Get Sitting correctly and safely Guide for Audi Q5 SUV Third Generation (2024-2026)

Sitting correctly and safely

cupants. The list is not complete, but will help to

make you aware of possible dangers which can be

avoided. Therefore, whenever the vehicle is mov-

ing:

Sitting correctly and

safely

Ensuring the correct

seating position

– Never stand up in the vehicle.

– Never stand on the seats.

Safety information on seating positions

– Never kneel on the seats.

As the driver, you are responsible for ensuring

that all vehicle occupants are sitting in the cor-

rect position and that they stay in this position

for the entire journey. Ensure that:

– Never travel with the backrest reclined too far.

– Never lean against the dash panel.

– Never lie down on the rear seat.

– Never sit on the front edge of a seat.

– Never sit sideways.

– Every vehicle occupant has adjusted their seat

correctly ðpage 65.

– Never lean out of the window.

– Never put your feet out of the window.

– Never put your feet on the dash panel.

– Never put your feet on the seat cushion.

– Never ride in the footwell.

– The steering wheel is set correctly ðpage 69.

– The mirrors have been adjusted so that you

have a good view of the surrounding area

ðpage 60.

– Never sit on the armrests.

– Every vehicle occupant has adjusted their head

restraint correctly ðpage 70.

– Never travel on a seat without wearing the seat

belt.

– Every vehicle occupant has fastened their seat

belt correctly ðpage 71.

– Never climb into the luggage compartment.

– Applies to vehicles with deactivation switch for

front passenger’s airbag: The front passenger’s

airbag is activated or deactivated as appropri-

ate for the person occupying the front passeng-

er’s seat ðpage 77.

WARNING

Sitting out of position, not wearing a seat belt

or being too close to the airbag exposes the

occupants to potentially fatal injuries if, for

instance, the airbags inflate and strike an oc-

cupant who is not seated in one of the proper

positions. Please note the important informa-

tion and safety precautions in the correspond-

ing chapters on the subjects above.

– Any children are correctly secured in a suitable

child restraint system on an appropriate seat

ðpage 78. Please read the important safety

information about the use of child restraint sys-

tems on the front passenger’s seat ð in

Safety information on child restraint systems

on page 78.

Front seats

If physical factors prevent you from being able to

assume a correct seating position, please contact

a qualified automotive specialist.

Safety information on the front seats

Ensure that:

Examples of incorrect seating positions

– You can press the pedals down completely with

your legs still slightly bent.

Seat belts can only provide maximum protection

if the belt webbing is positioned correctly. Sitting

out of position greatly reduces the effectiveness

of the seat belts and increases the risk of injury

since the belt webbing is not worn in the position

for which it is designed.

– Your torso is at least 25 cm away from the

steering wheel/dashboard.

– Your knees are at least 10 cm away from the

dashboard.

– Your thighs are resting lightly on the front of

the seat cushion.

The list below contains examples of incorrect po-

sitions which can be dangerous to all vehicle oc-

– The backrest is in an upright position and

makes full contact with your back.



65

Sitting correctly and safely

– You have a good view of your surroundings.

– You have an unobstructed view of the instru-

ment cluster, warning/indicator lamps and

head-up display.

– The electric front seat adjustment also

works when the vehicle is off. To avoid inju-

ries, never leave children unattended in the

vehicle.

Use only one control at a time to adjust the seat.

CAUTION

WARNING

Take care when adjusting the seat to ensure

the head restraint does not collide with the

headliner or sunroof (if fitted). This could

cause damage.

– If you are too close to the steering wheel/

dash panel, the airbag system cannot pro-

tect you correctly – risk of severe or fatal in-

jury!

– To reduce the risk of injury to the driver in

the case of sudden braking or an accident,

you should never drive with the backrest re-

clined. The airbag system and seat belts can

only provide proper protection when the

backrest is in an upright position and the

driver is wearing the seat belt in the correct

position. If the backrest is reclined too far,

the seat belt may slide away from harder

body parts towards softer areas such as the

stomach – risk of injury!

Manual adjustment of front seats

Fig. 27 Front seat: Adjuster controls

– Never adjust the seats when the vehicle is

moving – this could lead to an accident.

– Be careful when adjusting the seats. Care-

less use of the seat adjustment controls can

cause injuries to both the front seat and rear

seat occupants.

The settings depend on the equipment fitted in

your vehicle.

Adjusting the seat position

►

To move the seat forwards/backwards, pull the

– Never place objects in the driver's footwell.

Such objects could move under the pedals

and interfere with their proper function. In

the event of sudden braking or a change of

direction, you would not be able to use the

pedals. This could result in a loss of control

and possibly cause an accident.

lever 1 and move the seat.

To move the seat upwards/downwards, pull/

press the lever 2 .

►

Adjusting the backrest

►

To move the backrest forwards/backwards, turn

the knob 3 .

– Always make sure that the floor mats are

properly secured.

Adjusting the thigh support

– Never lay additional floor mats or other

floor coverings over the existing floor mats;

this would restrict the pedal area and possi-

bly obstruct the pedals, which could cause

an accident.

►

To move the thigh support in or out, lift the

handle 4 and slide it in either direction.

Adjusting the seat cushion angle

►

To adjust the angle of the seat cushion, pull/

– Never place your feet on the dashboard, out

of the windows or on the seat, as this could

lead to injury. This also applies to the rear

seat occupants.

press the lever 5 .

Adjusting the lumbar support

►

To adjust the lumbar support, press the appro-

priate side of the button 6 .

66

Sitting correctly and safely

Electric adjustment of front seats

Using the massage function on the front

seat

►

Press the  button on the front seat to switch

the massage function on/off.

The Massage menu will be displayed.

►

Other functions may be available depending on

the vehicle’s equipment and can be operated

via the MMI.

The massage function switches off automatically

after 10 minutes.

Fig. 28 Front seat: Buttons for seat adjustment

The basic settings can be adjusted using the but-

tons.

Using the elevated entry function

The elevated entry function gives improved ac-

cess to the vehicle.

The settings depend on the equipment fitted in

your vehicle.

You can switch the elevated entry function on/off

Adjusting the seat position

or adjust the settings in the Car menu ðpage 25.

►

To move the seat forwards/backwards, push

Information on the front centre armrest

button 1 forwards/backwards.

►

To move the seat up/down, press the rear area

The front centre armrest is located between the

front seats.

of button 1 upwards/downwards.

To tilt the seat cushion, press the front area of

►

button 1 upwards/downwards.

Adjusting the centre armrest

The settings depend on the equipment fitted in

your vehicle.

Adjusting the backrest

►

To move the backrest forwards/backwards,

►

press button 2 forwards/backwards.

Lift the centre armrest to move it out of its ini-

tial position. Depending on the vehicle’s equip-

ment, press the button.

Adjusting the lumbar support

►

To adjust the lumbar support, press the appro-

Depending on the vehicle’s equipment, press

priate side of the button 3 .

and hold the button to close the centre arm-

rest.

Depending on the vehicle’s equipment, to ad-

Massage function

►

Press button 4 to switch the massage function

on/off.

just the angle, press and hold the button and

move the centre armrest to the desired posi-

tion.

►

Fold the centre armrest down to return it to its

initial position. Depending on the vehicle’s

equipment, press and hold the button.

Seat functions

Seat settings on the MMI

You can use the MMI to adjust further seat set-

tings and switch functions on/off.

WARNING

– In certain positions, the centre armrest may

limit the movement of the driver’s arms –

risk of injury!

►

Select:  > Car > Massage.

The settings can be operated via the MMI. Which

settings are available depends on the vehicle’s

equipment.

– Applies to centre armrest with button:

Loose objects can be flung around in the



67

Sitting correctly and safely

passenger compartment in the event of sud-

den driving or braking manoeuvres – risk of

accident! Stow objects away safely while the

vehicle is moving.

– Be careful when adjusting the seats. Care-

less or uncontrolled use of the height ad-

justment can cause injuries.

– Always check to see if the locking mecha-

nism is properly engaged by pulling the

backrest forwards.

Using the memory function

Introduction

Seat adjustment

The memory function enables you to store and

call up seat profiles. Depending on the vehicle’s

equipment, you may be able to store various set-

tings in the seat profiles, such as the position of

the driver’s seat and the exterior mirrors.

The memory function buttons are located in the

door trim.

The settings depend on the equipment fitted in

your vehicle.

Fig. 29 Adjusting the seat position

Storing seat profile

SET

►

Press the

button. When the LED in the

button lights up, a seat profile can be stored.

Press one of the numbered recall buttons. A

tone will sound to confirm that the settings

have been stored.

►

Calling up seat profile

►

Press one of the numbered recall buttons and

follow any instructions given by the system.

Fig. 30 Adjusting the backrest

WARNING

Adjusting the seat position

– For safety reasons, never recall seat settings

when the vehicle is moving – this could lead

to an accident.

►

To move the seat forwards/backwards, pull the

lever ðFig. 29 and move the seat.

Release the bar and move the seat further until

►

– To avoid injuries (such as trapping fingers),

the recall function can be stopped at any

time by pressing the seat adjustment but-

ton in the door/on the display for the rele-

vant seat – risk of injury!

it locks in position.

Adjusting the backrest

►

Hold the backrest with one hand while pushing

the lever ðFig. 30 upwards with the other.

►

Move the backrest forwards/backwards to the

desired position.

Release the lever and keep moving the backrest

until it locks in place.

Rear seats

►

General information

WARNING

– Never adjust the seats when the vehicle is

moving – this could lead to an accident.

68

Sitting correctly and safely

►

Move the steering wheel to the desired posi-

tion.

Push the lever all the way up until the catch en-

gages.

Steering wheel

Safety information on the steering wheel

Ensure that:

– Your torso is at least 25 cm away from the

steering wheel.

WARNING

– Adjust the position of the steering wheel on-

ly before driving off – risk of accident!

– Press the lever upwards so it is secure and

so that the position of the steering wheel

cannot shift unexpectedly while the vehicle

is moving – risk of accident!

– Your arms are bent slightly at the elbows.

– You have a good view of your surroundings and

can see the instrument cluster and head-up dis-

play at all times.

– You always hold the steering wheel with both

hands on the outside of the rim at about the 9

o'clock and 3 o'clock position while driving.

Adjusting the steering wheel position

(electric adjustment)

WARNING

– Before setting off, make sure that the steer-

ing wheel is correctly adjusted and that it

cannot slip out of the engaged position –

risk of accident!

– If you are too close to the steering wheel,

the driver airbag cannot protect you correct-

ly – risk of severe or fatal injury!

– Never hold the steering wheel at the 12

o'clock position, or with your hands inside

the rim or on the steering wheel hub. This

could result in serious injuries to the arms,

hands and head if the driver's airbag in-

flates.

Fig. 32 Steering column: Button for adjusting the steering

wheel position

The height and reach of the steering wheel can

be adjusted electrically to suit the driver.

►

To adjust the steering wheel in the desired di-

rection, press the corresponding point on the

switch.

Adjusting the steering wheel position

(manual adjustment)

The steering wheel can be adjusted even when

the vehicle is switched off.

Fig. 31 Steering column: Lever for adjusting the steering

wheel position

The height and reach of the steering wheel can

be adjusted.

►

Pull the lever in the direction indicated (arrow).

69

Sitting correctly and safely

Adjusting the front head restraints

Head restraints

Safety information on the head restraints

Fig. 34 Front seat: Adjusting head restraint

Fig. 33 Correctly adjusted head restraint

The settings depend on the equipment fitted in

your vehicle.

Ensure that:

►

To move the head restraint forwards, adjust the

– The top of the head restraint is level with the

top of your head.

position of the head restraint until you feel it

click into place.

– The head restraint is as close as possible to the

back of your head.

►

To raise or lower the head restraint or move it

backwards, press the side button and move the

head restraint in the desired direction. Release

the button and slide the head restraint further

until you feel it click into place.

– The head restraints on any occupied rear seats

are pulled all the way up.

WARNING

– There is a head restraint for every seat. It is

very important that all vehicle occupants ad-

just their head restraint correctly before ev-

ery trip. Incorrectly adjusted head restraints

can increase the risk of neck injuries in an

accident or during sudden or unexpected

braking or other manoeuvres.

Adjusting the rear head restraints

– Remove the rear head restraints only if this

is necessary in order to attach a child re-

straint system ðpage 78. Store head re-

straints securely if you remove them, e.g. in

the luggage compartment. Install the head

restraint again immediately after removing

the child restraint system. Travelling with

the head restraints removed increases the

risk of severe neck injuries.

Fig. 35 Rear seat: Adjusting head restraint

The settings depend on the equipment fitted in

your vehicle.

►

To raise the centre head restraint, adjust the

position of the head restraint until you feel it

click into place.

►

To raise the outer head restraint, press the but-

ton 1 and move the head restraint. Release

the button and slide the head restraint further

until you feel it click into place.



70

Sitting correctly and safely

►

To lower the head restraint, press the button

and move the head restraint downwards. Re-

lease the button and slide the head restraint

further until you feel it click into place.

1

wearing their seat belts correctly while the vehi-

cle is moving.

Although the vehicle is equipped with an airbag

system, every vehicle occupant must still wear a

seat belt. In addition to their normal function of

protecting the vehicle occupants in a collision,

the seat belts also hold them in a position where

the airbags can inflate properly and provide max-

imum protection. Seat belts offer protection in

accidents in which no airbags are triggered or

where they have already been triggered.

Removing/installing rear head restraints

WARNING

The risk of severe or fatal injury is increased if

the seat belt is worn incorrectly or not at all,

or if it is damaged.

Fig. 36 Rear seat: Removing/installing head restraint

– All vehicle occupants (including the driver)

must put their seat belt on correctly before

every trip and must always keep it on while

the vehicle is moving, regardless of whether

the seat is equipped with an airbag or not.

This also applies to children who are being

secured in a child restraint system appropri-

ate to their height, weight and age using the

seat belt.

Removing head restraint

Important: On vehicles with folding backrest, the

backrest must be folded down.

►

Raise the head restraint as far as it will go.

