
Driving tips
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Stowing luggage
Driving with an open rear hatch
Driving a loaded vehicle
Weights and axle weights
Always stow heavy objects in the luggage compartment and make sure that the rear seat backrests
are securely latched. Always use the tie-downs in the luggage compartment and secure the objects
with suitable straps. Never overload the vehicle. Remember that the vehicle load, as well as how it is
distributed, can affect vehicle handling and braking ⇒ .
More information:
x Rear hatch
x Folding the passenger seat backrest forward
x Lights
x Luggage compartment
x Roof rack
x Trailer towing
x Tires and wheels
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly stowed items can fly through the vehicle, causing serious personal
injury during hard braking or sharp steering or in an accident. Loose items can also be struck
and thrown through the passenger compartment by the front airbags if they inflate. To help
reduce the risk of serious personal injury:
x Always stow all objects securely in the vehicle.
x Always keep storage compartments closed while driving.
x Do not stow hard, heavy, or sharp objects in open bins in the vehicle or on top of the
instrument panel.
x Remove hard, heavy, and sharp objects from clothing and bags in the vehicle interior and
stow securely. Always put heavy items in the luggage compartment.
x Always secure objects in the passenger compartment properly with suitable straps so that
they cannot move into the deployment area of a side or front airbag during braking, in a
sudden maneuver, or in a collision.
x Always make sure that there is nothing on the front passenger seat when the backrest is
folded forward. When the backrest is folded forward, even light objects could be pushed into
the seat cushion and cause the weight-sensing mat in the seat to register enough weight to
turn the airbag on
x Always make sure that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 9 light is on and stays on whenever
the backrest of the front passenger seat is folded forward
x Passengers must never ride in an incorrect seating position because objects are being
transported in the vehicle.
x Never let anybody sit in a seat that is blocked by objects being carried in the vehicle.

Roof rack
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Attaching the roof rack base carrier and roof rack
Securing a load on the roof rack
The roof of your vehicle has been designed to optimize aerodynamics and does not have traditional
rain gutters that are used to attach many kinds of roof racks.
Since the rain gutters are molded into the roof to provide efficient aerodynamics, only Volkswagen-
approved base carrier mounts and roof racks can be used.
When should the roof rack be removed?
x When it is no longer needed.
x Before driving through an automatic car wash.
x When the vehicle would otherwise be too high for minimum clearance to enter, for example, a
garage.
More information:
x Lights
x Transporting
x Saving fuel and helping the environment
x Tires and wheels
x Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications
WARNING
Transporting heavy or bulky loads on the roof rack will change the way the vehicle handles
by shifting the vehicle's center of gravity and increasing the wind drag.
x Always secure the load properly with suitable and undamaged straps so that the load will
not shift.
x Cargo that is large, heavy, bulky, long or flat will have a negative effect on the vehicle's
aerodynamics, center of gravity and overall handling.
x Always avoid sudden maneuvers and hard braking.
x Always adapt your speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the
vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
NOTICE
x Always remove the roof rack before driving through an automatic car wash.
x Your vehicle is higher when the roof rack is installed, especially when it is loaded. Compare
the vehicle height with existing clearance heights, such as underpasses and garage doors.
x Always make sure that the roof rack system and anything being carried on it does not
interfere with the roof antenna, the power sunroof or the rear hatch.
x Make sure that the rear hatch does not touch items on the roof rack when opened.
If a roof rack is installed, fuel consumption increases due to increased air resistance.