
 
Checklist 
Observe the following information both before and during every journey to ensure your own safety, 
and the safety of all passengers and other road users  
 
Check that all lights and turn signals are working properly. 
 
Check the tyre pressure and fuel level Tyre pressure, Fuel gauge. 
 
Check the washer fluid level Washer fluid. 
 
Make sure that you have a good, clear view through all of the windows Caring for and cleaning the 
vehicle exterior. 
 
Secure any objects and luggage in the stowage compartments, the luggage compartment or on the 
roof Transporting items. 
 
Ensure that you are able to operate the pedals freely at all times. 
 
Secure any children travelling in the vehicle in a restraint system suitable for their weight and size 
Safe transport of children. 
 
Adjust the front seats, head restraints and mirrors properly to match the size of the occupants 
Sitting position, Mirrors. 
 
Wear shoes that provide proper support for your feet when using the pedals. 
 
The floor mat in the footwell on the driver side must leave the pedal area free and must be securely 
fastened. 
  

 
 
Is fuel in the adequate quality available Fuel and emission control? 
 
Are the correct service fluids that comply with Volkswagen specifications available in the destination 
country Service fluids and consumables? 
 
Will the navigation function in the factory-fitted Infotainment system work with the available 
navigation data in the destination country? 
 
Are special tyres necessary for travelling in the destination country? 
 
Is a fire extinguisher a requirement in your destination country? 
 
Which requirements must be observed regarding high-visibility waistcoats? 
Checklist 
Do not work on the engine and in the engine compartment unless you are familiar with the task, are 
aware of the general safety procedures and have the correct equipment, service fluids and suitable 
tools In the engine compartment
are uncertain. Make sure you check the following on a regular basis: 
 
Washer fluid level Washer fluid 
 
Engine oil level Engine oil 
 
Coolant level Coolant 
 
Brake fluid level Brake fluid 
 
Tyre pressure Wheels and tyres  

file Driving profile selection and 4MOTION Active Control 
Avoid driving at full throttle 
Never drive the vehicle at its top speed. The drag coefficient increases at excessively high speeds. 
This in turn increases the force needed to move the vehicle. 
Reduce idling 
Pull away immediately with low engine speeds. If you are stopped for a long period, do not allow the 
engine to idle but switch it off, e.g. when in a traffic jam or at a railway crossing. 
In vehicles with an activated start/stop system, the engine can switch off automatically when the 
vehicle is stopping and when the vehicle is stationary Start/stop system 
Refuel moderately 
A full fuel tank increases the weight of the vehicle. A fuel tank that is half or two thirds of the way 
full is sufficient for journeys in urban traffic in particular. 
Avoid short journeys 
A cold engine has very high fuel consumption. The optimum operating temperature is reached only 
after driving a few kilometres. The fuel consumption is above average at very low ambient 
temperatures, e.g. in winter Fig. 97 
Carry out regular maintenance 
Regular maintenance is an essential prerequisite for economical driving and increases the service life 
of the vehicle. 
Observe the tyre pressures 
Low tyre pressures does not just mean greater wear, but also increase the rolling resistance of the 
tyres and thus the fuel consumption. Use optimised rolling resistance tyres. 
Adjust the tyre pressure according to the load. Observe the information on the tyre pressure sticker 
Useful information about wheels and tyres
Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator or Tyre Pressure Monitoring System Tyre monitoring system 
Use low viscosity engine oils 
Fully synthetic engine oils with a low viscosity decrease frictional resistance in the engine and are 
distributed better and more quickly, especially during cold starts. 
Do not drive with unnecessary loads in the vehicle 
You can reduce fuel consumption by clearing out the luggage compartment before setting off, for 
example by removing empty drink crates or unused child seats. 
To keep the vehicle's air resistance as low as possible, remove any add-on parts and equipment such 
as ski racks, bicycle racks and roof carriers once you have finished using them. 
Save electrical energy  

 
To ensure your own safety and the safety of your passengers, observe the following points before 
driving offroad: 
 
Obtain sufficient information before driving into offroad terrain with the vehicle. 
 
Do not plan day stages that are too long. Take increased fuel consumption for offroad driving into 
account. 
 
Fill up the tank. Fuel consumption is considerably higher offroad. 
 
Check that your tyres are suitable for the offroad journey you have planned. Recommendation for 
difficult offroad terrain: always have offroad tyres fitted to your vehicle. 
 
Check the tyre pressure on all tyres and correct if necessary. This includes the temporary spare 
wheel, if present. 
 
Check engine oil level and refill engine oil as necessary. The engine will be supplied with engine oil 
when it is driven on or across a slope only if the engine oil level is sufficient. 
 
Completely refill the washer fluid reservoir with water and washer fluid. 
 
Fit the towing eye at the front or rear. It is not always possible to fit the towing eye when the vehicle 
is stuck. 
 
Check the vehicle toolkit and add tools according to individual requirements Useful accessories for 
offroad driving. 
 
Stow luggage in the vehicle as evenly and as low as possible. Secure all loose items. 
Before driving offroad, Volkswagen recommends attending an offroad driving course, particularly if 
you have no or very little experience.  

conditions. 
Driving on sand and mud 
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings
Always drive at a steady speed through sand or mud and, do not carry out any manual gear changes 
or stop the vehicle. 
Check whether ESC is active. The indicator lamp or in the instrument cluster display must not 
light up Brake support systems 
Keep the vehicle moving constantly. 
Use the Offroad driving profile S
Select a suitable gear and remain in this gear until you have reached more solid ground Changing 
gear correctly 
If the tyres have lost their grip, turn the steering wheel to and fro quickly. This can briefly give the 
tyres on the front wheels better grip for these ground conditions. 
Driving through sand 
Do not under any circumstances reduce the tyre pressure to drive through sand 
pressure has been reduced for driving through sand, the correct tyre pressure must always be 
restored before driving on. Driving with reduced tyre pressure can lead to a loss of control over the 
vehicle and increase the risk of serious and fatal injuries. 
Driving through mud 
Do not change speed or direction. The tyres can lose their traction when driving through mud. If the 
vehicle slides, steer in the direction needed to get the vehicle under control. 
 
WARNING 
Driving through mud and sand can be dangerous. The vehicle can slide uncontrollably. This increases 
the risk of injury. Always drive carefully through sand and mud. 
Never choose an unsafe route or take a risk which could endanger you or your passengers. If you are 
in any doubt about the safety of the route, turn round and choose another way. 
 
WARNING 
Incorrect tyre pressure can cause severe or even fatal accidents. 
Incorrect tyre pressures will increase the levels of wear on the tyres and will negatively affect the 
vehicle's handling.  

 
EDL brakes a spinning wheel automatically and distributes the drive force to the other drive wheels. 
The EDL switches off automatically under unusually heavy loads to prevent the brake from 
overheating. The EDL switches back on again automatically as soon as the brake has cooled down. 
XDS improves traction in order to keep the vehicle on its intended course. 
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System 
In the event of a collision, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System can help the driver to reduce 
the risk of skidding, and the danger of secondary collisions, through automatic braking. 
The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System functions only for collisions that are detected as a 
collision by the airbag control unit. 
The vehicle is braked automatically if the required systems have not been damaged in the collision 
and have remained functional. 
The following actions override automatic braking in the event of a collision: 
When the driver depresses the accelerator. 
When the brake pressure transmitted through the depressed brake pedal is greater than the brake 
pressure provided by the system. 
 
WARNING 
The intelligent technology used in brake support systems cannot overcome the laws of physics, and 
functions only within the limits of the systems. Driving fast on icy, slippery or wet roads can lead to a 
loss of control of the vehicle and could cause serious injury to the driver and passengers. 
Always adapt your speed and driving style to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions. Do 
not let the extra safety afforded by the brake support systems ABS, BAS, EDL, TCS and ESC tempt you 
into taking any risks when driving. 
The brake support systems cannot overcome the laws of physics. Slippery and wet roads will remain 
dangerous, even when the ESC and other systems are active. 
Driving too fast on wet roads can cause the wheels to lose contact with the road surface and 
aquaplane. The vehicle cannot be braked, steered or controlled once it has lost contact with the 
road surface. 
Brake support systems cannot prevent an accident if, for example, you are driving too close to the 
vehicle in front or are driving too fast for the individual situation. 
Although the brake support systems are very effective and can help to control the vehicle in difficult 
driving situations, please always remember that the driving stability of the vehicle depends on the 
tyre grip.  

 
Place heavy objects as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible. 
Observe gross axle weight ratings and the gross vehicle weight rating Technical data 
Secure luggage to the fastening rings in the luggage compartment using suitable lashing, fixing and 
securing straps Luggage compartment equipment 
Also stow small objects safely. 
If necessary, fold back the rear seat backrest and engage it securely. 
If necessary, adjust the headlight range Headlights 
Adjust the tyre pressure according to the vehicle load. Observe the tyre pressure sticker Tyre 
pressure 
In vehicles with a tyre monitoring system, set the new vehicle load level as necessary Tyre 
monitoring system 
 
WARNING 
Objects that are not secured, or are secured incorrectly, can cause serious injuries in the event of a 
sudden driving or braking manoeuvre or accident. This applies particularly if objects are struck by an 
airbag when activated and then flung through the vehicle interior. Please observe the following rules 
to reduce the risk of accidents: 
Always stow all objects in the vehicle securely. 
Small and light objects should also be secured. 
Objects should be stowed in the vehicle interior in such a way that they can never enter the airbag 
deployment zones while the vehicle is in motion. 
Always keep stowage compartments closed while the vehicle is in motion. 
Stowed objects must never cause passengers to assume an incorrect sitting position. 
If an item is being stowed on a seat, this seat must not be used by any passengers. 
Do not stow any hard, heavy or sharp objects loose in any of the vehicle's open stowage areas, on 
the surface behind the rear seat backrest or on the dash panel. 
Remove any hard, heavy or sharp objects from items of clothing and bags inside the vehicle and 
stow them securely. 
 
WARNING 
Transporting heavy objects changes the vehicle's handling and increases the braking distance. Heavy 
loads that are not properly stowed or secured in the vehicle can lead to a loss of vehicle control and 
can cause serious injury.  

 
 
Tyre pressure 
Follow the trailer manufacturer's recommendations concerning the tyre pressure for the trailer 
tyres. 
When towing a trailer, inflate the wheels on the towing vehicle with the maximum permitted tyre 
pressure Tyre pressure 
 
WARNING 
Accidents and serious injuries can occur if you exceed the vehicle's maximum permitted gross axle 
weight rating, drawbar load, gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating. 
 
exceed the permissible gross vehicle weight for the vehicle with weight at the front and rear of the 
vehicle. 
 
WARNING 
Loads that may slide can severely impair stability and driving safety, which can cause accidents and 
severe injuries. 
 
secure loads using suitable and undamaged lashing, retaining or securing straps. 
Driving with a trailer 
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings
Headlight adjustment 
Towing a trailer can raise the front end of the vehicle enough for the dipped beam to dazzle other 
road users. Use the headlight range control to lower the light cone as required. Vehicles with 
dynamic headlight range control are adjusted automatically. 
Things to note when driving with a trailer 
If the trailer has an overrun brake, apply the brakes gently at first and then firmly. This will 
prevent the jerking that can be caused by the trailer wheels locking.