►

Press the buttons 1 and 2 at the same time

and pull the head restraint out of the backrest

ð

in Safety information on the head re-

straints on page 70.

– In the event of an accident, anyone not

wearing a seat belt will be thrown around in

the vehicle and make violent contact with

the steering wheel, dashboard, windscreen,

doors, etc. They could even be thrown out of

the vehicle. Rear passengers not wearing

seat belts endanger not only themselves but

also the other occupants.

Installing head restraint

Important: On vehicles with folding backrest, the

backrest must be folded down.

►

Push the posts of the head restraint into the

guides until you feel them click into place.

Press the button 1 and push the head restraint

►

– Never allow passengers to share the same

seat belt. Never secure more than one per-

son (including small children) with the same

seat belt.

all the way down. It should no longer be possi-

ble to remove the head restraint from the back-

rest without pressing the button.

– Never travel with children or babies on your

lap and never share the same seat belt.

– To ensure that the seat belt is fully effective,

the latch plate must always be engaged in

the correct buckle for a particular seat.

– To ensure that the seat belts can provide

maximum protection, all vehicle occupants

must be seated in the correct seating posi-

tion ðpage 65.

Seat belts

Safety information on the seat belts

Every seat is equipped with a three-point seat

belt. When worn correctly, seat belts are the

most effective way to reduce the risk of serious or

fatal injuries in an accident. You should therefore

always wear your seat belt correctly and you

should also ensure that all vehicle occupants are



71

Sitting correctly and safely

Make sure that you are wearing your seat belt

correctly by checking the following points:

– Check the condition of the seat belts at reg-

ular intervals ðpage 261. If you notice that

the belt webbing, fittings, retractor mecha-

nism or buckle of any of the belts is dam-

aged, the belt must be replaced by a quali-

fied workshop.

– The lap belt section of the seat belt should be

worn tightly across the hips.

– The shoulder section of the seat belt should be

fitted across the centre of the shoulder.

– The seat belt must always make firm and even

contact with the body.

– The seat belts must not be removed or

modified in any way. Do not attempt to re-

pair a damaged belt yourself.

At all times during pregnancy, women must wear

the seat belt so that it runs evenly across the

chest and as low as possible over the hips; the

belt must make even contact so that there is no

pressure on the stomach ðFig. 38.

– Seat belts which have been worn in an acci-

dent must be replaced by a qualified work-

shop.

Information on the correct positioning of

seat belts

WARNING

Wearing a seat belt incorrectly may result in

serious injuries in the event of an accident or

under sudden braking or manoeuvres.

– Never travel in a moving vehicle with the

backrest reclined. The further the backrest

is tilted back, the greater the risk of injury

due to incorrect positioning of the seat belt.

– The seat belt itself or a loose seat belt can

cause serious injuries if it slides away from

harder body parts towards softer areas such

as the stomach.

Fig. 37 Positioning seat belts over lap/shoulder

– The shoulder section of the seat belt should

be fitted across the centre of the shoulder

and torso and never under the arm, behind

the back or over the neck or face.

– The lap belt section of the seat belt must be

worn tightly across the hips, and never over

the stomach or abdomen.

– The seat belt must make firm and even con-

tact with the upper body and hips.

Fig. 38 Positioning seat belts during pregnancy

– Do not allow the seat belt to become twis-

ted or jammed, or to rub on any sharp

edges.

Seat belts must always be worn correctly in order

to provide the best possible protection in the

event of an accident and to reduce the risk of se-

rious or fatal injuries. Correctly worn seat belts

also hold the vehicle occupants in position in

such a way that the airbags provide maximum

protection if they are triggered. For this reason,

it is essential that you always fasten your seat

belt and ensure that it is worn correctly ðFig. 37.

– The protection offered by the seat belt in an

accident is reduced if the height of the belt

is not correctly adjusted or if the seat belt is

not properly positioned. Make sure that the

seat belts are properly positioned and the

height correctly adjusted to suit the vehicle

occupants.

– Seat belts worn too loose can result in inju-

ries because they allow excessive forward



72

Sitting correctly and safely

Fastening the seat belt

movement in a crash; the occupant will be

brought to a sudden stop by the belt web-

bing.

►

To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate

and pull it slowly across your chest and lap.

Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the ap-

propriate seat and push it down until it is se-

curely locked with an audible click ðFig. 39.

Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fas-

tened.

– Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat

over a jacket) impairs the proper fit and

function of the belts.

►

– Do not wear the belt over hard or fragile ob-

jects (such as glasses or pens, etc.).

– During pregnancy, women must wear the

lap belt section of the seat belt as low as

possible across the hips and underneath the

rounded stomach.

Unfastening the seat belt

►

Press the red button in the seat belt buckle

ðFig. 40. The latch plate is released and

springs out.

►

CAUTION

Guide the belt back by hand so that it is taken

up more easily.

Make sure that no velcro fasteners or sharp

objects, such as zip fasteners or rivets on

clothing, are in the way of the seat belt while

you are wearing it; otherwise the seat belt

could be damaged.

Overview of seat belt warning and indicator

lamps

 – If the warning lamp lights up/flashes, one

of the seat belts is not fastened/was unfastened

during driving. Audible warning signals may also

be given.

Fastening/unfastening the seat belt

The status of the rear seat belts is also moni-

tored by the following indicator lamps:

 – If the indicator lamp lights up, the corre-

sponding rear seat is not occupied.

 – If the indicator lamp lights up, the rear seat

belt has been fastened.

Fig. 39 Latch plate and buckle

Adjusting seat belt height

Fig. 40 The latch plate of the belt springs out of the buck-

le

Fig. 41 Belt height adjustment for the front seats: guide

fitting

Please refer to the safety information ðpage 71.

►

To move the seat belt higher, slide the guide fit-

ting 2 upwards.



73

Sitting correctly and safely

►

To move the seat belt lower, squeeze the re-

WARNING

lease mechanism 1 and slide the guide fitting

2 downwards.

After adjusting, pull the shoulder belt sharply

to check that the catch on the guide fitting is

engaged securely.

The pyrotechnic system can only be activated

once. If the pyrotechnic belt tensioners have

been activated at any time, the system must

be replaced by a qualified workshop.

►

It is also possible to adjust the height of the front

seats to obtain the best position for the front

seat belts.

Airbag system

Safety information on the airbag system

Information on belt retractors

WARNING

– If you do not wear a seat belt or sit in the

correct position, or if you are seated too

close to the airbag system, you will not be

fully protected by the airbag system. This

puts you at risk of serious or fatal injury. En-

sure that all occupants are seated in the cor-

rect position with their seat belts fastened

ðpage 65. This applies regardless of wheth-

er the seat is equipped with an airbag or

not.

The seat belts are equipped with automatic belt

retractors. The retractor system gives complete

freedom of movement, as long as the pull on the

belt is slow. Hard braking locks the belt. The belt

will also lock when you accelerate, drive up or

down a steep hill or corner sharply.

Information on belt force limiters

Seat belts with belt force limiters reduce the

forces acting on the body from the seat belts

themselves in an accident.

– If you are travelling with children, please

note the information and safety precautions

ðpage 78.

– Never place your feet on the dashboard, on

the centre armrest, out of the windows or

on the seat. To ensure that the airbag sys-

tems can open without obstructions, never

lean forwards, learn over the centre arm-

rest, or lean on the door or the side window.

You could otherwise sustain potentially fatal

injuries if the airbags are triggered.

Information on seat belt retraction

After the seat belt is unbuckled, it is rolled up by

an electric motor in the reversible belt tensioner.

Information on belt tensioners

Reversible belt tensioners

– Persons, pets or objects positioned between

the airbag system and the occupant will pre-

vent the airbag system from inflating prop-

erly and could be catapulted through the ve-

hicle cabin – risk of serious or fatal injury.

Ensure that there are no objects between

the vehicle occupants and the airbag sys-

tem. Never secure or carry objects in the

area of inflation of the airbag systems, in

particular around the steering wheel, on the

dashboard, against the doors, on the win-

dows, on the centre armrest and in the foot-

well.

Seat belts with reversible belt tensioners may be

tightened after you drive off or in certain driving

situations. This is done if the belt is too loose and

needs to be taken up in order to lie more tightly

against the body.

Irreversible (pyrotechnic) belt tensioners

Seat belts with pyrotechnic belt tensioners may

be tensioned automatically in certain types of

collision. This helps to reduce the forward mo-

tion of the occupants. Some smoke may be re-

leased when the pyrotechnic belt tensioners are

activated. This does not mean there is a fire in

the vehicle.

– Never apply stickers or other coverings to

the airbag system covers.



74

Sitting correctly and safely

– The built-in coat hooks should only be used

for lightweight clothing. Do not use clothes

hangers to hang up clothing. Do not leave

any heavy, fragile or sharp-edged objects in

the pockets. This could otherwise interfere

with the effectiveness of the head-protec-

tion airbags.

centre front airbag inflates from the driver’s

seat backrest and the protection it provides

would otherwise be seriously impaired.

– As the driver, it is your responsibility to en-

sure that you and your passengers do not

hold any devices connected with the vehicle

(e.g. smartphone, controller) in front of

your torsos or heads when sitting in a seat

which is protected by an active airbag sys-

tem.

– If you intend to fit protective covers over the

seats, these must be of the specific type ap-

proved for use on Audi seats with side air-

bags. The side airbags inflate from the back-

rest and the protection they provide would

otherwise be seriously impaired.

