Driving a loaded vehicle
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
For good vehicle handling when driving a loaded vehicle, please observe the following:
•Stow all items of luggage securely ⇒ Stowing items of luggage.
•Accelerate carefully and gently.
•Avoid sudden braking and driving manoeuvres.
•Brake earlier than in normal driving.
•If applicable, heed the information about driving with a roof carrier ⇒ Roof carrier.
Vehicle-specific weight ratings
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
All data in the official vehicle documents take precedence over these data. All data in this manual
apply to the basic model. The vehicle data sticker in the service schedule and the official vehicle
documents show which engine is installed in your vehicle.
The values quoted here may differ if additional equipment is fitted, for different models or for special
vehicles.
The values for the kerb weight in the following table apply for the road-ready vehicle with driver
(75 kg), service fluids including fuel tank carrying 90% of its capacity and, if applicable, tools and
Driving with an unlocked or open tailgate can cause serious injuries.
•Always drive with the tailgate 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 carefully and ensure that you think ahead.
•Avoid any abrupt or sudden driving and braking manoeuvres as this can cause the open
tailgate 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.
•Any objects protruding from the luggage compartment must never be held in position by
the tailgate.
•If it is necessary to drive with the tailgate open, all luggage racks and cargo stowed on the
rack must be removed from the tailgate.
WARNING
Poisonous exhaust fumes can enter the vehicle interior when the tailgate is open. This could
result in loss of consciousness, carbon monoxide poisoning, serious injury and accidents.
•Always drive with the tailgate closed in order to prevent toxic gases from entering the
vehicle.
•If exceptional circumstances require you to drive with an open tailgate, you must do the
following to reduce the quantity of toxic exhaust fumes that could enter the vehicle:
- Close the electric panorama sliding/tilting glass roof.
- Switch off air recirculation mode.
- Open all vents in the dash panel.
- Switch the blowers to the highest setting.
WARNING
The vehicle length and height are different when the tailgate is open.
NOTICE
Moving loads can severely impair the vehicle's stability and driving safety, which can cause
accidents and severe injuries.
•Secure objects properly to prevent them from sliding.
•Use suitable straps when securing heavy objects.
•Engage the rear seat backrests securely in an upright position.
WARNING
Ensure that you know the weight of the mounts, roof carrier system and the items to be transported
on the roof - weigh them if necessary. Never exceed the maximum permissible roof load.
However, if you are using a carrier system with a lower weight rating, you will not be able to carry
the maximum roof load. In this case, do not exceed the maximum weight limit for the load carrier
system which is listed in the fitting instructions.
Distributing the load
Distribute the load evenly and secure it correctly ⇒.
Checking the fittings
After the mounts and load carrier have been attached, check the bolted connections and fastenings
once you have travelled a short distance and then at regular intervals.
Towing a trailer
Information on towing
The vehicle is not approved for towing a trailer. The vehicle is not factory-fitted with a towing
bracket and a towing bracket cannot be retrofitted.
Practical equipment
Stowage area
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Stowage compartment on the driver side
⇒ Stowage compartment in the front centre console
⇒ Stowage compartment with cover on the front passenger side
⇒ Open stowage compartment on the front passenger side
⇒ Stowage compartment in the rear centre console
⇒ Other stowage areas
Only use stowage compartments to stow light or smaller objects.
Additional information and warnings:
•Cleaning and caring for the interior ⇒ Cleaning and caring for the interior
•⇒BookletRadio,
Accidents and vehicle damage can occur if the maximum permitted roof load is exceeded.
•Never exceed the quoted roof load, the maximum permissible axle loads, and the
permissible gross vehicle weight for the vehicle.
•Do not exceed the weight rating of the roof carrier system, even if the maximum roof load
has not been reached.
•Secure heavy objects as far forwards as possible and distribute the load evenly.
WARNING
Loose and incorrectly secured loads could fall off the load carrier and cause accidents and
injuries.
•Always use suitable and undamaged securing straps.
•Secure loads properly.
WARNING
Fitting a towing bracket on the vehicle while the vehicle is in operation can lead to accidents
and cause serious injuries.
•Never fit a towing bracket on the vehicle.
•The bracket could be released from the vehicle during the journey.
WARNING
Fitting towing brackets of any kind can lead to serious vehicle damage.
NOTICE
Switching city emergency brake function on and off
Fig. 109 In lower part of centre console: button for the city emergency brake function
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Switching the city emergency brake function on and off
•Press the ⇒ Fig. 109 button in the centre console.
When the city emergency brake function is switched off, the indicator lamp lights up
when the vehicle is travelling at 5 – 30 km/h (3 – 19 mph).
Switch off the city emergency brake function in the following situations
The city emergency brake function should be switched off in the following situations ⇒:
•If the vehicle is being towed.
•If you are driving the vehicle through an automatic car wash.
•If the vehicle is on a rolling road test bed.
•If the laser sensor is faulty.
•If the laser sensor has been hit or moved with force.
•If the vehicle is being driven off-road (e.g. through low-hanging branches).
•If there are protruding objects in the area above the bonnet, e.g. a load on the roof that sticks
out at the front.
•If the windscreen is damaged in the area around the laser sensor.
•Driving with tailgate open.
•In the event of multiple unwanted interventions.
The beam from the laser sensor could cause severe damage to the eyes.
•Never use optical devices, such as a rangefinder camera, microscope or magnifying glass,
to look into the laser sensor from a distance of less than 100 mm.
•Please be aware that the laser beam may still be active even if the city emergency brake
function is switched off or unavailable. The laser beam is not visible to the human eye!
WARNING
The city emergency brake function may not work if the area on the windscreen around the
laser sensor is iced over, dirty or covered, for example from rain, spray or snow or by roof
loads protruding over the front of the vehicle.
•Always keep the area around the laser sensor free from dirt and ice and do not cover it.
•Remove snow with a brush, and remove ice preferably with a solvent-free de-icer spray.
NOTICE
The city emergency brake function may fail to work if the windscreen is damaged in the area
around the laser sensor.
•Have the windscreen replaced if it is scratched, cracked or chipped in the area around the
laser sensor. Only use windscreens that have been approved by Volkswagen. Do not
simply have the windscreen repaired (for example, if it has been damaged by stone
chipping).
•When changing the windscreen wiper blades only use wiper blades that are the same
production quality as the factory-fitted wiper blades.
•Do not paint the windscreen in the area around the laser sensor or cover the area with
stickers, deposits or similar.
NOTICE
The vehicle owner should keep all assembly documentation for these auxiliary fittings, and pass it
on to any scrapping company later engaged. In this way, environmentally compatible disposal
should be guaranteed for all vehicles, including refitted vehicles.
Windscreen repairs
To function properly, some items of equipment require a camera or sensor, which is located on the
inside of the windscreen near the interior mirror. If the windscreen in the viewing field of the camera
or sensors has been damaged, e.g. by stone impact, the windscreen must be replaced. Repairing
the crack can lead to malfunction or functional faults in the equipment.
After changing the windscreen, the camera and sensors must be set up and calibrated by a
qualified workshop.
Repairs and faults in the airbag system
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Repairs and modifications must always be carried out according to Volkswagen specifications⇒
.
Modifications and repairs to the front bumper, the doors, the front seats, the roof, or the bodywork
should be carried out by a qualified workshop. System components and airbag system sensors can
be located on these vehicle components.
If you work on the airbag system or remove and install parts of the system when performing other
repair work, parts of the airbag system may be damaged. The consequence may be that, in the
event of an accident, the airbag inflates incorrectly or does not inflate at all.
Regulations must be observed to ensure that the effectiveness of the airbags is not reduced and
that removed parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution. Qualified workshops are
familiar with these requirements.
Any modifications to the vehicle's suspension could prevent the airbag system from working
properly during a collision. For example, using tyre/rim combinations that have not been approved
by Volkswagen, lowering the vehicle, making modifications to the suspension rate including work on
the springs, struts and shock absorbers could change the forces that are measured by the airbag
sensors and sent to the electronic control unit. Some changes to the suspension could cause the
forces measured by the sensors to increase. This can lead to the airbag system being triggered in
collision scenarios where it normally would not be triggered if modifications to the suspension had
not been made. Other modifications can cause the forces measured by the sensors to decrease,
therefore preventing the airbag system from being triggered when it should have been.
Retrofitting two-way radios
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Incorrect repairs and modifications can cause functional problems and damage to the vehicle
and impair the effectiveness of the driver assist systems. This can result in accidents and
severe injuries.
•Repairs and modifications to your vehicle should only be carried out by a qualified
workshop.
WARNING
Incorrect repairs and modifications can cause function problems and damage to the vehicle
and impair the effectiveness of the airbag system. This can result in accidents and serious or
even fatal injuries.
•Repairs and modifications to your vehicle should only be carried out by a qualified
workshop.
•Airbag modules cannot be repaired. They must be replaced.
•Never use recycled airbag components or components that have been taken from end-of-
life vehicles in your vehicle.
WARNING
Modifications to the vehicle's suspension, including the use of unsuitable tyre/rim
combinations, can cause the airbag system to work differently and increase the risk of serious
or fatal injuries in the event of an accident.
•Never install any components in the suspension system that do not have the same
characteristics as the original factory-fitted components.
•Never use tyre/rim combinations that have not been approved by Volkswagen.
WARNING