
Safety
Passive Safety
General information
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Before setting off
8
Driving safety
8
Safety equipment
8
In this section you will find important information, tips and notes on the sub-
ject of passive safety in your vehicle.
We have combined everything here which you should be familiar with, for ex-
ample, regarding seat belts, airbags, child seats and safety of children.
WARNING■ This chapter contains important information on how to use the vehicle for
the driver and his occupants.■
You can find further information on safety concerning you and those trav-
elling with you in the following chapters of this owner's manual.
■
The complete on-board literature should always be in the vehicle. This
applies in particular, if you rent out or sell the vehicle.
Before setting off
Read and observe
on page 8 first.
For your own safety and the safety of the people travelling with you, please
pay attention to the following points before setting off.
Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal system are functioning proper-
ly.
Ensure that the function of the wipers and the condition of the wiper
blades are free of any defects.
Ensure that all of the windows offer good visibility to the outside.
Adjust the rear-view mirror so that vision to the rear is guaranteed.
Ensure that the mirrors are not covered.
Check the tyre inflation pressure.
Check the engine oil, brake fluid and coolant level.
Secure all items of luggage.
Do not exceed the permissible axle loads and permissible gross weight of
the vehicle.
Close all doors as well as the bonnet and boot lid.
Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedals.
Protect children in suitable child seats with correctly fastened seat
belts » page 23 , Transporting children safely .
Adopt the correct seated position » page 9, Correct and safe seated
position . Tell your passengers to assume the correct seated position.
Driving safety
Read and observe
on page 8 first.
The driver is fully responsible for himself and his occupants. If your driving
safety is effected, you place yourself and the oncoming traffic at risk.
The following guidelines must therefore be observed. Do not become distracted from concentrating on the traffic situation, e.g.
by your passengers or mobile phone calls.
Never drive when your driving ability is impaired, e.g. due to medication, al-
cohol or drugs.
Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
Always adjust the driving speed to the road, traffic and weather condi-
tions.
Take regular breaks on long journeys – at least every two hours.
Safety equipment
Read and observe
on page 8 first.
The following list contains only part of the safety equipment in your vehicle.
› Three-point seat belts for all the seats.
› Belt force limiters for the front seats.
› Belt tensioners for the front seats.
› Seat belt height adjusters for the front seats.
› Front airbag for the driver and the front passenger.
› Driver’s knee airbag.
8Safety

CAUTION■As long as the indicator light lights up, one must take into account an in-
creased fuel consumption and in certain circumstances a power reduction of
the engine.■
Using diesel fuel with an increased sulphur content can considerably reduce
the life of the diesel particle filter. A ŠKODA partner will be able to tell you
which countries use diesel fuel with a high sulphur content.
Note
■ To assist the combustion process of the soot particles in the filter, we recom-
mend that regularly driving short distances be avoided.■
If the engine is turned off during the filter cleaning process or shortly after-
wards, the cooling fan may turn on automatically for a few minutes.
Fuel reserve
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
The warning light
is lit when there is less than 9 litres of remaining fuel.
An audible signal sounds as a warning.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Please refuel. Range: ... km
CAUTION
Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty! The irregular supply of fuel
can cause misfiring. This can result in considerable damage to parts of the en-
gine and the exhaust system.
Note
The text in the display goes out only after refuelling and driving a short dis-
tance.
Airbag system
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
If the warning light
lights up , there is a fault in the airbag system.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Error: Airbag
The operational capability of the airbag system is monitored electronically, in-
cluding when one of the airbags is switched off.
The front passenger airbag has been disabled with the key switch
› The indicator light
comes on for around 4 seconds after the ignition has
been switched on;
› The warning light
in the display
in the middle of the dash
panel lights up after switching on the ignition » page 22.
One of the airbags or a belt tensioner has been disabled by the diagnostic
tool
› The warning
lights up for approx. 4 seconds after switching on the igni-
tion and then flashes again for approx. 12 seconds.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Airbag / belt tensioner deactivated.WARNINGWhen a fault in the airbag system occurs, there is a risk of the system not
being triggered in the event of an accident. Therefore, this must be
checked immediately by a specialized company.
Tyre pressure
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
The warning light is lit
If the warning light comes on while driving, it means one of the tyres has
undergone a pressure change.
An audible signal sounds as a warning.
›
Immediately reduce speed and avoid sudden steering and braking manoeu-
vres.
›
Stop the vehicle, turn the ignition off and check the tyres and their inflation
pressures » page 191.
›
Correct the tyre pressure if necessary or replace the affected
wheel » page 200 or use the repair kit » page 203.
›
Save the tyre pressure values in the system » page 158.
The warning light flashes for about 1 min. and remains lit
If the warning light flashes for approximately 1 minute and stays on, there
may be a fault in the tyre pressure monitoring system.
›
Stop the vehicle, turn the ignition off and start the engine again.
40Using the system

Avoid full throttle and high speeds
Fuel consumption will be halved if only three-quarters of the possible top
speed of your vehicle is used.
Reducing idling
When the engine is switched off, such as when waiting in a traffic jam, the fuel economy is already greater after 30 - 40 s than the fuel quantity which is re-
quired for engine re-start.
Avoid short distances
When driving a short distance of less than about 4 km, the engine cannot
reach its operating temperature. As long as the engine has not reached oper-
ating temperature, the fuel consumption is significantly higher than with the
engine hot.
Pay attention to the correct tyre inflation pressure being maintained
Further information » page 191.
Avoid unnecessary ballast
Per 100 kg of weight, consumption increases by about 1 l/100 km. At a speed of
100 - 120 km/h, a vehicle fitted with a roof rack cross member without a load
will use about 10 % more fuel than normal due to the increased aerodynamic
drag.
Saving electricity
Electrical consumers (e.g. seat heating, air conditioning and the like) only turn
on for as long as necessary.
Driving through water and driving off of made-up roads
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Driving through water
141
Driving off paved roads
142WARNINGImmediately after driving through water, mud, slush and the like, braking
effectiveness will be temporarily impaired » page 135, Information on brak-
ing . For this reason, sudden and violent braking manoeuvres are to be
avoided - there is a risk of accident!Driving through waterFig. 132
Maximum permissible water lev-
el when driving through water
Read and observe on page 141 first.
The following must be observed to avoid damage to the vehicle when driving through bodies of water (e.g. flooded roads).
›
Therefore determine the depth of the water before driving through bodies of
water.
The water level must not reach above the web of the lower beam » Fig. 132.
›
Do not drive any faster than at a walking speed.
At a higher speed, a water wave can form in front of the vehicle which can
cause water to penetrate into the air induction system of the engine or into
other parts of the vehicle.
›
Never stop in the water, do not reverse and do not switch the engine off.
CAUTION
■ Should water penetrate into the intake system of the engine, there is a
threat of serious damage being incurred by the engine parts!■
When driving through water, some vehicle parts such as chassis, electrics or
transmission can be severely damaged.
■
Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permis-
sible water level for your vehicle.
■
Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water, making it difficult or
impossible to drive through the body of water.
■
Do not drive through salt water, as the salt can cause corrosion. An vehicle
coming into contact with salt water is to be thoroughly rinsed with fresh wa-
ter.
141Starting-off and Driving

If none of these conditions are met or if the driving style is not changed, the
system recommends a driving break again after 15 minutes.
Activation/deactivation
The system can be activated/deactivated via the MAXI DOT display in the As-
sistants menu option » page 47.
Information messages
Read and observe
on page 157 first.
In MAXI DOT display the icon appears for a few seconds and the following
message.
Fatigue detected. Take a break!
An audible signal is also emitted.
Tyre pressure monitoring
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Save tyre pressure values
158
The tyre pressure monitoring function (hereinafter referred to only as a sys-
tem) monitors the tyre pressure while driving.
If the rolling circumference of a wheel is changed, the warning light in the
instrument cluster lights up and an audible signal sounds.
Information on the procedure for the notification of change of tyre inflation
pressure » page 40 .
The system can only function properly if the tyres have the prescribed inflation
pressure and these pressure values are stored in the system.
WARNING■ Having the correct tyre inflation pressure is always the driver's responsi-
bility. Tyre pressure should be checked regularly » page 191.■
The system cannot warn in case of very rapid tyre inflation pressure loss,
e.g. in case of sudden tyre damage.
Save tyre pressure valuesFig. 146
Key for storing the pressure val-
ues
Read and observe on page 158 first.
Save the tyre pressure values as follows.
›
Inflate all the tyres to the specified pressure.
›
Switch on the ignition.
›
Press
» Fig. 146 symbol icon and hold down.
The warning light in the instrument cluster lights up.
An acoustic signal and the control indicator provide information about the
storage of the tyre pressure values.
›
Press icon button.
Always save the tyre pressure values in the system if one of the following
events occurs.
› Change of tyre inflation pressure.
› Change one or more wheels.
› Change in position of a wheel on the vehicle.
› Illumination of the warning light
in the instrument cluster.
WARNINGBefore storing the pressures, the tyres must be inflated to the specified in-
flation pressure » page 191. If the wrong pressure valuesare stored, the
system may not issue any warnings, even if the tyre pressure is too low.
CAUTION
Save the tyre pressure values every 10,000 km or 1x annually to ensure correct
system functioning.158Driving

If the trailer that is to be towed has a 7-pin connector, you can use a suitable
adapter from ŠKODA Original Accessories to establish a connection to the elec-
tricity.›
Hook the breakaway cable of the trailer onto the safety eyelet
B
.
The breakaway cable of the trailer has to sag when mounted into the security
lock slot for all trailer positions relative to the vehicle (sharp curves, reverse
driving and the like.)
Uncoupling
›
Unhook the breakaway cable of the trailer from the safety eyelet
B
» Fig. 156 .
›
Unplug the trailer cable from the 13-pin socket.
›
Remove the trailer from the ball head.
›
Place the cap
5
» Fig. 147 on page 159 onto the ball head.
›
Grip the 13-pin socket at point
A
and swing in the opposite direction to the
arrow » Fig. 156 .
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see
the traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. The national
legal requirements must be observed.
Headlights
The front of the vehicle may lift up when a trailer is being towed and the head-
lights may dazzle other road users.
Adjust the headlights using the headlight beam control » page 64,
Lights
and visibility 1)
.
WARNING■ Incorrect or improperly connected electrical installation can cause acci-
dents and serious injury due to electric shock.■
Work on the electrical system must only be carried out by specialist ga-
rages.
■
Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical
connections for the tail lights or other current sources.
■
After coupling the trailer and connecting up the power socket, check the
rear lights on the trailer to ensure they are working.
WARNING (Continued)■ The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be applied when coupling and
uncoupling the trailer.■
Never use the safety eyelet for towing!
CAUTION
Incorrect or improperly connected electrical installations may cause malfunc-
tion of the entire vehicle electronics.
Loading a trailer
The vehicle/trailer combination must be balanced, whereby the maximum per-
missible drawbar load must be utilised. If the drawbar load is too low, it jeop-
ardises the performance of the vehicle/trailer combination.
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that heavy items are located as
close to the axle as possible. Secure the items from slipping.
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the
trailer is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving
with this combination.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for a “full load” » page 191.
Towing capacity and trailer weight
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan-
ces » page 222 , Technical data .
The details given in the vehicle's technical documentation always take prece-
dence over the details in the Owner's Manual.
The trailer loads specified apply only to altitudes up to 1 000 metres above
mean sea level.
The engine output falls as altitude increases, as does the vehicle's climbing
power. Therefore, for every additional 1000 m in height (or part), the maximum
permissible towed weight must be reduced by 10%.
The towed weight is made up of the actual weights of the loaded towing vehi-
cle and the loaded trailer.
1)
Applies to vehicles with bi-xenon headlights.
164Driving

Wheels
Tyres and wheel rims
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Notes on using wheels
191
Tyre pressure
191
Tyre wear
192
Tyre wear indicator and wheel replacement
192
Tyre damage
193
Unidirectional tyres
193
Only use tyres or wheel rims that have been approved by ŠKODA for your mod-
el of vehicle.
WARNINGThe national legal regulations must be observed for the use of tyres.WARNINGFor reasons of driving safety, do not replace tyres individually.
For the sake of the environment
Old and unserviceable tyres are classified in a special environmentally hazard- ous category. These must be disposed of in accordance with national legisla-
tion.
Note
■ We recommend that any work on the wheels or tyres be carried out by a spe-
cialist garage.■
We recommend that you use wheel rims, tyres, full wheel trims and snow
chains from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Notes on using wheels
Read and observe
on page 191 first.
New tyres do not offer optimum grip during the first 500 km and appropriate
care should therefore be taken when driving.
Always fit the tyres with the deeper tread depth to the front wheels.
Tyre storage
Identify disassembled tyres so that the previous direction of rotation can be
maintained if the tyres are reassembled.
Always store wheels or tyres in a cool, dry place that is as dark as possible.
Tyres which are not fixed to a wheel trim should be stored upright.
Tyre age
Tyres age and lose their original characteristics, even if they are not being
used. The service life of the tyres is 6 years. Therefore, we recommend not us-
ing tyres that are older than 6 years.
Wheel bolts
Wheels and wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design. We rec-
ommend that you use wheel rims, tyres, full wheel trims and snow chains from
ŠKODA Original Accessories.WARNINGNever use tyres if you do not know anything about the condition and age.
Tyre pressure
Fig. 166
Label with table of tyre sizes and
tyre pressures / inflate pressures
Read and observe on page 191 first.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressure, including that of the spare wheel, at least once a
month and also before setting off on a long journey.
The tyre inflation pressures are indicated on the inside of the fuel filler
flap » Fig. 166 .
191Wheels

The tyre pressure for the spare wheel should correspond to the highest pres-
sure specified for your vehicle.
Always check the inflation pressure when the tyres are cold. Do not reduce the
higher pressure of warm tyres.
In vehicles with tyre pressure monitoring, tyre pressure values must be stored
every time the tyre pressure changes » page 158.
With greater additional load, adjust the tyre inflation pressure accordingly.WARNING■ Having the correct tyre inflation pressure is always the driver's responsi-
bility.■
Too low or too high inflation pressure impairs handling.
■
If the inflation pressure is too low, the tyre will have to overcome a higher
rolling resistance. This will cause a significant increase in the temperature
of the tyre, especially at higher speeds. This can result in tread separation
and a tyre blowout.
■
In the event of very fast tyre inflation pressure loss, such as a sudden tyre
failure, an attempt should be made to bring the vehicle carefully to a stop
without sudden steering movements and without any hard braking.
For the sake of the environment
Tyres that are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption.
Note
In some countries, the vehicles have a sticker without pictograms.
Tyre wear
Read and observe
on page 191 first.
Tyre wear depends on the pressure, driving style, and other circumstances.
Attention to the following factors can reduce tyre wear.
Driving style
Fast cornering, sharp acceleration and braking increase the wear of your tyres.
Wheel balance
The wheels of a new vehicle are balanced. When driving, however, there are a
range of factors that may result in an imbalance. This may become apparent by
a “vibration” in the steering. If this is the case, have the wheels checked by a
specialist garage.
Have the wheels likewise rebalanced after replacing the tyres.
Setting the vehicle geometry
Incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear leads to excess wear on the
tyres and impairs driving safety. With a distinct tyre wear pattern, we recom-
mend that you check the setting of the vehicle geometry in a specialist work-
shop.WARNING■ An incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear impairs handling.■Unusual vibrations or pulling of the vehicle to one side could be a sign of
tyre damage. If there is any doubt that a wheel is damaged, immediately re-
duce your speed and stop! If no external tyre damage is evident, drive slow-
ly and carefully to the nearest specialist garage to have the vehicle
checked.
Tyre wear indicator and wheel replacement
Fig. 167
Principle sketch: Replace tyre tread with wear indicators /
wheels
Read and observe
on page 191 first.
Wear indicators
The base of the tread of the tyres contains has a 1.6 mm high wear indica- tor » Fig. 167 -
. In some countries, different tyre wear rates may apply.
Markings on the walls of the tyres through the letters “TWI”, triangular sym-
bols or other symbols identify the position of the wear indicators.
192General Maintenance

›The temporary spare wheel is inflated to the maximum inflation pressure for
the vehicle » page 191.
› Only use this temporary spare wheel to reach the nearest specialist garage,
since it is not intended for permanent use.WARNING■ Never drive with more than one spare wheel mounted!■Only use the spare wheel while absolutely necessary.■
Avoid accelerating at full throttle, sharp braking and fast cornering.
■
The snow chains cannot be used on the spare wheel.
■
Observe instructions on the warning sign of the emergency wheel.
Changing a wheel
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Preparation
200
Full wheel trim
200
Wheel bolts
201
Changing a wheel
201
Follow-up tasks
201
Loosening/tightening wheel bolts
202
Raising the vehicle
202
Anti-theft wheel bolts
203
For your own safety and the safety of the passengers, the following instruc-
tions must be observed before changing a wheel on the road.
Switch on the hazard warning lights system.
The warning triangle must be set up at the prescribed distance - observe
the national legal provisions when doing so.
Park the vehicle as far away as possible from the flow of traffic.
Choose a location with a flat, solid surface.
Have all the occupants get out. The passengers should not stand on the
road (instead they should remain behind a crash barrier, for instance) while
the wheel is being changed.
If the vehicle is subsequently fitted with tyres which are different from those it
was fitted with at the works, follow these guidelines » page 193, Explanation
of the tyre labelling .
The national legal requirements must be observed when changing a wheel.
Preparation
Before changing the wheel, the following work must be carried out.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
Engage 1st gear or place the selector lever of the automatic transmission in
the P-position .
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Uncouple any trailers.
›
Remove the vehicle tool kit » page 198 and the spare wheel » page 199 from
the boot.
Full wheel trim
Before removing the wheel bolts, remove the wheel cover.
Extracting
›
Hook the clamp found in the vehicle tool kit » page 198 into the reinforced
edge of the wheel trim.
›
Push the wheel wrench through the clamp, support on the tyre and pull off
the wheel trim.
Fitting
›
Press the wheel trim onto the wheel rim at the designated valve open-
ing » .
›
Then press the trim into the wheel rim until its entire circumference locks
correctly in place.
CAUTION
■ Use the pressure of your hand only, do not strike the full wheel trim. The
cover could be damaged.■
When using the anti-theft wheel bolt, ensure that it is in the hole in the
valve area.
■
If wheel trims are fitted, an adequate flow of air must be assured in order to
cool the brake system.
Note
We recommend that you use child seats from ŠKODA Original Accessories.200Do-it-yourself