
Operation
Active cylinder management (ACT ®
)*
D ependin
g on
vehicle equipment, the active
cylinder management (ACT ®
) may automati-
cally deactivate some of the engine cylinders
if the driving situation does not require too
much power. When it is switched off, no fuel
is injected into these cylinders, hence total
fuel consumption may be reduced. The num-
ber of active cylinders can be seen on the in-
strument panel display ›››
page 37.
Foresight when driving
Acceleration causes the vehicle to consume
more fuel. If you think ahead when driving,
you will need to brake less and thus acceler-
ate less. Wherever possible, let the car roll
slowly to a stop, with a gear engaged (for in-
stance when you can see that the next traffic
lights are red). This takes advantage of the
engine braking effect, reducing wear on the
brakes and tyres. Emissions and fuel con-
sumption will drop to zero due to the overrun
fuel cut-off.
Changing gear to save energy
An effective way of saving is to change in ad-
vance to a higher gear. Running the engine at
high rpm in the lower gears uses an unneces-
sary amount of fuel.
Manual gearbox : shift up from first to second
gear as soon as possible. In any case, we rec-
ommend that you change to a higher gear
upon reaching 2,000 rpm. Choosing the right gear enables fuel savings. Select the highest
poss
ible gear appropriate for the driving sit-
uation (the engine should continue function-
ing with cyclical regularity).
Automatic gearbox : accelerate gradually and
without reaching the “kick-down” position.
Avoid driving at high speed
Avoid travelling at top speed, whenever pos-
sible. Fuel consumption, emission of harmful
gases and noise pollution multiply dispropor-
tionately as speed is increased. Driving at
moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Reduce idling time
In vehicles with the Start-Stop system idling
is automatically reduced. In vehicles without
the Start-Stop system it is worth switching off
the engine, for example, at level crossings
and at traffic lights that remain red for long
periods of time. When an engine has reached
operating temperature, and depending on
the cylinder capacity, keeping it switched off
for a minimum of about 5 seconds already
saves more than the amount of fuel necessa-
ry for restarting.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. Mechanical wear and pollu-
tant emissions are also especially high dur-
ing this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore
best to drive off immediately after starting the engine. Avoid running the engine at high
speed.
Re
gular maintenance
Regular servicing helps in saving fuel even
before the engine is started. A well-serviced
engine gives you the benefit of improved fuel
efficiency as well as maximum reliability and
an enhanced resale value. A badly serviced
engine can consume up to 10% more fuel
than necessary.
Avoid short journeys
The engine and catalytic converter need to
reach their optimal operating temperature in
order to minimise fuel consumption and
emissions.
A cold engine consumes a disproportionate
amount of fuel. The engine reaches its work-
ing temperature after about four kilometres
(2.5 miles), when fuel consumption will re-
turn to a normal level.
Check tyre pressure
Always make sure the tyres are inflated to the
correct pressures ››› page 308 to save fuel. If
the pressure is below half bar, fuel consump-
tion may increase by 5%. Due to the greater
rolling resistance, under-inflation also increa-
ses tyre wear and impairs handling.
Do not use winter tyres all year round as they
increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.
202

Driving
Avoid carrying unnecessary loads
Giv en th
at
every kilo of extra weight will in-
crease the fuel consumption, it is advisable
to always check the luggage compartment to
make sure that no unnecessary loads are be-
ing transported.
Since the luggage rack increases the aerody-
namic drag of the vehicle, you should remove
it when not needed. At speeds of 100-120
km/h (62-75 mph), this will save 12% of fuel.
Save electrical energy
The engine drives the alternator, thereby gen-
erating electricity. This implies that any in-
crease in power consumption also increases
fuel consumption! For this reason, switch off
any unneeded electrical devices. Devices that
use a lot of electricity includes the blower at
a high setting, the rear window heating or
the seat heating*.
