Fig. 89 In the front headliner: sun visor.
Adjustment options for the driver and front passenger sun visors:
Folded down over the windscreen.
Pulled out of the bracket and swung over towards the door ⇒ Fig. 89 Ⓐ.
Vanity mirrors
There is a vanity mirror in the folded-down sun visor. Depending on the vehicle equipment level, the
vanity mirror may have a light.
When you open the cover ⇒ Fig. 89 Ⓑ, the lamp ⇒ Fig. 89 ① lights up.
WARNING
Driving with the sun visors folded down and the sun blinds pulled out can reduce your view of the
road.
Sun visors and sun blinds should always be replaced in their holder if they are not being used.
In certain circumstances, the lamp above the sun visor will go out automatically after a few minutes.
This prevents the 12-volt vehicle battery from discharging.
Sun blind in the glass roof
Fig. 90 In the roof: button for controlling the sun blind.
The electric sun blind works when the ignition is switched on.
When the glass roof is fully tilted, the sun blind is automatically moved to a ventilation position. The
sun blind remains in the ventilation position even after the glass roof is closed.
Opening and closing the sun blind
The buttons ⇒ Fig. 90 ① or ② have two positions. In the first position, the sun blind can be
completely or partially opened or closed.
In the second position, the sun blind automatically moves to the final position when the button is
pressed briefly. Press the button again to stop the one-touch function.
Opening the sun blind: push button ① to position one. One-touch function: push button ① briefly
to position two.
Closing the sun blind: push button ② to position one. One-touch function: push button ② briefly
to position two.
Stopping the one-touch function when opening or closing the blind: push button ① or ② again.
The sun blind can still be opened or closed for several minutes after the ignition has been switched
off, provided that the driver door and front passenger door are not opened.
Roll-back function of the sun blind
The roll-back function can reduce the risk of crush injury when closing the sun blind ⇒ . The glass
roof or sun blind will open again immediately if the sun blind is unable to close because it is stiff or
obstructed.
Check to see why the sun blind has not closed.
Try to close the sun blind again.
The sun blind will open again immediately if it is still unable to close because it is stiff or obstructed.
After opening, the sun blind can be closed again within a short period of time without the roll-back
function.
If the sun blind still cannot be closed, close it without the roll-back function.
Closing the sun blind without the roll-back function
Within approximately five seconds of the roll-back function being activated, press and hold button
⇒ Fig. 90 ② until the sun blind has closed completely.
The sun blind will now close without the roll-back function.
Please go to a qualified workshop if the sun blind still cannot be closed.
WARNING
Closing the sun blind without the roll-back function can cause serious injuries.
Always close the sun blind carefully.
Ensure that there is no one in the path of the sun blind, especially if it is closed when the roll-back
function is not active.
The roll-back function does not prevent fingers or other body parts from being pressed against the
roof frame and being injured.
When the glass roof is open, the electric sun blind can be closed only up to the front edge of the
glass roof.
Heating and air conditioning system
Heating, ventilating, cooling
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Front controls
⇒ Air recirculation mode
⇒ Seat heating
⇒ Steering wheel heating
⇒ Troubleshooting
The following systems may be installed in the vehicle
Both the manual air conditioning system and Climatronic heat, cool and dehumidify the air. It works
most effectively when the windows and the glass roof are closed. If heat has built up in the vehicle
interior, ventilating the vehicle can speed up the cooling process.
Display of activated functions
Lit up LEDs on rotary knobs and buttons indicate that the function is switched on.
WARNING
Poor visibility through the windows increases the risk of collisions and accidents, which can cause
serious injuries.
Keep all windows free from ice, snow and condensation to maintain good visibility.
Adjust the heating, air conditioning system and rear window heating so that condensation does not
form on the windows.
Only set off once all windows are clear.
Use air recirculation mode for a short period only. If the cooling system is switched off, condensation
can form on the windows very quickly in air recirculation mode and reduce visibility considerably.
Eco driving profile ⇒ 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 . Plan journeys economically and combine short journeys.
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
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 .
You should drive particularly carefully and think ahead when driving offroad. If you drive too fast or
if a driving manoeuvre is unsuccessful, this could result in serious injuries and vehicle damage.
Never drive faster than the current terrain, road conditions, traffic and weather allow.
Never drive too fast over embankments, ramps or slopes. This could cause the vehicle to lose
contact with the ground. If this happens, you will be unable to steer and will lose control of the
vehicle.
If the vehicle does lose contact with the ground, always point the front wheels straight ahead. If the
wheels are not pointing straight ahead when the vehicle lands, it could roll over.
Terrain might look harmless, but there could be hidden dangers. Potholes, hollows, ditches,
precipices, obstacles, shallows, soft and boggy surfaces are often not recognisable as such and can
be covered either fully or partly by water or grass or branches lying on the ground. Inspect terrain on
foot if necessary.
WARNING
Sporty multipurpose vehicles are subject to a considerably higher risk of rolling over than normal
road passenger vehicles ⇒ Explanation of some technical terms .
In the event of an accident, vehicle occupants not wearing seat belts are subjected to a considerably
higher risk of fatal injury than those wearing seat belts.
The vehicle has a higher centre of gravity and is more prone to rolling over than a normal passenger
car which is unsuited for offroad driving.
Never drive too fast, especially when driving through bends, or carry out any extreme driving
manoeuvres.
Always adjust your speed and driving style to the terrain.
Luggage and other items transported on the roof of the vehicle raise the centre of gravity and will
make the vehicle more likely to roll over.
WARNING
The terrain might look harmless, but there could be hidden dangers. Potholes, hollows, ditches,
precipices, obstacles, shallows, soft and boggy surfaces are often not recognisable as such and can
be covered either fully or partly by water or grass or branches lying on the ground. Driving offroad
over such terrain could cause accidents, serious injury and also a vehicle breakdown.
Carefully inspect any unknown sections of the terrain on foot before driving through them.
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.
Always adjust your speed and driving to match vehicle load levels and visibility, terrain and weather
conditions.
Any rain entering the vehicle when the windows or glass roof are open can soak the interior
equipment and cause damage to the vehicle. Always keep the windows and glass roof closed when
driving offroad.
Explanation of some technical terms
Fig. 113 Illustration: angle of gradient.
Fig. 114 Illustration: tilt angle.
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction
Centre of gravityThe centre of gravity of a vehicle influences its propensity to roll over. The vehicle
has greater ground clearance for offroad driving, and thus a higher centre of gravity than a normal
vehicle. The high centre of gravity means that there is a greater danger of roll-over when driving.
Always remember this fact when driving and follow the safety tips and warnings given in this
owner's manual.Ground clearanceThis is the vertical distance between the ground and the lowest
item on the vehicle underbody.Angle of gradientThe number of metres in height gained over a
distance of 100 m is given as a percentage or degree ⇒ Fig. 113 . Indication of gradient that the
vehicle can drive up under its own power. This depends on aspects such as the road surface and
engine power.Tilt angleMaximum angle at which the vehicle may be driven across a slope without
the vehicle tipping over (determined by centre of gravity) ⇒ Fig. 114 .Breakover angleMaximum
permitted angle given in degrees that a vehicle driven at low speed can clear a ramp without the
underbody of the vehicle scraping the ramp.Ramp angleCrossover from the horizontal level surface
to an uphill gradient, or from a downhill gradient back to the level surface. Angle up to which the
vehicle bottoms with the underbody on the ramp edge.Fall lineThis is the vertical drop
route.ArticulationThe articulation capability of the vehicle when driving over objects with just one
side of the vehicle.
Checklist before driving offroad
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction