
Seats and head restraints
For the sake of the environment
The exterior mirror heating should be switch-
ed off when it is no longer needed. Other-
wise, it is an unnecessary fuel waste. Note
In the event of faults, the electric exterior
mirrors can be adjusted manually by pressing
the edge of the mirror surface. Seats and head restraints
Adjusting the seat and head
restraints
Manual seat adjustment Fig. 53
Front left seat controls The controls are mirrored for the front right-
hand seat.
The front seat head restraints are integrated
in the backrests and adjusting them is not
possible.Fig.
53FunctionNecessary operations
1
Moving the head
restraint back-
wards or for-
wards.Pull the lever and move the
seat forwards. The front
seat must be engaged
when the lever is released!
Fig. 53FunctionNecessary operations
2Adjusting the
seat height.Pull the lever up or push
down (several times if nec-
essary) from its home posi-
tion.
3
3 doors: Easy En-
try + adjustable
seat angle func-
tion.
5 doors: only ad-
justable seat an-
gle function.
Adjust: pull the lever and
adjust the backrest seat
angle until you reach the
desired position. The seat
backrest must be engaged.
To fold: Pull the lever and
tilt the backrest. At the
same time, move the seat
forward.
To tilt open: Move the seat
back until the catch engag-
es. Pull the lever and tilt
open the backrest. The
backrest must engage in
the upright position. 63
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Transport and practical equipment
WARNING
People whose pain and temperature thresh-
old has been affected by some kind of medi-
cine, paraplegia or chronic illness (e.g. diabe-
tes) may sustain burns to the back, buttocks
and legs from using the seat heaters that
may lead to a long healing process or that
may never completely heal. Seek medical ad-
vice if you have doubts regarding your health.
● People with limited pain and temperature
thresholds must never use seat heating. 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.
● Keep hands, fingers, feet and other limbs
away from the seat operating and adjustment
radius. CAUTION
● To avoid damaging the heating elements of
the seat heaters, please do not kneel on the
seat or apply sharp pressure to a single point
on the seat cushion or backrest.
● Liquids, sharp objects and insulating mate-
rials on the seat could damage the seat heat-
ing. ●
In the event of smells, switch off the seat
heating immediately and have the unit in-
spected by a specialised workshop. For the sake of the environment
The seat heating should remain on only when
needed. Otherwise, it is an unnecessary fuel
waste. Transport and practical
equipment
Transporting objects Introduction Always transport heavy loads in the luggage
compartment and place the seat backs in a
vertical position. Never overload the vehicle.
Both the carrying capacity as well as the dis-
tribution of the load in the vehicle affect driv-
ing behaviour and braking ability
››› .
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly secured objects can
cause serious injury in case of a sudden ma-
noeuvring or breaking or in case of an acci-
dent. This is especially true when objects are
struck by a detonating airbag and fired
through the vehicle interior. To reduce the
risks, please note the following:
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Always
keep equipment and heavy objects in the lug-
gage compartment.
● Always secure objects with suitable rope or
slings so that they cannot enter the deploy-
ment areas around the frontal or side airbags
in case of sudden braking or an accident.
● Always ensure that objects inside the vehi-
cle cannot move into the deployment area of
the bags while driving. » 65Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Operation
●
Avoid brusque manoeuvres and sudden
braking.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visi-
bility, road, traffic and weather conditions. CAUTION
● Always remove the roof carrier system from
the roof before entering a car wash.
● The height of your vehicle is changed by
the installation of the roof carrier and the
load secured on it. Compare the vehicle
height with the passage height, for example
in underground car parks or for garage doors.
● The roof antenna and the range of the rear
lid should not be affected by the roof carrier
system or the load being transported.
● Take extra care not to let the hatch strike
the roof load when opening. For the sake of the environment
The vehicle uses more fuel when the roof car-
rier system is fitted. Securing the base supports and roof
carrier system
Fig. 74
Attachment points for the basic sup-
ports and the roof carrier system in two-door
vehicles. Fig. 75
Attachment points for the basic sup-
ports and the roof carrier system in four-door
vehicles. The mounts are the basis of a complete roof
carrier system. Special fixtures must be add-
ed in order to safely transport luggage, bicy-cles, skis, surf boards or boats on the roof.
The suitable accessories can be acquired at
SEAT dealerships.
Securing the base supports and roof carrier
system
The roof carrier system must always be instal-
led exactly according to the instructions pro-
vided.
Two-door vehicles:
the holes and marks indi-
cating the fitting points for base front sup-
ports are in the lower half of the roof struts
››› Fig. 74
(enlarged left image). The holes
and m ark
s are only seen with the door open.
The fitting marks for base rear supports are in
the upper half of the windows ››› Fig. 74
(en-
larged right image).
Four-door vehicles: the holes or marks indi-
cating the fitting points for base supports are
in the lower half of the roof struts and can on-
ly be seen with the door open ››› Fig. 75.
The ba
se support should only
be fitted to the
points indicated in the diagram. WARNING
If the base supports and the roof carrier sys-
tem are incorrectly fitted or used in an unsuit-
able manner, the entire system could break
free causing accident and injury.
● Always take the manufacturer assembly in-
structions into account. 78

Operation
CAUTION
Never place food, medicines or other heat-
sensitive objects close to the air vents. Being
heat-sensitive, they may be damaged or
made unsuitable for use by the air coming
from the air vents. Air recirculation
Important
Air recirculation mode prevents the ambient
air from entering the interior.
When the outside temperature is very high or
very low, selecting manual air recirculation
mode for a short period refreshes or heats
the interior more quickly.
● Switch off air recirculation mode by turning
the air distribution control to the ››› po-
sition.
Switching the air recirculation mode on and
off
Switching on: Move the sliding control
› ›
› Fig. 77 4 to the right to maximum.
Switching off: Move the sliding control
› ›
› Fig. 77 4 to the left to maximum. WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and re-
duce driver concentration possibly resulting
in a serious accident.
● Never use recirculation mode for long peri-
ods as it does not refresh the air inside the
vehicle.
● If the cooling system is switched off and air
recirculation mode switched on, the windows
can mist over very quickly, considerably limit-
ing visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is
not required. CAUTION
Do not smoke when the air recirculation is ac-
tivated. The smoke taken in could lie on the
cooling system vaporiser and on the dust and
pollen filter, leading to a permanently un-
pleasant smell. Driving
Steering Introduction The power steering* is not hydraulic but elec-
tromechanical. The advantage of this steer-
ing system is that it disposes of hydraulic
tubes, hydraulic oil, the pump, filter and oth-
er components. The electromechanical sys-
tem saves fuel. While a hydraulic system re-
quires oil pressure to be maintained, electro-
mechanical steering only requires energy
when the steering wheel is turned.
With the power steering system, the assisted
steering function automatically adjusts ac-
cording to the vehicle speed, the steering tor-
que and the wheel turning angle. The power
steering only works when the engine is run-
ning.
WARNING
If the power steering is not working then the
steering wheel is much more difficult to turn
and the vehicle more difficult to control.
● The power steering only works when the
engine is running.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the
engine is switched off.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehicle is in motion. The steering may 84

Operation
steering only works when the engine is run-
ning.
You should remember that you will need con-
siderably more power than normal to steer
the vehicle if the power steering is not work-
ing correctly or not at all.
Stopping and starting the
engine
Introduction Immobiliser display
When an invalid key is used or in the event of
a system fault, is displayed on the instru-
ment panel. The engine cannot be started.
Pushing or towing
For technical reasons, the vehicle must
not
be push- or tow-started. Jump starting is pref-
erable. WARNING
Switching off the engine while driving makes
stopping the vehicle difficult. As a conse-
quence you may lose control of the vehicle
and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The assisted braking and steering systems,
the airbag system, seat belts and certain safety equipment are only active while the
engine is running.
●
The engine should only be switched off
when the vehicle is at a standstill. WARNING
While the engine is running or starting it
could help reduce the risk of serious injury.
● Never start or leave the engine running in
poorly ventilated or closed spaces. Exhaust
gas contains carbon monoxide, a toxic, col-
ourless and odourless gas. Carbon monoxide
can cause people to lose consciousness. It
can also cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the
engine is running. The vehicle could move off
suddenly or something unexpected could
happen resulting in damage and serious in-
jury.
● Never use start boosters. Cold start sprays
could explode or increase the engine speed
unexpectedly. WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
very high temperatures. This could cause a
fire and considerable damage.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhaust system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood, leaves,
spilled fuel, dried grass, etc). ●
Never apply additional underseal or anti-
corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter or the heat shields on the ex-
haust system. Ignition lock
Fig. 79
Vehicle key positions Car keys ››› Fig. 79
No key in the ignition lock: The steering lock may
be activated.
0Ignition switched off. Key can be removed from
the vehicle.
1Ignition is switched on. The steering lock can be
unlocked.
2Switch on the engine. Release the key when the
engine has started. When it is released, the key
returns to position 1
.86

Driving
Key not authorised for the vehicle
If a key which is not authorised for this vehi-
cle is inserted in the ignition lock, it can be
removed as follows:
● Automatic gearbox : the key cannot be re-
moved from the ignition lock. Press and re-
lease the selector lever locking button. Key
can be removed from the vehicle.
● Manual gearbox : Remove the key from the
ignition. WARNING
Unsuitable or careless use of the vehicle key
could result in serious injury.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever
you leave the vehicle. If not, the engine could
accidentally be started and electrical equip-
ment such as the windows could accidentally
be operated resulting in serious injury.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the car. Passengers could be trapped
in the car in an emergency and not be able to
get themselves to safety. For example, de-
pending on the time of the year, tempera-
tures inside a locked and closed vehicle can
be extremely high or extremely low resulting
in serious injuries and illness or even death,
particularly for young children.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehicle is in motion. The steering may
lock and it will not be possible to turn the
steering wheel. Note
● If the key is left in the ignition lock with the
engine off for long periods, the vehicle bat-
tery will run flat.
● For automatic gearbox vehicles the key can
only be removed from the ignition lock if the
gear selector lever is in position P. In this
case, press and release the selector lever
locking button. Starting the engineComplete operations only in the sequence giv-
en.
1.Press the brake pedal and keep pressed until
step 5 has been completed.
1 a.In vehicles with a manual gearbox: Press the
clutch pedal all the way and keep pressed un- til the engine starts.
2.Put the gearbox lever in neutral or the selector lever in position N.
3.Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
››› Fig. 79 2; do not press the accelerator.
4.When the engine has started, release the key
in the ignition lock.
5.If the engine does not start, stop the processand try again after one minute.
6.Release the handbrake when you want to be- gin driving ››› page 89. WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended if the en-
gine is running. The vehicle could move off
suddenly, especially if it is in gear, resulting
in an accident and serious injury. WARNING
Cold start sprays could explode or cause a
sudden increase in the engine speed.
● Never use start boosters. CAUTION
● An attempt to start the engine while driving
or starting the engine immediately after turn-
ing it off can cause damage to the engine or
starter motor.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs
and heavy acceleration and do not make the
engine work hard.
● Do not push or tow start the engine. Un-
burnt fuel could damage the catalytic con-
verter. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm the engine at idle speed; start
driving immediately if the visibility is OK.
This helps the engine reach operating tem-
perature faster and reduces emissions. » 87
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Driving
Braking and parking Introduction The assisted braking systems
are the elec-
tr
onic distribution of the brake force (EBV),
the anti-lock brake system (ABS), the brake
assist system (BAS), the electronic differen-
tial lock (EDL), the traction control (TC), the
traction control system (ASR) and the elec-
tronic stability control (ESC*). WARNING
Driving with worn brake pads or a faulty
brake system may lead to serious accident.
● If you believe the brake pads to be worn or
the brake system to be faulty, immediately
refer to a specialised workshop to check the
brake pads and replace the worn ones. WARNING
Careless parking can cause serious injury.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehicle is in motion. The steering lock
may engage and lock the steering wheel mak-
ing the vehicle impossible to control.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhaust system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood, leaves,
dried grass, spilled fuel, etc.).
● Always apply the handbrake when you
leave your vehicle and when you park. ●
Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the vehicle. They could release the
electronic parking brake, activate the selec-
tor lever or gear stick and start the vehicle
moving. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever
you leave the vehicle. The engine could acci-
dentally be started and electrical equipment
such as the windows could accidentally be
operated resulting in serious injury.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the car. They could be trapped in the
car in an emergency and will not be able to
get themselves to safety. For example, de-
pending on the time of the year, tempera-
tures inside a locked and closed vehicle can
be extremely high or extremely low resulting
in serious injuries and illness or even death,
particularly for young children. CAUTION
● Special care should be taken when parking
in areas with high kerbs or fixed barriers. Ob-
jects protruding from the ground may dam-
age the bumper or other parts of the vehicle
during manoeuvres. To avoid damage, stop
before the wheels touch the barrier or kerb.
● Special attention is required when driving
through entrances, over ramps, kerbs or oth-
er objects. The vehicle underbody, bumpers,
mudguards and running gear, and the engine
and exhaust system could be damaged as
you drive over these objects. Warning and control lamps
It lights
upPossible cause
››› Solution
Handbrake ap-
plied.›››
page 90.
Fault in the brake
system Do not drive on!
Seek professional
advice ››› page 92.
Brake fluid level
inadequate. Do not drive on!
Check brake fluid
level ››› page 153.
Together with the
ABS control lamp
: ABS and EBV
do not function.
Do not drive on!
Seek professional
advice ››› page 92.
ESC* disconnec-
ted by system.Switching the igni-
tion on and off If
necessary, drive for a
short distance.
Fault in ESC*.Contact a special-
ised workshop.
Together with the
ABS control lamp
: Fault in the
ABS.
Contact a special-
ised workshop. The
vehicle can be
braked without ABS.
The battery has
been reconnected.››› page 154.
Traction Control
faulty or switched
off by the system.Contact a special-
ised workshop.»
89
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Driving
●
Never use the handbrake to brake the vehi-
cle except in an emergency. The braking dis-
tance is considerably longer, because braking
is only applied to the rear wheels. Always use
the foot brake.
● Never drive with the handbrake gently ap-
plied. This can overheat the brake, affecting
the brakes system. This also causes prema-
ture wear on the rear brake pads.
● Never accelerate from the engine compart-
ment with the engine running and a gear en-
gaged. The vehicle could move, even if the
handbrake is applied. Note
If the vehicle moves at a speed superior to
6 km/h (4 mph) with the handbrake applied,
an audible warning is sounded. Parking
When parking your vehicle, all legal require-
ments should be observed.
To park the vehicle
Complete operations only in the sequence
given.
● Park the vehicle on a suitable surface ››› .
● Press and hold the brake pedal until the ve-
hicle comes to a standstill.
● Apply the handbrake firmly ››› page 90. ●
For an automatic gearbox, move the selec-
tor lever to position P
.
● Sw
itch off the engine and release the brake
pedal.
● Remove the key from the ignition.
● If necessary, turn the steering wheel slight-
ly to lock the steering.
● With a manual gearbox, engage 1st gear on
flat ground and slopes, or even reverse gear
on hills, and release the clutch pedal.
● Ensure that all passengers leave the vehi-
cle, especially children.
● When leaving the vehicle, take all keys with
you.
● Lock the vehicle.
Additional information for steep slopes and
hills
Before switching off the engine, rotate the
steering wheel so that if the vehicle should
move, it will be held by the kerb.
● On slopes, turn the front wheels so that
they are against the edge of the kerb.
● Uphill, turn the wheels towards the centre
of the road. WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
very high temperatures. This could cause a
fire and considerable damage. ●
Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhaust system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood,
leaves,dried grass, or spilled fuel). CAUTION
● Special care should be taken when parking
in areas with high kerbs or fixed barriers. Ob-
jects protruding from the ground may dam-
age the bumper or other parts of the vehicle
during manoeuvres. To avoid damage, stop
before the wheels touch the barrier or kerb.
● Special attention is required when driving
through entrances, over ramps, kerbs or oth-
er objects. The vehicle underbody, bumpers,
mudguards and running gear, and the engine
and exhaust system could be damaged as
you drive over these objects. Information about the brakes
For the first 200 to 300 km, the new brake
pads
have not yet reached their maximum
br ak
ing capacity, and need to be “run in”
first ››› . The slightly reduced braking effect
can be compensated for by increasing pres-
sure on the brake pedal. While running in,
the f u
ll braking distance or emergency brak-
ing distance is larger then when the brake
pads have been run in. While running in,
avoid full power braking or situations requir-
ing braking performance. For example, in
heavy traffic. »
91
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety