Safety
Seat belt protection Fig. 61
Drivers with properly worn seat belts
will not be thrown forward in the event of sud-
den braking Properly worn seat belts hold the occupants
in the proper position. They also help prevent
uncontrolled movements that may result in
serious injury and reduce the risk of being
thrown out of the vehicle in case of an acci-
dent.
Vehicle occupants wearing their seat belts
correctly benefit greatly from the ability of the
belts to absorb kinetic energy. In addition,
the front part of your vehicle and other pas-
sive safety features (such as the airbag sys-
tem) are designed to absorb the kinetic ener-
gy released in a collision. Taken together, all
these features reduce the releasing kinetic
energy and consequently, the risk of injury.
This is why it is so important to fasten seat
belts before every trip, even when "just driv-
ing around the corner". Ensure that your passengers wear their seat
belts as well. Accident statistics have shown
that wearing seat belts is an effective means
of substantially reducing the risk of injury
and improving the chances of survival when
involved in a serious accident. Furthermore,
properly worn seat belts improve the protec-
tion provided by airbags in the event of an
accident. For this reason, wearing a seat belt
is required by law in most countries.
Although your vehicle is equipped with air-
bags, the seat belts must be fastened and
worn. The front airbags, for example, are only
triggered in some cases of head-on collision.
The front airbags will not be triggered during
minor frontal or side collisions, rear-end colli-
sions, rollovers or accidents in which the air-
bag trigger threshold value in the control unit
is not exceeded.
Therefore, you should always wear your seat
belt and ensure that all vehicle occupants
have fastened their seat belts properly before
you drive off!
Safety instructions on using seat
belts –
Always wear the seat belt as described in
this section.
– Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened
at all times and are not damaged. WARNING
● If seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at
all, the risk of severe injuries increases. The
optimal protection from seat belts can be
achieved only if you use them properly.
● Fasten your seat belt before every trip -
even when driving in town. Other vehicle oc-
cupants must also wear the seat belts at all
times, otherwise they run the risk of being in-
jured.
● The seat belt cannot offer its full protection
if the seat belt is not positioned correctly.
● Never allow two passengers (even children)
to share the same seat belt.
● Always keep both feet in the footwell in
front of your seat as long as the vehicle is in
motion.
● Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Risk of fatal injury.
● The seat belt must never be twisted while it
is being worn.
● The seat belt should never lie on hard or
fragile objects (such as glasses or pens, etc.)
because this can cause injuries.
● Do not allow the seat belt to be damaged or
jammed, or to rub on any sharp edges.
● Never wear the seat belt under the arm or
in any other incorrect position.
● Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat
over a jacket) impairs the proper fit and func-
tion of the seat belts, reducing their capacity
to protect. 44
Airbag system
travel on the rear seat. Never transport
children in the vehicle if they are not restrain-
ed or the restraint system is not appropriate
for their age, size or weight.
●
If you are not wearing a seat belt, or if you
lean forward or to the side while travelling or
assume an incorrect sitting position, there is
a substantially increased risk of injury. This
increased risk of injury will be further in-
creased if you are struck by an inflating air-
bag.
● To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating
airbag, always wear the seat belt properly
››› page 43.
● Alw
ays adjust the front seats properly. Description of airbag system
The airbag system is not a substitute for the
seat belts. The airbag system offers addition-
al protection for the driver and passenger in
combination with the seat belts.
The airbag system comprises the following
modules (as per vehicle equipment):
●
Electronic control unit
● Front airbags for driver and passenger
● Knee airbag for the driver
● Side airbags
● Head airbag ●
Airbag control lamp on the instrument
panel
● Key-operated switch for front passenger air-
bag
● Control lamp to disconnect/connect the
front airbag.
The airbag system operation is monitored
electronically. The airbag control lamp will il-
luminate for a few seconds every time the ig-
nition is switched on (self-diagnosis).
There is a fault in the system if the control
lamp :
● does not light up when the ignition is
switched on,
● turns off after 4 seconds after the ignition
is switched on
● turns off and then lights up again after the
ignition is switched on
● illuminates or flashes while the vehicle is
moving.
The airbag system is not triggered if:
● the ignition is switched off
● there is a minor frontal collision
● there is a minor side collision
● there is a rear-end collision
● the vehicle turns over. WARNING
● The seat belts and airbags can only provide
maximum protection if the occupants are
seated correctly ››› page 38, Sitting position
for vehicle occupants .
● If a fault has occurred in the airbag system,
have the system checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise there is a
danger that during a collision, the system
may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly. Airbag activation
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within
thousandths of a second, to provide addi-
tional protection in the event of an accident.
A fine dust may develop when the airbag de-
ploys. This is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
The airbag system is only ready to function
when the ignition is on.
In special accidents instances, several air-
bags may activate at the same time.
In the event of minor head-on and side colli-
sions, rear-end collisions, overturning or roll-
over of the vehicle, airbags
do not activate.
Activation factors
The conditions that lead to the airbag system
activating in each situation cannot be gener-
alised. Some factors play an important role, »
49
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Airbag system
WARNING
● If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean
forward, or are not seated correctly while the
vehicle is in motion, you are at a greater risk
of injury if the side airbag system is triggered
in an accident.
● In order for the side airbags to provide their
maximum protection, the prescribed sitting
position must always be maintained with
seat belts fastened while travelling.
● In a side-on collision the side airbags will
not work if the sensors do not correctly meas-
ure the pressure increase on the interior of
the doors, due to air escaping through the
areas with holes or openings in the door pan-
el.
● Never drive if the interior door panels have
been removed or if the panels have not been
correctly fitted.
● Never drive the vehicle if the loudspeakers
in the door panels have been removed, un-
less the holes left by the loudspeakers have
been closed properly.
● Always check that the openings are closed
or covered if loudspeakers or other equip-
ment are fitted inside the door panels.
● Occupants of the outer seats must never
carry any objects or pets in the deployment
space between them and the airbags, or al-
low children or other passengers to travel in
this position. It is also important not to at-
tach any accessories (such as cup holders) to the doors. This would impair the protection
offered by the side airbags.
●
The built-in coat hooks should be used only
for lightweight clothing. Do not leave any
heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.
● Great forces, such as hard blows or kicks,
must not be exerted upon the backrest bol-
ster because the system may be damaged. In
this case, the side airbags would not be trig-
gered.
● Under no circumstances should protective
covers be fitted over seats with side airbags
unless the covers have been approved for use
in your vehicle. Because the airbag deploys
from the side of the backrest, the use of con-
ventional seat covers would obstruct the side
airbag, seriously reducing the airbag's effec-
tiveness.
● Any damage to the original seat upholstery
or around the seams of the side airbag units
must be repaired immediately by a special-
ised workshop.
● The airbags provide protection for just one
accident; replace them once they have de-
ployed.
● Any work on the side airbag system or re-
moval and installation of the airbag compo-
nents for other repairs (such as removal of
the front seat) should only be performed by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise, faults may
occur during the airbag system operation.
● Do not attempt to modify components of
the airbag system in any way. Head-protection airbags*
Fig. 72
Location of head-protection airbags. The head-protection airbags are located on
both sides in the interior above the doors
››› Fig. 72 and are identified with the text
“AIRB AG”.
In c
onjunction with the seat belts, the head-
protection airbag system gives the vehicle
occupants additional protection for the head
and upper body in the event of a severe side
collision ››› .
WARNING
● In order for the head-protection airbags to
provide their maximum protection, the pre-
scribed sitting position must always be main-
tained with seat belts fastened while travel-
ling.
● For safety reasons, the curtain airbag must
be disabled in those vehicles fitted with a
screen dividing the interior of the vehicle. » 53
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Safety
See your technical service to make this ad-
justment.
●
There must be no other persons, animals or
objects between the occupants of the outer
seats and the deployment space of the head-
protection airbags so that the head-protec-
tion airbag can deploy completely without re-
striction and provide the greatest possible
protection. Therefore, sun blinds which have
not been expressly approved for use in your
vehicle may not be attached to the side win-
dows
● The built-in coat hooks should be used only
for lightweight clothing. Do not leave any
heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.
Please, do not hang the clothes on coat hang-
ers.
● The airbags provide protection for just one
accident; replace them once they have de-
ployed.
● Any work on the head-protection airbag
system or removal and installation of the air-
bag components for other repairs (such as re-
moval of the roof lining) should only be per-
formed by a specialised workshop. Other-
wise, faults may occur during the airbag sys-
tem operation.
● Do not attempt to modify components of
the airbag system in any way.
● The side and head airbags are managed
through sensors located in the interior of the
front doors. To ensure the correct operation of
the side and curtain airbags neither the
doors nor the door panels should be modified
in any way (e.g. fitting loudspeakers). If the front door is damaged, the airbag system
may not work correctly. All work carried out
on the front door must be done in a special-
ised workshop.
Deactivating airbags
Disabling the front airbag Fig. 73
Control lamp for disabling the front
passenger front airbag on the dash panel It lights up on the combi-in-
strument
Fault in airbag
system and seat belt tensioners.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.
It lights up on the dash panel
Fault in the air-
bag system.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.
Front passenger
front airbag dis-
abled.Check whether the airbag should re-
main disabled.