Further safety information on airbag

system for Republic of Korea

– Any damage to the original seat upholstery

in the area from which the airbags inflate

must be repaired immediately by a qualified

workshop.

– Components of the airbag system are loca-

ted in various parts of the vehicle. Improper

servicing or repairs to the vehicle can cause

damage to parts of the airbag system or

prevent the airbags from working properly.

As a result, the airbags may not inflate cor-

rectly or may not be triggered at all in an ac-

cident situation, putting the occupants at

risk of serious or fatal injury. Have any re-

pairs or modifications to the vehicle carried

out by a qualified workshop.

Fig. 42 Further safety information on airbag system for

Republic of Korea

Overview of indicator lamps for safety

systems

– The airbag system can only be activated

once; after it has been triggered, have the

airbag system replaced by a qualified work-

shop without delay.

The indicator lamp  in the instrument cluster

monitors the safety systems such as the airbags

(including control units, sensors and wiring) and

belt tensioners. It lights up for a few seconds

when you switch the vehicle on.

– The airbag may release a fine dust when it is

triggered. This is quite normal and does not

mean there is a fire in the vehicle. The fine

dust can irritate the skin and eyes and/or

cause breathing issues, particularly in per-

sons who suffer or have suffered from asth-

ma or other breathing issues. Get out of the

vehicle or open the windows or doors to

breathe in fresh air.

If the indicator lamp does not light up when you

switch the vehicle on, if it does not go out after a

few seconds, or if it lights up or flashes while you

are driving, there is a fault in one of the safety

systems. Drive to a qualified workshop without

delay and have the fault rectified.

WARNING

– If you intend to fit protective covers over the

seats, these must be of the specific type ap-

proved for use on Audi seats with centre air-

bags. The centre armrest must remain

closed while the vehicle is in motion. The

Have the fault in the safety systems examined

without delay; otherwise the systems may fail

to trigger in an accident – this could result in

serious or possibly fatal injury.

75

Sitting correctly and safely

Overview of airbags

Fig. 43 Overview of airbags (inflation area after airbags are triggered)

The locations of the airbags are marked with the

word “AIRBAG”. The following airbags are fitted

in your vehicle:

It is not possible to define the exact triggering re-

sponse of the airbag system in all possible situa-

tions, since the circumstances in different types

of accident will vary considerably. Important fac-

tors include, for example, the nature (hard or

soft) of the object which the car hits, the angle of

impact, vehicle speed and so on. Whether the air-

bags are triggered depends primarily on the vehi-

cle deceleration rate resulting from the collision.

By processing the signals from the sensors loca-

ted in the vehicle, the electronic control unit is

immediately able to evaluate the severity of the

collision and activate the restraint systems ac-

cordingly. If the deceleration rate is below the

predefined reference value in the control unit the

airbags will not be triggered, even though the ac-

cident may cause extensive damage to the car. In

these situations, the occupants are restrained by

the correctly fastened seat belts.

1

2

3

Driver's airbag

Front passenger's airbag

Front side airbags and rear side airbags (op-

tional)

4

5

Head-protection airbags

Centre front airbag (if applicable)

The airbags in your vehicle provide the greatest

possible protection in accident situations when

passengers are seated in the correct position

with their seat belts properly fastened. Airbags

are a supplementary restraint system; they are

not a substitute for seat belts.

How the airbags work

The airbags may be triggered in accidents affect-

ing the front or side areas of the vehicle or in

which the vehicle overturns.

When an airbag is triggered, it is filled with gas.

This causes the relevant airbag cover panel to

break off. The airbag then opens into its deploy-

ment zone in milliseconds, with significant force. 

76

Sitting correctly and safely

►

As the seat belt-restrained occupants move in the

direction of the impact, the inflated airbags slow

their movement, thereby helping to protect e.g.

the head, torso and pelvis. Nonetheless, the pos-

sibility cannot be ruled out completely that an

airbag might cause injury when triggered.

To deactivate the front passenger's airbag, turn

OFF

the key to the

position in the key-operated

switch ðFig. 44. The indicator lamp

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF  will light up

and remain lit.

►

To reactivate the front passenger's airbag, turn

ON

the key to the

position. The indicator lamp

The airbag system works when the vehicle is

switched on.

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON  will light up

briefly.

Deactivating the front passenger's airbag

WARNING

– A child in a rearward-facing child restraint

system on the front passenger’s seat could

suffer a severe impact if the front passeng-

er’s airbag were to deploy – risk of severe or

fatal injury! Always secure any child re-

straint systems to the rear seats. If you have

no other alternative than to use a rearward-

facing child restraint system on the front

passenger’s seat, always check while driving

that PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF  re-

mains lit at all times.

