
Foglights with the CORNER functionRead and observe 
 on page 59 first.
The CORNER function lights the front fog lamp on the relevant side of the ve-hicle to illuminate the area around the vehicle when turning, parking, etc.
The  CORNER  function is switched on automatically if the following conditions
are met.
› The turn signal is switched on or the front wheels are turned sharply to the
right or left 1)
.
› The engine is running.
› The vehicle is stopped or moves at a speed of no more than 40 km/h.
› The low beam is switched on.
› The daytime running lights are not switched on.
› The fog lights are not switched on.
› Reverse gear is not engaged.
Rear fog light
Read and observe 
 on page 59 first.
Switching on/off
›
First turn the light switch  » Fig. 43 on page 61  to position 
 or 
.
›
Pull the light switch to position 
2
.
The rear fog light is switched off in the reverse sequence.
If the vehicle is not fitted with fog lights, the rear fog light is switched on by pulling out the light switch directly to the only possible setting.
The warning light   lights up in the instrument cluster when the rear fog light
is switched on  » page 39.
Only the rear fog light on the trailer lights up if the vehicle has a factory-fitted
towing device or a towing device from ŠKODA original accessories and it is
driven with a trailer.
Tourist lights
Read and observe 
 on page 59 first.
Halogen projector headlights with cornering light function
This mode makes it possible to drive in countries with opposing traffic system
(driving on the left/right) without dazzling the oncoming vehicles. When the
mode “tourist light” is active, the side to side swivel of the headlights is deacti-
vated.
Activating tourist light
Before activating the tourist light, the following conditions must be met.
Ignition switched off, light switched off (light switch in position  0), control dial
for headlamp beam adjustment in the   position, no gear engaged or selector
lever in the  N position (automatic gearbox), tourist light deactivated.
›
Switch on the ignition.
Within 10 seconds of the ignition being switched on:
›
Turn the light switch to the   position 
» page 59 , Switching the light on/off .
›
Engage reverse gear (manual gearbox) or move the selector lever to the  R
position (automatic gearbox),
›
Turn the headlamp beam adjustment dial from   to 
 
» page 60 .
Deactivating tourist light
Before deactivating the tourist light, the following conditions must be met.
Ignition switched off, light switched off (light switch in position  0), control dial
for headlamp beam adjustment in the   position, no gear engaged or selector
lever in the  N position (automatic gearbox), tourist light activated.
›
Switch on the ignition.
Within 10 seconds of the ignition being switched on:
›
Turn the light switch to the   position 
» page 59 , Switching the light on/off .
›
Engage reverse gear (manual gearbox) or move the selector lever to the  R
position (automatic gearbox),
›
Turn the headlamp beam adjustment dial from   to 
 
» page 60 .
Further information  » page 118, Headlights . 
1)
If both switch on versions are conflicting, for example if the steering wheel is turned to the left and the
right turn signal light is switched on, the turn signal light has the higher priority.
62Operation    

Electronic immobilizerRead and observe 
 and  on page 106 first.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobiliser is deac-
tivated with the aid of this chip when the key is inserted in the ignition lock.
The electronic immobiliser is automatically activated when the ignition key is
withdrawn from the lock.
The engine will not start if a non-authorized ignition key is used.
The MAXI DOT display shows the following: Immobilizer active.
Ignition lock
Fig. 107 
Positions of the vehicle key in
the ignition lock
Read and observe  and  on page 106 first.
Petrol engines  » Fig. 107
Ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Diesel engines  » Fig. 107
Fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine switched off, the
steering can be locked.
Heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
Starting engine
To  lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel
until the steering locking pin engages audibly.
123123If the  steering is locked  and the key cannot be turned or can only be turned
with difficulty to position 2  » Fig. 107 , move the steering wheel back and
forth and the steering lock will unlock.
Note
We recommend  locking the steering wheel  whenever leaving the vehicle. This
acts as a deterrent against the attempted theft of your car.
Engine
Read and observe 
 and  on page 106 first.
Vehicles with a  diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The glow
plug warning light   lights up after the ignition has been switched on. Start
the engine once the   warning light has gone out.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Procedure for starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Move the gearshift lever into neutral or move the selector lever into position
P  or  N.
›
Switch on the ignition 
2
 » Fig. 107  on page 107 .
›
Depress and hold the clutch pedal (vehicles with a manual gearbox) or brake
pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox) until the engine starts.
›
Turn the key to position 
3
 to the stop and release immediately the engine
has started – do not depress the accelerator.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position 
2
.
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position 
1
. Re-
peat the start-up process after approx. half a minute.
Switching off the engine
Read and observe 
 and  on page 106 first.
Switch off the engine by turning the ignition key to position 
1
 » Fig. 107  on
page 107 .
107Starting-off and Driving          

HandbrakeFig. 108 
Handbrake
Read and observe  and  on page 108 first.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Releasing
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly  and at the same time push in the locking
button  » Fig. 108 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light   lights up when the handbrake is applied, pro-
vided the ignition is on.
WARNINGPlease note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating. This can
have a negative effect on the operation of the brake system – there is a
risk of an accident.
CAUTION
After the vehicle has come to a standstill, always tighten the handbrake first
and then switch to first gear (vehicles with manual gearbox) or move the se-
lector lever to the P position (vehicles with automatic transmission).Manual gear changing and pedals
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
109
Pedals
109
Manual gear changing
Fig. 109 
Shift pattern of the 5-speed
manual gearbox
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear on the clutch.
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear  » page 32.
Only engage reverse gear when the vehicle is stationary. Depress the clutch
pedal and hold it fully depressed. Wait a moment before reverse gear is engag-
ed to avoid any shift noises.
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the
ignition is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident!
CAUTION
If not in the process of changing gear, do not leave your hand on the gearshift
lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gearshift mech-
anism to wear excessively.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances! 
109Starting-off and Driving       

In the driver's footwell, only a footmat, which is attached to the two corre-
sponding attachment points, may be used.
Only use footmats from the range of ŠKODA Original Accessories, which are fit-
ted to two attachment points.WARNINGNo objects are allowed in the driver's footwell – risk of obstruction or limi-
tation in operating the pedals!
Automatic transmission
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Modes and use of selector lever
110
Manual shifting (Tiptronic)
111
Starting-off and driving
112
Malfunction
112
Selector lever-emergency unlocking
112WARNING■ Do not depress the accelerator if the forward driving mode is changed
when the vehicle is halted and the engine is running – there is a risk of an
accident.■
Never shift the selector lever to  R or  P modes when driving – there is a
risk of an accident.
■
The vehicle must be held on the brake pedal in  D, S  or  R modes if the ve-
hicle is halted and the engine is running. Even when the engine is idling,
power transmission is never completely interrupted – the vehicle will creep.
CAUTION■ If the selector lever is shifted to  N while the vehicle is being driven you must
lift off the accelerator pedal and you will need to wait until the engine has
reached its idling speed before shifting the selector lever to a forward driving
mode again.■
At temperatures below -10 °C, the engine can only be started in selector lev-
er position  P.
■
Never try to hold the vehicle using the accelerator pedal when stopping on a
hill – this may lead to transmission damage.
Note
After the ignition is switched off, the ignition key can only be withdrawn if the
selector lever is in position  P1)
.
Modes and use of selector lever
Fig. 110 
Selector lever /MAXI DOT display: Selector lever positions
Read and observe 
 and  on page 110 first.
When the ignition is switched on, the gearbox mode and the gear currently se- lected are indicated in the display 
1
  » Fig. 110 .
The following modes can be selected with the selector lever  » Fig. 110.
P
 – Parking mode
The driven wheels are locked mechanically in this mode.
Parking mode must only be selected when the vehicle is stationary. 
1)
Only valid for some countries.
110Driving       

R - Reverse gear
Reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is at idling speed.
Depress the brake pedal and simultaneously press the shiftlock in the selector
lever grip before shifting to  R from  P or  N.N
 - Neutral
Power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode.
D
 - Mode for forwards travel (normal programme)
In mode  D, the forward gears are automatically changed according to the en-
gine load, accelerator pedal actuation and driving speed.
S
 - Mode for forwards travel (sports programme)
In mode  S, the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down  at higher
engine speeds  than in mode D.
The shiftlock on the selector lever grip must be pressed when moving the se-
lector lever out of  D mode into  S mode.
Releasing selector lever from P or N modes (selector lever lock)
The selector lever is locked in the  P and  N modes to prevent the forwards trav-
el mode from being selected accidentally and setting the vehicle in motion.
The   warning light lights up in the instrument cluster 
» page 46.
The selector lever is released by depressing the brake pedal while simultane- ously pressing the locking button in the selection lever grip.
The selector lever is not locked when shifted quickly through  N (e.g. from  R to
D ). This, for example, helps to rock out a vehicle that is stuck, e.g. in a bank of
snow. The selector lever lock will engage if the lever is in position  N for more
than approximately 2 seconds without the brake pedal being depressed.
The selector lever is locked only when the vehicle is stationary and at speeds
up to 5 km/h.
Note
If you want to move the selector lever from mode  P to mode  D or vice versa,
move the selector lever quickly. This prevents modes  R or  N from being selec-
ted accidentally.Manual shifting (Tiptronic)Fig. 111 
Selector / MAXI DOT display: gear engaged
Read and observe 
 and  on page 110 first.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears on the selector lever. This mode can be selected both while halted and while driving.
The gear currently selected is indicated in the display 
1
  » Fig. 111 .
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear  » page 32.
Switching to manual shifting
›
Push the gear selector from position  D towards the right, or left in a right-
hand drive vehicle.
Shifting up gears
›
Press the selector lever forwards 
+
  » Fig. 111 .
Shifting down gears
›
Press the selector lever backwards 
-
  » Fig. 111 .
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the higher gear
just before the maximum permissible engine speed is reached.
If a lower gear is selected, the gearbox does not shift down until there is no risk of the engine overrevving.
Note
It may be beneficial, for example, when travelling downhill, to use manual
shifting of gears. Shifting to a lower gear reduces the load on the brakes and
hence brake wear  » page 108, Information on braking .111Starting-off and Driving     

Starting-off and drivingRead and observe 
 and  on page 110 first.
Starting off
›
Start the engine.
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Press and hold the shiftlock button on the selector lever grip.
›
Move the selector lever into the desired position  » page 110 and then release
the lock button.
›
Release the brake pedal and accelerate.
Stop
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Keep holding the brake pedal until driving is resumed.
The selector lever position  N does not have to be selected when stopping for a
short time, such as at a cross roads.
Parking
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Press and hold the shiftlock button on the selector lever grip.
›
Move the selector lever into the position  P and then release the locking but-
ton.
Kickdown
The kickdown function allows you to achieve maximum acceleration by your vehicle while driving.
When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the kickdown function is activa-
ted in any forward driving mode.
The gearbox shifts down one or more gears depending on the vehicle speed
and engine speed, and the vehicle accelerates.
The gearbox does not shift up into the highest gear until the engine has
reached its maximum revolutions for this gear range.
WARNINGRapid acceleration, particularly on slippery roads, can lead to loss of control
of the vehicle – there is a risk of an accident.Malfunction
Read and observe 
 and  on page 110 first.
Emergency programme
The transmission switches to the emergency programme if there is a fault in
the automatic gearbox system.
Indications of an activated emergency programme include the following:
› Only certain gears are selected.
› Reverse gear 
R cannot be used.
› Shifting gears in Tiptronic mode is not possible.
Gearbox overheating
The gearbox may, for example, become too hot due to frequent repeated
starting or stop-and-go traffic. Overheating is indicated by the warning
light  » page 38 , 
  Clutches of the automatic DSG gearbox are too hot
.
Note
Visit a specialist workshop if the gearbox has switched to the emergency pro-
gramme.
Selector lever-emergency unlocking
Fig. 112 
Selector lever-emergency un-
locking
Read and observe  and  on page 110 first.
If the selector lever lock is defective or its power supply is interrupted (e.g. dis-
charged vehicle battery, faulty fuse), the selector lever can no longer be moved
out of position  P in the normal manner, and the vehicle can no longer be driv-
en.
The selector lever emergency unlocking procedure is as follows.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake. 
112Driving         

›Carefully pull up the front left and right cover.›Pull up rear cover.›
Use a finger to press the yellow plastic part in the direction of the ar-
row  » Fig. 112 .
›
At the same time, press the locking button in the selector lever and move
the selector lever to  N.
The selector lever will be locked once more if it is moved again to  P.
Running in
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
New engine
113
New tyres
113
New brake pads
113
New engine
The engine has to be run in during the first 1 500 kilometres.
Up to 1 000 kilometres
›
Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the maximum speed of the gear in use, i.e. 3/4
of the maximum permissible engine speed.
›
No full throttle.
›
Avoid high engine speeds.
›
Do not tow a trailer.
From 1 000 up to 1 500 kilometres
Gradually  increase the power output of the engine up to the full speed of the
gear engaged, i.e. up to the maximum permissible engine speed.
The red scale on the rev counter indicates the range in which the system be-
gins to limit the engine speed.
During the first operating hours the engine has higher internal friction than
later until all of the moving parts have harmonized. The driving style which you
adopt during the first approx.1 500 kilometres plays a decisive part in the suc-
cess of running in your car.
Never drive at unnecessarily high engine speeds even after the running-in pe-
riod.
On vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox, at the very latest shift up into the
next gear when the red area is reached. Observe the recommended
gear  » page 32 , Recommended gear . Very  high engine speeds when accelerat-
ing (accelerator) are automatically restricted  » 
.
In vehicles with manual transmission, do not drive at unnecessarily  low engine
speeds. Shift down a gear when the engine is no longer running smoothly. Ob-
serve the recommended gear  » page 32, Recommended gear .
CAUTION
■
The engine is not protected from excessive engine revs caused by shifting
down at the wrong time. This can result in a sudden increase in revs beyond
the permissible maximum rpm and hence engine damage.■
Never rev up a cold engine when the vehicle is stationary or when driving in
individual gears.
For the sake of the environment
Do not drive at unnecessarily high engine speeds. Shifting up sooner helps
save fuel, reduces engine noise and protects the environment.
New tyres
New tyres must firstly be “run in” since they do not offer optimal grip at first.
Therefore, drive especially carefully for the first 500 km or so.
New brake pads
New brake pads do not initially provide optimal braking performance. They first
need to be “run in”. Therefore, drive especially carefully for the first 200 km or
so.
Economical driving and environmental sustainability
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Looking ahead
114
Economical gear changing.
114
Avoiding full throttle
115
Reducing idling
115
Avoiding short distances
115
Checking tyre pressure
115
113Starting-off and Driving    

Avoiding unnecessary ballast115Regular maintenance116
Saving electrical energy
116
Environmental compatibility
116
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the
vehicle have already been built into the vehicle at the works. ŠKODA places a
particular emphasis on minimising negative effects on the environment.
It is necessary to take note of the guidelines given in this chapter in order to make best use of these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness.
Fuel consumption, environmental pollution and the wear to the engine, brakes
and tyres depend essentially on the following three factors.
› Your personal driving style
› Operating conditions
› Technical requirements
The fuel economy by can be improved by 10 -15 % by always looking ahead and
driving in an economical way.
Fuel consumption is also be influenced by external factors which are beyond
the driver's control. Consumption increases during the winter or under difficult
conditions, on poor roads, etc.
Fuel consumption can vary considerably from the manufacturer's data, as a re-
sult of outside temperatures, the weather and driving style.
The optimal engine speed should be maintained when accelerating, to avoid a high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.
CAUTION
All the speed and engine revolution figures apply only when the engine is at
its normal operating temperature.
Looking ahead
Read and observe 
 on page 114 first.
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs when accelerating, therefore un-necessary accelerating and braking should be avoided. If looking ahead when
driving, less braking and consequently less accelerating are required.
If possible, let your vehicle coast to a stop, or use the engine brake, if you can see that the next set of traffic lights is on red, for example.
Economical gear changing.Fig. 113 
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in litres/100 km depending
on the selected gear
Read and observe  on page 114 first.
Shifting up early saves on fuel.
Manual gearbox › Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear.
› Shift up into the next gear at approximately 2000 rpm.
An effective way of achieving good fuel economy is to shift up  early. Observe
the recommended gear  » page 32, Recommended gear .
A suitably selected gear can have an effect on fuel consumption  » Fig. 113.
Automatic gearbox
› Slowly
 apply the accelerator pedal. However, do not depress it as far as the
kickdown position  » page 112.
› An economic driving programme is automatically selected if the accelerator
pedal is only depressed slowly.
114Driving