2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN Owners Manual

Driving tips

WARNING
Heavy loads will influence the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances.
Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can cause loss of control and serious
injury.
x Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
x Always remember when transporting heavy objects that a change in the center of gravity
also changes the way your vehicle handles:
– Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Secure heavy objects properly as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
– Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps using the tie-downs in the
luggage compartment.
– Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
x Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the
safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the
vehicle to skid and handle differently.
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.
x Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Stowing luggage

Driving with an open rear hatch can lead to serious personal injury. If you have to drive with an open
rear hatch, make sure that all objects and the hatch itself are properly secured and take appropriate
measures to keep toxic exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle.
WARNING
Driving with an unlatched or open rear hatch can lead to serious personal injury.
x Never transport objects larger than those fitting completely into the luggage compartment,
because the rear hatch cannot be closed properly.
x After closing the hatch, always pull up on it to make sure that it is properly closed and
cannot open suddenly when the vehicle is moving.
x Always stow all objects securely in the luggage compartment. Loose objects can fall out
of the luggage compartment and injure others on the road behind you.
x Drive carefully; anticipate what other drivers will do.
x Avoid abrupt or sudden acceleration, steering, or braking, because the unlatched rear
hatch can move suddenly.
x Always mark objects sticking out from the luggage compartment clearly for others to see.
Obey all applicable legal requirements.
x Never use the rear hatch to “clamp” or “hold” objects that stick out of the luggage
compartment.
x Always remove any luggage rack or other rack mounted on the rear hatch (along with any
luggage on the rack) before driving with an open rear hatch.
WARNING
Driving with an open rear hatch can cause poisonous carbon monoxide in the engine exhaust
to get into the passenger compartment.
x Carbon monoxide causes drowsiness, inattentiveness, poisoning, and loss of
consciousness. It can lead to accidents and severe personal injuries.
x Always keep the rear hatch closed while driving to help keep poisonous exhaust fumes
from being drawn into the vehicle.
x Never transport objects that are too large to fit completely into the luggage area, because
then the rear hatch cannot be fully closed.
x If you absolutely must drive with an open rear hatch, do the following to reduce the risk of
carbon monoxide poisoning:
– Close all windows and the power sunroof.
– Switch off the climate control system's air recirculation feature.
– Open all air vents in the instrument panel.
– Set the fresh air fan to the highest speed.
NOTICE
The open rear hatch changes the vehicle's length and height.
Driving a loaded vehicle

x Securely stow all luggage
x Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently.
x Avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
x If applicable, observe information about driving with a trailer
WARNING
Heavy loads can change the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances.
Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can shift suddenly, causing loss of
control and serious injury.
x Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
x Always remember when transporting heavy objects that they change the vehicle's center
of gravity and also the way it handles.
– Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Secure heavy objects as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
– Use your vehicle's luggage compartment tie-downs with suitable straps.
x Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps.
x Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
x Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the
safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the
vehicle to skid and handle differently.
x Always adapt 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.
x Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Weights and axle weights

x Hitch weight and tongue weight for trailer operation.
Please refer to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross front and rear Axle Weight
Ratings (GAWR) for your vehicle, which are printed on the vehicle's Safety Compliance Certification
Label on the driver door jamb.
WARNING
Exceeding maximum permissible weight ratings can result in vehicle damage, accidents, and
serious personal injury.
x Never let the actual weights at the front and rear axles exceed the permissible Gross Axle
Weight Rating. Also, never let the total of these actual weights exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating.
x Always remember that the vehicle's handling and braking will be affected by extra load
and the distribution of this load. Adjust your speed accordingly.
NOTICE
x Always distribute the load evenly and as low as possible in the vehicle. The vehicle capacity
weight figures apply when the load is distributed evenly in the vehicle (passengers and
luggage).
x When transporting a heavy load in the luggage compartment, carry the load as close to the
rear axle (as far forward) as possible so that the vehicle's handling and braking are affected as
little as possible.

Luggage compartment

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. Always put luggage and 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 zone of a side or front airbag during a sudden braking,
in a sudden maneuver, or in a collision.
x Always keep storage compartments closed while driving.
x Never stow hard, heavy, or sharp objects in the vehicle's open storage compartments, on
the shelf behind the rear seat bench, or on the top of the instrument panel.
x Always remove hard, heavy, or sharp objects from clothing and bags in the vehicle
interior and stow them securely in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
Transporting heavy objects causes the handling characteristics of the vehicle to change and
increases braking distances. Heavy loads which are not properly stowed or secured in the
vehicle can lead to a loss of vehicle control and cause serious person injury.
x Transporting heavy items causes the handling characteristics of the vehicle to change by
shifting the vehicle's center of gravity.
x Always distribute luggage evenly and as low as possible within the vehicle. The vehicle
capacity weight figures apply when the load is distributed evenly in the vehicle (passengers
and luggage).
x Always stow luggage and heavy items in the luggage compartment as far forward of the
rear axle as possible and secure them with appropriate straps to the tie-downs provided.
x Never exceed the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or Gross Axle Weight Ratings,
which are printed on the Safety Compliance Certification Label located on the door jamb of
the driver door. Exceeding the permissible weight can cause the vehicle to skid and behave
differently.
x Always adapt your speed and driving style to accommodate your payload and its weight
distribution within your vehicle.
x Be especially cautious and gentle when stepping on the accelerator pedal and avoid
sudden braking and other maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
NOTICE
x The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear window can be damaged by objects that
rub against them.
The ventilation slots between the rear window and the luggage compartment cover must not be
blocked so that stale air can escape from the vehicle.

Folding the backrest of the rear seat bench forward and back into place

Fig. 96 Folding the backrest forward and back.