Fig. 44 Glove box: Key-operated switch for deactivating

front passenger's airbag

– Adults travelling on the front passenger’s

seat will not be protected by the front pas-

senger’s airbag if it is deactivated – risk of

severe or fatal injury! In this case, while driv-

ing, always check that

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF is not lit.

Fig. 45 Headliner: Indicator lamp for status of front pas-

senger’s airbag

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that the

key-operated switch is set to the correct position.

If you have no other alternative than to use a

rearward-facing child restraint system on the

front passenger's seat, always switch the front

passenger’s airbag off ðpage 79. If you have

deactivated the front passenger's airbag, reacti-

vate it as soon as the child restraint system is no

longer needed so that the airbag can continue to

give the required protection.

►

Take out the emergency key ðpage 41 or take

the glove box key out of the glove box.

77

Sitting correctly and safely

Child restraint systems

– Children and babies must NEVER travel on

another occupant’s lap.

Safety information on child restraint

systems

– Never allow more than one child to occupy

one child restraint system.

– Never leave a child without supervision in a

child restraint system.

– Never allow a child to travel unrestrained in

the vehicle or to stand up or kneel on a seat

while the car is moving. In an accident, the

child could be catapulted through the car,

potentially causing fatal injuries to itself

and other occupants.

– If children are out of position when the car is

moving, they are at greater risk of injury

during a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an

accident. This applies in particular if the

child is travelling on the front passenger’s

seat, or if the child’s head is near the open-

ing for the side airbag when the airbag sys-

tem is triggered in an accident. This incor-

rect seating position can result in serious or

even fatal injury.

Fig. 46 Passenger's sun visor: Airbag sticker

– Make sure there is sufficient clearance in

front of the child sitting in the child re-

straint system. If necessary, adjust the seat

position and backrest angle of the seat in

front of the child restraint system.

Fig. 47 Passenger's sun visor: Airbag sticker for Taiwan

When installing and using child restraint sys-

tems, always observe the information in this

Owner’s Manual, the applicable country-specific

regulations and the instructions provided by the

manufacturer of the child restraint system.

– The back of any forward-facing child re-

straint system must be flush with the back-

rest of the vehicle seat. Adjust or remove

the head restraint if it hinders installation

ðpage 70. Install the head restraint again

immediately after removing the child re-

straint system.

WARNING

To avoid serious or fatal injury, children travel-

ling in the vehicle must always be protected

with child restraint systems appropriate to

their height, weight and age.

– Always make sure that the backrest of the

seat carrying the child restraint system is

properly engaged and that it cannot move

forwards. Otherwise the backrest could be

moved forwards, together with the child re-

straint system attached to it, in the event of

an accident or other emergency.

– Children under 1.50 m tall or younger than

12 must not travel in the vehicle without a

suitable child restraint system. Please ob-

serve any other applicable regulations in the

country in which you are travelling.

– NEVER use a rearward-facing child restraint

on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in

front of it, DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the

CHILD can occur.

– Improperly secured child restraint systems

in the vehicle can lead to serious or fatal in-

juries in the event of an accident. Always se-

cure the child restraint system according to

the manufacturer’s instructions.

– Applies to vehicles on which the front pas-

senger's airbag cannot be deactivated: Do



78

Sitting correctly and safely

NOT use a rearward-facing child restraint

system on the front passenger's seat.

– Applies to vehicles with deactivation

switch for front passenger's airbag: Do

NOT use a rearward-facing child restraint

system on the front passenger's seat while

the front passenger's airbag is active. If

you have no other alternative than to use a

child restraint system on the front pas-

senger’s seat, the front passenger’s airbag

must be deactivated. In this case, while

driving, always check that

workshop and have the airbag system

checked.

– If you need to use a forward-facing child re-

straint system on the front passenger’s

seat, move the front passenger's seat all the

way back so that it is as far away from the

front passenger's airbag as possible. Before

doing so, you should ensure that there is

nothing blocking the adjustment area. A

child in a child restraint system on the front

passenger’s seat could suffer a severe im-

pact if the front passenger’s airbag were to

deploy – risk of severe or fatal injury!

– Always replace the child restraint system

with a new one after an accident as damage

not externally visible may have occurred.

– The child restraint system must always be

properly secured, even when it is unoccu-

pied; otherwise it could be flung through

the cabin during sudden braking or in the

event of an accident.

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF remains

lit at all times. If

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF  does not

light up, remove the child restraint system

and re-install it according to the instruc-

tions provided by the manufacturer of the

child restraint system. If

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF  still does

not light up, the front passenger’s seat

must not be used. Drive to a qualified

Information on the right place to seat children

Children should always be protected with child

restraint systems appropriate to their height,

weight and age.

exceptional circumstances. A child restraint sys-

tem must not be used on the front passenger’s

seat if this is prohibited by the relevant country-

specific regulations. If the relevant country-spe-

cific regulations allow the use of a child restraint

system, check the tables ðtable on page 80

and ðtable on page 81 to see whether your

system can be secured on the front passenger’s

seat in the vehicle.

