Your Seat Leon is equipped with an advanced, electronically controlled manual DSG automatic gearbox. Power and torque between the engine and the gearbox are transmitted seamlessly via two independent wet or dry clutches. These replace the heavy torque converter found on conventional automatic gearboxes and allow for smooth, uninterrupted acceleration of the vehicle without any loss of tractive power.

The integrated Tiptronic system also allows the driver to take manual control of gear changes, making it easy to shift gears manually in Tiptronic mode whenever desired.

Gear selector positions

Fig. 124 On the centre console: selector lever.

The currently active gear selector position is indicated clearly by the corresponding icon or letter lighting up on the console. The precise gear engaged is also displayed dynamically on the instrument cluster screen when operating in manual shift positions M, D, S, and E (the latter appearing when the Eco engine profile is selected within the Individual driving profile).

- Parking lock

When the P button is pressed, the transmission mechanically locks the drive wheels to secure the car safely. You must only ever press the P button when your Seat Leon is completely stationary.

To successfully press and engage the P button, you must simultaneously press down firmly on the foot brake pedal.

- Reverse gear

Reverse gear must be engaged exclusively when the vehicle is at a standstill and the engine is running at idle speed.

To engage reverse gear R, you must press the brake pedal simultaneously while operating the selector. The exterior white reverse lights will switch on automatically whenever reverse gear R is selected and the ignition remains switched on.

- Neutral

In this neutral position, the transmission is disengaged from the engine.

You must press the brake pedal to move the selector lever out of N into D or S when the vehicle is stationary or creeping at very low speeds below 3 km/h (2 mph).

- Permanent forward drive position

The dual D/S selector position enables the transmission gears to be operated in either efficiency-focused normal mode (D) or dynamic sport mode (S).

To select Sport mode S from normal drive, gently pull the selector lever backwards.

Pushing the lever backward again will toggle back to normal mode D. The currently selected driving mode is clearly displayed on the instrument cluster screen of your Seat Leon.

In standard normal mode (D), the gearbox automatically selects the optimal gear ratio based on current engine load, vehicle speed, and the intelligent dynamic regulation program (DRP).

Sport mode (S) is designed to be selected whenever you want to adopt a more dynamic, sporty driving style in your Seat Leon. This setting optimizes shift points to make full use of the engine's maximum power output and responsiveness. When accelerating aggressively or driving enthusiastically, gear shifting operations become sharper and more perceptible to the driver.

Under certain demanding circumstances—such as when navigating winding mountain roads or steep elevation changes—it can be highly advantageous to switch into manual Tiptronic mode, allowing you to manually hold gears and adapt the transmission ratios precisely to suit changing road conditions.

WARNING

• Take great care never to press the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is stationary with a gear engaged. Your Seat Leon could start moving forward or backward immediately—in certain situations even if the electronic parking brake is firmly applied—creating a severe risk of a sudden accident.
• Never move the gear selector lever to the reverse position R while the vehicle is moving forward. Failure to follow this critical safety instruction could result in catastrophic transmission failure, loss of control, and serious accidents.
• Regardless of which gear selector position is engaged, your foot must always remain firmly depressed on the foot brake whenever the engine is running while stationary. This is necessary because a DSG automatic gearbox inherently continues to transmit residual tractive power even when the engine is idling.
• Do not apply throttle or accelerate while selecting a gear if the car is stationary and the engine is running.

  Failure to follow this instruction could result in unexpected vehicle movement and a collision hazard.

• The driver must never exit or leave the vehicle while the engine is running and a forward or reverse gear remains selected. Before stepping away, always ensure you switch on the electronic parking brake and firmly engage the parking lock position (P).

Note

• If the gear selector lever is bumped or moved accidentally into neutral position N while driving, lift your foot off the accelerator and let the engine speed drop back down to idle before attempting to re-select drive gear range D or S.
• If the vehicle electrical power supply is interrupted while the P parking lock is active, it will become mechanically impossible to move the selector lever normally. If this unlikely scenario happens, an emergency manual release mechanism can be used; in such cases, you should seek immediate professional assistance from a qualified technician.

Note

• If a gear has been selected on your Seat Leon but the vehicle fails to move forward or backward when you release the brake, proceed by checking the following corrective steps:
  • If the vehicle does not move in the desired direction, the transmission gear ratio may not have fully and correctly engaged within the system. Depress the brake pedal firmly and reselect the desired gear range.
  • If the vehicle still refuses to move in the desired direction after re-engagement, a deeper electronic or mechanical system failure may be present.

    Seek specialist help immediately and have the transmission system thoroughly checked by a professional workshop.