
Rear window:
- Rear window heating ⇒ Heating and air conditioning system
- Rear wiper ⇒ Wipers⇒ Wiper blades
- Window aerial ⇒ Radio reception and aerials
Tail light clusters ⇒ Lights⇒ Changing bulbs
Area for:
- Number plate lights ⇒ Changing bulbs
- Rear view camera system ⇒ Rear view camera system (Rear Viewyf
- Boot lid release button ⇒ Opening and closing the boot lid
Tail light clusters ⇒ Lights⇒ Changing bulbs
Behind the bumper: radar sensor for assist systems ⇒ Caring for and cleaning the vehicle
exterior
Sensors for assist systems ⇒ Caring for and cleaning the vehicle exterior
Towing bracket ⇒ Trailer towing
Behind a cover: mounting for towing eye ⇒ Tow-starting or towing
Luggage compartment
Fig. 5 Overview of the luggage compartment.
Fig. 6 Side areas of the luggage compartment.
Key for ⇒ Fig. 5 and ⇒ Fig. 6:
Luggage compartment cover ⇒ Luggage compartment cover
Release lever for the load-through hatch ⇒ Load-through hatch
Retaining rings for top tether (child seatyf ⇒ Securing child seats with top tether upper
strap
Spare wheel or fully-functional spare wheel (depends on equipmentyf ⇒ Wheels and tyres
Handle recess for luggage compartment floor ⇒ Luggage compartment floor
Vehicle tool kit ⇒ Vehicle toolkit
Lower holder for the net partition ⇒ Net partition

Upper holder for the net partition ⇒ Net partition
Rigid fastening rings ⇒ Fastening rings
Removable light ⇒ Removeable lights
Button for unlocking the ball head ⇒ Trailer towing
Bracket for the luggage compartment floor ⇒ Luggage compartment floor
Backrest remote release mechanism ⇒ Folding the backrests on the rear bench seat
forwards and backwards
230-volt socket ⇒ Electrical sockets
Foldable fastening rings ⇒ Fastening rings
Stowage area behind trim
12-volt socket ⇒ Electrical sockets
Bag hook ⇒ Bag hook
Luggage compartment light
Driver door
Fig. 7 Overview of the controls in the driver door (left-hand drive vehiclesyf 7 K H F R Q W U R O V D U H
mirrored for right-hand drive vehicles.
Key to ⇒ Fig. 7:
Central locking indicator lamp ⇒ Central locking system
Door release lever ⇒ Doors
Central locking buttons for locking and unlocking the vehicle ⇒ Central locking system
Switch for adjusting the exterior mirrors ⇒ Exterior mirrors
Boot lid release button ⇒ Opening and closing the boot lid
Bottle holder ⇒ Drink holder
Stowage compartment for high-visibility waistcoat ⇒ In an emergency
Reflector
Buttons for operating the electric windows ⇒ Windows
Overview of driver side

Depending on the vehicle equipment level, symbols may be displayed in the instrument cluster
instead of warning lamps.
Some warning and indicator lamps are not available in all markets.
For details on indicator lamps which light up in the light switch, see Chapter Lights ⇒ Lights.
SymbolMeaning
Central warning lamp. Observe the additional information on the
instrument cluster display.
Do not drive on!
The electronic parking brake is switched on ⇒ Electronic parking
brake.
Do not drive on!
Brake fluid level too low or fault in the brake system ⇒ Brake fluid.
Do not drive on!
Coolant level too low ⇒ Engine coolant, engine coolant temperature
too high or fault in the cooling system ⇒ Coolant temperature display.
Do not drive on!
Engine oil pressure too low ⇒ Engine oil.
Flashing: Do not drive on! Fault in the electronic steering column
lock ⇒ Steering.
Lit up: electromechanical steering has failed ⇒ Steering.
Driver or front passenger seat belt not fastened ⇒ Seat belts.
OR: there are objects on the front passenger seat ⇒ Seat belts.
Brake or take evasive action.
Collision warning from area monitoring system (Front Assistyf ⇒ Area
monitoring system (Front Assistyf.
OR: collision warning from Pedestrian Monitoring ⇒ Pedestrian
Monitoring.
Depress the brake pedal. ⇒ DSG dual clutch gearbox, ⇒ Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACCyf.
Fault in the alternator ⇒ 12-volt vehicle battery.
Front brake pads worn. Go to a qualified workshop immediately. All
brake pads should be checked and renewed as necessary
⇒ Information on the brakes.
Central warning lamp. Observe the additional information on the
instrument cluster display.
Electronic Stability Control (ESCyf ⇒ Brake support systems.
Traction control system (TCSyf ⇒ Brake support systems.
OR: off-road driving profile active ⇒ Driving profile selection and
4MOTION Active Control.
Anti-lock brake system faulty or not functioning ⇒ Brake support
systems.
Electronic parking brake fault ⇒ Electronic parking brake.
Rear fog light switched on ⇒ Lights.
Partial or complete failure of the vehicle lighting, excluding cornering
light ⇒ Changing bulbs.
Lit up: there is a fault that affects the exhaust emissions
⇒ Troubleshooting.
Flashing: misfiring, which damages the catalytic converter
⇒ Troubleshooting.
Engine management system fault (Electronic Power Controlyf
⇒ Troubleshooting.
Engine speed limited (protection against overheatingyf
⇒ Troubleshooting.
Lit up: electromechanical steering reduced
OR: the 12-volt battery has been disconnected and reconnected
⇒ Steering.
Flashing: steering column is wound-up or is not unlocked/locked
⇒ Steering.
Lit up: tyre pressure too low ⇒ Tyre monitoring systems.
Flashing: fault in tyre monitoring system ⇒ Tyre monitoring systems.
Fault in the rain/light sensor ⇒ Wipers.
Fault in wipers ⇒ Wipers.
Washer fluid level too low ⇒ Wipers.
Fuel tank almost empty ⇒ Fuel gauge.
Lit up: engine oil level too low ⇒ Engine oil.
Flashing: engine oil system fault ⇒ Engine oil.
®

Number of seats
The vehicle has a total of five seats: two seats at the front and three seats at the rear. Each seat is
equipped with a seat belt.
Dangers of assuming an incorrect sitting position
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
If the seat belts are not worn or are worn incorrectly, the risk of severe or fatal injuries increases.
Seat belts can only provide optimal protection if the seat belt routing is correct. Assuming an
incorrect sitting position considerably impairs the level of protection provided by a seat belt. This
could lead to severe or even fatal injuries. The risk of severe or fatal injuries is especially increased
when a deploying airbag strikes a vehicle occupant who has assumed an incorrect sitting position.
The driver is responsible for all occupants transported in the vehicle, especially children.
The following list contains examples of sitting positions that can be dangerous for all vehicle
occupants.
Whenever the vehicle is in motion:
•Never stand in the vehicle.
•Never stand on the seats.
•Never kneel on the seats.
•Never tilt the backrest too far to the rear.
•Never lean against the dash panel.
•Never lie on the rear bench seat.
•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 place your feet on the seat cushion or seat backrest.
•Never travel in a footwell.
•Never sit on the armrests.
•Never travel on a seat without wearing the seat belt.
•Never travel in the luggage compartment.
Correct sitting position
Assuming an incorrect sitting position in the vehicle can increase the risk of severe or
fatal injuries during a sudden driving or braking manoeuvre, in the event of a collision or
accident, or if the airbags are triggered.
•All vehicle occupants must assume a correct sitting position before setting off and
maintain this position throughout the trip. This also applies to the fastening of seat
belts.
•The number of vehicle occupants must never exceed the number of seats with seat
belts in the vehicle.
•Always secure children in the vehicle in an authorised restraint system which is
suitable for their height and weight ⇒ Safe transport of children and ⇒ Airbag system.
•Always keep your feet in the footwell while the vehicle is in motion. Never place your
feet on the seat or dash panel, for example, and never ride with your feet out the
window. When you are sat like this, the airbag and seat belt cannot provide optimal
protection and could actually increase the risk of injury during an accident.
WARNING
Every incorrect sitting position in the vehicle increases the risk of severe or fatal injuries
in the event of an accident or sudden driving or braking manoeuvre.
•All vehicle occupants must maintain a correct sitting position and wear their seat belt
properly while the vehicle is in motion.
•Sitting in an incorrect position, not fastening the seat belt, or not leaving adequate
space between the occupants and the airbags could result in critical or fatal injuries,
especially if the airbags deploy and strike an occupant who has assumed an incorrect
sitting position.
WARNING

