Safety
WARNING
Incorrect use of the steering wheel adjust-
ment function and an incorrect adjustment of
the steering wheel can result in severe or fa-
tal injury.
● After adjusting the steering column, push
the lever ››› Fig. 3 1 firmly upwards to en-
sure the steering wheel does not accidentally
change position while driving.
● Never adjust the steering wheel while the
vehicle is in motion. If you need to adjust the
steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion,
stop safely and make the proper adjustment.
● The adjusted steering wheel should be fac-
ing your chest and not your face so as not to
hinder the driver's front airbag protection in
the event of an accident.
● When driving, always hold the steering
wheel with both hands on the outside of the
ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions
to reduce injuries when the driver's front air-
bag deploys.
● Never hold the steering wheel at the 12
o'clock position or in any other manner (e.g.
in the centre of the steering wheel). In such
cases, if the driver's airbag deploys, you may
sustain injuries to your arms, hands and
head. Danger of injuries due to an incorrect
sitting position
Number of seats
The vehicle has a total of
4 seats: 2 front
se ats
and 2 rear seats. Each seat is equipped
with a seat belt.
If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at
all, the risk of severe injuries increases. Seat
belts can provide optimal protection only if
the belt web is properly worn. Being seated
in an incorrect position means the seat belt
cannot offer its full protection. This could re-
sult in severe and even fatal injuries. The risk
of severe or fatal injuries is especially height-
ened when a deploying airbag strikes a vehi-
cle occupant who has assumed an incorrect
sitting position. The driver is responsible for
all passengers in the vehicle, particularly
children.
The following list shows just some examples
of incorrect sitting positions which can be
dangerous to all vehicle occupants.
When the vehicle is in motion:
● Never stand in the vehicle.
● Never stand on the seats.
● Never kneel on the seats.
● Never tilt your seat backrest too far to the
rear.
● Never lean against the dash panel. ●
Never lie on the rear seats.
● Never sit on the front edge of a seat.
● Never sit sideways.
● Never lean out of a window.
● Never put your feet out of a window.
● Never put your feet on the dash panel.
● Never put your feet on the surface of a seat
or seat backrest.
● Never travel in a footwell.
● Never travel on a seat without wearing the
seat belt.
● Never carry any person in the luggage com-
partment. WARNING
An incorrect sitting position in the vehicle
can lead to severe injuries or death in the
event of sudden braking or manoeuvres, colli-
sion or accidents or if the airbag deploys.
● Before the vehicle moves, assume the prop-
er sitting position and maintain it throughout
the trip. This also includes fastening the seat
belt.
● Never transport more people than there are
seats with a seat belt available in the vehicle.
● Children must always be protected with an
approved child restraint system suited to
their height and weight ››› page 25,
››› page 17.8
Opening and closing
Opening and closing Vehicle key set Remote control vehicle key* Fig. 27
Remote control key Remote control key
With the vehicle key the vehicle may be
locked or unlocked remotely
››› page 45.
The vehicle key includes an emitter and bat-
tery. The receiver is in the interior of the vehi-
cle. The range of the vehicle key with remote
control and new battery is several metres
around the vehicle.
If it is not possible to open or close the vehi-
cle using the remote control key, this should
be re-synchronised ››› page 45 or the bat-
tery changed ››› page 44. Different keys belonging to the vehicle may
be used.
Folding the key shaft in and out
When the button is pressed
››› Fig. 27 A , the
key shaft is released and unfolds.
To fold it
press the button and fold the key
sh
aft in until it locks in place.
Replacing a key
To obtain a spare key and other vehicle keys,
the vehicle chassis number is required.
Each new key must contain a microchip and
be coded with the data from the vehicle elec-
tronic immobiliser. A vehicle key will not work
if it does not contain a microchip or the mi-
crochip has not been encoded. This is also
true for keys cut for the vehicle.
The vehicle keys or new spare keys can be
obtained from a SEAT dealership, a Special-
ised workshop or approved key service quali-
fied to create this kind of key.
New keys or spare keys must be synchron-
ised before use ››› page 45. WARNING
Careless or incorrect use of vehicle keys may
result in severe injury and accident.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever
you leave the vehicle. Children and unauthor-
ised individuals could lock the doors or the boot hatch, start the engine or turn on the ig-
nition, activating electrical systems, the elec-
tric windows, for example.
●
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.
● 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. CAUTION
The remote control key contains electronic
components. Protect them from damage, im-
pacts and humidity. Note
● Only use the key button when you require
the corresponding function. Pushing the but-
ton unnecessarily could accidentally unlock
the vehicle or trigger the alarm. It is also pos-
sible even when you are outside the radius of
action.
● Remote control key operation can be great-
ly influenced by overlapping radio signals
around the vehicle working in the same range » 43Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Driving
weather, and road and traffic conditions
permit.
WARNING
Driving without the brake servo may signifi-
cantly increase the braking distance and re-
sult in a severe accident.
● Never allow the vehicle to move forwards
when the engine is switched off.
● If the brake servo does not operate or the
vehicle must be towed, then the brake pedal
will have to be pressed with more force given
that the braking distance will be increased
when the brake servo does not operate. CAUTION
● Never make the brakes “slip” by pressing
the pedal gently, if it is not really necessary
to brake. Continuously pressing on the brake
pedal will heat the brakes. This could signifi-
cantly reduce braking power, increase brak-
ing distance or even result in the total failure
of the brake system.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced with steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to
reduce the strain on the brake system. Other-
wise, the brakes may overheat and fail. Only
use the brakes to reduce speed or to stop. Note
Make use, when having the front brake pads
checked, and have the rear pads checked al-
so. The thickness of the brake pads should be
checked visually and regularly, by looking
through the openings in the wheel rims or
from underneath the vehicle. If necessary, re-
move the wheels to check them thoroughly.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service. Changing gear
Introduction When reverse gear is engaged and the
ignition is switched on the following takes
place:
● Reverse lights light up.
● The rear wiper blade performs one move-
ment when the windscreen wiper is activa-
ted.
● If necessary, connect the parking distance
warning system. WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skidding, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and considerable
damage. ●
Use rapid acceleration only when visibility,
weather, road conditions and traffic permit. WARNING
Do not allow the brakes to “rub” for a pro-
longed period of time, or brake frequently or
for long periods of time. Continuous braking
heats up the brakes. This could significantly
reduce braking power, increase braking dis-
tance or even result in the total failure of the
brake system. Warning and control lamps
(red)It lights up
Fault in the auto-
matic gearbox.
Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice. Failure to
do so could result in considerable
damage to the transmission
››› page 97.
(yellow)It lights up
In the automatic
gearbox the
gears can en-
gage incorrectly.Switch the ignition on and off.
When the control lamp does not
light up, find the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the auto-
matic gearbox checked.
»
93
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
required direction, there is a system malfunc-
tion. Seek specialist assistance and have the
system checked. CAUTION
● When the gearbox is displayed as overheat-
ing for the first time, the vehicle must be
parked safely or must be driven at a speed of
more than 20 km/h (12 mph).
● When the warning lamp lights up and the
audible warning is heard, the vehicle must be
parked safely and the engine switched off.
Let the gearbox cool down.
● To prevent damage to the gearbox, driving
must only be continued when the warning
lamps are no longer lit up. While the gearbox
is overheated, starting up and driving, even
at a slow speed should be avoided. Recommended gear display
In some vehicles, the recommended gear for
reducing fuel consumption is displayed on
the instrument panel:DisplayMeaning
Optimum gear.
Recommendation to change up a gear.
Recommendation to change down a
gear. WARNING
The recommended gear display is intended as
a guideline only; it should never replace the
driver's attention to driving carefully.
● Responsibility for selecting the correct gear
for each situation continues to lie with the
driver, for example when overtaking or climb-
ing a hill. For the sake of the environment
Selecting the most appropriate gear for the
situation will help you to save fuel. Note
● The recommended gear display is switched
off when the clutch pedal is pressed.