Power management
This sy
stem helps to ensure reliable
starting The power management controls the distribu-
tion of
el
ectric
al energy and thus helps to en-
sure that there is always enough power avail-
able to start the engine. If a vehicle with a conventional electrical sys-
tem is
left parked for a long time, the battery
will gradually lose its charge because certain
electrical devices, such as the electronic
gearbox lock continues to draw current even
when the ignition is off. In some cases there
may not be enough power available to start
the engine.
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent
power management system to control the
distribution of electrical energy. This signifi-
cantly improves reliability when starting the
engine, and also prolongs the useful life of
the battery.
The main functions incorporated in the power
management system are battery diagnosis,
residual current management and dynamic
power management.
Battery diagnosis
The battery diagnosis function constantly
registers the condition of the battery. Sen-
sors detect the battery voltage, battery cur-
rent and battery temperature. This enables
the system to calculate the current power lev-
el and charge condition of the battery.
Residual current management
The residual current management reduces
power consumption while the vehicle is
parked. It controls the supply of power to the
various electrical devices while the ignition is switched off. The system takes the battery di-
agnosi
s data into consideration.
Depending on the power level of the battery,
switch off the individual electrical devices
one after the other to prevent the battery
from losing too much charge and to ensure
that the engine can be started reliably.
Dynamic power management
While the vehicle is moving, this function dis-
tributes the available power to the various
electrical devices and systems according to
their requirements. The power management
ensures that on-board systems do not con-
sume more electrical power than the alterna-
tor can supply, and thus maintains the maxi-
mum possible battery power level. Note
● Neither is the po
wer management system
able to overcome the given physical limits.
Please remember that the power and useful
life of the battery are limited.
● When there is a risk that the vehicle will
not st
art, the alternator power failure or low
battery charge level warning lamp will be
shown ››› page 119. Flat battery
Starting ability has first priority.
»
203
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
Short trips, city traffic and low temperatures
al l
p
lace a heavy load on the battery. In these
conditions a large amount of power is con-
sumed, but only a small amount is supplied.
The situation is also critical if electrical devi-
ces are in use when the engine is not run-
ning. In this case power is consumed when
none is being generated.
In these situations you will be aware that the
power management system is intervening to
control the distribution of electrical power.
When the vehicle is parked for long periods
If you do not drive your vehicle for a period of
several days or weeks, the power manage-
ment will gradually shut off the electrical de-
vices one by one or reduce the amount of cur-
rent they are using. This limits the amount of
power consumed and helps to ensure relia-
ble starting even after a long period. Some
convenience functions, such as remote vehi-
cle opening, may not be available under cer-
tain circumstances. These functions will be
restored when you switch on the ignition and
start the engine.
With the engine switched off
For example, if you listen to the sound sys-
tem with the engine switched off the battery
will run down.
If the energy consumption means there is a
risk that the engine will not start, a text will appear in vehicles with a driver information
syst
em*.
This driver indicator tells you that you must
start the engine so that the battery can re-
charge.
When the engine is running
Although the alternator generates electrical
power, the battery can still become dis-
charged while the vehicle is being driven.
This can occur when a lot of power is being
consumed but only a small amount supplied,
especially if the battery is not fully charged
initially.
To restore the necessary energy balance, the
system will then temporarily shut off the elec-
trical devices that are using a lot of power, or
reduce the current they are consuming. Heat-
ing systems in particular use a large amount
of electrical power. If you notice, for instance,
that the seat heating* or the rear window
heater is not working, they may have been
temporarily switched off or regulated to a
lower heat output. These systems will be
available again as soon as sufficient electri-
cal power is available.
You may also notice that the engine runs at a
slightly faster idling speed when necessary.
This is quite normal, and no cause for con-
cern. The increased idling speed allows the
alternator to meet the greater power require- ment and charge the battery at the same
time.
Engine management and ex-
haus
t gas purification system
Introduction WARNING
● Bec au
se of the high temperatures which
can occur in the exhaust purification system
(catalytic converter or diesel particulate fil-
ter), do not park the vehicle where the ex-
haust can come into contact with flammable
materials under the car (e.g. on grass or at
the forest edge). Fire hazard!
● Do not apply wax underneath the vehicle
around the ar
ea of the exhaust system: Fire
hazard! Note
While the control lamps , , or re-
m ain lit, ther
e may be engine problems, fuel
consumption may increase and the engine
may lose power. 204

Driver assistance systems
Engine
D ependin
g on the pr
ofile 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.
Address
The power 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 accel
eration gradient of the adaptive
cruise control varies according to the active
driving profile ››› page 221.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
In the Offroad and Snow driving profiles,
the electronic stability Control (ESC)
››› page 189 adjusts to adapt to the terrain.
In addition, hill descent control (HDC) is acti-
vated in the Offroad profile ››› page 210.
Adjusting driving profile Fig. 213
Centre console: Driving Experience
b utt
on. You can select the
Eco, Normal , Sport, In-
dividual , Offroad1)
and Snow 1)
pr ofi
l
es in
the following way:
● Turn the Driving Experience button until the
required pr
ofile lights up on the Easy Con-
nect system display as well as on the Driving
Experience button ››› Fig. 213.
● OR: select the required profile on the
touc
h-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
pressing 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. »1)
Only for 4Drive models.
243
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

OperationDriving
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.
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 to a l
l traffic: doing otherwise could cause
an accident. Note
● When the v ehic
le is switched off it will al-
ways store the driving profile that was selec-
ted when the ignition key was removed. Nev- ertheless, when the engine is restarted, the
engine and the g
e
ar will not restart in the set-
ting selected. For engine and gear to revert to
the desired position, select the correspond-
ing drive profile again or press the Easy Con-
nect system button repeatedly.
● When the vehicle is restarted after using
the Offroad or Snow settings, the sy
stem is
always activated in the Normal profile.
● Your speed and driving style must always
be adjus
ted to visibility, weather, and traffic
conditions.
● The Eco profile is not recommended when
to
wing a vehicle. Kick-down
The Kick-down feature allows maximum ac-
c
el
er
ation to be reached.
If the Eco* profile has been selected in the
SEAT Drive Profile ››› page 243 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-
pery or w
et, the kick-down feature could
cause the driving wheels to spin, which could
result in skidding. 244

Checking and refilling levels
We recommend the use of diesel
f uel which
complies to European standard EN 590. If
diesel fuel which meets European standard
EN 590 is not available, the Cetane number
(CZ) must, at minimum, be 51. If the engine
is equipped with a particulate filter, the sul-
phur content of the fuel must be below 50
parts per million.
Winter-grade diesel
Summer fuel becomes thicker in winter and it
is more difficult to start the engine. For this
reason, petrol stations in some countries al-
so offer winter diesel with improved fluidity
when cold (winter-grade diesel).
Water in the fuel filter 1)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine and is
equipped with a fuel filter with a water sepa-
rator, the instrument panel may display the
following warning: Water in the
fuel filter. If this is the case, take the
vehicle to a specialised workshop so that
they can drain the fuel filter. CAUTION
● The v ehic
le is not designed for the use of
FAME fuel (biodiesel). The fuel system would
be damaged if you used biodiesel. ●
Do not mi x
fuel additives, the so-called
“thinners”, petrol or similar additives with
diesel fuel.
● If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be
neces
sary to drain the fuel filter more fre-
quently than is specified in the Maintenance
Programme. We recommend having this done
by a specialised workshop. If water is allowed to collect in the filter, this can cause engine
performance problems. AdBlue
®
Inf orm
ation on AdBlue ® The consumption of AdBlue
®
depend s
on
y
our personal driving style, the temperature
of the system and on the outdoor tempera-
ture when the vehicle is used.
AdBlue ®
freezes at temperatures of -11°C
(+13°F). The system has heating elements
that guarantee its operation even at low tem-
peratures.
The AdBlue ®
tank level capacity is approxi-
mately 11 litres.
The AdBlue ®
tank should never be empty.
When the distance to empty drops below
2400 km, a warning to refill the AdBlue ®
tank will appear on the dash panel display
›››
page 295. If this information is ignored,
later on it will not be possible to re-start the
engine. If this warning does not appear, it is
not necessary to refill the AdBlue ®
tank.
AdBlue ®
is a registered brand of the German
Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)
and is also known as AUS32 or DEF (Diesel
Exhaust Fluid). CAUTION
Filling the AdBlue ®
tank e
xcessively can
cause damage to the tank. Refilling AdBlue
® Fig. 238
AdBlue tank cap. »1)
Valid for the market: Algeria.
295
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Service life of tyres Fig. 242
Location of the tyre pressure sticker. Correct inflation pressures and sensible driv-
in
g h
ab
its will increase the useful life of your
tyres.
● Check tyre pressure at least once a month,
and also prior to an
y long trip.
● The tyre pressure should only be checked
when the tyre
s are cold. Do not reduce the
pressure of warm tyres.
● Adjust tyre pressure to the load being car-
ried by the
vehicle. ●
In vehic
les with a tyre pressure indicator,
save the modified pressure of tyres
››› page 311, ››› page 308.
● Avoid fast cornering and hard acceleration.
● Inspect the tyres for irregular wear from
time to time.
The usef
ul life of your tyres depends on the
following factors:
Tyre pressure
The tyre inflation pressures are listed on a
sticker on the rear of the front left door frame
››› Fig. 242.
Insufficient or excessive pressure greatly re-
duces the useful life of the tyres and adverse-
ly affects vehicle performance and ride. Cor-
rect inflation pressures are very important,
especially at high speeds.
Depending on the vehicle, tyre pressure can
be adjusted to medium load to improve driv-
ing comfort (tyre pressure ). When driving
with comfort tyre pressure fuel consumption
may increase slightly.
The tyre pressure must be adjusted according
to the load the vehicle is carrying. If the vehi-
cle is going to carry the maximum load, the
tyre pressure should be increased to the max-
imum value indicated on the sticker
››› Fig. 242.
Do not forget the spare wheel when checking
the tyre pressures: Keep this spare wheel in- flated to the highest pressure required for the
roa
d wheels.
In the case of a minimised temporary spare
wheel (125/70 R18) inflate to a pressure of
4.2 bar as indicated on the tyre pressure la-
bel ››› Fig. 242.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard
braking (squealing tyres) all increase tyre
wear.
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced.
However, certain circumstances may lead to
imbalance (run-out), which is detected as vi-
brations in the steering wheel.
Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as
they otherwise cause excessive wear on
steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must
also be rebalanced when a new tyre is fitted
or if a tyre is repaired.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect running gear alignment causes ex-
cessive tyre wear, impairing the safety of the
vehicle. If you notice excessive tyre wear, you
should check wheel alignment at a SEAT Offi-
cial Service.
308

Advice
and specialised workshop. Please note the
r e
gu
lations to this effect in your country.
“All-weather” tyres can also be used instead
of winter tyres.
Using winter tyres with V-rating
Please note that the generally applicable
240 km/h (149 mph) speed for winter tyres
with the letter V is subject to technical re-
strictions; the maximum permissible speed
for your vehicle may be significantly lower .
The maximum speed limit for these tyres de-
pends directly on the maximum axle weights
for your car and on the listed weight rating of
the tyres being used.
It is best to contact a SEAT Official Service to
check the maximum speed which is permissi-
ble for the V-rated tyres fitted on your car on
the basis of this information. WARNING
Exceeding the maximum speed permitted for
the wint er ty
res fitted on your car can cause
tyre failure, resulting in a loss of control of
the vehicle – risk of accident. For the sake of the environment
Summer tyres should be fitted again as soon
as po
ssible after the winter period; they give
better handling on roads which are free of
snow and ice. Summer tyres perform with
less rolling noise, tyre wear and – most im-
portant – reduce fuel consumption. 316