✓ Valid for: hybrid vehicles

Switching on the plug-in hybrid drive system in your Seat Leon activates the vehicle's advanced electric and combustion propulsion systems. When the vehicle's drive system is turned on, the electric drive is activated first for silent, emission-free movement. The petrol combustion engine will then start automatically whenever the charge level of the high-voltage battery drops too low to sustain pure electric driving, or when high driving power and acceleration demands are requested.

To access and manage settings for driving with the electric drive in the infotainment system:

• Select: > Charging > Battery Manager.

Requirements for switching on the drive system

The hybrid drive system of your Seat Leon can be successfully switched on when all of the following core operating conditions are met:

• The high-voltage battery has a sufficient state of charge level.
• There is no external high-voltage charging cable plugged into the vehicle socket.
• The temperature of the high-voltage battery is safely within its normal operating range.
• There is a valid remote control key detected inside the vehicle interior.

Switching on the drive system

• Press the ignition and start button once while ensuring the vehicle ignition is switched on.
• Press the brake pedal firmly and hold it down continuously.
• Set the gear selector switch to neutral position N or activate the parking lock P.
• Press the ignition and start button until indicator lamp lights up on the instrument cluster display. Do not press the accelerator pedal during this process. Release the ignition and start button as soon as the indicator lamps light up on the instrument cluster.

  The visual mark on the power meter display shifts from to 0, indicating the system is active.

• If the indicator lamp does not light up as expected, cancel the current sequence and repeat the entire starting operation.
• If the vehicle has previously been locked from the outside with the remote control key, the interior ignition and start button is temporarily deactivated for security.

  If you are sitting inside the vehicle and need to start the drive system under these conditions, first unlock the vehicle doors or perform the designated emergency start procedure.

Note When turning on the plug-in hybrid drive system in your Seat Leon, a distinct mechanical click is heard as the high-voltage contactors engage. This acoustic feedback is completely normal and does not indicate any fault or mechanical problem.

Detecting the drive system

Because the electric motor in your Seat Leon produces virtually no noticeable noise when the drive system is switched on or while moving at low speeds, you cannot rely on traditional engine sound to confirm that the car is ready. Instead, several clear visual and acoustic characteristics show that your Seat Leon is active and ready to drive:

• The indicator mark "0" is clearly displayed on the power gauge meter of the instrument cluster.
• The main display backlighting on the instrument cluster is illuminated, regardless of whether the vehicle's exterior lighting is switched on.
• The dedicated indicator lamp is lit up in the instrument cluster display.
• A brief, recognizable audible signal sounds to confirm system activation.

Switching on the drive system in very low outside temperatures

If the outside ambient temperature drops to extreme lows—approximately -27 ºC (-16 ºF) or lower—the high-voltage battery can freeze and temporarily cease normal operation. In this specific scenario, it will not be possible to switch on the hybrid drive system.

As soon as the internal temperature of the high-voltage battery rises sufficiently—either through warming conditions or climate management—the drive system can be switched on normally once again.

To ensure that your Seat Leon remains operational and that the drive system can be switched on even during severe winter cold snaps, SEAT recommends parking the vehicle in a garage or a sheltered location protected from freezing temperatures.

Behaviour when moving off or stopping

In your plug-in hybrid Seat Leon, the petrol combustion engine runs only when strictly necessary to support driving demands.

When the vehicle is stationary at a standstill, the combustion engine is normally switched off entirely, while all essential vehicle electrical systems continue to be powered smoothly by the high-voltage battery. Consequently, the rev counter needle on the instrument cluster remains anchored at 0.

The combustion engine shuts down automatically during various routine driving conditions to maximize efficiency. This behavior is entirely normal and designed to save fuel and cut emissions. Throughout these transitions, vital systems such as power steering and brake assist remain fully active. In isolated cases, however, the vehicle management system may require the combustion engine to keep running even while the vehicle is stationary to maintain thermal or electrical equilibrium.

In heavy stop-and-go traffic jams, the combustion engine may start up automatically while the vehicle is stationary to recharge the high-voltage battery in preparation for subsequent driving off and stopping cycles.