
Safe driving
Safety
Safe driving Safety first! WARNING
● This manual contains important informa-
tion about the operation of the vehicle, both
for the driver and the passengers. The other
sections of the on-board documentation also
contain further information that you should
be aware of for your own safety and for the
safety of your passengers.
● Ensure that the on-board documentation is
kept in the vehicle at all times. This is espe-
cially important when lending or selling the
vehicle to another person. WARNING
Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs,
medication or narcotics may result in severe
accidents and even loss of life.
● Alcohol, drugs, medication and narcotics
may significantly alter perception, affect re-
action times and safety while driving, which
could result in the loss of control of the vehi-
cle. Tips for driving
Before starting every trip For your own safety and the safety of your
passengers, always note the following points
before every trip:
– Make sure that the vehicle's lights and turn
signals are working properly.
– Check tyre pressure.
– Ensure that all windows provide a clear and
good view of the surroundings.
– Make sure all luggage is secured
››› page 65.
– Make sure that no objects can interfere
with the pedals.
– Adjust front seat, head restraint and rear vi-
sion mirrors properly according to your
size.
– Ensure that the passengers in the rear
seats always have the head restraints in
the in-use position ›››
page 9.
– Instruct passengers to adjust the head re-
straints according to their height.
– Protect children with appropriate child
seats and properly applied seat belts
››› page 25 . –
As s ume the correct sitting position. Instruct
your passengers also to assume a proper
sitting position. ››› page 6.
– Fasten your seat belt securely. Instruct your
passengers also to fasten their seat belts
properly. ››› page 11.
What affects driving safety? As a driver, you are responsible for yourself
and your passengers. When your concentra-
tion or driving safety is affected by any cir-
cumstance, you endanger yourself as well as
others on the road
››› , for this reason:
– Always pay attention to traffic and do not
get distracted by passengers or telephone calls.
– Never drive when your driving ability is im-
paired (e.g. by medication, alcohol, drugs).
– Observe traffic laws and speed limits.
– Always reduce your speed as appropriate
for road, traffic and weather conditions.
– When travelling long distances, take
breaks regularly - at least every two hours.
– If possible, avoid driving when you are tired
or stressed.
»
5
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

OperationSymbolMeaning
››› See
lights up or flashes:
fault in cata-
lytic converter.››› page
101
Fault in engine management.
lights up or flashes:
fault in the
steering system.››› page
84
Fuel tank almost empty.›››
page
139
Fault in airbag system and seat
belt tensioners.›››
page
17
it lights up:
the Start-Stop sys-
tem is enabled. ALTERNATIVELY:
flashes: the Start-Stop system is
not available.
››› page
115
The Start-Stop system is enabled
but the engine cannot be auto-
matically stopped.
Tyre pressure* too low›››
page
164
Left or right turn signal.›››
page
55
Hazard warning lights on.››› page
170
Cruise control operating.›››
page
107
Main beam on or flasher on.›››
page
55
The natural gas engine coolant
temperature is too low. WARNING
If the warning lamps are ignored, the vehicle
may stall in traffic, or may cause accidents
and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
● Park the vehicle away from traffic and en-
sure that there are no highly flammable ma-
terials under the vehicle that could come into
contact with the exhaust system (e.g. dry
grass, fuel).
● A faulty vehicle represents a risk of acci-
dent for the driver and for other road users. If
necessary, switch on the hazard warning
lamps and put out the warning triangle to ad-
vise other drivers.
● Before opening the bonnet, switch off the
engine and allow it to cool.
● In any vehicle, the engine compartment is a
hazardous area and could cause severe inju-
ries ››› page 143. CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps when they
appear may result in faults in the vehicle. SEAT information system
Introduction With the ignition switched on it is possible to
access different messages via the display on
the instrument panel display.
The number of messages displayed on the in-
strument panel display will vary according to
the vehicle electronics and equipment.
A specialised workshop will be able to pro-
gramme or modify additional functions, ac-
cording to the vehicle equipment. SEAT rec-
ommends taking your car in for technical
service.
