Safe driving
WARNING
When driving safety is impaired during a trip,
the risk of
injury and accidents increases. Safety equipment
Never put your safety or the safety of your
pa
s
sengers in danger. In the event of an acci-
dent, the safety equipment may reduce the
risk of injury. The following list includes most
of the safety equipment in your SEAT:
● Three-point seat belts
● belt tension limiters for the front and rear
side se ats,
● B
elt tensioners for the front seats
● Belt height adjustment for the front seats
● Front airbags
● Side airbags in the front seat backrests
● Side airbags in the rear seat backrests*
● Head-protection airbags
● Active front head restraints*
● “ISOFIX” anchor points for child seats in
the rear s
ide seats with the “ISOFIX” system,
● Height-adjustable front head restraints
● Rear head restraints with in-use position
and non-use pos
ition
● Adjustable steering column The safety equipment mentioned above
works
together to provide you and your pas-
sengers with the best possible protection in
the event of an accident. However, these
safety systems can only be effective if you
and your passengers are sitting in a correct
position and use this equipment properly.
Safety is everyone's business!
Correct position of the vehicle
occup
ants
Correct sitting position Fig. 64
The proper distance between driver
and s t
eerin
g wheel Fig. 65
Correct belt web and head restraint
pos ition
s The correct sitting positions for the driver and
p
a
s
sengers are shown below.
If your physical constitution prevents you
from maintaining the correct sitting position,
contact a specialised workshop for help with
any special devices. The seat belt and airbag
can only provide optimum protection if a cor-
rect sitting position is adopted. SEAT recom-
mends taking your car in for technical serv-
ice.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injury in the event of an accident or sudden
braking or manoeuvre, SEAT recommend the
following positions:
Valid for the driver:
● Adjust the seat backrest to an upright posi-
tion so that
your back rests completely
against it. »
47
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Safety
● Adju s
t
the seat so that there is a distance
of at least 25 cm between the steering wheel
and your chest ››› Fig. 64 and so that you can
hold the steering wheel with both hands on
the outside of the ring at the 9 o'clock and 3
o'clock positions with your arms slightly
bent.
● The adjusted steering wheel must face your
ches
t and not your face.
● Adjust the driver seat forwards or back-
ward
s so that you are able to press the accel-
erator, brake and clutch pedals to the floor
with your knees slightly angled and the dis-
tance between your knees and the dash pan-
el is at least 10 cm ››› Fig. 64.
● Adjust the height of the driver seat so that
you can e
asily reach the top of the steering
wheel.
● Keep both feet in the footwell so that you
have the
vehicle under control at all times.
● Adjust and fasten your seat belt correctly
›››
page 51.
Valid for the passenger:
● Adjust the seat backrest to an upright posi-
tion so that
your back rests completely
against it.
● Move the front passenger seat back as far
as po
ssible for optimum protection should
the airbag deploy.
● Always keep your feet in the footwell while
the vehic
le is in motion. ●
Adjust
and fasten your seat belt correctly
››› page 51.
Valid for the passengers in the rear section:
● Adjust the head restraint so that its upper
edge is
at the same level as the top of your
head, or as close as possible to the same lev-
el as the top of your head and under no cir-
cumstances below eye level. Keep the back
of your neck as close as possible to the head
restraint ››› Fig. 64 and ››› Fig. 65.
● Short people must lower the head restraint
to the firs
t anchorage position, even if your
head is below its upper edge.
● Tall people must raise the head restraint
compl
etely.
● Always keep your feet in the footwell while
the vehic
le is in motion.
● Adjust and fasten your seat belt correctly
›››
page 51.
Adjusting the steering wheel position Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 14.
Adjust the steering wheel before your trip
and only when the vehicle is stationary.
Adjust the correct distance between the driv-
er and the steering wheel ›››
Fig. 64 using the
controls on the driver seat ›››
page 12. WARNING
Incorrect use of the steering wheel adjust-
ment f u
nction and an incorrect adjustment of
the steering wheel can result in severe or fa-
tal injury.
● After adjusting the steering column, push
the lever firm
ly upwards to ensure the steer-
ing wheel does not accidentally change posi-
tion while driving.
● Never adjust the steering wheel while the
vehicl
e is in motion. If you need to adjust the
steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion,
stop safely and make the proper adjustment.
● The adjusted steering wheel should be fac-
ing y
our chest and not your face so as not to
hinder the driver's front airbag protection in
the event of an accident.
● When driving, always hold the steering
wheel with both h
ands on the outside of the
ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions
to reduce injuries when the driver's front air-
bag deploys.
● Never hold the steering wheel at the 12
o'clock
position or in any other manner (e.g.
in the centre of the steering wheel). In such
cases, if the driver's airbag deploys, you may
sustain injuries to your arms, hands and
head. 48
Safety
●
Sit a s
far away as possible from the steer-
ing wheel and the dash panel.
● Keep your back straight and resting com-
plet
ely against the seat backrest and the
front seats correctly adjusted. Never place
any part of your body in the area of the airbag
or very close to it.
● If passengers on the rear seats are not sit-
ting in an upright po
sition, the risk of severe
injury due to incorrect positioning of the belt
web increases. WARNING
Incorrect seat adjustment may lead to acci-
dents and sev
ere injuries.
● Only adjust the seats when the vehicle is
station
ary, as the seats could move unex-
pectedly while the vehicle is in motion and
you could lose control of the vehicle. Further-
more, an incorrect position is adopted when
adjusting the seat.
● Only adjust the height, seat backrest and
forw
ards or backwards position of the seat
when there is nobody in the seat adjustment
area.
● There must be no objects blocking the front
seat a
djustment area. Adjusting the rear head restraints
Fig. 66
Adjusting the rear head restraints All seats are equipped with a head restraint.
The fr
ont
se
at head restraints are integrated
in the backrests and adjusting them is not
possible.
Adjusting height
● Push the head restraint up or down in the
direction of the arr
ow with the button press-
ed ››› Fig. 66 1
› ›
› .
● The head restraint must engage securely in
po s
ition.
C
orrect adjustment of head restraints
Adjust the head restraint so that its upper
edge is at the same level as the top of your
head, or as close as possible to the same lev-
el as the top of your head and under no cir-
cumstances below eye level. Keep the back of your neck as close as possible to the head
res
traint.
Adjusting the head restraint for short people
Set the head restraint in the first anchorage
position, even if your head is below its upper
edge. When the head restraint is at its low-
est, it is possible that a small gap remains
between it and the seat backrest.
Adjusting the head restraint for tall people
Raise the head restraint completely. WARNING
Travelling with the head restraints removed
or improperly a
djusted increases the risk of
severe or fatal injuries in the event of acci-
dents and sudden braking or manoeuvres.
● Always fit and adjust the head restraint
properly whenev
er a person is occupying a
seat.
● All vehicle occupants must correctly adjust
the head r
estraint according to their height to
reduce the risk of back injuries in the event of
an accident. The upper edge of the head re-
straint must be as close as possible to the
same level as the top of your head and under
no circumstances below eye level. Keep the
back of your neck as close as possible to the
head restraint.
● Never adjust the head restraint while the
vehicl
e is in motion.50
Safety
● Pu
l
l the belt to ensure that the latch plate is
securely engaged in the buckle.
Unfastening the seat belt
The seat belt must not be unfastened until
the vehicle has come to a standstill ››› .
● Press the red button on the buckle
› ›
›
Fig. 72 B. The latch plate is released from
the buckle.
● Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls
up eas
ily and the trim will not be damaged.
Correct seat belt position
Seat belts offer their maximum protection in
the event of an accident and reduce the risk
of sustaining severe or fatal injuries only
when they are properly positioned. Further-
more, if the webbing is correctly positioned,
the seat belt will hold the vehicle occupants
in the optimum position to ensure the airbag
provides the maximum protection. The seat
belt must therefore always be worn and the
webbing correctly positioned.
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause severe
or even fatal injuries ››› page 47, Correct po-
sition of the vehicle occupants .
● The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie
on the centre of
the shoulder, never across
the neck or the arm, under the arm or behind
the shoulder. ●
The lap par
t of the seat belt must lie across
the pelvis, never across the stomach.
● The seat belt must lie flat and fit comforta-
bly. P
ull the belt tight if necessary to take up
any slack.
In the case of pregnant women , the seat belt
must lie evenly across the chest and as low
as possible over the pelvis, never across the
stomach and must be worn properly at all
times during the pregnancy ››› Fig. 73.
Adapting the position of the belt webbing to
your size
The seat belt can be adapted using the fol-
lowing equipment:
● Front seat height adjustment. WARNING
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause
sever e or f
atal injuries in the event of an acci-
dent.
● The seat belt cannot offer its full protection
unl
ess the seat backrest is in an upright posi-
tion and the seat belt is worn correctly, ac-
cording to your size.
● Unbuckling your seat belt while the vehicle
is in motion c
an cause severe or fatal injuries
in the event of an accident or sudden braking.
● The seat belt itself or a loose seat belt can
cause sev
ere injuries if the belt moves from hard areas of the body to soft areas (e.g. the
st
om
ach).
● The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie
on the centre of
the shoulder, never across
the neck or the arm.
● The seat belt must lie flat and fit comforta-
bly on the t
orso
● The lap part of the seat belt must lie across
the pelvis, nev
er across the stomach. The
seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably on
the pelvis Pull the belt tight if necessary to
take up any slack.
● For pregnant women, the lap part of the
seat belt
must lie as low as possible over the
pelvis and always lie flat, “surrounding” the
stomach.
● Do not twist the seat belt while it is fas-
tened.
● Never p
ull the seat belt away from your
body us
ing your hand.
● Do not lie the seat belt across rigid or frag-
ile o
bjects, e.g. glasses, pens or keys.
● Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or
simil
ar instruments to alter the position of
the belt webbing. Note
If your physical constitution prevents you
from m aint
aining the correct position of the
belt webbing, contact a specialised workshop
for help with any special devices to ensure
the optimum protection of the seat belt and 56
Safety
Important information regarding the
fr ont
p
assenger's airbag Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 16.
Read and always observe the safety informa-
tion included in the following chapters: ● Safety distance with respect to the passen-
ger airbag ›
›› in Introduction on page 58.
● Objects between the passenger and the
pa s
senger side airbag ››› in Front airbags
on p ag
e 61
.
The passenger side front airbag, when ena-
bled, is a serious risk for a child that is facing
backward since the airbag can strike the seat
with such force that it can cause serious or
fatal injuries. Children up to 12 years old
should always travel on the rear seat.
Therefore we strongly recommend you to
transport children on the rear seats. This is
the safest location in the vehicle. Alternative-
ly, the front passenger airbag can be disa-
bled with a key-operated switch ›››
page 62.
When transporting children, use a child seat
suitable for the age and size of each child
››› page 66. WARNING
● If a c hi
ld seat is secured to the front pas-
senger seat, the risk to the child of sustain- ing critical or fatal injuries in the event of an
acc
ident
increases.
● An inflating front passenger airbag can
strike the r
ear-facing child seat and project it
with great force against the door, the roof or
the backrest.
● Never install a child seat facing backwards
on the front p
assenger seat unless the front
passenger front airbag has been disabled.
Risk of potentially fatal injuries to the child!
However, if it is necessary, in exceptional ca-
ses, to transport a child in the front passen-
ger seat, the front passenger front airbag
must always be disabled ››› page 62. If the
passenger seat has a height adjustment op-
tion, move it to the highest, most upright po-
sition. If you have a fixed seat, do not install
any child restraint system in this location.
● For those vehicles that do not include a key
lock sw
itch to deactivate the airbag, the vehi-
cle must be taken to a technical service.
● All vehicle occupants, especially children,
must
assume the proper sitting position and
be properly belted in while travelling.
● Never hold children or babies on your lap,
this c
an result in potentially fatal injuries to
the child!
● Never allow a child to be transported in a
vehicl
e without being properly secured, or to
stand up or kneel on a seat while travelling.
In an accident, the child could be flung
through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal in-
juries to themselves and to the other vehicle
occupants. ●
If c hi
ldren assume an improper sitting posi-
tion when the vehicle is moving, they expose
themselves to greater risk of injury in the
event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an
accident. This is particularly important if the
child is travelling on the front passenger seat
and the airbag system is triggered in an acci-
dent; as this could cause serious injury or
even death.
● A suitable child seat can protect your child!
● Never leave a child alone in the child seat
or inside the
vehicle because depending on
the season, very high temperatures may be
reached inside a parked vehicle, which could
be fatal.
● Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall
must
not wear a normal seat belt without a
child seat, as this could cause injuries to the
abdominal and neck areas during a sudden
braking manoeuvre or in an accident.
● Do not allow the seat belt to become twis-
ted and the seat
belt should be properly in
place ››› page 51.
● Only one child may occupy a child seat
›››
page 66.
● When a child seat is mounted in the rear
seats, the door c
hild-proof lock should be ac-
tivated ››› page 97.64
Operation
If the hazard warning lights are not working,
y ou mu
s
t use an alternative method of draw-
ing attention to your vehicle. This method
must comply with traffic legislation. WARNING
A faulty vehicle in traffic represents a risk of
acc ident
for the driver and for other road
users.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
Park the
vehicle a safe distance from sur-
rounding traffic to lock all the doors in case of
an emergency. Turn on the hazard warning
lights to warn other road users.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the v
ehicle if the doors are to be
locked. In case of an emergency, passengers
will be trapped inside the vehicle. Individuals
locked in the vehicle can be exposed to very
high or very low temperatures. WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
ver y
high temperatures. This could cause a
fire and considerable damage.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as dried grass or
fuel). Note
● The v ehic
le battery will discharge and run
down if the hazard warning lights remain on for too long (even with the ignition turned
off).
● In some vehicles, the brake lights will flash
when brak in
g abruptly at speeds of approxi-
mately 80 km/h (50 mph) to warn vehicles
travelling behind. If braking continues, the
hazard warning lights system will automati-
cally be turned on at a speed of less than ap-
proximately 10 km/h (6 mph). The brake
lights remain lit. Upon accelerating, the haz-
ard warning lights will be automatically
turned off. Adjusting the headlights
In those countries where vehicles drive on
the other s
ide of
the r
oad to the home coun-
try, the asymmetric dipped beam may dazzle
drivers of oncoming vehicles.
For this reason, stickers may be needed to
cover the headlights when driving abroad.
For further information, please refer to a spe-
cialised workshop. SEAT recommends visiting
a technical service. Note
The use of stickers to cover headlights is only
permitted o v
er a short period. To modify the
direction of the headlamps more permanent-
ly, please take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop. SEAT recommends taking your car
in for technical service. Headlight range control, lighting of
the in
s
trument
panel and controls Fig. 111
Next to the steering wheel: Head-
light r
an
ge control Headlamp height adjustment
The he
a
dlight
range control ››› Fig. 111 is
modified according to the value of the head-
light beam and the vehicle load status. This
offers the driver optimum visibility and the
headlights do not dazzle oncoming drivers
››› .
The he a
dlights
can only be adjusted when
the dipped beam is switched on.