Warning lamp
Fig. 31 On the instrument cluster display: warning lamp.
Fig. 32 On the instrument cluster display: seat belt status for the rear seats.
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
A signal tone will be emitted for a few seconds if the seat belts are not fastened as the vehicle pulls
off and reaches a speed of more than approximately 25 km/h (15 mphyf R U L I W K H V H D W E H O W V D U H
unfastened while the vehicle is in motion. This is accompanied by the flashing warning lamp
⇒ Fig. 31.
The warning lamp does not go out until the driver and front passenger fasten their seat belts
while the ignition is switched on.
Incorrectly fastened or unfastened seat belts increase the risk of severe or fatal injuries.
Seat belts will only offer the optimum level of protection when they are fastened and used
properly.
•Seat belts are the most effective means of reducing the risk of serious and fatal injuries
in the event of an accident. Seat belts must always be fastened properly when the
vehicle is in motion to protect the driver and all vehicle occupants.
•Before every trip, each vehicle occupant must adopt the correct sitting position,
correctly fasten the seat belt belonging to their seat and keep it fastened properly
throughout the trip. This applies to all vehicle occupants and also in urban traffic.
•While the vehicle is in motion, secure all children travelling in the vehicle in a restraint
system suitable for their weight and height. They must also wear correctly fastened
seat belts ⇒ Safe transport of children.
•Only start driving when all passengers have correctly fastened their seat belts.
•Only ever insert the latch plate into the buckle of the associated seat, and always
ensure that it engages properly. Using a buckle that does not belong to the seat that
you are occupying reduces the level of protection and can lead to severe injuries.
•Avoid allowing foreign bodies or liquids to enter the slot for the seat belt buckle. This
could prevent the belt buckle and seat belt from working properly.
•Never unfasten the seat belt while the vehicle is in motion.
•Never allow more than one person to share the same seat belt.
•Never travel when children or babies are being carried on somebody's lap and fastened
with the same belt.
•Never travel wearing loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat over a jacketyf 7 K L V
could prevent the seat belts from fitting and functioning properly.
WARNING
Damaged seat belts are very dangerous and can cause severe or fatal injuries.
•Never damage the belt by trapping it in the door or in the seat mechanism.
•If the belt webbing or any other part of the seat belt becomes damaged, the seat belt
may tear during an accident or sudden braking manoeuvre.
•Have damaged seat belts immediately replaced by new seat belts that have been
approved by Volkswagen for the vehicle. Seat belts subjected to stress and stretched
during an accident must be replaced by a qualified workshop. Renewal may be
necessary even if there is no apparent damage. The belt anchorage should also be
checked.
•Never try to repair, modify or remove the seat belts yourself. All repairs to the seat
belts, belt retractors and buckles must be carried out by a qualified workshop.
WARNING

Belt status display for the rear seats
After the ignition has been switched on, the belt status display ⇒ Fig. 32 on the instrument cluster
display shows the driver whether the rear seat passengers have fastened their seat belts. The
symbol indicates that the passenger on this seat has fastened their seat belt. The symbol
indicates that the seatbelt has not been fastened.
The belt status display will be shown for approximately 30 seconds if a seat belt is fastened or
unfastened on the rear seats. The display can be hidden by pressing the button in the
instrument cluster.
If a seat belt for one of the rear seats is unfastened while the vehicle is in motion, the belt status
display will flash for a maximum of 30 seconds. If the vehicle is travelling faster than approximately
25 km/h (15 mphyf D V L J Q D O W R Q H Z L O O D O V R V R X Q G .
Frontal collisions and the laws of physics
Fig. 33 Unbelted occupants in a vehicle heading for a brick wall.
Fig. 34 Unbelted occupants in a vehicle striking a brick wall.
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
The physical principles involved in a frontal collision are relatively simple. As soon as the vehicle is
in motion ⇒ Fig. 33, both the moving vehicle and its passengers gain kinetic energy.
The higher the vehicle speed and the heavier the weight of the vehicle, the greater the amount of
energy that will have to be released in the event of an accident.
However, the most significant factor is the speed of the vehicle. For example, if the speed doubles
from 25 km/h to 50 km/h (15 mph to 31 mphyf W K H N L Q H W L F H Q H U J \ L Q F U H D V H V E \ D I D F W R U R I I R X U .
The amount of kinetic energy depends on the speed of the vehicle and the weight of the vehicle
and passengers. The higher the speed and the heavier the weight, the greater the amount of
energy that will be released in the event of an accident.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not connected to the vehicle. In the event of a frontal
collision they will continue to move forwards at the same speed at which the vehicle was travelling
before impact, until something stops them. Because the passengers in our example are not
restrained by seat belts, the entire amount of kinetic energy will be released only at the point of
impact against the wall ⇒ Fig. 34.
Even at speeds of approximately 30 km/h (19 mphyf W R D S S U R [ L P D W H O \ N P K P S K \f, the forces
acting on bodies in a collision can easily exceed one tonne (1,000 kgyf 7 K H V H I R U F H V D U H H Y H Q
greater at higher speeds.
This example applies not only to frontal collisions, but to all accidents and collisions.
What happens to vehicle occupants who have not fastened their
seat belts
Incorrectly fastened or unfastened seat belts increase the risk of severe or fatal injuries.
Seat belts will only offer the optimum level of protection when they are fastened and used
properly.
WARNING

Fig. 35 An unbelted driver is thrown forwards.
Fig. 36 The unbelted rear passenger is thrown forwards, hitting the belted driver.
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Many people believe that they can brace their weight with their hands in a minor collision. This is
not true.
Even at low speeds, the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great that it is not possible to
brace oneself with arms and hands. In a frontal collision, vehicle occupants who have not fastened
their seat belts will be thrown forward and will make unchecked contact with parts of the vehicle
interior, e.g. the steering wheel, dash panel, or windscreen ⇒ Fig. 35.
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. When triggered, the airbags only provide
additional protection. Airbags are not triggered in all kinds of accidents. Even if the vehicle is
equipped with an airbag system, all vehicle occupants, including the driver, must fasten their seat
belt and wear it correctly while the vehicle is in motion. This reduces the risk of severe or fatal
injuries in the event of an accident – regardless of whether an airbag is fitted for the seat.
Each airbag can only be triggered once. To achieve best possible protection, seat belts must
always be worn properly. This also ensures that protection is provided in accidents in which the
airbag is not triggered. Any vehicle occupants not wearing a seat belt can be thrown out of the
vehicle and sustain more severe or even fatal injuries as a result.
It is also important for the rear seat occupants to wear seat belts properly, as they could otherwise
be thrown forwards violently in an accident. Rear passengers who are not wearing seat belts
endanger not only themselves and the driver, but also other people in the vehicle ⇒ Fig. 36.
Seat belt protection
Fig. 37 Driver restrained by a properly positioned seat belt during a sudden braking manoeuvre.
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Correctly fastened seat belts can make a major difference. When fastened properly, seat belts hold
the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting positions and considerably reduce the kinetic energy in
the event of an accident. Seat belts also help to prevent uncontrolled movements that could lead to
severe injuries. In addition, wearing seat belts properly reduces the risk of being thrown from the
vehicle ⇒ Fig. 37.
Passengers wearing seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability of the belts to reduce the
kinetic energy. The front crumple zones and other passive safety features (such as the airbag
systemyf D U H D O V R G H V L J Q H G W R U H G X F H N L Q H W L F H Q H U J \ 7 K H D P R X Q W R I H Q H U J \ J H Q H U D W H G Z L O O W K X V
decrease, thereby reducing the risk of injury.
The examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, properly worn seat belts substantially reduce
the risk of injury in all other types of accidents. This is why seat belts must be fastened before every

Check the condition of all seat belts regularly.
Keep the seat belts clean.
Avoid allowing any foreign substances or liquids to get on to the seat belt or latch plate or
into the slot in the seat belt buckle.
Do not trap or damage the seat belt and latch plate, for example when closing the door.
Never remove, modify or repair the seat belt or any part of the belt fixture system.
Always fasten the seat belt correctly before every journey and keep it fastened while the
vehicle is in motion.
trip – even if you are only planning to drive a very short distance. Ensure that all passengers also
wear their seat belts properly.
Accident statistics have shown properly worn seat belts to be an effective means of substantially
reducing the risk of injury and improving the chances of survival in a serious accident. Furthermore,
properly worn seat belts improve the protection provided by airbags in the event of an accident.
This is why wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most countries.
Although the vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be fastened and worn. For
example, the front airbags will be triggered only in certain types of frontal collision. The front airbags
will not be triggered during minor frontal collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, rolls or
accidents in which the airbag trigger threshold in the control unit is not exceeded.
Therefore, always wear your seat belt and ensure that your passengers have fastened their seat
belts properly before you drive off.
Using seat belts
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Checklist
Using seat belts ⇒:
Twisted seat belt
If it is difficult to remove the seat belt from the belt guide, the seat belt may have become twisted if
it was returned too quickly into the side trim:
•Take hold of the latch plate then slowly and carefully pull out the seat belt.
•Untwist the seat belt and guide it back slowly by hand.
Fasten the seat belt even if you are unable to undo the twist. However, the twist should not be in
part of the seat belt that comes into direct contact with the body. The twist should be corrected
immediately by a qualified workshop.
Fastening and unfastening seat belts
Fig. 38 Inserting the seat belt latch plate into the buckle.
Using seat belts incorrectly increases the risk of severe or fatal injuries.
•Regularly check to see if the seat belt and its related parts are in perfect condition.
•Always keep the seat belt clean.
•Do not allow the belt webbing to become jammed, damaged or to rub on any sharp
edges.
•Always keep the latch plate and slot in the buckle free from foreign bodies and liquids.
WARNING