WARNING
Any distraction may lead to an accident, with
the risk of injury.
● Do not consult the messages on the instru-
ment panel screen when driving. Note
On the screen of the SEAT Portable System
(supplied by SEAT) ››› page 123 other func-
tion s
of the vehicle can be seen. 40

Operation
●
While driving, always keep object compart-
ments closed.
● Remove all objects from the front passen-
ger seat when it is folded down. When the
seat backrest is folded down, it presses on
small and light objects and these are detec-
ted by the weight sensor on the seat; this
sends false information to the airbag control
unit.
● While the backrest of the front passenger
seat is folded, the frontal airbag must remain
disconnected and the PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF light on.
● Ob
jects secured in the vehicle should never
be placed in such a way as to make passen-
gers sit in an incorrect position.
● If secured objects occupy a seat, this seat
should not be occupied or used by anyone. WARNING
The driving behaviour and braking ability
change when transporting heavy and large
objects.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visi-
bility, road, traffic and weather conditions.
● Accelerate gently and carefully.
● Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
● Brake early. Transporting a load
Secure all objects in the vehicle
● Distribute the load throughout the vehicle
and on the roof as uniformly as possible.
● Transport heavy objects as far forward as
possible in the luggage compartment and
lock the seat backs in the vertical position.
● Check the headlight adjustment
››› page 55.
● Use the s
uitable tyre pressure according to
the load being transported. Read the tire in-
flation information label ›››
page 158. CAUTION
Objects on the shelf could chafe against the
wires of the heating element in the heated
rear window and cause damage. Note
Please refer to the notes on loading the roof
carrier ››› page 77. Driving with the rear lid open
Driving with the rear lid open creates an addi-
tional risk. Secure all objects and secure the
rear lid correctly and take all measures possi-
ble to reduce toxic gases from entering the
vehicle. WARNING
Driving with the rear lid unlocked or open
could cause serious injuries.
● Always drive with the rear lid closed.
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Loose
items could fall out of the vehicle and injure
other road users or damage other vehicles.
● Drive particularly carefully and think
ahead.
● Avoid sudden manoeuvres and braking giv-
en that this could cause an uncontrolled
movement of the open rear lid.
● When transporting objects that protrude
out of the luggage compartment, indicate
them suitably. Observe legal requirements.
● If objects must project out of the luggage
compartment, the rear lid must never be used
to “secure” or “attach” objects.
● If a baggage rack is fitted on the rear lid, it
should be removed before travelling with the
rear lid open. WARNING
Toxic gases may enter the vehicle interior
when the rear lid is open. This could cause
loss of consciousness, carbon monoxide poi-
soning, serious injury and accidents.
● To avoid toxic gases entering the vehicle al-
ways drive with the rear lid closed. 66

Driving
The vehicle uses more fuel in winter than in
summer, even when other conditions are the
same.
“Warming” the engine is not only forbidden
in some countries, but in practice it is techni-
cally superfluous as it is a waste of fuel.
Adjusting type pressures.
Having the correct pressure in your tyres
helps to reduce rolling resistance and, as a
result reduces fuel consumption. Increasing
the tyre pressure slightly (+0.2
bar/+3 psi/+200 kPa) can help to save fuel.
When you buy new tyres, make sure they are
optimised for minimum rolling resistance.
Use low friction engine oil
The use of low viscosity totally synthetic oils,
known as low friction engine oil, helps to re-
duce fuel consumption. These oils reduce the
resistance caused by friction in the engine,
they flow around the engine more quickly
and efficiently, particularly in cold starts. The
effect is particularly noticeable in vehicles
frequently used for short journeys.
Always check the engine oil level and ob-
serve service intervals (engine oil change in-
tervals).
When purchasing engine oil, always observe
legal requirements and ensure that the oil is
approved by SEAT. Avoid carrying unnecessary loads
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical
and ecological the driving style. For example,
an additional weight of 100 kg will increase
fuel consumption up to 0.3 l/100 km.
Remove any unnecessary objects or loads
from the vehicle.
Remove optional equipment and
unnecessary accessories
The more aerodynamic the vehicle, the lower
the fuel consumption. Optional equipment
and accessories (such as roof racks or bike
carriers) reduce the aerodynamic benefits of
the vehicle.
Therefore, we recommend you remove all op-
tional and unnecessary equipment and racks,
especially if you intend to drive at high
speeds.
Other factors which increase fuel
consumption (examples):
●
Fault in engine management.
● Driving on hills. WARNING
Always adapt your speed and the distance to
the vehicles ahead in line with visibility,
weather conditions, the condition of the road
and the traffic situation. Engine management and
exhaust gas purification
system
Introduction WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
very high temperatures. This could cause a
fire.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhaust system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as dried grass).
● Never apply additional underseal or anti-
corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter or the heat shields on the ex-
haust system. Control lampsIt lights
upPossible causeSolution
Fault in engine
management
(Electronic Power
Control).Take the vehicle to a
specialised work-
shop as soon as
possible and have
the engine checked.
»
101
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Care and maintenance
SEAT recommends the use of car washes
without brushes.
To remove traces of wax on windows and to
prevent wiper blades from scratching, please
observe the following ››› page 128, Cleaning
windows and exterior mirrors .
Washing the car by hand
When washing the car by hand, use plenty of
water to soften the dirt first, and rinse off as
well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge,
glove or
brush using only slight pressure.
Start at the roof and work downwards. Spe-
cial car shampoo should only be used for
ver
y persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and of-
ten.
Wheels, sills and similar should be cleaned
last. Use a second sponge for this. WARNING
Sharp components on the vehicle may cause
injury.
● Protect arms and hands from sharp edges
when cleaning the vehicle undercarriage or
the interior of the wheel hubs. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the brak-
ing effect will be reduced (and the braking
distance increased) due to moisture (and ice
in winter) on the brakes.
● “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. CAUTION
● The temperature of the water must not ex-
ceed +60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not
wash the vehicle in full sun.
● Do not use rough sponges or similar which
could damage the surface to clean away the
traces of insects.
● Never wipe the headlights with a dry cloth
or sponge, always moisten first. It is best to
use soapy water.
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
When washing the vehicle with a hose, do
not direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors or roof. Locks and
seals could freeze! CAUTION
To prevent damage to the vehicle, please ob-
serve the following before entering an auto-
matic car wash: ●
Compare the distance between the vehicle
wheels and the distance between the guide-
rails of the car wash to prevent damage to the
wheels and tyres!
● Switch off the rain sensor before taking the
vehicle to an automatic car wash.
● Compare the height and width of your vehi-
cle with the available height and width when
entering and driving through the car wash.
● Fold in exterior mirrors Electrically retracta-
ble exterior mirrors must not be folded in or
out by hand. Always use the electrical power
control.
● To avoid damaging the bonnet paintwork,
rest the windscreen wipers on the windscreen
after drying the wiper blades. Do not let them
fall!
● Lock the rear lid to prevent it from opening
unexpectedly while inside the car wash. Washing the vehicle with high
pressure cleaning apparatus
When cleaning the vehicle with a high-pres-
sure cleaner, always follow the operating in-
structions for the equipment. Pay special at-
tention to the required pressure of the jet
and the
distance
between the jet and the ve-
hic
le ››› .
Keep a suitable distance from soft materials,
such as rubber hoses or insulating material, »
127
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
and from the parking distance warning sys-
tem sensors. The sensors of the parking dis-
tance warning system are situated on the rear
bumper ››› .
Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out
in a direct stream
or one th
at has a rotating
jet for forcing off dirt ››› .
WARNING
The incorrect use of high pressure cleaning
equipment could result in permanent dam-
age, visible or invisible, to the tyres or other
materials. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Ensure there is a suitable distance between
the nozzle and the tyres.
● Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet or
so-called “dirt blasters”. Even at large spray-
ing distances and short cleaning times, you
may damage the tyres. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the brak-
ing effect will be reduced (and the braking
distance increased) due to moisture (and ice
in winter) on the brakes.
● “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. CAUTION
● The temperature of the water must not be
above +60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not
wash the vehicle in full sun.
● To ensure that the system functions well,
the sensors located on the bumper must be
kept clean and free from ice. When cleaning
with pressure hoses and steam cleaners, the
sensors should be sprayed only briefly. A dis-
tance of 10 cm between the sensors and the
steam / hose nozzle must be observed.
● Do not use a high pressure cleaner to re-
move ice or snow from windows
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
When washing the vehicle with a hose, do
not direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors or roof. Locks and
seals could freeze! Cleaning windows and exterior
mirrors
Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors
Spray windows and exterior windows with a
standard window cleaner containing alcohol.
Dry the windows with a clean chamois leath-
er or a lint-free cloth. The chamois leathers
used on painted surfaces are not suitable for
cleaning windows because they are soiledwith wax deposits which could smear the
windows.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to
clean rubber, oil, grease and silicone depos-
its off
››› .
Removing wax deposits
Automatic car washes and certain car care
products may leave wax deposits on the win-
dows. These deposits can only be removed
with a special product or cleaning cloths. If
wax deposits are left on the windscreen and
the rear window, the blades can scratch the
glass. SEAT recommends you wipe the wax
deposits off the windscreen and the rear win-
dow with a soft cloth each time after you
have washed the vehicle.
A window cleaning detergent which helps to
dissolve the wax may be added to the wind-
screen washer fluid to prevent the wiper
blades from scratching the windscreen.
Please ensure you add the cleaning product
in the correct proportions. Products for re-
moving grease do not eliminate the wax de-
posits ››› .
Special cleaning products or window cloths
are available at any technical service. To re-
move wax deposits, SEAT recommends the
following products:
128

Advice
CAUTION
● Never disconnect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running.
This could damage the electrical system or
electronic components.
● Never plug accessories that supply current,
such as solar panels or a battery charger, to
the 12-volt power socket or the cigarette
lighter. This could damage the vehicle's elec-
trical system. For the sake of the environment
Dispose of the battery in an environment-
friendly manner. Batteries contain toxic sub-
stances such as sulphuric acid and lead. For the sake of the environment
Battery acid can contaminate the environ-
ment. Collect any spilt service fluids and dis-
pose of them correctly. Wheels and tyres
Wheels Introduction SEAT recommend that all work on tyres and
wheels is carried out by a specialised work-
shop. These workshops have the necessary
special tools and replacement parts, trained
personnel and facilities for disposing of the
old tyres while respecting the environment.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service.
WARNING
The vehicle cannot be totally controlled or
braked if the tyres (new or used) are worn or
damaged.
● Incorrect use of wheels and tyres could
make driving more dangerous and result in
serious accidents and damage.
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial
tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumfer-
ence) and the same tread pattern.
● New tyres do not give maximum grip and
will not have reached their maximum braking
capacity to start with, and therefore need
running in. To prevent accidents and major
damage, extreme caution should be taken for
the first 600 km. ●
Check tyre pressures regularly and ensure
they are maintained at the pressures indica-
ted. If the tyre pressure is too low, they could
overheat, resulting in tread detachment or
even burst tyres.
● Never drive on damaged (punctured, cut,
cracked or dented) or worn tyres. Driving on
damaged or worn tyres could result in burst
tyres, serious accidents or damage. Worn or
damaged tyres must be replaced immediate-
ly.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted
speed or loads specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle.
● The effectiveness of driver and brake assist
systems also depends on the grip of the
tyres.
● If you notice unusual vibration or if the ve-
hicle pulls to one side when driving, stop the
car immediately and check the tyres and
wheels for damage.
● To minimise the risk of losing control of the
vehicle or causing a serious accident, never
undo the bolted joints of beadlock wheels.
● Never mount used tyres or wheels if you are
not sure of their previous history. They may
be damaged, although the damage is not im-
mediately visible.
● Old tyres, even if they have never been
used, may lose air or burst unexpectedly
while driving, especially at high speeds, re-
sulting in serious accident and injury. If tyres
are over six years old, they should only be
used in an emergency and with extreme cau-
tion. 158

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