The essentials
Attachment of the child seat with the
T op
Tether* retainer straps Fig. 32
Position of the Top Tether rings on the
b ac
k of the rear seat. Child seats with the Top Tether system come
w
ith a s
trap for securing the seat to the vehi-
cle anchor point, located at the back of the
rear seat backrest and provide greater re-
straint.
The objective of this strap is to reduce for-
ward movements of the child seat in a crash,
to reduce the risk of injuries to the head from
hitting the inside of the vehicle.
Using the Top Tether in rear-facing mounted
seats
Currently, there are very few rear-facing child
safety seats that have Top Tether. Please
carefully read and follow the seat manufac-
turer instructions to learn the proper way to
install the Top Tether strap. Securing the Top Tether* to the an-
chor
age point Fig. 33
Retainer strap: adjustment and as-
semb ly
according to the Top Tether belt. Securing the retainer strap
●
Follow the manufacturer's instructions to
dep lo
y the child seat Top Tether retainer
strap.
● Place the belt under the head restraint of
the bac
k seat ››› Fig. 33 (depending on the in- structions of the chair itself, lift or remove the
hea
d restraint if necessary).
● Slide the strap and secure it properly with
the anchor
age of the backrest ››› Fig. 32.
● Firmly tighten the strap following the manu-
fact
urer's instructions.
Releasing the retaining strap
● Loosen the strap following the manufactur-
er's in
structions.
● Push the lock and release it from the an-
chorin
g support.
››› in Safety instructions on page 81 22
Safety
Safety
Saf e driv
ing
Safety first! WARNING
● Thi s
manual contains important informa-
tion about the operation of the vehicle, both
for the driver and the passengers. The other
sections of the on-board documentation also
contain further information that you should
be aware of for your own safety and for the
safety of your passengers.
● Ensure that the on-board documentation is
kept
in the vehicle at all times. This is espe-
cially important when lending or selling the
vehicle to another person. Advice about driving
B ef
ore starting every trip For your own safety and the safety of your
p
a
ssengers, always note the following points
before every trip:
– Make sure that the vehicle's lights and turn
sign
als are working properly.
– Check tyre pressure. –
Ens
ure that all windows provide a clear and
good view of the surroundings.
– Make sure all luggage is secured
››
› page 149.
– Make sure that no objects can interfere
with the ped
als.
– Adjust front seat, head restraint and mir-
ror
s properly according to your size.
– Ensure that the passengers in the rear
seats
always have the head restraints in
the in-use position ››› page 66.
– Instruct passengers to adjust the head re-
str
aints according to their height.
– Protect children with appropriate child
seats
and properly applied seat belts
››› page 79.
– Assume the correct sitting position. Instruct
your p
assengers also to assume a proper
sitting position. ››› page 63.
– Fasten your seat belt securely. Instruct your
pa
ssengers also to fasten their seat belts
properly. ››› page 68.
What affects driving safety? As a driver, you are responsible for yourself
and
y
our passengers. When your concentra-
tion or driving safety is affected by any cir- cumstance, you endanger yourself as well as
others
on the road ››› , for this reason:
– Always pay attention to traffic and do not
g et
distracted by passengers or telephone
calls.
– Never drive when your driving ability is im-
pair
ed (e.g. by medication, alcohol, drugs).
– Observe traffic laws and speed limits.
– Always reduce your speed as appropriate
for r
oad, traffic and weather conditions.
– When travelling long distances, take
bre
aks regularly - at least every two hours.
– If possible, avoid driving when you are tired
or str
essed. WARNING
When driving safety is impaired during a trip,
the ri sk
of injury and accidents increases. Safety equipment
Never put your safety or the safety of your
p
a
ssengers 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,
62
Safe driving
● Belt
tensioners for the front seats
● Front airbags
● knee airbags,
● Side airbags in the front seat backrests
● Head-protection airbags
● “ISOFIX” anchor points for child seats in
the re
ar side seats with the “ISOFIX” system,
● Height-adjustable front head restraints
● Rear head restraints with in-use position
and non-use po
sition
● Adjustable steering column
The saf
ety 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 for passengers
Corr
ect sitting position for driver Fig. 81
The proper distance between driver
and s t
eering wheel Fig. 82
Correct head restraint position for the
driv er
. For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injur
y
in the event of an accident, we recom- mend the following adjustments for the driv-
er:
– Adjust the steering wheel so that there is a
dis
tance of at least 25 cm between the
steering wheel and the centre of your chest
››› Fig. 81.
– Move the driver's seat forwards or back-
war
ds so that you are able to press the ac-
celerator, brake and clutch pedals to the
floor with your knees still slightly angled
››› .
– Ensure that you can reach the highest point
of the s
teering wheel.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper
edge i
s at the same level as the top of your
head, or as close as possible to the same
level as the top of your head ››› Fig. 82.
– Move the seat backrest to an upright posi-
tion so that
your back rests completely
against it.
– Fasten your seat belt securely ››
› page 68.
– Keep both feet in the footwell so that you
hav
e the vehicle under control at all times.
Adjustment of the driver's seat ››› page 143. WARNING
● An inc orr
ect sitting position of the driver
can lead to severe injuries. » 63
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Safe driving
●
Alw
ays keep your feet in the footwell when
the vehicle is moving; never rest them on the
dash panel, out the window or on the seat. An
incorrect sitting position exposes you to an
increased risk of injury in case of a sudden
braking or an accident. If the airbag is trig-
gered, you could sustain severe injuries due
to an incorrect sitting position.
● To reduce the risk of injury to the front pas-
seng
er in events such as sudden braking ma-
noeuvres or an accident, never travel with the
backrest tilted far back! The airbag system
and seat belts can only provide optimal pro-
tection when the backrest is in an upright po-
sition and the front passenger is wearing his
or her seat belt properly. The further the seat
backrests are tilted to the rear, the greater
the risk of injury due to incorrect positioning
of the belt web or to the incorrect sitting po-
sition!
● Adjust the head restraint correctly in order
to ac
hieve maximum protection. Correct sitting position for rear seat
p
a
ssengers To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a
s
ud
den braking manoeuvre or an accident,
passengers on the rear seat bench must con-
sider the following:
– Sit up straight.
– Adjust the head restraint to the correct po-
sition ›
›› page 66. –
Alw
ays keep both feet in the footwell in
front of the rear seat.
– Fasten your seat belt securely ››
› page 68.
– Use an appropriate child restraint system
when y
ou take children in the vehicle
››› page 79. WARNING
● If the p
assengers in the rear seats are not
sitting properly, they could sustain severe in-
juries.
● Adjust the head restraint correctly in order
to ac
hieve maximum protection.
● Seat belts can only provide optimal protec-
tion when seat
backrests are in an upright
position and the vehicle occupants are wear-
ing their seat belts correctly. If passengers In
the rear seats are not sitting in an upright po-
sition, the risk of injury due to incorrect posi-
tioning of the seat belt increases. Examples of incorrect sitting posi-
tion
s Seat belts can provide optimal protection on-
ly
when the belt
webs are properly posi-
tioned. Incorrect sitting positions substan-
tially reduce the protective function of seat
belts and increase the risk of injury due to in-
correct seat belt position. As the driver, you
are responsible for all passengers, especially
children. –
Never al
low anyone to assume an incorrect
sitting position in the vehicle while travel-
ling ››› .
The f o
llowing list contains examples of sit-
ting positions that could be dangerous for all
vehicle occupants. The list is not complete,
but we would like to make you aware of this
issue.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is in motion:
● Never stand in the vehicle.
● Never stand on the seats.
● Never kneel on the seats.
● Never tilt your seat backrest far to the rear.
● Never lean against the dash panel.
● Never lie on the rear bench.
● Never sit on the front edge of a seat.
● Never sit sideways.
● Never lean out of a window.
● Never put your feet out of a window.
● Never put your feet on the dash panel.
● Never put your feet on the surface of a seat.
● Do not allow anyone to travel in the foot-
wel
l.
● Never travel without wearing the seat belt.
● Do not allow anyone to travel in the lug-
gag
e compartment. »
65
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Safety
Seat belts
Wh y
wear a seat belt?
Number of seats Your vehicle has
five
seats, two in the front
and three in the rear. Each seat is equipped
with a three-point seat belt.
