Operation
selected gear. This is possible as long as the
sy s
t
em is not changing gear automatically
due to a traffic situation.
Using Tiptronic
● Place the lever in the position D to the lef
t
on the Tiptronic shift gate M ››› in Auto-
m atic
g
ear change on page 139.
● Press the lever forwards + or backwards
– to move up or down a gear
››
›
Fig. 146.
● Place the lever back to the position M to
the lef
t on the Tiptronic shift gate, to leave
Tiptronic mode ››› in Automatic gear
c h
an
ge on page 139.
With the lever in the position D, and pressing
forwards + or backwards
– the Tiptronic
pr ogr
amme c
an be selected M. CAUTION
● When acc el
erating, the gearbox automati-
cally shifts up into the next gear shortly be-
fore the maximum engine speed is reached.
● When reducing speed manually, the gear
box on
ly shifts gear when the engine can no
longer exceed the maximum engine speed. Driving with automatic gearbox
The gearbox changes gear ratios automatical-
ly
a
s
the vehicle moves. Driving down hills
The steeper the gr
adient, the lower the gear
you will need to select. The lowest gears in-
crease the engine braking work. Never go
down hills with the selector lever in neutral
N.
● You should reduce speed accordingly.
● Place the lever in the position D to the lef
t
on the Tiptronic shift gate M ››› page 139.
● Gently pull the selector lever back – to
c h
an
ge down a gear.
Starting when going up a slope
The steeper the gradient, the lower the gear
you will need.
When stopping on a slope with a gear range
engaged, the vehicle must be prevented from
rolling backwards by always pressing the
brake pedal or pulling the handbrake lever
up. When starting, release the brake pedal or
the handbrake ››› .
Kic k
-do
wn
The kickdown system provides maximum ac-
celeration when the gear selector lever is in
the position D, or in the Tiptronic position M.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right
down, the automatic gearbox will shift down
to a lower gear, depending on road speed
and engine speed. This takes advantage of the maximum acceleration of the vehicle
›››
.
When the ac c
el
erator is pressed to the floor,
the automatic gearbox shifts to the next gear
only after the engine reaches the specified
maximum engine speed. WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skid din
g, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and serious injury.
● Always adapt your driving style to suit the
flow of tr
affic.
● Only use the kick-down function or rapid
accel
eration if visibility, weather, road and
traffic conditions so permit.
● Never put other road users in danger by ac-
celer
ating or with your driving style. CAUTION
If you stop on a hill with a gear range engag-
ed, do not tr y
to prevent the vehicle from roll-
ing back by pressing on the accelerator. Oth-
erwise, the automatic gearbox may overheat
causing damage. 140
Driving
Automatic gearbox malfunction Back-up programme
When autom
atic
gearbox warning and indica-
tion lamps light up on the instrument panel,
there may be a system malfunction
››› page 137. In the event of some faults the
automatic gearbox functions using a backup
programme. When the programme is activa-
ted, it is possible to drive the vehicle, howev-
er, at low speeds and within a selected range
of gears.
With the manual gearbox, in some cases it is
not possible to drive with all the gears .
In all cases the automatic gearbox must be
checked at a specialised workshop.
Automatic gearbox overheating
The automatic gearbox can overheat with a
prolonged start up, or when stopping and
starting continuously. This overheating is dis-
played with a warning lamp in the instru-
ment panel. Additionally, an audible warning
can be heard. Stop and let the gearbox cool
››› .
The v
ehic
le moves forward or back despite
having selected a gear range
When the vehicle does not move in the re-
quired direction, the system may not have
the gear range correctly engaged. Press the
brake pedal and engage the gear range again. If the vehicle still does not move in the
required dir
ection, there is a system malfunc-
tion. Seek specialist assistance and have the
system checked. CAUTION
● When the ge arbo
x 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 w
arning 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
r
educ
in
g 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 shou
ld never replace the
driver's attention to driving carefully.
● Responsibility for selecting the correct gear
for eac
h 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
sit uation w
ill help you to save fuel. Note
● The rec ommended g
ear display is switched
off when the clutch pedal is pressed.
● On the display of the Portable Navigation
Sys
tem (supplied by SEAT) ››› page 164 the
recommended gear can also be seen. Run-in and economical driving
R u
nnin
g in Please observe the instructions for running-in
new c
omponents.
R u
nning-in the engine
The engine needs to be run in over the first
1,500 km. During its first few hours of »
141
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
running, the internal friction in the engine is
gr e
at
er 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
kilometres the following instructions apply:
● Do not use full throttle.
● Do not force the engine above two thirds of
its max
imum speed.
Between 1,000 and 1,500 kilometres, gradu-
ally increase power until reaching the maxi-
mum speed and high engine speeds.
Running in new tyres and brake pads
● Replacement of wheel rims and new tyres
›››
page 197
● Notes on the brakes ›››
page 132 For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, the life of the
engine w i
ll be increased and the engine oil
consumption reduced. Environmental compatibility
Environmental protection is a top priority in
the des
ign, c
hoice of materials and manufac-
ture of your new SEAT.
Constructive measures to encourage recy-
cling
● Joints and connections designed for easy
dismantlin
g
● Modular construction to facilitate disman-
tling
● Incr
eased use of single-grade materials.
● Plastic parts and elastomers are marked in
acc or
dance with ISO 1043, ISO 11469 and
ISO 1629.
Choice of materials
● Use of recycled materials.
● Use of compatible plastics in the same part
if its c
omponents are not easily separated.
● Use of recycled materials and/or materials
originating fr
om renewable sources.
● Reduction of volatile components, includ-
ing odour, in p
lastic materials.
● Use of CFC-free coolants.
Ban on heavy
metals, with the exceptions
dictated by law (Annex II of ELV Directive
2000/53/EC): cadmium, lead, mercury, hexa-
valent chromium. Manufacturing methods
●
Reduction of the quantity of thinner in the
protectiv
e wax for cavities.
● Use of plastic film as protection during ve-
hicle tr
ansport.
● Use of solvent-free adhesives.
● Use of CFC-free coolants in cooling sys-
tems.
● Recy
cling and energy recovery from resi-
dues (RDF).
● Impr
ovement in the quality of waste water.
● Use of systems for the recovery of residual
heat (therm
al recovery, enthalpy wheels,
etc.).
● The use of water-soluble paints.
142
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
Driving
WARNING
Always adapt your speed and the distance to
the v ehic
les ahead in line with visibility,
weather conditions, the condition of the road
and the traffic situation. Engine management and ex-
hau
s
t gas purification system
Introduction WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
ver y
high temperatures. This could cause a
fire.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as dried grass).
● Never apply additional underseal or anti-
corro
sion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter or the heat shields on the ex-
haust system. Control and warning lamps
It lights up
Fault in engine
management
(Electronic Pow-
er Control).Take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop as soon as possible and
have the engine checked.
It lights up
Fault in catalytic
converter.You should reduce speed according-
ly. Drive carefully until you reach the
next specialised workshop. Have
the engine checked there.
Flashes
Combustion
fault which could
damage the cat-
alytic converter.You should reduce speed according-
ly. Drive carefully until you reach the
next specialised workshop. Have
the engine checked there.
Several warning and indication lamps light
up f
or a f
ew sec
onds when the ignition is
switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds. CAUTION
Always pay attention to any lit control lamps
and to the c orr
esponding descriptions and in-
structions to avoid damage to the vehicle. Note
While the control lamps or r
emain lit,
the engine will have faults, there will be high-
er consumption of fuel and a loss of engine
power. Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter permits the subse-
quent tr
e
atment of the exhaust gases thus
reducing contaminating gas emissions. To
ensure a longer working life for the exhaust
system and catalytic converter in a petrol en-
gine:
● Always use unleaded petrol.
● Never run the fuel tank completely dry.
● Do not top up with too much engine oil
›› ›
page 186.
● Do not tow-start the vehicle; use the starter
cabl
es ›››
page 42.
If you should notice misfiring, uneven run-
ning or loss of power when the car is moving,
reduce speed immediately. Have the car in-
spected by a specialised workshop. If this
happens, unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust
system and escape into the atmosphere. The
catalytic converter can also be damaged by
overheating. »
145
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
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
Driver assistance systems
Special driving situations Fig. 153
A: Vehicle on a bend. B: Motorcyclist
driv in
g ahe
ad out of range of the radar sen-
sor. Fig. 154
Other vehicles changing lanes The City Safety Assist function is limited by
the l
a
w
s 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. 153 A. To interrupt decelera-
tion 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. 153 B. This applies especial-
ly to narrow 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. 154. To inter-
rupt deceleration you can accelerate, turn the
steering wheel or press the clutch. Malfunction in the radar sensor
If the ra
dar 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 fault 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 C
ity Safety Assist system is switched
off or there i
s a fault ››› page 153.
● If the radar sensor is dirty, covered or over-
heated ›
›› page 153.
● In the event of snow, heavy rain or dense
fog.
● If ther
e are vehicles in front.
● Vehicles changing lanes.
● Vehicles moving in the opposite direction
in the same lane.
● V
ery dirty vehicles with a low degree of re-
flection.
● Pre
sence of thick dust.
155
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
hill hold tempt you into taking any risks
when drivin
g.
● An
y accidental movement of the vehicle
coul
d result in serious injury.
● The hill hold is not a replacement for driver
awar
eness.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visi-
bility
, weather, road and traffic conditions.
● The hill hold cannot always keep the vehi-
cle at
a standstill on a slope or brake suffi-
ciently when travelling downhill (e.g. on slip-
pery or frozen surfaces). WARNING
The brake servo and the electromechanical
st eerin
g do not work when the engine is
switched off.
● The vehicle must never be allowed to move
with the engine sw
itched off.
● Disconnect the Start-Stop system before
workin
g in the engine compartment. CAUTION
The vehicle's battery could be damaged if the
vehic l
e is used for long periods at very high
outside temperatures. Note
In some cases, it may be necessary to start
the engine b y
hand using the key. Refer to the corresponding control lamp on the instru-
ment p
anel
. Towing bracket device
Driv in
g w
ith a trailer
Information on driving with a trailer The vehicle is
not certified f
or trailer cou-
pling. The vehicle is not factory-equipped
with a towing bracket, nor is it possible to ret-
rofit it. WARNING
Installing a towing bracket on the vehicle
ma y
cause accidents and serious injuries
while operating the vehicle.
● Never install a towing bracket on the vehi-
cle.
● The tr
ailer may be released from the vehicle
when the vehic
le is moving. CAUTION
Any type of towing bracket installed on the
vehic l
e can cause serious and costly damage
that are not covered under the SEAT guaran-
tee. 158