To reset, turn switch ››› Fig. 111:
ValueVehicle load status a)
–Two front occupants, luggage compart-
ment empty104
Operation
For the sake of the environment
The exterior mirror heating should be switch-
ed off when it i
s no longer needed. Other-
wise, it is an unnecessary fuel waste. Note
In the event of a fault, the electric exterior
mirror s
can be adjusted manually by pressing
the edge of the mirror surface. Seats and head restraints
Adju
s
tin
g the seat and head re-
straints
Manual front seat adjustment Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 12 WARNING
The safe driving chapter contains important
inform ation, tip
s, suggestions and warnings
that you should read and observe for your
own safety and the safety of your passengers
››› page 47. WARNING
● Adjus t
the front seats only when the vehi-
cle is stationary. Failure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in an accident.
● Be careful when adjusting the seat height.
Carel
ess or uncontrolled adjustment can
cause injuries.
● The front seat backrests must not be re-
clined for driv
ing. Otherwise, seat belts and
the airbag system might not protect as they
should in case of an accident, increasing risk
of injury. Removing and fitting the rear head re-
s
tr
aint
s Fig. 117
Removing the rear head restraint The rear seats are equipped with a head re-
s
tr
aint
.
Removing the rear head restraint.
● Unlock the seat backrest and fold it forward
›››
page 118.
● Push the head restraint up as far as it will
go ››
› .
● Pull the head restraint out of the fitting
w ithout
r
eleasing the button ››› Fig. 117 1 .
● Fold the backrest of the rear seat backward
ag ain u
nti
l it is engaged.
● Safely store the removed head restraints.
Fitting the re
ar head restraint
● Unlock the seat backrest and fold it forward
›››
page 118.
108
Transport and practical equipment
Transporting the load Secure all objects in the vehicle
● Distribute the load throughout the vehicle
and on the roof a
s uniformly as possible.
● Transport heavy objects as far forward as
poss
ible in the luggage compartment and
lock the seat backs in the vertical position.
● Check the headlight adjustment
›››
page 101.
● Use the suitable tyre pressure according to
the load bein
g transported. Read the tyre in-
flation information label ›››
page 197. CAUTION
Objects on the shelf could chafe against the
wir e
s of the heating element in the heated
rear window and cause damage. Note
Please refer to the notes on loading the roof
carrier ››
› page 122. Driving with the rear lid open
Driving with the rear lid open creates an addi-
tion
al
ri
sk. 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
cou l
d cause serious injuries.
● Always drive with the rear lid closed.
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Loose
items c
ould fall out of the vehicle and injure
other road users or damage other vehicles.
● Drive particularly carefully and think
ahead.
● A
void sudden manoeuvres and braking giv-
en that thi
s could cause an uncontrolled
movement of the open rear lid.
● When transporting objects that protrude
out of the lug
gage compartment, indicate
them suitably. Observe legal requirements.
● If objects must project out of the luggage
compar
tment, 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 r
emoved before travelling with the
rear lid open. WARNING
Toxic gases may enter the vehicle interior
when the re ar lid i
s open. This could cause
loss of consciousness, carbon monoxide poi-
soning, serious injury and accidents.
● To avoid toxic gases entering the vehicle al-
way
s drive with the rear lid closed.
● In exceptional circumstances, if you must
drive with the r
ear lid open, observe the fol- lowing to reduce the entry of toxic gases in-
side the
v
ehicle:
– Close all windows.
– Disable air recirculation mode.
– Open all of the air outlets on the instru-
ment panel.
– Switch on the blower to maximum. CAUTION
An open boot hatch changes the length and
height of the
vehicle. Driving a loaded vehicle
For the best handling when driving a loaded
v
ehic
l
e, note the following:
● Secure all objects ›››
page 111.
● Accelerate gently and carefully.
● Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
● Brake early.
● If necessary, read the instructions for driv-
ing with a r
oof carrier system ››› page 122. WARNING
A sliding load could considerably affect the
st ab
ility and safety of the vehicle resulting in
an accident with serious consequences.
● Secure loads correctly so they do not move. » 111
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety