances.
● As soon as the child seat is no longer needed on the front passenger
seat, reconnect the front passenger front airbag.
74Ensuring 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 56
● Airbag system ⇒ page 65
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 front 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 seat backrest 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 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
the child seat or store it in the luggage compartment.
Note
Replace the child seat after an accident, as it may have invisible damage.