It lights up on the dash panel
Front passenger
front airbag ena-
bled.The control lamp switches off about
60 seconds after the ignition is
turned on or after enabling of the
front passenger front airbag with the
key lock switch. Several warning and control lamps light up
for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.
If the front passenger airbag is deactivated,
the lamp
does not re-
m ain lit
, or if it is lit together with the control
lamp on the dash panel, there may be a
fault in the airbag system ››› .
The disabling of airbags is only carried out in
certain cases, i.e. if:
● a child seat is required in the front passen-
ger seat with the child facing in the opposite
direction to the direction of travel (in some
54
Safety
Read the additional information carefully
››› page 11
.
The sw it
ch disables only the front passenger
front airbag.
Switching on the airbag
– Switch the ignition off.
– Open the glove compartment on the front
passenger side.
– Insert the key into the slot of the switch for
deactivating the front passenger airbag
››› Fig. 74. About 3/4 of the key should en-
ter
, as far as it will go.
– Then turn the key gently to the ON position.
Do not f
orce it if you feel resistance, and
make sure you have inserted the key fully.
– Close the passenger side storage compart-
ment.
– Check, with the ignition switched on, that
the control lamp ››› Fig. 75 does not
light up
, with the word
in the centre part of the dash panel.
– The warning lamp is illuminated for
60 seconds in the centre part of the dash
panel.
Control lamp with the word
(front passenger airbag disabled)
If the front passenger front airbag is disa-
bled
, after switching on the ignition, the con- trol lamp will light up for several seconds,
then it will switch off for about 1 s and then
switch on again.
If the control lamp is flashing, there is a fault
in the disabling of the airbag system
››› .
Please go immediately to an Official Service. WARNING
● The driver of the vehicle is responsible for
disabling or switching on the airbag.
● Always switch off the ignition before disa-
bling the front passenger airbag! Failure to do
so could result in a fault in the airbag deacti-
vation system.
● Never leave the key in the airbag disabling
switch as it could get damaged or enable or
disable the airbag during driving.
● If the (airbag disabled) control lamp
fl a
shes, the front passenger front airbag will
not trigger in the event of an accident! Have
the system immediately checked by an Offi-
cial Service. Transporting children safety
Safety for children Introduction For safety reasons, as we have learned from
accident statistics, we recommend that chil-
dren under 12 years of age travel in the rear
seats. Depending on their age, height and
weight, children travelling in rear seats must
use a child seat or a seat belt. For safety rea-
sons, the child seat should be installed in the
rear seat, behind the front passenger seat or
in the centre back seat.
The physical laws involved and the forces
acting in a collision apply also to children
››› page 45 . But unlike adults, children do not
h av
e fully developed muscle and bone struc-
tures. This means that children are subject to
a greater risk of injury.
To reduce the risk of injuries, children must
always use special child restraint systems
when travelling in the vehicle.
We recommend the use of child safety prod-
ucts from the SEAT Original Accessories Pro-
gramme, which includes systems for all ages
made by “Peke” (not for all countries).
These systems have been especially de-
signed and approved, complying with the
ECE-R44. regulation.
56
Safety
●
Never hold children or babies on your lap,
this can result in potentially fatal injuries to
the child!
● Never allow a child to be transported in a
vehicle without being properly secured, or to
stand up or kneel on a seat while travelling.
In an accident, the child could be flung
through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal in-
juries to themselves and to the other vehicle
occupants.
● If children assume an improper sitting posi-
tion when the vehicle is moving, they expose
themselves to greater risk of injury in the
event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an
accident. This is particularly important if the
child is travelling on the front passenger seat
and the airbag system is triggered in an acci-
dent; as this could cause serious injury or
even death.
● A suitable child seat can protect your child!
● Never leave a child alone in the child seat
or inside the vehicle because depending on
the season, very high temperatures may be
reached inside a parked vehicle, which could
be fatal.
● Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall
must not wear a normal seat belt without a
child seat, as this could cause injuries to the
abdominal and neck areas during a sudden
braking manoeuvre or in an accident.
● Do not allow the seat belt to become twis-
ted and the seat belt should be properly in
place ››› page 43.
● On ly
one child may occupy a child seat
››› page 58, Child seats. ●
When a child seat is mounted in the rear
seats, the door child-proof lock should be ac-
tivated ››› page 87. Child seats
Categorisation of child seats into
groups Use only child seats that are officially ap-
proved and suitable for the child.
Child seats are subject to the regulation ECE-
R 44. ECE-R stands for: Economic Commis-
sion for Europe Regulations.
The child seats are grouped into 5 catego-
ries:
Group 0 : Up to 10 kg (up to around 9
months)
Gr oup 0+
: Up to 13 kg (up to around 18
months)
Group 1
: from 9 to 18 kg (up to approx. 4
years old)
Group 2
: from 15 to 25 kg (up to approx. 7
years old)
Group 3: From 22 to 36 kg (over around 7
ye
ars old) Child seats that have been tested and ap-
proved under the ECE R44 standard bear the
test mark on the seat (the letter E in a circle
with the test number below it).
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and
observe any statutory requirements when in-
stalling and using child seats.
We recommend you to always include the
manufacturer's Child Seat Instruction Manual
together with the on-board documentation.
SEAT recommends you use child seats from
the Original Accessories Catalogue
. The
se
child seats have been designed and tested
for use in SEAT vehicles. You can find the
right child seat for your model and age group
at SEAT dealers. WARNING
Read and always observe information and
warnings concerning the use of child seats
››› page 57. Securing the child seat using the seat
belt
The seat belt may be used to secure
univer-
sal type child seats to the vehicle seats
m ark
ed with a U in the table below.
58
Controls and displays
Operation
Controls and displays Overview Door handle
Central locking switch
. . . . . . . . . . . .85
Electric control to adjust exterior
mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Air outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Control lever for:
– Turn signals and main beam
headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
– Lane Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
– Main beam assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
– Cruise control system (CCS) . . . . .150
Depending on equipment fitted:
– Lever for cruise control . . . . . . . . . .150
Steering wheel with horn and – Driver airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
– On-board computer controls . . . .72
– Controls for radio, telephone,
navigation and speech dialogue
system ›››
Booklet Radio
– Paddle levers for tiptronic gear-
shift (automatic gearbox) . . . . . . .135
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8 Control lever for:
– Windscreen wipers and washer . .102
– Wipe and wash system . . . . . . . . . .102
– On-board computer . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Depending on equipment fitted: ra-
dio or display for Easy Connect
(navigation, radio, TV/video) . . . . . .81
Depending on the equipment, but-
tons for:
– SEAT driving modes . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
– Start-Stop system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
– Park assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
– Hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . .99
– Airbag off display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Depending on the equipment,
glove compartment with: . . . . . . . . .112
– CD player* and/or SD card*
››› Booklet Radio
– Multimedia interface* ››› Book-
let Radio
Tyre pressure switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213
Front passenger airbag switch . . . .55
Front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . . .50
Passenger seat heating control . . . .108
Storage compartment
Depending on equipment fitted,
gear lever or selector lever for:
– Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 –
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
Depending on the equipment, con-
trols for: – Heating and ventilation system or
manual air conditioner . . . . . . . . . .29, 28
– Automatic air conditioner . . . . . . .26
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Driver seat heating control . . . . . . . .108
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Knee airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Adjustable steering column . . . . . . .14
Storage compartment
Bonnet lock release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
Headlight range control . . . . . . . . . . .100
Light switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Note
● Some of the equipment listed in this sec-
tion is only fitted on certain models or are op-
tional extras.
● A separate Instructions Manual is enclosed
if the vehicle is equipped with a factory-fitted
radio, CD player, AUX IN connection or navi-
gation system.
● The arrangement of switches and controls
on right-hand drive models* may be slightly
different from the layout shown in ››› page 64.
However, the symbols used to identify the
controls are the same. 19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
65Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Operation
Note
If the electrical adjustment should fail to op-
erate, both of the mirrors can be adjusted by
hand by lightly pressing the edge of the mir-
ror glass. Seats and head restraints
Adjusting the seats and
headrests
Manual adjustment of seats Read the additional information carefully
››› page 12 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
● Adjust the front seats only when the vehi-
cle is stationary. Failure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in an accident.
● Be careful when adjusting the seat height.
Careless or uncontrolled adjustment can
cause injuries.
● The front seat backrests must not be re-
clined for driving. Otherwise, seat belts and
the airbag system might not protect as they
should, with the subsequent danger of injury. Electric driver seat adjustment*
Read the additional information carefully
››› page 12 WARNING
● If the electric front seats are used negli-
gently or without paying due attention, it can
cause serious injury.
● The front seats can also be electrically ad-
justed when the ignition is switched off. Nev-
er leave a child or any other person who may
need help in the vehicle.
● In the event of an emergency, electrical ad-
justment can be stopped by pressing any
control. CAUTION
To avoid damaging the electrical components
of the front seats, please refrain from kneel-
ing on the seat or applying sharp pressure at
a single point to the seat cushion and back-
rest. Note
● It may not be possible to electrically adjust
the seat if the vehicle battery is very low.
● If the engine is started while the seats are
being electrically adjusted, the adjustment
will stop. 106