Audi recommends child restraint systems from

the range of Audi Genuine Accessories.

You can secure child restraint systems in your ve-

hicle using the ISOFIX retaining rings or the seat

belts. You can also secure child restraint systems

to the top tether anchorages.

If your child restraint system complies with the

relevant country-specific regulations and is suita-

ble for use on the front passenger’s seat of your

vehicle, please note the following:

Always seat children on the rear seats

Accident statistics show that the rear seats are

the safest place for children to sit. Children

should always be seated in an appropriate child

restraint system on the rear seats approved for

these systems ðtable on page 80, ðtable on

page 81.

Applies to: rearward-facing child restraint systems

– Vehicles without deactivation switch for front

passenger’s airbag: Use on the front passeng-

er’s seat is not permitted.

– Vehicles with deactivation switch for front pas-

senger’s airbag: The front passenger’s airbag

must be deactivated ðpage 77.

In exceptional cases: children on the front

passenger’s seat



Always observe the relevant country-specific reg-

ulations regarding whether a child restraint sys-

tem may be used on the front passenger’s seat in

79

Sitting correctly and safely

Applies to: forward-facing child restraint systems

senger's airbag as possible. Before doing so,

you should ensure that there is nothing block-

ing the adjustment area.

– Move the front passenger's seat all the way

back so that it is as far away from the front pas-

Seats suitable for the attachment of child restraint systems with ISOFIX

Child restraint sys-

tem

ISOFIX

size category

Rear seats

Centre

Front passenger's seat

Outer

Front pas-

senger's air-

bag on

Front pas-

senger's air-

bag off

Category 0:

Up to 10 kg

E/R1

IL

X

IL

E/R1

D/R2

C/R3

D/R2

C/R3

B/F2

Category 0+:

Up to 13 kg

IL

Category 1:

9 to 18 kg

B1/F2x

A/F3

IL, IUF

Category 2:

15 to 25 kg

-

IL

X

IL

X

IL

Category 3:

22 to 36 kg

-

i-Size child re-

straint system

F2x/R2/B2

i-U

– ISOFIX size category: The size category speci-

fies the weight range for which the child re-

straint system is approved. On child restraint

systems with universal or semi-universal appro-

val, the size category is specified on the ECE ap-

proval label. Each child restraint system carries

a label specifying the weight category.

– IUF: Seat suitable for the attachment of a for-

ward-facing ISOFIX child restraint system with

universal approval.

– i-U: Seat suitable for the attachment of an i-

Size child restraint system with universal ap-

proval.

– X: Seat not suitable for the attachment of the

corresponding child restraint system.

– IL: Seat suitable for the attachment of an ISO-

FIX child restraint system with semi-universal

approval. Refer to the vehicle list provided by

the manufacturer.



80

Sitting correctly and safely

Seats suitable for the attachment of child restraint systems with the seat belt

Child restraint system

Rear seats

Front passenger's seat

Front pas- Front pas-

senger's air- senger's air-

1)

Outer

Centre

bag on

bag off

Category 0

Up to 10 kg

U, L

U

X

U

Category 0+

Up to 13 kg

X

U

Category 1

9 to 18 kg

Category 2

15 to 25 kg

Category 3

22 to 36 kg

– U: Seat suitable for the attachment of a child

restraint system with universal approval.

– L: Seat suitable for the attachment of a child

restraint system with semi-universal approval.

Refer to the vehicle list provided by the manu-

facturer.

Attaching a child restraint system to the

bottom ISOFIX anchorages

– X: Seat not suitable for the attachment of the

corresponding child restraint system.

1)

–

: Seat not suitable for the attachment of a

child restraint system with a support leg.

Information on child restraint systems

Fig. 48 Rear seat: Bottom ISOFIX anchorages

– Child restraint systems can also be secured on

seats with side airbags. Side airbags can pro-

vide additional protection to children who are

correctly secured in a suitable child restraint

system in the event of an accident.

– For correct installation, some child restraint

systems require the use of both the lower ISO-

FIX anchorages and the seat belt. The simulta-

neous use of both of these is permissible as

long as this does not restrict the restraint sys-

tems or seat belts on an adjacent seat.

Fig. 49 Front passenger's seat: Bottom ISOFIX anchorages

Please refer to the safety information ðpage 78.

The bottom ISOFIX anchorages are located be-

tween the seat cushion and the backrest on the

vehicle’s outer rear seats and (on some vehicles)

on the front passenger's seat. There are two bot-

tom ISOFIX anchorages on these seats to which

you can secure an ISOFIX or i-Size child restraint



81

Sitting correctly and safely for Your Audi Q5 SUV Third Generation (2024-2026)

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