Fig. 94 In the footwell: pedals in vehicles with a manual gearbox.
Fig. 95 In the footwell: pedals in vehicles with a dual clutch gearbox.
Key to ⇒ Fig. 94 and ⇒ Fig. 95 :
Accelerator
Brake pedal
Vehicles with manual gearbox: clutch pedal
The operation and freedom of movement of all pedals must never be impaired by objects or floor
mats.
Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area free and can be securely fastened in the footwell so
that they do not slip.
WARNING
Objects in the driver footwell can interfere with pedal operation. This can lead to loss of control of
the vehicle and increase the risk of serious injury.
Make sure that all pedals can always be operated without any interference.
The floor mats must always be properly secured in the footwell.
Never place additional floor mats or other floor coverings over the fitted floor mat.
Make sure that no objects can enter the driver footwell while the vehicle is in motion.
If there are any objects in the footwell, remove them when the vehicle is parked.
The alternator is driven by the engine and generates electrical power for convenience consumers
such as the air conditioning system, windscreen heating and ventilation. Saving electrical energy is
easy, e.g.:
Open the windows and doors before driving at high outside temperatures and drive for a short
distance with a window open. Only then switch the air conditioning system on.
Switch the convenience consumers off as soon as they have served their purpose.
WARNING
Adapt your speed and distance from the vehicles ahead to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic
conditions.
Inform yourself about other ways of protecting the environment. Think Blue. is the global
Volkswagen trademark for sustainability and environmental compatibility.
Your Volkswagen dealership can provide you with further information on maintenance and energy-
efficient replacement parts, e.g. new tyres.
Think Blue. Trainer.
The Think Blue. Trainer analyses and visualises your driving style and helps you to drive more
economically.
Fig. 98 In the Infotainment system: Think Blue. Trainer.
Key to ⇒ Fig. 98 :
Blue Score:
The higher the displayed value on a scale from 0 to 100, the more efficient your driving style. A blue
border symbolises an efficient and constant driving style. A grey border indicates an inefficient
driving style.
Touch the display to open the statistics of the last 30 driving minutes Since start.
Acceleration and braking:
At a constant speed, two arcs appear in the central area. The arcs move up and down during
acceleration and braking.
Progress display:
The efficiency of the driving style is indicated by the blue bars. The white bar stores a blue bar
approximately every five seconds.
The larger the bar, the more efficient the driving style has been.
Driving tips:
Think ahead when driving.
Gear-change indicator.
Adapt your speed.
Economical driving style.
Fuel consumption:
The display shows the average fuel consumption Since start in l/100 km. A blue border symbolises an
efficient and constant driving style. A grey border indicates an inefficient driving style.
Touch the display to open the statistics of the last 30 driving minutes Since start.
Tips for saving energy:
Touch the Think Blue. function button to access additional tips.
Opening the Think Blue. Trainer.
Press the button or function button on the Infotainment system according to the equipment
level.
Touch the function buttons Vehicle, Selection, Think Blue. Trainer..
WARNING
Accidents and injuries can occur if the driver is distracted. Operating the Infotainment system can
distract you from the road.
Always drive carefully and responsibly.
Information on the brakes
New brake pads cannot generate the full braking effect during the first 200 to 300 km and must first
be run in ⇒ . The slightly reduced brake pressure can however be compensated for by increasing
pressure on the brake pedal. During the run-in period, the braking distance is longer for full or
emergency braking than when the brake pads have been run in. In the run-in period, full braking
should be avoided and also situations that create a heavy load on the brakes, e.g. when driving up
close to the vehicle ahead.
The wear of the brake pads depends to a great extent on the conditions under which the vehicle is
operated and the way the vehicle is driven. If the vehicle is used for regular urban trips, short
journeys, and is driven with a sporty driving style, the brake pads must be regularly checked by a
qualified workshop.
When driving with wet brakes, for example after driving through water, after heavy rainfall or after
washing the vehicle, the braking effect may be delayed as the brake discs will be wet, or possibly
iced up (in winter). The brakes must be dried as quickly as possible by careful braking at higher
speed. Please ensure that no following vehicle and no other road user is put at risk as a result of this
action ⇒ .
A layer of salt that accumulates on the discs and pads will reduce the braking effect and increase the
braking distance. If the vehicle has not been braked for a long time on roads which have been gritted
with salt, the layer of salt must be reduced through careful braking ⇒ .
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt in the brake pads are facilitated through long standstill times,
low mileage and low load levels. If the brake pads have been hardly used or if they are corroded,
Volkswagen recommends that the brake discs and brake pads be cleaned by braking strongly several
times from high speed. Please ensure that no following vehicle and no other road user is put at risk
as a result of this action ⇒ .
Brake servo
The brake servo will function only when the engine is running and reinforces the pressure applied by
the driver on the brake pedal.
If the brake servo does not function or the vehicle is being towed, the brake pedal will have to be
depressed more forcefully as the braking distance will be increased due to the lack of assistance for
the brake system ⇒ .
WARNING
Driving with worn brake pads or with a faulty brake system can cause accidents and serious injuries.
If the warning lamp lights up either alone or together with a text message in the instrument
cluster display, go to a qualified workshop immediately to have the brake pads checked and the
worn brake pads replaced.
WARNING
New brake pads will not have the optimal braking effect when first fitted.
New brake pads cannot generate the full braking effect during the first 300 km and must first be run
in. A reduced braking effect can be increased by applying more pressure to the brake pedal.
In order to reduce the risk of accidents, serious injuries and the loss of control over the vehicle, you
must drive particularly carefully when driving with new brake pads.
Never drive too close to other vehicles during the run-in time for the new brake pads and never
create a driving situation that will place a heavy load on the brakes.
