Safe driving
WARNING
● An incorr ect
sitting position of the driver
can lead to severe injuries.
● Adjust the driver's seat so that there is at
lea
st 25 cm distance between the centre of
the chest and the centre of the steering
wheel ››› Fig. 84. If you are sitting closer than
25 cm, the airbag system cannot protect you
properly.
● If your physical constitution prevents you
from maint
aining the minimum distance of 25
cm, contact a specialised workshop. The
workshop will help you decide if special spe-
cific modifications are necessary.
● 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.
This reduces the risk of injury when the driver
airbag is triggered.
● 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 airbag is triggered, you may sus-
tain injuries to the arms, hands and head.
● To reduce the risk of injury to the driver
during sud
den braking manoeuvres or an ac-
cident, never drive with the backrest tilted far
back! The airbag system and seat belts can
only provide optimal protection when the
backrest is in an upright position and the
driver is wearing his or her seat belt correct-
ly.
● Adjust the head restraint properly to ach-
ieve optima
l protection. Adjusting the steering wheel position
Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 20. WARNING
● Never a dju
st the position of the steering
wheel when the vehicle is moving, as this
could cause an accident.
● Move the lever up firmly so the steering
wheel pos
ition does not accidentally change
during driving. risk of accident!
● Make sure you are capable of reaching and
firmly ho
lding the upper part of the steering
wheel: risk of accident!
● If you adjust the steering wheel so that it
points t
owards your face, the driver airbag
will not protect you properly in the event of
an accident. Make sure that the steering
wheel points towards your chest. Correct position for the front passen-
g
er For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injur
y
in the ev
ent of an accident, we recom-
mend the following adjustments for the front
passenger:
– Move the front passenger seat back as far
as po
ssible ››› .–
Mo v
e the se
at backrest to an upright posi-
tion so that your back rests completely
against it.
– 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
level as the top of your head ››› page 77.
– Always keep both feet in the footwell in
front of
the front passenger seat.
– Fasten your seat belt securely ›››
page 79.
It is possible to deactivate the front passen-
ger airbag in exceptional circumstances
››› page 89.
Adjusting the front passenger seat
››› page 156. WARNING
● An incorr ect
sitting position of the front
passenger can lead to severe injuries.
● Adjust the front passenger seat so that
there is
at least 25 cm between your chest
and the dash panel. If you are sitting closer
than 25 cm, the airbag system cannot protect
you properly.
● If your physical constitution prevents you
from maint
aining the minimum distance of 25
cm, contact a specialised workshop. The
workshop will help you decide if special spe-
cific modifications are necessary. » 75
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Safety
●
Alw a
ys 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-
senger in ev
ents 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 achiev
e maximum protection. Correct sitting position for rear seat
p
a
s
sengers To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a
s
ud
den br
aking 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 77. –
Alwa
ys keep both feet in the footwell in
front of the rear seat.
– Fasten your seat belt securely ›››
page 79.
– Use an appropriate child restraint system
when you t
ake children in the vehicle
››› page 90. WARNING
● If the p a
ssengers in the rear seats are not
sitting properly, they could sustain severe in-
juries.
● Adjust the head restraint correctly in order
to achiev
e maximum protection.
● Seat belts can only provide optimal protec-
tion when seat b
ackrests 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
w
ebs 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 allo
w anyone to assume an incorrect
sitting position in the vehicle while travel-
ling ››› .
The f o
l
lowing 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-
well
.
● Never travel without wearing the seat belt.
● Do not allow anyone to travel in the lug-
gage c
ompartment.
76
Safety
Rear head restraints – The rear head restraints have 2 positions:
use
and
non-use.
– One position for use (he
ad restraint raised)
››› Fig. 87. In this position, the head re-
straints are used normally, protecting pas-
sengers along with the rear seat belts.
– And one position for non-use (he
ad re-
straint lowered).
– To fit the head restraints in position for use,
pul
l on the edges with both hands in the
direction of the arrow. WARNING
● Under no cir c
umstances should the rear
passengers travel while the head restraints
are in the non-use position. See the warning
label located on the rear side fixed window
››› Fig. 88.
● Do not swap the centre rear head restraint
with either of the out
er seat rear head re-
straints. Risk of injury in case of an accident! CAUTION
Note the instructions on the adjustment of
the hea d r
estraints ››› page 157. Pedal area
P ed
a
ls –
Ensure that you can always press the accel-
erat or
, brake and clutch pedals unimpaired
to the floor.
– Ensure that the pedals can return unim-
paired t
o their initial positions.
– Ensure that the floor mats are securely fas-
tened during the trip and do not
obstruct
the pedals ››› .
On ly
u
se floor mats which leave the pedals
clear and which are secured to prevent them
from slipping. You can obtain suitable floor
mats from a specialised dealership. Fasten-
ers* for floor mats are fitted in the footwells.
If a brake circuit fails, the brake pedal must
be pressed down thoroughly in order to stop
the vehicle.
Wear suitable footwear
Always wear shoes which support your feet
properly and give you a good feeling for the
pedals. WARNING
● Re s
tricting pedal operation can lead to crit-
ical situations while driving. ●
Never l a
y or fit floor mats or other floor cov-
erings over the original floor mats. This
would reduce the pedal area and could ob-
struct the pedals. Risk of accident.
● Never place objects in the driver footwell.
An obj
ect could move into the pedal area and
impair pedal operation. In the event of a sud-
den driving or braking manoeuvre, you will
not be able to operate the brake, clutch or ac-
celerator pedal. Risk of accident! 78
Seat belts
Seat belts
Wh y
w
ear a seat belt
Number of seats Your vehicle has
five se
ats, 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
● Never tr an
sport more than the permitted
amount of people in your vehicle.
● Every vehicle occupant must properly fas-
ten and we
ar the seat belt belonging to his or
her seat. Children must be protected with an
appropriate child restraint system. Seat belt control lamp*
Fig. 89
Instrument panel: right rear seat oc-
c upied and c
orr
esponding seat belt fastened
display. The control lamp illuminates to remind the
driv
er t
o f
asten 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-
cordin
g 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 seat
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. 89 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).
79
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Safety
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. 91.
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. 92. How to properly adjust your
seatbelt
F
astening and unfastening your seat
belt Fig. 93
Positioning and removing the seat
belt b
uc
kle. Fig. 94
Position of seat belt during pregnan-
cy . Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 19.
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
plat
e and pull it slowly across your chest and
lap.
● Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the
appropri
ate seat and push it down until it is
securely locked with an audible click
››› Fig. 93 A.
82
Seat belts
● Pu
l
l the belt to ensure that the latch plate is
securely engaged in the buckle.
The seat belts are equipped with an automat-
ic retractor 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 and side rear seats are 1)
fitted with
seat belt tensioners ››› page 83.
Releasing the seat belt
● Press the red button on the belt buckle
›››
Fig. 93 B. The latch plate is released and
springs out ››› .
● Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls
up e a
s
ily and the trim is not damaged.
Positioning seat belts
Seat belts offer their maximum protection on-
ly when they are properly positioned. WARNING
● The seat belt
s offer best protection only
when the backrests are in an upright position and the seat belts have been fastened prop-
erly.
●
Nev er p
ut 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.
● Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehi-
cle i
s in motion. If you do, you increase the
risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.
● An incorrectly worn seat belt can cause se-
vere injurie
s 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. 94.
● Always engage the retractor lock when you
are securin
g a child seat in group 0, 0+ or 1
››› page 90.
● Read and observe the warnings ›››
page 80. Seat belt tensioners
Ho w the se at
belt tensioner works Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 20. The seat belts for the front seats and the side
rear se
ats1)
are equipped with belt tension-
ers. The belt tensioners are activated by sen-
sors, although only in severe head-on, lateral
and rear-end collisions. 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
forces 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
obser
ved when the vehicle or components of
the system are scrapped. Specialised work-
shops are familiar with these regulations,
which are also available to you. Maintenance and disposal of belt ten-
s
ioner 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 »1)
Depending on version/market.
83
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Safety
Transporting children safely Saf ety
f
or children
Introduction For safety reasons, as we have learned from
acc
ident
statistics, we recommend that chil-
dren under 12 years of age travel in the rear
seats. Depending on their age, height and
weight, children travelling in rear seats must
use a child seat or a seat belt. For safety rea-
sons, the child seat should be installed in the
rear seat, behind the front passenger seat or
in the centre back seat.
The physical laws involved and the forces
acting in a collision apply also to children
››› page 81. But unlike adults, children do not
have fully developed muscle and bone struc-
tures. This means that children are subject to
a greater risk of injury.
To reduce the risk of injuries, children must
always use special child restraint systems
when travelling in the vehicle.
We recommend the use of child safety prod-
ucts from the SEAT Original Accessories Pro-
gramme, which includes systems for all ages made by “Peke” (not for all countries) (see
www.se
at
.com).
These systems have been especially de-
signed and approved, complying with the
ECE-R44. regulation.
SEAT recommends securing the child seats
shown on the website as described below:
● Child seats in the opposite direction of
travel
(group 0+): ISOFIX and support bracket
(Peke G0 Plus + ISOFIX Base (RWF)).
● Child seats in the direction of travel (group
1): ISOFIX and T
op Tether (Peke G1 ISOFIX
DUO Plus).
● Child seats in the direction of travel (group
2): seat belt
and ISOFIX (Peke G3 KIDFIX) 1)
.
● Child seats in the direction of travel (group
3): with seat
belt (Peke G3 KIDFIX) 1)
.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and
observe any statutory requirements when in-
stalling and using child seats. Always read
and note ››› page 90.
We recommend you always carry the manu-
facturer's Child Seat Instruction Manual to-
gether with the on-board documentation. Important information regarding the
front p
assenger's airbag Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 24.
Read and always observe the safety informa-
tion included in the following chapters:
● Safety distance with respect to the passen-
ger airbag ›
›› page 84.
● Objects between the passenger and the
pas
senger side airbag ››› in Front airbags
on p ag
e 86
.
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 88.
When transporting children, use a child seat
suitable for the age and size of each child
››› page 92. 1)
Temporarily, the child seat recommended by the
Ac c
essories Programme for groups 2 and 3 will be
ROMER KIDFIX XP ©
instead of Peke G3 KIDFIX. It is
available from the SEAT website.
90
Transporting children safely
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
accident 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 89. 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. Do
not forget to reconnect the airbag when an
adult wants to sit in the front passenger seat.
● 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 acc
ident, the c
hild could be flung
through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal in-
juries to themselves and to the other vehicle
occupants.
● If children assume an improper sitting posi-
tion when the vehic
le 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 79.
● Only one child may occupy a child seat
›››
page 91, Child seats.
● When a child seat is mounted in the rear
seats, the door c
hild-proof lock should be ac-
tivated ››› page 134. Child seats
Saf ety
in
structions Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 24. WARNING
When travelling, children must be secured in
the v ehic
le with a restraint system suitable
for age, weight and size.
● Read and always observe information and
warning
s concerning the use of child seats
››› page 90. WARNING
The retaining rings are designed only for use
with “ISOFIX” and T op
Tether* system child
seats.
● Never secure other child seats that do not
have the “ISOFIX” or T
op Tether* system, or
retaining belts or objects to the fastening
rings - this can result in potentially fatal inju-
ries to the child.
● Ensure that the child seat is secured cor-
rectly u
sing the “ISOFIX” and Top Tether* se-
curing rings. WARNING
An undue installation of the safety seat will
incr e
ase the risk of injury in the event of a
crash. » 91
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety