
Operation
CAUTION
When the uncoated surface is covered or has
a stic k
er on the interior or exterior, malfunc-
tions in the electronic components may oc-
cur. Never cover the uncoated surface on the
interior or exterior. Windscreen wiper and window
wiper sy
s
tems
Window wiper lever Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 23 WARNING
Water from the windscreen washer water bot-
tle m a
y freeze on the windscreen if it does
not contain enough anti-freeze, reducing for-
ward visibility.
● In winter, ensure the windscreen washer
contain
s enough anti-freeze.
● In cold conditions, you should not use the
wash/w
ipe system unless you have warmed
the windscreen with the ventilation system.
The antifreeze could freeze on the windscreen
and reduce visibility. WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility
and incr e
ase the risk of accident and serious
injury.
● Always replace damaged or worn blades or
bla
des which do not clean the windscreen
correctly. CAUTION
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper
bl a
des are not frozen to the glass before us-
ing the wipers for the first time. In cold
weather, it may help to leave the vehicle
parked with the wipers in service position
››› page 44. CAUTION
If the ignition is switched off while the wind-
sc r
een wipers are on, the windscreen wipers
carry on wiping at the same level when the
ignition is switched back on. Ice, snow and
other obstacles may damage the windscreen
wiper and the respective motor.
● If necessary, remove snow and ice from the
winds
creen wipers before starting your jour-
ney.
● Carefully lift the frozen windscreen wipers
from the gla
ss. SEAT recommends a de-icer
spray for this operation. Note
● The wind s
creen wipers will only work when
the ignition is switched on.
● The interval wipe speed varies according to
the vehic
le speed. The faster the vehicle is
moving, the more often the windscreen is
cleaned.
● The rear wiper is automatically switched on
when the winds
creen wiper is on and the car
is in reverse gear. Windscreen wiper functions
Windscreen wiper performance in different sit-
uations
If the vehicle is at a
standstillThe activated position provision-
ally changes to the previous posi-
tion.
For intermittent wip-
ersIntervals between wipes depend
on the vehicle's speed. The high-
er the vehicle speed the shorter
the intervals.
Note
The wiper will try to wipe away any obstacles
that ar
e on the windscreen. The wiper will
stop moving if the obstacle blocks its path.
Remove the obstacle and switch the wiper
back on again. 106

Operation
support, the roof carrier system and the load
bein g tr
an
sported ››› .
A lw
a
ys check the weight of the base support,
the roof carrier system and the weight of the
load to be transported and, if necessary,
weigh them. Never exceed the maximum au-
thorised roof load.
If you are using a roof carrier with a lower
weight rating, you cannot transport the maxi-
mum roof load. Do not exceed the maximum
weight limit for the roof carrier given in the
fitting instructions.
Distributing a load
Uniformly distribute loads and secure them
correctly ››› .
Chec k
att
achments
After fitting the base supports and the roof
carrier system, always check the attachments
after a short trip and at regular intervals. WARNING
Exceeding the maximum authorised roof load
can r e
sult in accidents and/or vehicle dam-
age.
● Never surpass the maximum authorised
weight f
or the roof, the maximum authorised
weight on the axles and the total maximum
authorised weight of the vehicle. ●
Never e x
ceed the capacity of the roof carri-
er system even if this is less than the maxi-
mum authorised roof load.
● Secure heavy items as far forward as possi-
ble and di
stribute the vehicle load uniformly. WARNING
Loose and incorrectly secured loads can fall
fr om the r oof
carrier system causing acci-
dents and injury.
● Always use suitable ropes and straps in
good condition.
● A
lways secure loads correctly. Air conditioning
He atin
g,
ventilation and air
conditioning system
Introduction Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 28
Dust and pollen filter
The dust and pollen filter with its activated
charcoal cartridge serves as a barrier against
impurities in the interior ambient air.
For the air conditioner to work with maximum
efficiency, the dust and pollen filter must be
replaced at the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Programme.
If the filter loses efficiency prematurely due
to use in areas with very high levels of air
pollution, the filter must be changed more
frequently than stated in the Service Sched-
ule. WARNING
Reduced visibility through the windows in-
cr e
ases the risk of serious accidents.
● Ensure that all windows are free of ice and
snow and th
at they are not fogged up pre-
venting a clear view of everything outside. 124

Air conditioning
●
The max imum he
at output required to de-
frost windows as quickly as possible is only
available when the engine has reached its
normal running temperature. Only drive when
you have good visibility.
● Always ensure that you use the heating
syst
em, ventilation, air conditioner and the
heated rear window to maintain good visibili-
ty.
● Never leave the air recirculation on for a
long period of time. If
the cooling system is
switched off and air recirculation mode
switched on, the windows can mist over very
quickly, considerably limiting visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is
not requir
ed. WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and re-
duce driv er c
oncentration possibly resulting
in a serious accident.
● Never leave the fresh air fan turned off or
use the air rec
irculation for long periods of
time; the air in the vehicle interior will not be
refreshed. CAUTION
● Swit c
h the air conditioner off if you think it
may be broken. This will avoid additional
damage. Have the air conditioner checked by
a specialised workshop.
● Repairs to the air conditioner require spe-
cia
list knowledge and special tools. SEAT rec-
ommends taking your car in for technical
service. Note
● When the coo lin
g system is turned off, air
coming from the outside will not be dried. To
avoid fogging up the windows, SEAT recom-
mends leaving the cooler (compressor) on. To
do this, press the A/C button. The button
lamp shou l
d light up.
● The maximum heat output required to de-
fros
t windows as quickly as possible is only
available when the engine has reached its
normal running temperature.
● Keep the air intake slots in front of the
winds
creen free of snow, ice and leaves to en-
sure heating and cooling are not impaired, and to prevent the windows from misting
ov
er
. 125
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
prepared to use more pressure on the brake
ped al, and al
lo
w for longer stopping distan-
ces.
Brake servo
The brake servo only operates when the en-
gine is running and the pressure applied by
the driver on the brake pedal increases.
If the brake servo does not operate or the ve-
hicle 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 ››› .
WARNING
New brake pads do not brake to full efficien-
cy.
● For the fir
st 320 km, new brake pads have
not y
et reached their maximum braking ca-
pacity, and need to be “run in” first. For this,
to compensate for reduced braking efficiency
the brake pedal will have to be pressed with
more force.
● To avoid losing control of the vehicle and
caus
ing serious accidents, always take great
care when driving with new brake pads.
● When running in new brake pads, always
res
pect the safety distances between you and
other vehicles and do not cause situations re-
quiring extreme braking performance. WARNING
When brakes overheat, braking is less effi-
cient and br
aking distances increase.
● When driving on slopes, brakes can be
overlo
aded and overheat quickly.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced w
ith steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to
reduce the strain on the brake system.
● Non-standard or damaged front spoilers
coul
d restrict the airflow to the brakes and
cause them to overheat. WARNING
Wet, frozen or salt-covered brakes take lon-
ger t o en
gage and this increases braking dis-
tances.
● Test the brakes carefully.
● Dry the brakes, free them of ice and salt by
brakin
g gently several times, when visibility,
weather, and road and traffic conditions per-
mit. WARNING
Driving without the brake servo may signifi-
cantly inc
rease 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
vehicl
e must be towed, then the brake pedal will have to be pressed with more force given
that
the br
aking distance will be increased
when the brake servo does not operate. CAUTION
● Nev er m ak
e 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 w
ith 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
chec k
ed, 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. 136

Operation
for the vehicle is not too different to the out-
s ide t
emper
ature. It is a good idea to air the
vehicle before starting your journey and to
drive a short distance with the windows
open. Then you can close the windows and
switch on the air conditioning. Keep windows
closed when travelling at high speeds. Driv-
ing with the windows open increases fuel
consumption.
● Switch off the seat heating when the seats
have w
armed up.
● Switch off the heated rear window when it
is not
moist or covered in ice.
Avoid short journeys
Fuel consumption is much higher when the
engine is cold, immediately after it has been
started. It takes a few kilometres of driving
for the engine to warm up and to normalise
consumption.
The engine and catalytic converter need to
reach their proper working temperature in or-
der to minimise fuel consumption and emis-
sions. The ambient temperature has a deci-
sive influence.
Fig. 147 shows the difference in consump-
tion for the same journey at +20 °C (+68 °F)
and at -10 °C (+14 °F).
Therefore, unnecessary short journeys
should be avoided. Try to combine trips. The vehicle uses more fuel in winter than in
summer, ev
en when other conditions are the
same.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. In addition, mechanical
wear and pollutant emissions are also espe-
cially high during this initial warm-up phase.
It is therefore best to drive off immediately af-
ter starting the engine. Doing this avoids run-
ning the engine at a high speed.
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
leg
al 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 unnecessa-
ry 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 consump-
tion (examples):
● Fault in engine management.
● Driving on hills.
144

Operation
For the sake of the environment
Even when the emission control system is
work in
g perfectly, there may be a smell of
sulphur under certain conditions. This de-
pends on the sulphur content of the fuel
used. Driving abroad
In some countries, certain safety regulations
and requir
ements
are in force relating to ex-
haust gas emissions, which differ from the
technical characteristics of the vehicle. Be-
fore travelling abroad, SEAT recommends you
consult a technical service about the legal re-
quirements and the following points:
● Does the vehicle need technical modifica-
tions f
or driving abroad, for example, adjust-
ment of the headlamps?
● Does the vehicle have all the tools, diag-
nostic
s equipment and spare parts required
for inspections and repairs?
● Are there any SEAT dealers in the destina-
tion countr
y?
● For petrol vehicles: Is unleaded petrol avail-
able at
the right octane rating?
● For diesel engines: is diesel fuel available
with a low s
ulphur content?
● Are a suitable engine oil ( ›››
page 186) and
other engine fluids complying with SEAT specifications available in the destination
countr
y?
● 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
countr
y? CAUTION
SEAT does not accept liability for any damage
to the v
ehicle 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-
in
g thr
ough w
ater, for example, along a floo-
ded road, please observe the following:
● Check the depth of the water before enter-
ing the flooded z
one. 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 sw it
c
h off the engine.
● Oncoming traffic will cause waves which
raise the l
evel of the water, making it difficult
to cross the water. ●
Disc
onnect the Start-Stop system whenever
crossing water. WARNING
When driving through water, mud, melted
sno w
, 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
caref
ully. 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 manoeu
vres. CAUTION
● Drivin g thr
ough 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 c
orrosion. Always rinse any parts of the
vehicle which have been in contact with salt
water. 146

Operation
●
It i s
dangerous to use a set speed which is
too high for the prevailing road, traffic or
weather conditions.
● When travelling down hills, the CCS cannot
maintain a c
onstant speed. The vehicle tends
to accelerate under its own weight. Select a
lower gear or use the foot brake to slow the
vehicle. Safety Assist* (City Safety As-
si
s
t function)
Introduction The City Safety Assist function covers driving
s
it
uation
s at a distance of about 10 metres in
front of the vehicle, in a speed range of ap-
proximately 5-30 km/h (3-19 mph).
When the system detects a possible collision
with a vehicle in front, the vehicle prepares
for a possible emergency braking ››› .
If the driv
er doe
s not react to an imminent
collision, the system can automatically brake
the vehicle in order to reduce speed faced
with a possible collision. The system can
help to reduce the consequences of an acci-
dent.
If the City Safety Assist function determines
that the driver has braked insufficiently when
faced with an imminent collision, the system can increase the brake force in order to re-
duce speed.
The system can help to reduce
the consequences of an accident. WARNING
The smart technology in the City Safety As-
si s
t system cannot change the limits imposed
by the laws of physics and by the system it-
self. The increased convenience offered by
the City Safety Assist system should never
prompt you to take risks. The driver always
assumes the responsibility of braking in
time.
● The City Safety Assist function cannot pre-
vent ac
cidents or serious injury by itself.
● The City Safety Assist system may carry out
unw
anted brake interventions in complex
driving situations e.g. when a vehicle crosses
at a short distance. WARNING
Relying on the City Safety Assist system in
city driv
ing as part of one's driving behaviour
may cause accidents and serious injury. The
system is not a replacement for driver aware-
ness.
● Always adapt your speed and the distance
to the v
ehicles ahead in line with visibility,
weather conditions, the condition of the road
and the traffic situation.
● The City Safety Assist function does not re-
act to peop
le, animals or vehicles that cross or move in the opposite direction in the same
lane.
●
If af
ter switching on the City Safety Assist
function the
vehicle begins to move, slow the
vehicle with the foot brake. CAUTION
If you suspect that the City Safety Assist ra-
d ar f e
ature is damaged, switch it off. This will
avoid additional damage.
● Any repair of the radar sensor requires spe-
cia
list knowledge. SEAT recommends taking
your car in for technical service. Note
● If the C ity
Safety Assist function activates a
brake, the brake pedal range is reduced. This
makes the brake pedal seem “harder”.
● Automatic brake intervention by the City
Safety As
sist function can be cancelled by
pressing the clutch pedal, the accelerator
pedal or by a corrective intervention.
● During automatic braking by the City Safety
Assi
st function you may hear unusual noises.
This is normal and is produced in the brake
system. 152

Operation
Hill driving assistant* Oper ation This function is only included in vehicles with
ESC.
The hi
l
l 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 f
or 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. WARNING
● If y
ou do not start the vehicle immediately
after taking your foot off the brake pedal, the
vehicle may start to roll back under certain
conditions. Depress the brake pedal or use
the hand brake immediately.
● If the engine stalls, depress the brake ped-
al or u
se the hand brake immediately.
● When following a line of traffic uphill, if you
want t
o prevent the vehicle from rolling back
accidentally when starting off, hold the brake
pedal down for a few seconds before starting
off. Note
The Official Service or a specialist workshop
can t el
l you if your vehicle is equipped with
this system. Start-Stop System
C ontr
o
l lamps
It lights up
The Start-Stop system is enabled.
It lights up
The Start-Stop sys-
tem is enabled but
the engine cannot
be automatically
stopped.
Contact a specialised workshop.
It lights up
The Start-Stop sys-
tem cannot start the
engine.Start the engine by hand using
the vehicle's key
››› page 130.
There is a fault in the
alternator.››› page 193
Flashes
The Start-Stop sys-
tem is not available.Contact a specialised workshop.
Some warning and indication lamps will light
up briefly
when the ignition i
s
switched on to
check certain functions. They will switch off
after a few seconds. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in On the
ins trument
panel on page 27. 156