Driving
Automatic gearbox/DSG auto-
m atic
gearbox*
Introduction Your vehicle is equipped with an electronical-
ly
c
ontrolled manual gearbox. Torque be-
tween the engine and the gearbox is trans-
mitted via two independent clutches. They re-
place the torque converter found on conven-
tional automatic gearboxes and allow for
smooth, uninterrupted acceleration of the ve-
hicle.
The tiptronic system allows the driver to
change gears manually if desired
››› page 179, Changing gears in tiptronic
mode*.
Selector lever positions Read the additional information carefully
› ›
› page 41
The selector lever position engaged is high-
lighted on the display in the instrument clus-
ter. With the selector lever in the manual
gearbox positions G, D, E and S, the engaged
gear is also indicated on the display.
P – Parking lock
When the selector lever is in this position,
the driven wheels are locked mechanically. The parking lock must be engaged only when
the v
ehicle is stationary ››› .
The int erloc
k button (the button on the selec-
tor lever handle) must be pressed in and si-
multaneously the brake pedal must be de-
pressed before moving the selector lever ei-
ther in or out of position P.
R – Reverse gear
Reverse gear must be engaged only when the
vehicle is stationary and the engine is idling
››› .
T o mo
ve the selector lever to position R, the
interlock button must be pressed in and at
the same time the brake pedal must be de-
pressed. The reverse lights come on when
the selector lever is in the R position with the
ignition on.
N – Neutral (idling)
With the selector lever in this position, the
gear is in neutral.
D/S – Permanent drive (forward) position
The selector lever in the D/S position enables
the gears to be controlled in normal mode (D)
or Sport (S). To select Sport mode (S), move
the selector lever backwards. Moving the lev-
er again will select normal mode (D). The se-
lected driving mode is shown on the instru-
ment panel display. In normal mode
(D), the g
earbox automatical-
ly selects the best gear ratio. This depends
on the engine load, the road speed and the
dynamic gear control programme (DCP).
Sport mode (S) must be selected for a sporty
driving style. This setting makes use of the
engine's maximum power output. When ac-
celerating the gear shifts will be noticeable.
Press the brake pedal to move the selector
lever from N to D/S when the vehicle is sta-
tionary or at speeds below 3 km/h (2 mph)
››› .
Under c er
tain circumstances (e.g. when driv-
ing in mountains) it can be advantageous to
switch temporarily to tiptronic mode
››› page 179, in order to manually select gear
ratios to suit the driving conditions. WARNING
● Tak
e care not to accidentally press the ac-
celerator pedal when the vehicle is stopped.
The vehicle could otherwise start moving im-
mediately (in some cases even if the parking
brake is engaged) resulting in the risk of an
accident.
● Never move the selector lever to R or P
when drivin
g. Failure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in an accident.
● With selector lever in any position (except
P) the v
ehicle must always be held with the
foot brake when the engine is running. This is
because an automatic gearbox still transmits » 177
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
damage the automatic gearbox. Apply the
h
andbr
ake firmly or press the brake pedal in
order to prevent the vehicle from rolling back.
● If you allow the car to roll with the selector
lev
er in position N with the engine switched
off, the automatic gearbox will be damaged
as it will not be lubricated.
● In certain driving situations or traffic condi-
tions, s
uch as frequently starting, prolonged
“creeping” of the vehicle or traffic jams with
continuous stoppages, the gearbox could
overheat causing damage! If the warning
lamp lights up, stop the vehicle as soon as
possible and wait for the gearbox to cool
››› page 183. Kick-down feature
The kick-down feature allows maximum ac-
c
el
eration to be reached.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right
down past the point of resistance at full throt-
tle, the gearbox will shift down to a lower
gear, depending on road speed and engine
speed. The upshift to the next higher gear is
delayed until the engine reaches maximum
rpm. WARNING
Please note that if the road surface is slip-
per y
or wet, the kick-down feature could
cause the driving wheels to spin, which could
result in skidding. Launch control programme
3
Valid for vehicles: with Launch-Control/6-Speed
D
SG with diesel engines superior to 125 kW and pet-
rol engines superior to 140 kW.
The Launch control programme enables maxi-
mum acceleration.
Important: the engine must have reached op-
erating temperature and the steering wheel
must not be turned.
The engine speed for launch-control is differ-
ent on petrol and diesel engines. To use the
launch-control you must disconnect the anti-
slip regulation (ASR) through the Easy Con-
nect system menu ›››
page 108. The warning
lamp will stay switched on or will flash
slowly depending on whether or not the vehi-
cle has a driver information system*.
On vehicles with the driver information sys-
tem, the ESC lamp lights up permanently and
the corresponding text message Stabilitycontrol deactivated
(tempor
ary) ap-
pears on the instrument panel to indicate the
deactivation status.
– When the engine is running, switch off the
traction c
ontrol (ASR) 1)
.
– Turn the selector lever to the position “S”
or tiptronic, or el
se select the sport driv-
ing mode from the SEAT Drive Profile*
››› page 225.
– Press the brake pedal firmly with your left
foot
and hold it down for at least one sec-
ond.
– With your right foot, press the accelerator
down t
o the full throttle or kick-down posi-
tion. The engine speed will stabilise at
about 3,200 rpm (petrol engine) or about
2,000 rpm (diesel engine).
– Take your left foot off the brake pedal. WARNING
● Alw
ays adapt your driving style to the traf-
fic conditions.
● Only use the launch control programme
when ro
ad and traffic conditions permit, and
make sure your manner of driving and accel-
erating the vehicle does not inconvenience or
endanger other road users. »1)
Vehicles without driver information system: the
w arnin
g lamp flashes slowly/Vehicles with driver in-
formation system: the warning lamp stays on. 181
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
Gearbox: press the brake and
engage a gear again.
If the f
ault was caused by a gearbox with a
high temperature, this driver message will be
displayed when the gearbox has cooled
again.
Run-in and economical driving Ru
nning-in the engine A new vehicle should be run in over a dis-
t
anc
e of 1500 km (1000 miles). For the first
1,000 km the engine speed should not ex-
ceed 2/3 of the maximum permissible engine
speed. In doing so, do not accelerate at full
throttle and do not drive with a trailer! From
1000 to 1500 km (600 to 1000 miles) you
can gradually increase the engine rpm and
road speed.
During its first few hours of running, the in-
ternal friction in the engine is greater than
later on when all the moving parts have bed-
ded down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first 1,500
km influences the future engine perform-
ance. Subsequently, also drive at a moderate
rate, especially when the engine is still cold:
this will lead to less engine wear and tear
and will prolong its useful life. You should also avoid driving with the engine
speed t
oo low. Change down to a lower gear
when the engine no longer runs “smoothly”.
If the engine revs too much, cut fuel injection
to protect the engine.
Environmental compatibility Environmental protection is a top priority in
the de
s
ign, choice of materials and manufac-
ture of your new SEAT.
Constructive measures to encourage recy-
cling
● Joints and connections designed for easy
di sm
antling
● Modular construction to facilitate disman-
tling
● Inc
reased use of single-grade materials.
● Plastic parts and elastomers are marked in
acc
ordance 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
components are not easily separated.
● Use of recycled materials and/or materials
originatin
g from renewable sources. ●
Reduction of
volatile components, includ-
ing odour, in plastic materials.
● Use of CFC-free coolants.
Ban on he
avy 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
prot
ective wax for cavities.
● Use of plastic film as protection during ve-
hicl
e transport.
● Use of solvent-free adhesives.
● Use of CFC-free coolants in cooling sys-
tems.
● R
ecycling and energy recovery from resi-
dues
(RDF).
● Improvement in the quality of waste water.
● Use of systems for the recovery of residual
heat
(thermal recovery, enthalpy wheels,
etc.).
● The use of water-soluble paints.
184
Operation
Any modification to the programmed speed
i s
shown on the bottom left part of the instru-
ment panel display.
Adjusting distance level
The distance according to speed with regard
to the vehicle in front can be controlled on
the Easy Connect system on 5 levels
››› page 26.
In wet road conditions, you should always set
a larger distance with regard to the vehicle in
front than when driving in dry conditions.
The following distances can be preselected:
● Very short
● Short
● Media
● Long
● Very long
In the Ea
sy Connect system the distance that
must be set when connecting the ACC may be
adjusted using the button and the
Set
up and
Driv
er a
ssistance function buttons
› ›
› page 26.
Adjusting the driving programme
In vehicles with driving profile selection
(SEAT Drive Profile), the profile selected can
influence acceleration behaviour
››› page 225. The following driving programmes items can
be select
ed:
● Normal
● Sport
● Eco
● Convenience
In v
ehicles without the driving profile selec-
tion function, acceleration behaviour can be
influenced by selecting a driving programme
on the Easy Connect system using the button and the
Set
up and
Driv
er a
ssistance function buttons
››
›
page 26.
The following conditions may lead the ACC
not to react:
● If the accelerator is pressed.
● If there is no gear engaged.
● If the ESC is controlling.
● If the driver is not wearing his/her seat
belt.
● If
several brake lights of the vehicle or elec-
trical
ly connected trailer are damaged.
● If the vehicle is reversing.
● Driving faster than 210 km/h (150 mph). WARNING
There is a danger of rear collision when the
minimum di s
tance to the vehicle in front is
exceeded and the speed difference between both vehicles is so great that a speed reduc-
tion b
y
the ACC will not suffice. In this case
the brake pedal should be applied immedi-
ately.
● The ACC may not be able to detect all situa-
tions
properly.
● “Stepping” on the accelerator may cause
the AC
C not to intervene in braking. Driver
braking will have priority over intervention by
the speed control or adaptive cruise control.
● Always be ready to use the brakes!
● Observe country-specific provisions gov-
erning o
bligatory minimum distances be-
tween vehicles. Note
● The pr ogr
ammed speed is erased once the
ignition or the ACC are switched off.
● When the traction control system (ASR) is
deactiv
ated during acceleration or else the
ESC is activated in Sport* Mode
( ››› page 108), the ACC switches off automati-
cally.
● In vehicles with the Start-Stop system, the
engine sw
itches off automatically during the
ACC stopping phase and restarts automatical-
ly to begin driving. Vehicles with an automatic gearbox
If the vehicle is equipped with automatic
g
e
arbox, the ACC can brake the vehicle until
202
Operation
If the driver does not react to this, the system
al so al
erts the driver with a little shaking mo-
tion through the brakes and, if the vehicle
has it, activates the Emergency Assist func-
tion ››› page 218.
In vehicles without Emergency Assist, the
adaptive lane guidance function will be disa-
bled after the corresponding warnings to the
driver.
The lane assist system is active but it is not
available (the control lamp is lit up yellow)
● When driving at speeds below 65 km/h (38
mph).
● When the Lane Assist system does not de-
tect
the dividing lines of the road. For exam-
ple, in the event warnings indicating road
works, and snow, dirt, moisture or reflec-
tions.
● When the radius of a curve is too small.
● When no road markings can be seen.
● When the distance to the next marking to
too gr
eat.
● When the system does not detect any clear
and active s
teering movement during a long
period of time.
● Temporarily, in the event of very dynamic
drivin
g styles.
● If a turn signal is activated.
● With the stability control system (ESC) in
Spor
t mode or switched off. Side Assist PLUS
If the
vehicle is also equipped with Side As-
sist and the system is switched on, the driver
is alerted when changing lanes during a pos-
sible critical situation (level of information,
warning level) through a corrective steering
wheel intervention. This occurs even if the
turn signal is activated in the corresponding
direction. If the driver over-regulates the
steering wheel intervention, an additional
warning is given through a vibration in the
steering wheel. Note
● Bef
ore starting a journey, verify that the
field of vision of the camera is not covered
››› Fig. 191.
● Always keep the field of vision of the cam-
era c
lean. Switching off the Lane Assist system
in the f
o
llowing situations Due to the limits of the Lane Assist system,
sw
it
ch it off in the following situations:
● When more attention is required of the
driver
● When driv
ing in a sporty style
● In unfavourable weather conditions
● On roads in poor condition ●
In are
as of road works
Traffic Jam Assist De
scription and operation
› ›
›
table on page 2
Traffic Jam Assist helps the driver keep the
car within its lane and to move in convoy in
case of traffic congestion or slow traffic.
Traffic Jam Assist is an additional function of
Lane Assist ›››
page 213 and combines Lane
Assist functions with Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC) ›››
page 197. Therefore, it is essential
that you read these two chapters carefully
and note the limitations of the systems and
the information about them.
Operation of Traffic Jam Assist
At speeds of below 60 km/h (40 mph), Traffic
Jam Assist can maintain a (temporary) dis-
tance preset by the driver with respect to the
vehicle ahead and help stay within the lane
››› .
T o do thi
s, the system automatically controls
the acceleration, brakes and steering, and
slows down the vehicle if necessary until it
stops fully before a vehicle that has stopped,
before moving off again automatically.
216
Driver assistance systems
Open the Assistants menu.
● BSD
● P arking Assist.
If
the verification box on the control panel is
checked , the functionality will be automat-
ically activated at ignition.
When the blind spot detector is ready to op-
erate, the indications in the external mirrors
will turn on briefly as confirmation.
When the vehicle is restarted, the last adjust-
ment in the system will remain active.
If the blind spot detector was automatically
deactivated, it will only be possible to restart
the system after turning the vehicle off and
restarting it.
Automatic deactivation of the blind spot de-
tector (BSD)
The radar sensors of the blind spot detector
with rear cross traffic alert will be automati-
cally deactivated when, among other rea-
sons, one of the sensors is detected to be
permanently covered. This may be the case if,
for example, there is a layer of snow or ice in
front of one of the sensors.
The relevant text message will appear in the
dash panel display. Trailer mode
The Blind spot
detector and the rear cross
traffic alert will be automatically deactivated
and it will be impossible to activate them if
the tow hitch is electrically connected to a
trailer or other similar object.
As soon as the driver starts to drive with a
trailer connected electrically to the vehicle, a
message will appear on the instrument panel
display indicating that the blind spot detec-
tor and the rear cross traffic alert are deacti-
vated. Once the trailer has been unhitched
from the vehicle, if you want to use the blind
spot detector and the rear cross traffic alert,
you will have to reactivate them in the corre-
sponding menu.
If the towing hitch is not factory equipped,
then the blind spot detector and the rear
cross traffic alert will have to be deactivated
manually when driving with a trailer.
SEAT Drive Profile*
Introduction The SEAT Drive Profile enables the driver to
c
hoo
se between four profiles or modes, Eco,
Normal , Sport and Individual , that
modify the behaviour of various vehicle func-
tions, providing different driving experiences. In addition, the 4Drive version features the
Offroad and Snow profi
les.
The Individual profile can be configured
according to personal preferences. The other
profiles have a fixed configuration.
Description Depending on the equipment fitted in the ve-
hic
l
e, SEAT Drive Profile can operate on the
following functions:
Engine
Depending on the profile selected, the en-
gine responds more spontaneously or more
in harmony with the movements of the accel-
erator. Additionally, when the Eco profile is
selected, the Start-Stop function is automati-
cally activated.
In vehicles with automatic transmission, the
gear change points are modified to position
them in lower or higher engine speed ranges.
Additionally, the Eco profile activates the in-
ertia function, enabling consumption to be
further reduced.
In manual gearbox vehicles, the Eco profile
causes the gear change recommendation in-
dications that appear on the dash panel to
vary, facilitating more efficient driving. »
225
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
Address
The po w
er steering varies its driving modes
and adapts to the profile selected, thus offer-
ing the best behaviour for each situation.
Air conditioning
In vehicles with Climatronic, this can operate
in Eco mode, especially restricting fuel con-
sumption.
Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
The acceleration gradient of the adaptive
cruise control varies according to the active
driving profile ››› page 197.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
In the Offroad and Snow driving profiles,
the electronic stability Control (ESC)
››› page 173 adjusts to adapt to the terrain.
In addition, hill descent control (HDC) is acti-
vated in the Offroad profile ››› page 190. Adjusting driving profile Fig. 197
Centre console: Driving Experience
b utt
on.
› ›
›
table on page 2
You can select the Eco, Normal , Sport, In-
dividual , Offroad1)
and Snow 1)
profiles in
the following way:
● Turn the Driving Experience button until the
r equir
ed profile lights up on the Easy Con-
nect system display as well as on the Driving
Experience button ››› Fig. 197.
● OR: select the required profile on the
t
ouch-screen of the Easy Connect system, in
the menu that opens up on turning the
Driving Experience button. The features of each profile can be seen by
pre
ssing the Profile information button of the
Easy Connect system display.
In the Individual profile it is possible to
configure the characteristics of the vehicle
using the Profile setup button of the Easy
Connect system display.
An icon on the Easy Connect system display
provides information about the active profile
if it is different than Normal. The selector
identifies the profile chosen by means of a
red LED light.
Driving profileCharacteristics
Eco
Places the vehicle in a particularly low
state of consumption, facilitating a fuel-
saving driving style that is respectful to
the environment.
NormalOffers a balanced driving experience,
suitable for everyday use.
SportProvides a complete dynamic perform-
ance in the vehicle, enabling the user a
more sporty driving style.
Individ- ualIt allows you to personalise the configura-
tion. The functions that can be adjusted
depend on the equipment fitted in the ve-
hicle. 1)
Only for 4Drive models.
226
Driver assistance systemsDriving
profileCharacteristics
Offroad a)It adjusts the vehicle's parameters in or-
der to maintain optimal off-road driving.
Snowa)It adjusts the vehicle's behaviour for driv-
ing on slippery road surfaces, optimising
grip and manoeuvrability.
a)
Only for 4Drive models. WARNING
When operating SEAT Drive Profile, pay atten-
tion t o a
ll traffic: doing otherwise could cause
an accident. Note
● When the v
ehicle is switched off it will al-
ways store the driving profile that was selec-
ted when the ignition key was removed, ex-
cept in the following cases:
– When the vehicle is restarted after using
the Sport profile, the engine and the
gearbox will not restart in the sportiest
setting so as to reduce fuel consumption.
To return the engine and the gearbox to
their sportiest position, select the Sport
driving profile again.
– When the vehicle is restarted after using
the Offroad or Snow settings, the sys-
tem is always activated in the Normal
profile. ●
Your s
peed and driving style must always
be adjusted to visibility, weather, and traffic
conditions.
● The Eco profile is not recommended when
t
owing a vehicle. Kick-down
The Kick-down feature allows maximum ac-
c
el
eration to be reached.
If the Eco* profile has been selected in the
SEAT Drive Profile ››› page 226 and the
accelerator is pressed beyond a hard point,
the engine power is automatically controlled
to give your vehicle maximum acceleration. WARNING
Please note that if the road surface is slip-
per y
or wet, the kick-down feature could
cause the driving wheels to spin, which could
result in skidding. 227
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety