General notes
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.
Vehicle lighting Lights necessary for traffic safety:
Turn signals
Side lights, dipped beam headlights and main beam headlights
Tail light clusters
Brake lights
Rear fog light
Number plate light
Information on changing bulbs ⇒ Changing bulbs .
DANGER
Please observe important safety information about the front passenger front airbag ⇒ Fitting and
using child seats .
WARNING
Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, medication or narcotics could cause accidents and fatal
injuries.
Alcohol, drugs, medication and narcotics can severely impair senses, reaction times and driving
safety. This could cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
WARNING
Always observe current traffic regulations and speed limits, and think ahead when driving. The
correct interpretation of the driving situation can make the difference between reaching your
destination safely and having an accident with serious injuries.
NOTICE
Volkswagen is not responsible for any vehicle damage caused by low-quality fuel, inadequate
servicing work or non-availability of Genuine Parts.
Observe the instructions and information for vehicles with an N1 approval ⇒ Information about
vehicles with N1 approval (light commercial vehicle) .
Servicing the vehicle is not only about vehicle maintenance – it also ensures that your vehicle
remains roadworthy and in perfect working order. You should therefore have your vehicle serviced
according to the Volkswagen guidelines. Some work may have to be carried out before the date of
the next service if the vehicle is subjected to severe operating conditions. Severe operating
conditions are, for example, regular stop-and-go driving or driving in areas with high levels of dust.
Further information can be obtained from your Volkswagen dealership or qualified workshop.
Sitting position
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Dangers of assuming an incorrect sitting position
⇒ Correct sitting position
Number of seats
The vehicle has a total of five seats: two at the front and three at the rear.
Each seat is equipped with a seat belt.
WARNING
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 for 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 child 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 of the window. The airbag and
seat belt can otherwise not provide optimal protection and can actually increase the risk of injury
during an accident.
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 provide optimal protection only if seat belt routing is correct. 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 seats in the passenger compartment and 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.
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 inflict critical or fatal injuries, especially if the airbags deploy
and strike an occupant who has assumed an incorrect sitting position.
Correct sitting position
Fig. 27 On the instrument cluster display: warning lamp.
Fig. 28 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 sound 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 mph), or if the seat belts are
unfastened while the vehicle is in motion. This is accompanied by the flashing warning lamp
⇒ Fig. 27 .
The warning lamp does not go out until the driver and front passenger fasten their seat belts
while the ignition is switched on.
Belt status display for the rear seats
After the ignition has been switched on, the belt status display ⇒ Fig. 28 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 seat belt 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 is hidden automatically after 30 seconds.
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 mph), a signal tone will also be given.
WARNING
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.
Frontal collisions and the laws of physics
The shoulder part of the seat belt must always lie on the centre of the shoulder, never across the
neck, over or under the arm or behind the back.
The lap part of the seat belt must always lie across the pelvis, never across the stomach.
The seat belt must always lie flat and snugly on the body. Tighten the belt slightly if necessary.
For pregnant women, the seat belt must be positioned evenly over the chest and as low as possible
over the pelvis. It must also lie flat so that no pressure is exerted on the abdomen – this applies in
every stage of pregnancy ⇒ Fig. 37 .
Adjusting seat belt routing to body size
The following equipment can be used to adjust the seat belt routing:
Seat belt height adjuster for the front seats ⇒ Seat belt height adjuster .
Height-adjustable front seats ⇒ Sitting position .
WARNING
Incorrect seat belt routing can cause severe injuries in the event of an accident or a sudden braking
or driving manoeuvre.
The seat belts offer best protection only when the backrests are in an upright position and the seat
belts have been fastened properly.
The seat belt itself or a loose seat belt can cause serious injuries if the seat belt shifts from harder
body parts in the direction of softer body parts (e.g. stomach).
The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoulder and never under the arm or
across the neck.
The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the upper body.
The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis and never across the stomach. The seat belt
must lie flat and snugly on the pelvis. Tighten the belt slightly if necessary.
For pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must be as low as possible over the pelvis and lie
flat around the round stomach.
Do not twist the belt webbing while the seat belt is being worn.
Never hold the seat belt away from the body by hand.
The belt webbing should not lie over hard or fragile objects, such as glasses, pens or keys.
Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or similar items to alter the seat belt routing.
If a person's physical build prevents them from routing the seat belt properly, contact a qualified
workshop to find out about any special modifications so that the seat belts and airbags can provide
the optimum level of protection. Volkswagen recommends using a Volkswagen dealership for this
purpose.
Seat belt height adjuster
Fig. 38 Next to the front seats: seat belt height adjuster.
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction
The seat belt height adjusters for the front seats can be used to adjust the position of the seat belt
on the shoulder so that it can be fastened properly:
Push the shoulder belt guide together in the direction of the arrows and hold ⇒ Fig. 38 .
Push the shoulder belt guide up or down so that the seat belt runs over the middle of the shoulder
⇒ Seat belt routing .
Release the shoulder belt guide.
Pull sharply on the seat belt to check whether the shoulder belt guide is engaged securely.
WARNING
Never adjust the seat belt height when the vehicle is in motion.
Belt retractor, belt tensioner, belt tension limiter
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction
The seat belts in the vehicle are part of the vehicle safety concept ⇒ Airbag system and include the
following important functions:
Belt retractor
Every seat belt is equipped with a belt retractor on the shoulder part of the belt. Full freedom of
movement is guaranteed when the shoulder belt is pulled slowly or when the vehicle is travelling at
normal speeds. However, the belt retractor is locked if the belt is pulled out quickly or during sudden
braking, on inclines, in bends and during acceleration.
Belt tensioner
Reflective objects such as safety barriers, tunnel entrances, heavy rain and ice can impair the
performance of the proactive occupant protection system and thus prevent it from detecting a
collision risk.
Incorrect system activation can occur.
WARNING
Accidents and injuries can occur if the driver is distracted.
Never change settings in the Infotainment system when the vehicle is in motion.
WARNING
Failure to observe illuminated warning lamps and text messages can lead to your vehicle breaking
down in traffic, and can cause accidents and serious injury.
Never ignore any illuminated warning lamps or text messages.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible and when safe to do so.
NOTICE
Failure to observe illuminated indicator lamps and text messages can lead to your vehicle being
damaged.
Airbag system
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Types of front passenger front airbag system
⇒ Indicator lamp
⇒ Description and function of the airbags
⇒ Front airbags
⇒ Switching the front passenger front airbag on and off
The vehicle is equipped with a front airbag for the driver and front passenger. The front airbags can
provide front seat occupants with additional chest and head protection if the seat, seat belts, head
restraints and, in the case of the driver, steering wheel are adjusted and used correctly. Airbags are
designed only for additional protection. The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. Seats
belts must always be worn, even when the front seats are equipped with airbags.