WARNING
Overheated brakes reduce the braking effect and considerably increase the braking distance.
When driving downhill, the brakes are placed under particular strain and become hot very quickly.
Before driving down a long, steep gradient, reduce speed and change to a lower gear (with manual
gearboxes or in Tiptronic mode with the automatic gearbox). This will make use of the engine
braking effect and relieve the load on the brakes.
Non-standard or damaged front spoilers could restrict the airflow to the brakes and cause them to
overheat.
WARNING
Wet brakes or brakes coated with ice or road salt react more slowly and require longer braking
distances.
Carefully apply the brakes to test them.
Always dry brakes and clean off any coating of ice and salt with a few cautious applications of the
brake when visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions permit.
WARNING
Driving without the brake servo can considerably increase the braking distance and thus cause
accidents and serious injuries.
Never switch the engine or ignition off while the vehicle is in motion.
If the brake servo does not function or the vehicle is being towed, the brake pedal will have to be
depressed more forcefully as the braking distance will be increased due to the lack of assistance for
the brake system.
If the front brake pads are checked, the rear brake pads should be checked at the same time. A
visual check of the thickness of all brake pads should be carried out regularly by checking the brake
pads through the openings in the rims or from the underside of the vehicle. If necessary, remove the
wheels to carry out a comprehensive check. Volkswagen recommends using a Volkswagen
dealership for this purpose.
Driving a loaded vehicle
For good vehicle handling when driving a loaded vehicle, please observe the following:
Stow all items of luggage securely ⇒ Stowing luggage and loads .
Accelerate particularly cautiously and carefully.
Avoid sudden braking and driving manoeuvres.
Brake earlier than in normal driving.
If applicable, observe the information concerning the roof carrier ⇒ Roof carrier .
WARNING
Moving loads can severely impair the vehicle's stability and driving safety which could cause
accidents and serious injuries.
Secure items properly so they cannot slide about.
Use suitable lashing or securing straps when securing heavy objects.
Securely engage the rear seat backrests.
Driving with an open boot lid
Driving with an open boot lid is particularly dangerous. All objects and the open boot lid must be
secured properly. Take the appropriate measures to reduce the amount of poisonous exhaust fumes
that could enter into the vehicle.
WARNING
Driving with an unlocked or open boot lid can cause serious injuries.
Always drive with the boot lid closed.
Always stow all items in the luggage compartment securely. Loose objects can fall out of the luggage
compartment and injure other road users.
Always drive especially carefully and think ahead.
Avoid any abrupt or sudden driving and braking manoeuvres as this could cause the open boot lid to
move unpredictably.
Any objects protruding from the luggage compartment must be marked to ensure that they are
visible to other road users. Comply with legal regulations.
If items protrude out of the luggage compartment, never use the boot lid to wedge them into place
or hold them in position.
If you have to drive with the boot lid open, you must remove any carriers and the loads attached to
them from the boot lid.
WARNING
Poisonous exhaust fumes could enter the vehicle interior when the boot lid is open. This could result
in loss of consciousness, carbon monoxide poisoning, serious injury and accidents.
You should always drive with the boot lid closed in order to prevent poisonous exhaust fumes from
entering the vehicle.
If exceptional circumstances require you to drive with an open boot lid, you must do the following to
reduce the amount of poisonous exhaust fumes that could enter into the vehicle:
Close all windows and the glass roof.
Switch off the air recirculation mode of the heating and fresh air system or air conditioning system.
Open all vents in the dash panel.
Switch the blower for the heating and fresh air system or for the air conditioning system to the
highest setting.
NOTICE
The vehicle height, and possibly the length, are different when the boot lid is open.
Driving through water
Please follow these points in order to prevent damage to your vehicle when driving through water,
for example on flooded streets:
Check how deep the water is before driving through it. The water may be no higher than the lower
edge of the body ⇒ .
Do not drive faster than walking speed.
Never stop the vehicle, reverse or switch off the engine while in water.
Oncoming vehicles will create waves that could increase the water level for your vehicle to such an
extent that it is not safe to drive through the water.
Always deactivate the start/stop system manually when driving through water ⇒ Start/stop system .
WARNING
After driving through water, mud, slush etc., the brakes may react slowly and the braking distance
will be increased as the brake discs and pads will be wet, or possibly iced up in winter.
Dry and de-ice the brakes using careful braking manoeuvres. Make sure that you do not endanger
any other road users or violate any legal regulations when doing so.
Avoid abrupt and sudden braking manoeuvres directly after driving through water.
NOTICE
If you drive through water, parts of the vehicle, such as the engine, gearbox, running gear and
vehicle electrics, could sustain severe damage.
Never drive through salt water as salt can cause corrosion. Immediately rinse all components that
have been exposed to salt water with fresh water.
Running in the engine
A new engine has to be run in during the first 1,500 kilometres. This enables all the moving parts to
bed in together. During the first few operating hours, the engine has higher internal friction than it
does later.
Do not depress the accelerator fully.
Do not drive the vehicle at more than 2/3 of the maximum engine speed.
Gradually increase speed and engine speed.
The style of driving during the first 1,500 kilometres will also affect the engine quality. Even after this
time – and especially with a cold engine – drive the vehicle at moderate engine speeds in order to
reduce engine wear and to increase the mileage that the engine can cover.
Do not drive at engine speeds which are too low. Always shift down gear if the engine is not running
smoothly.
New tyres ⇒ Wheels and tyres and brake pads ⇒ Notes on driving must be run in carefully.
If the engine is run in gently, its life will be increased and its oil consumption reduced.
Using the vehicle in other countries and continents
The vehicle is produced at the factory specifically for a certain country and complies with this
country's registration regulations valid at the time of vehicle production.