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.
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.
75
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 75).
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 56. 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 77. 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 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 car 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 0up to 10 kgup to approximately. 9 months
Group 0+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 Comission for Europe Regulation.
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76Ensuring 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 re-
straint system mounting using the vehicle 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 81. 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.
77
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 79
and ⇒ page 81.
Three-point seat belt and upper retaining strap ⇒ page 78.
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 front 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 trans-
ported in a rear-facing child seat.
If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating
front airbag can strike it with such great force that severe or fatal injuries
may result ⇒
. Therefore, rear-facing child seats must never be used on
the front passenger seat when the front passenger front airbag is enabled.
Only use a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat if the front pas-
senger front airbag is disabled. When it is disabled, the yellow PASSENGER
AIR BAG ⇒ page 65 control lamp on the dash panel will be lit. If you
cannot disable the front passenger front airbag and it remains activated, it
is forbidden 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 65.
● The seat backrest of the front passenger seat must be upright.
● The front passenger seat must be moved as far back as possible.
● The seat 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 front 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 front airbag is enabled. This is life-
threatening to the child should the front airbag deploy, as the child seat
would be struck by the inflated airbag and thrown against the seat back-
rest.
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 front airbag and leave it disabled.
● The child seat must be approved by the manufacturer for use on a
front passenger seat with front and side airbag.
● Follow the installation instructions of the child seat manufacturer and
observe the warnings.
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78Ensuring 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 front airbag.
● Move the seat 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 47.
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 47.
● 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.
● Make sure the seat belt is not twisted.
80Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Group (weight category)
Group 0: up to 10 kgGroup 0: up to 10 kgGroup 1: 9 to 18 kgGroup 0+: up to 13 kg
Installation directionfacing backwards
(in the direction oppo- site to travel)facing backwards
(in the direction opposite to trav- el)facing backwards
(in the direction oppo- site to travel)facing forwards
(in the direction of travel)
SizeFGCDECDABB1installed on front passenger seatSeat does not have anchor points, it is not possible to secure with ISOFIX/LATCHInstalled on the rear seat benchIL-SUIL-SUIL-SUIUF/IL-SU
IL-SU: seat suitable for installing an ISOFIX child seat with certification
“semi-universal”, take note of the list of vehicles of the manufacturer of the
child seat.
IUF: seat suitable for the installation of an ISOFIX child seat with certifica-
tion “universal” and with Top Tether retaining strap.
Child seats with rigid mounting
For the installation of a child seat with rigid mounting auxiliary introduction
elements can be used. Using auxiliary introduction elements facilitates in-
stallation and protects upholstery. Auxiliary introduction elements form part
of the supply volume of the child seat or can be acquired at a SEAT dealer-
ship. If necessary, auxiliary introduction elements are inserted in both an-
chor points of the vehicle ⇒
.
● Observe the manufacturer's instructions when installing and removing
the child seat ⇒
.
● Press the child seat onto the retaining rings ⇒ Fig. 53 in the direction of
the arrow. The child seat must be safely engaged and click audibly into
place.
● Pull on both sides of the child seat to ensure that it is secure. Child seat with adjustable retaining straps
●
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when installing and removing
the child seat ⇒
.
● Place the child seat on the seat cushion and attach the retaining strap
hooks to the retaining rings ⇒ Fig. 53.
● Tighten the straps evenly using the corresponding adjustment device.
The child seat must sit flush against the vehicle seat.
● Pull on both sides of the child seat to ensure that it is secure.
WARNING
The lower anchor points for child seats do not include rings. Only secure
booster seats to lower anchor points.
CAUTION
● To avoid making permanent marks in the padding, remove the auxiliary
introduction elements from the anchor points when the child seat is not in-
stalled in the vehicle anchor points.
● To prevent damage being done to the upholstery, the padding or the
auxiliary introduction elements, always remove the auxiliary introduction el-
ements from the anchor points before folding the rear seat bench.
81
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Securing a child seat using a Top Tether retaining strap
Fig. 54 Example of an
upper retaining strap
connected.
● Observe the manufacturer's instructions when installing and removing
the child seat ⇒
.
● Unlock the seat backrest and fold it gently forward
⇒ page 54.
● Remove the head restraints situated behind the child seat and store
them safely in the vehicle ⇒ page 47.
● Guide the upper retaining strap from of the child seat back to the lug-
gage compartment, feeding it through the seat backrest and the rear shelf.
● Fold back the seat backrest and push it firmly into the lock.
● Secure the child seat to the lower anchor points
⇒ page 79
● Hook the upper retaining strap in the luggage compartment, to the cor-
responding retaining ring ⇒ Fig. 54.
● Tighten the strap so that the top of the child seat rests on the seat back-
rest.
WARNING
Child seats with lower anchor points and with an upper retaining strap
must be installed in line with the manufacturer's instructions. Failure to
comply could result in severe injuries.
● Always secure just one retaining strap to a child seat with the lug-
gage compartment retaining ring.
● Always use the correct retaining rings for the retaining strap.
● Never secure the retaining strap to a retainer.
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