In some versions, your vehicle is approved
only for four seats. Two front seats and two
rear seats. WARNING
● Nev er tr
ansport more than the permitted
amount of people in your vehicle.
● Every vehicle occupant must properly fas-
ten and w
ear the seat belt belonging to his or
her seat. Children must be protected with an
appropriate child restraint system. Seat belt lamp*
Fig. 86
Instrument panel: right rear seat oc-
c upied and c
orresponding seat belt fastened
display. The control lamp illuminates to remind the
driv
er t
o fasten his seat belt.
Before starting the vehicle: – Fasten your seat belt securely.
– Instruct your passengers to fasten their
seat
belts properly before driving off.
– Protect children by using a child seat ac-
cor
ding to the child's height and weight.
When the ignition is switched on, the control
lamp in the instrument panel lights up (de-
pending on the model version) if the driver or
passenger have not fastened their seat belts.
An audible warning signal will sound for a
few seconds if the seat belts are not fastened
as the vehicle drives off and reaches a speed of more than approximately 25 km/h
(15 mph) or if the se
at belts are unfastened
while the vehicle is in motion. The warning
light will also flash .
The lamp goes out when the driver and
passenger seat belts are fastened with the ig-
nition switched on.
Rear seat belts fastened display.*
Depending on the model version, when the
ignition is switched on, the seat belt status
display ››› Fig. 86 on the instrument panel in-
forms the driver whether the passengers in
the rear seats have fastened their seat belts.
The symbol indicates that the passenger in
this seat has fastened “his or her” seat belt.
When a seat belt in the rear seats is fastened
or unfastened, the seat belt status is dis-
played for approximately 30 seconds. The in-
dication can be hidden by pressing the 0.0/SET button on the dash panel.
The se at
belt status flashes for a maximum of
30 seconds when a seat belt in the rear seats
is unfastened while the vehicle is in motion.
An audible warning will also be heard if the
vehicle is travelling at over 25 km/h
(15 mph).
68
Seat belts
possible to brace oneself with one's hands.
In a fr ont
al collision, unbelted passengers
are thrown forward and will make violent con-
tact with the steering wheel, dash panel,
windscreen or whatever else is in the way
››› Fig. 88.
It is also important for rear passengers to
wear seat belts properly, as they could other-
wise be thrown forward violently through the
vehicle interior in an accident. Passengers in
the rear seats who do not use seat belts en-
danger not only themselves but also the front
occupants ››› Fig. 89. How to properly adjust your
seat
belt
Fastening and unfastening the seat
belt Fig. 90
Positioning and removing the seat
belt b
uckle. Fig. 91
Position of seat belt during pregnan-
cy . Read the additional information carefully
› ›
› page 13.
Fasten your seat belt
The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if
the seat belt is not positioned correctly.
● Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.
● To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch
pl
ate and pull it slowly across your chest and
lap.
● Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the
appr
opriate seat and push it down until it is
securely locked with an audible click
››› Fig. 90 A.
● Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is
secur
ely engaged in the buckle. »
71
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Safety
The seat belts are equipped with an automat-
ic r
etractor on the shoulder strap. Full free-
dom of movement is permitted when the
shoulder belt is pulled slowly. However, dur-
ing sudden braking, during travel in steep
areas or bends and during acceleration, the
automatic retractor on the shoulder belt is
locked.
The automatic belt retractors on the front
seats are fitted with seat belt tensioners
››› page 72.
Releasing the seat belt ● Press the red button on the belt buckle
››
› Fig. 90 B. The latch plate is released and
springs out ››› .
● Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls
up e a
sily and the trim is not damaged.
Positioning seat belts
Seat belts offer their maximum protection on-
ly when they are properly positioned. WARNING
● The se at
belts offer best protection only
when the backrests are in an upright position
and the seat belts have been fastened prop-
erly.
● Never put the latch plate in the buckle of
another seat
. If you do this, the seat belt will
not protect you properly and the risk of injury
is increased. ●
Nev er u
nbuckle a seat belt while the vehi-
cle is in motion. If you do, you increase the
risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.
● An incorrectly worn seat belt can cause se-
ver
e injuries in the event of an accident.
● For pregnant women, the lap part of the
seat
belt must lie as low as possible over the
pelvis, never across the stomach, and always
lie flat so that no pressure is exerted on the
abdomen ››› Fig. 91.
● Always engage the retractor lock when you
are sec
uring a child seat in group 0, 0+ or 1
››› page 79.
● Read and observe the warnings ››
› page 69. Seat belt tensioners
Ho w the se
at belt tensioner works Read the additional information carefully
› ›
› page 14.
The seat belts for the occupants in the front
seats are equipped with belt tensioners. Sen-
sors will trigger the belt tensioners only dur-
ing severe head-on, lateral and rear-end colli-
sions and only if the seat belt is worn. This
retracts and tightens the seat belts, reducing
the forward motion of the occupants.
The belt tensioners will not be triggered in
the event of minor collisions, if the vehicle overturns, or in accidents where no major
for
ces act on the vehicle. Note
● If the se
at belt tensioners are triggered, a
fine dust is produced. This is normal and it is
not an indication of fire in the vehicle.
● The relevant safety requirements must be
ob
served when the vehicle or components of
the system are scrapped. Specialised work-
shops are familiar with these regulations,
which are also available to you. Service and disposal of belt tension-
er
s The belt tensioners are components of the
se
at
belts that are installed in the seats of
your vehicle. If you work on the belt tension-
ers or remove and install parts of the system
when performing other repair work, the seat
belt may be damaged. The consequence may
be that, in the event of an accident, the belt
tensioners function incorrectly or may not
function at all.
So that the effectiveness of the seat belt ten-
sioner is not reduced and that removed parts
do not cause any injuries or environmental
pollution, regulations, which are known to
the specialised workshops, must be ob-
served.
72
Safety
travel on the rear seat. Never transport
c
hi
ldren in the vehicle if they are not restrain-
ed or the restraint system is not appropriate
for their age, size or weight.
● If you are not wearing a seat belt, or if you
le
an forward or to the side while travelling or
assume an incorrect sitting position, there is
a substantially increased risk of injury. This
increased risk of injury will be further in-
creased if you are struck by an inflating air-
bag.
● To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating
airbag, a
lways wear the seat belt properly
››› page 68.
● Always adjust the front seats properly. Description of the airbag system
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
› page 15.
The airbag system is not a substitute for the
seat belts. The airbag system offers addition-
al protection for the driver and passenger in
combination with the seat belts.
The airbag system comprises the following
modules (as per vehicle equipment):
● Electronic control unit
● Front airbags for driver and passenger
● Knee airbag for the driver
● Side airbags ●
Hea
d airbag
● Airbag control lamp on the ins
trument
panel
● Key-operated switch for front passenger air-
bag
● C
ontrol lamp to disconnect/connect the
front
airbag.
The airbag system operation is monitored
electronically. The airbag control lamp will il-
luminate for a few seconds every time the ig-
nition is switched on (self-diagnosis).
There is a fault in the system if the control
lamp :
● does not light up when the ignition is
swit
ched on,
● turns off after 4 seconds after the ignition
is
switched on
● turns off and then lights up again after the
ignition is
switched on
● illuminates or flashes while the vehicle is
mov
ing.
The airbag system is not triggered if:
● the ignition is switched off
● there is a minor frontal collision
● there is a minor side collision
● there is a rear-end collision
● the vehicle turns over. WARNING
● The se at
belts and airbags can only provide
maximum protection if the occupants are
seated correctly ››› page 63, Correct position
for passengers.
● If a fault has occurred in the airbag system,
hav
e the system checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise there is a
danger that during a collision, the system
may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly. Airbag activation
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within
thou
s
andths of a second, to provide addi-
tional protection in the event of an accident.
A fine dust may develop when the airbag de-
ploys. This is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
The airbag system is only ready to function
when the ignition is on.
In special accidents instances, several air-
bags may activate at the same time.
In the event of minor head-on and side colli-
sions, rear-end collisions, overturning or roll-
over of the vehicle, airbags do not activate.
Activation factors
The conditions that lead to the airbag system
activating in each situation cannot be gener-
alised. Some factors play an important role,
74