● On the display of the Portable Navigation
System (supplied by SEAT) ››› page 123 the
recommended gear can also be seen. Run-in and economical driving
Running-in Please observe the instructions for running-in
new components.
Running-in the engine
The engine needs to be run in over the first
1,500 km. During its first few hours of run-ning, the internal friction in the engine is
greater than later on when all the moving
parts have bedded down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first 1,500
km influences the future engine perform-
ance. Throughout the life of the vehicle, it
should be driven at a moderate speed, espe-
cially when the engine is cold, as this will re-
duce engine wear and increase its useful life.
Never drive at extremely low engine speeds.
Change down to a lower gear when the en-
gine no longer runs “smoothly”.
Up to 1,000
k i
lometres the following instructions apply:
● Do not use full throttle.
● Do not force the engine above two thirds of
its maximum speed.
Between 1,000 and 1,500 kilometres, gradu-
ally increase power until reaching the maxi-
mum speed and high en
gine speeds.
Running in new tyres and brake pads
● Replacement of wheel rims and new tyres
››› page 158
● Notes on the brakes ››› page 89 For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, the life of the
engine will be increased and the engine oil
consumption reduced. 98
Driver assistance systems
● Will the navigation system fitted at the fac-
tory operate correctly in the destination coun-
try with the available navigation data?
● Are special tyres required in the destination
country? CAUTION
SEAT does not accept liability for any damage
to the vehicle due to the use of a lower quali-
ty fuel, an inadequate service or the non-
availability of genuine spare parts. Driving along flooded roadways
To prevent damage to the vehicle when driv-
ing through water, for example, along a floo-
ded road, please observe the following:
● Check the depth of the water before enter-
ing the flooded zone. The water should never
come above the lower edge of the bodywork
››› .
● Do not drive faster than a pedestrian.
● Do not stop in the water, use reverse gear
or switch off the engine.
● Oncoming traffic will cause waves which
raise the level of the water, making it difficult
to cross the water.
● Disconnect the Start-Stop system whenever
crossing water. WARNING
When driving through water, mud, melted
snow, etc., please remember that due to
damp or frozen brake discs and shoes in win-
ter, the braking effect may be delayed, there-
fore the required braking distance is greater.
● “Dry the brakes and remove ice” by braking
carefully. Ensure that you are not endanger-
ing other road-users or breaking traffic regu-
lations in the process.
● After driving through water, avoid sudden
sharp manoeuvres. CAUTION
● Driving through flooded areas may severely
damage vehicle components such as the en-
gine, transmission, drive train or electrical
system.
● Never drive through salt water as salt cau-
ses corrosion. Always rinse any parts of the
vehicle which have been in contact with salt
water. Driver assistance systems
Braking and stability systems Brake assist systems The assisted braking systems ESC*, ABS,
EBV, BAS, ASR, TC and EDL only operate when
the ignition is switched on. They contribute
significantly to increasing active safety.
Electronic stability control (ESC)*
ESC* reduces the risk of skidding and increa-
ses the vehicle stability by braking individual
wheels under specific driving conditions.
ESC* detects critical handling situations,
such as understeer, oversteer and wheelspin
on the driven wheels. The system stabilises
the vehicle by braking individual wheels or
by reducing the engine torque.
The ESC* has limits. It is important to realise
that ESC* is also subject to the laws of phys-
ics. ESC* will not be able to deal with all sit-
uations with which drivers may be faced. For
example, if the road surface changes sudden-
ly then ESC* will not be useful in all cases. If
the vehicle suddenly enters a section cov-
ered by water, mud or snow then ESC* will
not provide assistance in the same way as on
dry ground. If the vehicle loses its grip on the
ground and moves on a film of water (“aqua-
planing”), the ESC* will not be able to help
»
103Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Driver assistance systems
and serious injury to the driver and passen-
gers.
●
Adjust your speed and driving style to visi-
bility, road, traffic and weather conditions.
Even though the brake assist systems, ABS,
BAS, EDL, ASR and ESC* provide more securi-
ty, do not take unnecessary risks while driv-
ing.
● Brake assist systems can not overcome the
laws of physics. Even with ESC* and other
systems, slippery and wet roads will always
be dangerous.
● Driving to quickly on wet ground can result
in the wheels losing contact with the ground
in an effect known as “aquaplaning”. Without
adherence, it is impossible to brake, steer or
control the vehicle.
● Brake assist systems cannot avoid acci-
dents if, for example, the driver does not re-
spect safety distances or drives to quickly in
difficult conditions.
● Even though brake assist systems are ex-
tremely effective and help control the vehicle
in difficult situations, remember that the ve-
hicle stability depends on tyre grip.
● When accelerating on a slippery surface,
for example on ice or snow, press the acceler-
ator carefully. The wheels can still slip even
with brake assist systems resulting in loss of
vehicle control. WARNING
The effectiveness of the ESC* can be consid-
erably reduced if other components and sys-
tems affecting driving dynamics are not main-
tained or are not functioning correctly. This
includes, among others, brakes, tyres and
other systems already mentioned.
● Remember that changing and fitting other
components to the vehicle can affect opera-
tion of the ABS, BAS, ASR TC, EDL and ESC*.
● Changes to the vehicle suspension or using
unapproved wheel/tyre combinations can af-
fect operation of the ABS, BAS, ASR, TC, EDL
and ESC* and their effectiveness.
● Likewise, the effectiveness of ESC* de-
pends on the use of suitable tyres
››› page 158. Note
● To ensure that the ESC*, ASR and TC work
properly, all four wheels must be fitted with
identical tyres. Any differences in the rolling
radius of the tyres can cause the system to
reduce engine power when this is not de-
sired.
● If a malfunction should occur in the ABS,
the ESC*, ASR, TC and EDL will also be affec-
ted.
● Noises may be heard while any of the
above systems are operating. Parking sensor system*
Introduction The parking sensor system assists the driver
when parking. If the rear of the vehicle is ap-
proaching an obstacle, an intermittent audi-
ble warning is emitted. The shorter the dis-
tance, the shorter the intervals between
tones. If the vehicle is too close to the obsta-
cle, the audible warning becomes constant.
If you continue to approach an obstacle when
the sound is continuous, this means the sys-
tem can no longer measure the distance.
Sensors situated on the rear bumper transmit
and receive ultrasound. Using the ultrasound
signal (transmission, reflection from the ob-
stacles and reception), this system continu-
ously calculates the distance between the
bumper and the obstacle.
WARNING
The parking distance warning system cannot
replace the driver's assessment of the situa-
tion.
● The sensors have blind spots in which ob-
stacles and people are not registered.
● Always observe the area around the vehi-
cle, as the sensors do not always detect
small children, animals or objects. » 105Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
The City Safety Assist function is limited by
the laws of physics and by the nature of the
system itself. For this reason, this may pro-
duce reactions from the City Safety Assist
system in certain circumstances that are late
or unexpected by the driver. For this reason,
always pay due attention and if necessary, in-
tervene.
For example, the following driving situations
require special attention:
Driving through a bend
When entering or leaving a “long” bend, the
vehicle may decelerate when the radar sen-
sor detects a vehicle travelling in the adjoin-
ing lane ››› Fig. 91
A. To interrupt deceleration
you can accelerate, turn the steering wheel or
press the clutch.
Narrow vehicles in front
The radar sensor will only detect narrow vehi-
cles in front if they are in the sensor detec-
tion zone ››› Fig. 91 B. This applies especially
to n
arrow vehicles such as motorbikes.
Other vehicles changing lanes
Vehicles moving into your lane in close prox-
imity can cause unexpected braking from the
City Safety Assist system ›››
Fig. 92. To inter-
rupt dec
eleration you can accelerate, turn the
steering wheel or press the clutch. Malfunction in the radar sensor
If the radar sensor operation is impaired, for
example due to heavy rain, mist, snow or dirt,
the City Safety Assist system function is tem-
porarily switched off. On the instrument pan-
el display the control lamp
flashes.
When the fau
lt in the radar sensor has been
rectified, the City Safety Assist system func-
tion automatically becomes available. The
control lamp
switches off.
The following conditions could prevent the
City Safety Assist system from functioning:
● Tight bends.
● Accelerator pressed all the way down to the
floor.
● If the City Safety Assist system is switched
off or there is a fault ››› page 111.
● If the radar sensor is dirty, covered or over-
heated ››› page 112.
● In the event
of snow, heavy rain or dense
fog.
● If there are vehicles in front.
● Vehicles changing lanes.
● Vehicles moving in the opposite direction
in the same lane.
● Very dirty vehicles with a low degree of re-
flection.
● Presence of thick dust. Hill driving assistant*
Operation This function is only included in vehicles with
ESC.
The hill driving assistant helps the driver to
move off and upward on a hill when the vehi-
cle is stationary.
The system maintains brake pressure for ap-
proximately two seconds after the driver
takes his foot off the brake pedal to prevent
the vehicle from lurching backward when it is
started. During these 2 seconds, the driver
has enough time to release the clutch pedal
and accelerate without the vehicle moving
and without having to use the handbrake,
making start-up easier, more comfortable
and safer.
These are the basic operation conditions:
● being on a ramp or hill/slope,
● doors closed,
● vehicle completely stationary,
● engine running and foot on the brake,
● besides having a gear engaged or being in
neutral for manual gear change and with the
selector lever at positions S
, D
or R in vehi-
cles with an automatic gearbox.
This system is also active when reversing up-
hill.
114
Wheels and tyres
Note
For technical reasons, it is not generally pos-
sible to use the wheels from other vehicles.
In some cases, this may also be true for the
same model of wheel. Please refer to the ve-
hicle documentation or ask at a technical
service. About your tyres and wheels
Fig. 114
Diagram for changing wheels The tyres of a vehicle are the components
which are subjected to most stress and are
the most underestimated. Tyres are very im-
portant, as the support offered by their nar-
row surface is the only point of contact be-
tween the vehicle and the road.
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre
pressure, driving style, the care they receive
and the correct fitting. The tyres and wheel rims are an essential
part of the vehicle's design. The tyres and
rims approved by SEAT are specially matched
to the characteristics of the vehicle and our
critical to good road holding and safe han-
dling.
Avoiding damage to tyres and wheels
● If you have to drive over a kerb or similar
obstacle, drive very slowly and as near as
possible at a right angle to the kerb.
● Inspect the tyres regularly for damage
(punctures, cuts, cracks, dents).
● Remove any foreign bodies found on the
outside of the tyre tread and ensure that they
have not passed through the wall of the tyre
››› page 163 .
● In a d
dition, the instructions for tyre control
systems should always be observed.
● Replace damaged or worn tyres as soon as
possible ››› page 163.
● Re
gularly check tyres for non-visible dam-
age ››› page 163
.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted
speed or loads specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle ››› page 167.
● Do not allow tyres (including the spare
wheel) to come into contact with aggressive
substances, grease, oil, fuel or brake fluid
››› .●
Lost valve caps should be replaced imme-
diately.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
Tyres with directional tread pattern have
been designed to operate best when rotating
in only one direction. An arrow on the tyre
sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on
tyres with directional tread ››› page 167. Al-
ways observe the direction of rotation indica-
ted when mounting the wheel. This guaran-
tees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
If the tyre is mounted in the opposite direc-
tion of rotation, drive with extreme caution,
as the tyre is no longer being used correctly.
This is of particular importance when the
road surface is wet. Change the tyre as soon
as possible or remount it with the correct di-
rection of rotation.
Interchanging tyres
To ensure that the wear is equal on all tyres
the wheels should be changed round from
time to time according to the system
››› Fig. 114 . The useful life of all the tyres will
then be about the s
ame time.
SEAT recommends you take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop to have the tyres
changed. »
159
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety