Shifting up to a higher gear or down to a lower gear occurs completely automatically during normal operation.

The engine of your Seat Leon can only be started when the selector lever is in the N position and the P button is lit up, ensuring that the electronic parking lock remains securely active.

Driving downhill

Under certain driving circumstances, such as long descents, it can be highly advantageous to use Tiptronic mode to select lower gears manually according to prevailing road conditions and gradient.

Stop/Park

To park your Seat Leon on flat, level ground, simply press the P button ››› Fig. 124. When parking on inclines or slopes, you should always apply the electronic parking brake first and then press the P button afterwards.

If the driver's door is opened while the vehicle is stationary and the P parking lock button has not been activated, the vehicle could roll and move unexpectedly.

In such cases, the following warning is displayed on the instrument panel: "Gear change: Selector lever in the drive position!". An intermittent buzzing sound is also heard to alert the driver.

Stopping on a downhill

Always apply the foot brake pedal firmly to prevent the vehicle from creeping or moving; if necessary, engage the electronic parking brake for added security.

Do not press the accelerator pedal while a forward or reverse gear range is engaged to prevent the car from rolling downhill against the transmission.

Starting off uphill with the Auto Hold function

• Once you have engaged a driving gear, simply take your foot off the brake pedal and gently press the accelerator to drive away smoothly.

Starting off uphill without the Auto Hold function

• Pull up on the electronic parking brake button to hold the car.
• Once you have engaged a gear, gently press the accelerator while simultaneously releasing or pulling the electronic parking brake button.

WARNING Always observe the core safety warnings ››› located under Gear selector positions on page 181.

• Never allow your foot to rest or "rub" on the brake pedal, and avoid using the brakes too frequently or for prolonged continuous periods, as excessive friction causes the brake discs and pads to overheat. This reduces stopping power, significantly increases braking distance, or can even cause a total brake system fault.
• If you are forced to stop on a hill or slope, keep the vehicle securely held using either the foot brake pedal or the parking brake.

NOTICE

• When stopping the vehicle on an uphill slope, do not attempt to hold the car stationary by slipping the clutch or keeping the car from rolling using engine power without depressing the brake. This can overheat and severely damage the automatic gearbox components.
• If you allow the vehicle to roll freely with the selector lever in position N and the engine turned off, the internal automatic gearbox will suffer permanent damage due to a complete lack of hydraulic lubrication.
• In certain extreme driving situations or heavy traffic conditions, transmission fluid and gears can overheat! If the gearbox warning lamp lights up on the dash, pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as you can and wait for the transmission to cool down.
• If the gearbox defaults to operating in emergency limp mode, have the underlying fault diagnosed and repaired by a specialized workshop without delay.

Kick-down

The integrated kick-down device provides maximum possible acceleration when the gear selector lever is in position D, S, or while operating in manual Tiptronic mode.

When the accelerator pedal is pressed all the way to the floor past the resistance point, the automatic transmission immediately downshifts to a lower gear, depending on your current road speed and engine RPM.

This function harnesses the full power reserves and maximum acceleration capability of your Seat Leon.

The subsequent upshift to the next higher gear will be delayed until the preset maximum engine RPM is reached.

WARNING Please note that if the road surface is wet, icy, or slippery, sudden use of the kickdown feature could cause the driving wheels to spin instantly, resulting in loss of traction and dangerous skidding.