Seats and head restraints
Adjusting the front head restraints Read the additional information carefully
››› page 12
Adjust the head restraint ›››
page 12 so
that as far as possible the top of the head re-
straint is level with the top of your head.
When this is not possible, try to get as close
as possible to this position.
Adjusting the rear head restraints Fig. 106
Rear centre head restraint: release
point. When transporting people in the back seat,
place the head restraints of the occupied
seats at a minimum of the next socket up
››› . Adjusting the head restraints
– To set the head restraint higher, grasp the
sides with both hands and move it up-
wards, until you see it engage.
– To set the head restraint lower down, press
the 1
››› Fig. 106 button and move it
do wn
wards.
Removing the head restraint
To remove the head restraint, the correspond-
ing backrest must be partially folded forward. – Unlock the backrest ››› page 110.
– Move the head restraint upwards until it ar-
rives to the top.
– Press the 1
››› Fig. 106 button while at the
same time removing the head restraint
from the backrest ››› .
– Insert a screwdriver in the 2
››› Fig. 106
position of the hole while at the same time
removing the head restraint from the back-
rest ››› .
– Move the backrest until it engages properly
››› .
Fitting the head restraint
To mount the external head restraints, the
corresponding backrest must be partially fol-
ded forward.
– Unlock the backrest ››› page 110. –
Insert the head restraint bars into the
guides until they perceptibly engage. It
should not be possible to remove the head
restraint from the backrest.
– Move the backrest until it engages properly
››› .
WARNING
● Please observe the general notes
››› page 41.
● Remo
ve the rear head restraints only when
it is necessary for the placement of a child
seat ››› page 56. After removing a child seat,
remou
nt the head restraint immediately.
Travelling with the head restraints removed
or improperly adjusted increases the risk of
severe injuries. Seat functions
Introduction 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 al-
so applies to the other occupants.
● Always keep hands, fingers, feet and other
parts of the body away from the operating ra-
dius and the adjustment of seats. 107
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Seats and head restraints
The armrest can be moved backwards and
forwards.
Folding down the passenger seat
backrest* 3 Applies to the model: LEON ST
Fig. 108
Front passenger seat: lever for fold-
ing down the backrest. The front passenger seat can be folded down
to increase the storage space.
● Pull lever 1
››› Fig. 108 and push the seat
b ac
krest until the backrest is horizontal. WARNING
When the front passenger seat is folded
down it cannot be occupied. Folding down and raising the back
seat backrest
3 Applies to the model: LEON/LEON SC
Fig. 109
Clip to support the seat belt. Fig. 110
Backrest release lever. The backrests can be folded forward individu-
ally or together.Folding the backrest forwards
– Place the side seat belts in the trim clip
››› Fig. 109 .
– Slide the he a
d restraint(s) downwards
››› page 107.
– Press the release lever ››› Fig. 110 1 in the
direction of the arrow.
– Fold the backrest forwards.
Converting the table to a seat – Raise the backrest until it engages in its
upright position ››› . The red marking on
the tab ››› Fig. 110 2 should no longer be
visible when the backrest is properly se-
cured. WARNING
The safe driving chapter contains important
information, tips, suggestions and warnings
that you should read and observe for your
own safety and the safety of your passengers
››› page 37. WARNING
● Make sure that the rear backrest is securely
locked in position so that the seat belt can
provide proper protection on the centre rear
seat.
● The rear backrest must always be securely
latched so that objects stored in the luggage » 109
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Operation
compartment will not fly forward through the
interior during sudden braking.
CAUTION
● With the backrest inclined there is a danger
of damaging the rear head restraints when
adjusting the front seats backwards.
● When folding the backrest forwards, make
sure to place the side seat belts in the trim
clip to prevent them from being damaged by
becoming trapped in the backrest lock. Folding down and lifting the rear seat
backrest
3 Applies to the model: LEON ST
Fig. 111
On the rear seat backrest: release
catch 1 ; red mark
2 . Fig. 112
In the luggage compartment: levers
for remote release of the left part 1 and right
part 2 of the rear seat backrest.
The rear seat backrest is split and each part
be lowered separately to extend the luggage
compartment.
When the rear seat backrest is lowered no-
body else can travel in the corresponding
seats (not even a child).
Lowering the rear seat backrest with the
unlock button
● Lower the head restraint properly.
● Push the unlock button ››› Fig. 111 1 for-
wards and at the same time lift the backrest.
● The rear seat backrest is not engaged when
the red marking of the button 2 is visible.
Lowering the rear seat backrest with the
remote release lever
● Lower the head restraint properly. ●
Open the rear lid.
● Pull the remote release lever of the left part
››› Fig. 112 1 or right part
2 of the backrest
in the direction of the arrow. The released
part of the rear seat backrest is folded auto-
matically down and forwards.
● If this occurs, close the rear lid.
The rear seat backrest is not engaged when
the red marking of the button ››› Fig. 111 2 is visible.
Folding up the rear seat backrest
●
Lift the backrest and press it firmly into the
lock until it engages ››› .
● It should not be possible to see the red
mark of the unlock button 2 .
● The backrest must be properly engaged. WARNING
Serious injuries can be caused if the rear seat
backrest is lowered or lifted without due care
and attention.
● Never lower or lift the rear seat backrest
while driving.
● Do no trap or damage the seat belt when
raising the rear seat backrest.
● When lowering or lifting the rear seat back-
rest, keep your hands, fingers, feet and other
body parts out of its path. 110
Transport and practical equipment
●
For the rear seat seat belts to offer the nec-
essary protection all the parts of the rear
backrest must be properly engaged. This is
particularly important in the case of the cen-
tre rear seat. If someone is seated in a seat
whose backrest is not properly engaged they
will fly forward, along with the backrest, dur-
ing an accident or a sudden driving or braking
manoeuvre.
● A red signal on the button 2 warns that
the backrest is not engaged. Always check
that the red marking is not visible when the
backrest is in the upright position.
● When the rear seat backrest is lowered or is
not properly engaged nobody else can travel
in the corresponding seats (not even a child). CAUTION
Serious damage can be caused to the vehicle
and other objects if the rear seat backrest is
lowered or lifted without due care and atten-
tion.
● Before lowering the rear seat backrest, al-
ways adjust the front seats so that neither
the head restraints nor the cushions of the
rear backrest can hit them. Transport and practical
equipment
Storage compartments Storage areas under the front seats* Fig. 113
Storage compartment under the
front seats. There is a storage compartment with a cover
under each front seat.
The drawer* is opened by pulling on the cov-
er
››› Fig. 113 .
T o c
lose the drawer, press the cover until it
locks into position. WARNING
● The drawers will hold a maximum weight of
1.5 kg. ●
Do not drive with the drawer cover open.
There is an injury risk for passengers if the
cargo is released in case of sudden braking or
an accident. Folding table*
3 Applies to the model: LEON ST
Fig. 114
Left-hand front seat: folding table. –
To open the tray, open it up in the direction
of the arrow ››› Fig. 114 . WARNING
● The folding trays may not be folded down
whilst the vehicle is in motion and anyone is
seated on the second row of seats. There is a
risk of injury during a sudden braking ma-
noeuvre! The tray must therefore be closed
and properly secured whilst the vehicle is in
motion. » 111
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Operation
Storing objects Loading the luggage compartment All luggage and other loose objects must be
safely secured in the luggage compartment.
Unsecured objects which shift back and forth
could impair the driving safety or driving
characteristics of the vehicle by shifting the
centre of gravity.
– Distribute the load evenly in the luggage
compartment.
– Place heavy objects as far forward as possi-
ble in the luggage compartment.
– Place the heavy objects first.
– Secure heavy objects to the fitted fastening
rings ›››
page 119 . WARNING
● Loose luggage and other objects in the lug-
gage compartment could cause serious inju-
ries.
● Always stow objects in the luggage com-
partment and secure them on the fastening
rings.
● Use suitable straps to secure heavy ob-
jects.
● During sudden manoeuvres or accidents,
loose objects can be thrown forward, injuring
vehicle occupants or passers-by. This in-
creased risk of injury will be further increased if a loose object is struck by an inflating air-
bag. If this happens, objects may shoot out-
ward like a missile. Risk of fatal injury.
●
Please note that the centre of gravity may
shift when transporting heavy objects; this
may affect vehicle handling and lead to an ac-
cident. Therefore, it is essential to adjust
your speed and driving style accordingly, to
avoid accidents.
● Never exceed the allowed axle weights or
allowed maximum weight. If said weights are
exceeded, the driving characteristics of the
vehicle may change, leading to accidents, in-
juries and damage to the vehicle.
● Never leave your vehicle unattended, espe-
cially when the rear lid is open. Children
could climb into the luggage compartment,
closing the door behind them; they will be
trapped and run the risk of death.
● Never allow children to play in or around
the vehicle. Close and lock all the doors and
rear lid when you leave the vehicle. Before
you lock the vehicle, make sure that there are
no adults or children in the vehicle. Note
● Air circulation in the vehicle helps reduce
fogging of the windows. Used air escapes
through ventilation slits in the side trim of
the luggage compartment. Ensure that the
ventilation slots are never covered.
● Straps for securing the load to the fasten-
ing rings are commercially available. Luggage compartment cover
3 Applies to the model: LEON/LEON SC
Fig. 119
Rear lid open with the luggage com-
partment cover. The luggage compartment cover blocks the
view into the luggage compartment.
Removing
– Remove the straps A and unfasten the
cover of the support B by pressing up-
wards in the direction of arrow 1 .
Fitting
– Insert the cover horizontally so that it coin-
cides with the “plate” on the axis of the
supports B and press down until it engag-
es.
– Attach the straps to the rear lid A
››› .
114
Driving
Driving Ignition lock Switching on the ignition and starting
the engine with the key Fig. 141
Ignition key positions. Read the additional information carefully
››› page 14
Diesel engines can take a few seconds longer
than usual to start on cold days. Therefore
the clutch pedal (manual gearbox) or the
brake pedal (automatic gearbox) must re-
main pressed until the engine starts up. Dur-
ing preheating, the warning lamp remains
lit.
The preheating time depends on the coolant
and exterior temperatures. With the engine at
operating temperature, or at outside temper-
atures above +8°C, the warning lamp will light up for about one second. This means
that the engine starts
immediately.
If the engine does not immediately start up,
interrupt the starting process and try again
after 30 seconds. To start the engine again,
return the key to position 1 .
Start-Stop System*
If the vehicle is stopped and the Start-Stop
system* switches off the engine, the ignition
remains switched on.
Automatic gearbox: before leaving the vehi-
cle, make sure that the ignition is switched
off and the selector lever is in position P.
Driv er me
ssages on the instrument panel
display
Press the clutch
This message appears on vehicles with a
manual gearbox if the driver tries to start the
engine without having the clutch pedal
pressed. The engine will only start if you
press the clutch pedal.
Press the brake
This message appears on vehicles with an
automatic gearbox if the driver tries to start
the engine without having the brake pedal
pressed. Select N or P
This message appears if you try to start or
stop the engine when the selector lever of
the automatic gearbox is not in position P or
N. The engine can only start or stop in certain
po
sitions.
Engage position P; the vehicle can move; doors
can only close in position P.
For safety reasons, this driver message ap-
pears and an audible warning sounds if the
selector lever of the automatic gearbox is not
in position P after you switch off the ignition.
P
ut the selector lever in position P, otherwise
the vehicle could roll away.
Gear change: selector lever in the drive
position! This driver message is displayed when the
selector lever is not in the position P when
the driver door i
s opened. Additionally, a
buzzer will sound. Put the selector lever in
position
P, otherwise the vehicle could roll
away.
Ignition is switched on
This driver message is displayed and a buz-
zer is sounded when the driver door is
opened with the ignition switched on. »
129
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Operation
WARNING
● Never run the engine in confined spaces, as
the exhaust gases are poisonous. CAUTION
Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle and
extreme load conditions until the engine has
reached its normal operating temperature,
otherwise this can damage the engine. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine by idling it. You
should drive off as soon as you start the en-
gine. This will help avoid unnecessary ex-
haust emissions. Note
● If it is difficult to turn the ignition key to
the position 1 , turn the steering wheel to
both sides to release the steering lock.
● When starting from cold, the engine may be
a little noisy for the first few seconds until oil
pressure has built up in the hydraulic valve
lifters. This is quite normal, and no cause for
concern.
● If the vehicle battery is disconnected and
reconnected, the key must remain in the posi-
tion 1 for around 5 seconds before starting
up.
● Vehicles with automatic gearbox: after
switching off the ignition, you can only re-
move the ignition key if the selector lever is in position “P” (parking lock). Next, the se-
lector lever is locked.
Switching off the engine with the key
Switching off the engine
– Stop the vehicle.
– Turn the ignition key to position 1 ›››
Fig. 141.
En g
aging the steering wheel lock
In vehicles with automatic gearbox, the igni-
tion key can only be removed when the selec-
tor lever is in position P.
– Remo
ve the key from the ignition in posi-
tion 1
››› Fig. 141
›
›› .
– Turn the steering wheel until you hear it en-
gage.
Possible vehicle theft is prevented with the
steering lock engaged. WARNING
● Never switch the engine off until the vehi-
cle is stationary. The brake servo and power
steering functions will not be completely cov-
ered under warranty. More force may also be
needed to turn the steering wheel or to brake.
As you cannot steer and brake in the normal
manner, there is a greater risk of accidents
and serious injury. ●
Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehicle is in motion. Otherwise, the steer-
ing could suddenly lock, making it impossible
to steer the vehicle: risk of accident!
● Always take the key with you when you
leave the vehicle. This is particularly impor-
tant if there are children in the vehicle, as
they might otherwise be able to start the en-
gine or use power-operated equipment (e.g.
the electric windows), which could cause in-
juries. CAUTION
If the engine has been running under high
load for a long time, there is a risk of heat
building up in the engine compartment after
it has been switched off; this could cause en-
gine damage. For this reason, you should idle
the engine for approximately 2 minutes be-
fore you switch it off. Note
● After the engine is switched off the radiator
fan may run on for up to 10 minutes, even if
the ignition is switched off. It is also possible
that the fan turns itself on once more if the
coolant temperature increases due to the
heat accumulated in the engine compartment
or due to its prolonged exposure to solar ra-
diation.
● If the vehicle is stopped and the Start-Stop
system* switches off the engine, the ignition 130
Driving
remains switched on. Make sure that the igni-
tion is switched off before leaving the
vehicle, otherwise the battery could dis-
charge.
Braking and parking
Using the handbrake Fig. 142
Handbrake between the front seats. The handbrake should be applied firmly to
prevent the vehicle from accidentally rolling
away.
Always apply the handbrake when you leave
your vehicle and when you park.
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up firmly
››› Fig. 142 . R
el easing the handbrake
– Pull the lever up slightly and press the re-
lease knob in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 142 and guide the handbrake lever
down f
ully ››› .
Always pull the handbrake all the way up, so
there is less risk of driving off with it still en-
gaged ››› .
The handbrake warning lamp lights up
when the handbrake is applied and the igni-
tion switched on. The warning lamp turns off
when the handbrake is released.
If you drive faster than 6 km/h (4 mph) with
the handbrake on, the following message*
will appear on the instrument panel display: HANDBRAKE ON. You will also hear an audible
warning. WARNING
● Never use the handbrake to stop the vehi-
cle when it is in motion. The braking distance
is considerably longer, because braking is
only applied to the rear wheels. Risk of acci-
dent!
● If the handbrake is only partially released,
this will cause the rear brakes to overheat,
which can impair the function of the brake
system and could lead to an accident. This al-
so causes premature wear on the rear brake
pads. CAUTION
Always apply the handbrake before you leave
the vehicle. Put it in 1st gear as well. Parking
The handbrake should always be firmly ap-
plied when the vehicle is parked.
Always note the following points when park-
ing the vehicle:
– Use the brake pedal to stop the vehicle.
– Apply the handbrake.
– Put it in 1st gear.
– Switch the engine off and remove the key
from the ignition. Turn the steering wheel
slightly to engage the steering lock.
– Never leave a vehicle key in the vehicle.
Additional notes on parking the vehicle on
gradients:
Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle
rolls against the kerb if it started to roll. ● If the vehicle is parked facing downhill,
turn the front wheels so that they point to-
wards the kerb .
● If the vehicle is parked facing uphill
, turn
the fr ont
wheels so that they point away from
the kerb
. »
131
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials