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SEAT Cars Hidden & Secret Features That You Don't Know About

SEAT Cars Hidden & Secret Features That You Don't Know About

Published: 01 July 2024 | Updated: 19 September 2024

SEAT cars can come with a lot of hidden features that many owners need to learn how to activate and use.

So, whether you are a long-time SEAT car owner or you are a new car buyer, you might be surprised at some of the clever and hidden car features and touches built into your SEAT car - or a brand new one you are about to buy - that car companies put in, that you should have been aware of.

So let's explore some of these lesser-known and hidden SEAT car features - and more than that, we will even show you how to unlock these hidden gems to give you an overall better experience and make the most out of your modern car and this amazing car brand.

Table of Contents


Understanding the Different Types of Hidden Features in SEAT Cars

These secret car - and hidden - features can often be very subtle and not immediately apparent, such as how to use them or get the most out of them. Consequently, these features and hidden functions are designed to enhance the driving experience, improve safety, add to your convenience, and make your daily drive a bit easier. However, not every feature is available in every SEAT car model, and these can vary from model to model.

Seat car range

Top Contributors of Hidden Features

Common hidden features available in SEAT UK edition and new model cars especially can consist of, for instance:

  • Blind Spot Monitoring
  • Driver Assistance systems
  • Lane Keeping Assist
  • Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Heated Steering Wheel and Seats
  • Auto-Dimming Mirrors
  • Gesture Control
  • Active Suspension Systems
  • Engine Start-Stop Systems
  • Departure Warnings
  • Wireless Charging Pads
  • Heads-Up Display (HUD)
  • Enhanced Navigation Systems: Provide real-time traffic updates and route suggestions.
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system
  • and lots more

If you do struggle to connect, let's first check if it's activated and turned on. To do this, go to the 'Settings' menu on the touchscreen.

How to Turn Off & or Reboot the Touchscreen Display

The car's infotainment system will turn on automatically when you activate the car. However, did you know that if you experience issues with it, for instance, if it hangs up and becomes unresponsive, or if either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are not able to connect to it, you can simply reboot the system, normally by pressing and holding the power button for 30 seconds.

The Infotainment system will then go black and reboot. Usually, this is all you need to do for it to clear the issue it ran into and carry on using it.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Bluetooth is obviously very handy as it allows you to connect your phone and other devices directly to the car to use many connectivity features. However, sometimes, you may struggle to connect.

SEAT interior

Select 'Bluetooth' and ensure it is turned on.

Then, on your smartphone, as long as it is Bluetooth enabled - turn on Bluetooth and search for available devices.

Your car should now appear. Select your SEAT car from the list and follow the prompts to pair your phone. It is as simple as that, really.


Hidden Umbrella Compartment

Some SEAT cars can come equipped with a hidden umbrella storage area designed for you to easily store your umbrella for use during unexpected rain showers. This feature typically involves a built-in compartment within the car that securely stores an umbrella.

The umbrella compartment is usually integrated into the door panel, often the driver's or front passenger's door, or sometimes in the boot area.

If you have one in your car, you want to look for a discreet compartment or slot that might be covered with a small lid or flap.

Seat Rear View Mirror

Anti Glare Button on the Rear View Mirror

Did you know that your rear-view mirror can come with varying hidden features, such as the ability to reduce the glare from drivers behind you. This can be either in the case of an auto-dimming mirror that dulls other motorists' lights at night to a switch located on the bottom side of the mirror.

If you have a switch, flicking this up with an angle, the mirror is in a way that you can still see behind you, but the glare is heavily reduced so as to not blind you during night driving.

Conversation mirror

Another great and often overlooked feature is the "Conversation mirror." This small convex mirror is usually located above or integrated into the regular rear-view mirror if your car has this feature. This, for instance, allows you to keep an eye on your passengers, especially those in the back seats, without turning around.

This is particularly useful for parents who want to monitor their children while driving, as the conversation mirror provides a wide-angle view, ensuring you can stay focused on the road while staying connected with your passengers.

 

To activate the conversation mirror if equipped, this is usually integrated above the regular rear-view mirror or within the overhead console.

Once you find it, open the mirror if you want to use it. If it is part of the overhead console, you might need to press a button or gently pull down a small hidden compartment to reveal the conversation mirror.

Next, adjust the angle once the mirror is visible to ensure you have a clear view of the rear seats. The mirror should be angled so you can see the passengers without straining your neck or eyes.

You can now glance at the conversation mirror and keep an eye on your rear passengers, especially children in the back seats. In turn this helps you stay aware of their activities without turning around, helping you to maintain your focus on the road ahead.


Hidden Seatbelt Features

SEAT modern cars can often come with hidden seat belt features designed to really enhance your safety and convenience, such as:

 

This feature is usually automatic, when you start the car and begin to drive, the sensors will detect if the seat belts are fastened.

If a seat belt is unfastened, a warning light will appear on the dashboard, and you may hear a chime until the seat belt is fastened.

This feature automatically adjusts the seat belt height when you start the car to ensure the belt is comfortably positioned across your chest and lap. If your car has a manual adjustment, you can also use the buttons on the side of the seat or the door frame to adjust the height as well.

Pretensioners are activated automatically during a collision, and in the event of a sudden stop or crash, the pretensioners tighten the seat belts instantly to hold passengers securely in place.

These adjustable upper anchors can also allow you to adjust the height manually using the lever or button on the door frame.

To do this, slide the anchor up or down to ensure the seat belt crosses your shoulder comfortably without rubbing against your neck.

This feature works automatically during a collision, and load limiters allow some seat belt webbing to spool out to reduce the force on the occupant’s chest, enhancing your safety during an accident.

Boot Anchor Points

In the boot on the sides, you may find a black plastic square. If you do you can try to pull this out, and it should easily give you a little hidden plastic clip. You can then use this plastic clip to anchor your shopping bags so that they don't move around the back on your drive home from the shops.

Hidden Boot Floor

A hidden boot floor feature provides you with a secret compartment space beneath the main floor of the car's boot. This feature is designed to keep valuables out of sight and increase the overall storage capacity.

In the boot, there is normally a hand you can lift and pull upwards to reveal this storage area.

Lockable Glove Box

Some SEAT cars can come with a lockable glove box, where you can use the car key to lock or unlock the glove box.

Seat Boot
Seat interior

Glove Box Hidden Features

There are often secret features and hidden features in the glove box that really do add to your convenience as well as give you a lot more security as well, such as for instance:

Lockable Glove Box

Some SEAT cars can come with a lockable glove box, where you can use the car key to lock or unlock the glove box.

Cooler Compartment

Some glove boxes even have a cooling feature connected to the car’s air conditioning system, and if you see a small vent or switch inside the glove box you know yours comes equipped with this feature.

Lighted Glove Box

This feature is usually automatic, and a light will turn on when the glove box is opened to help you see inside much easier, especially at night.

Hidden USB Charging Ports

Many glove boxes include USB ports for charging devices hidden inside, these are active when the car turns on.

Hidden Storage Compartment

You also want to look for a secondary latch or button inside the glove box that reveals an additional compartment that can be used to store secure documents especially.

Enabling Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you can pair many of your Apps and stream your music straight to the car. However, if this is the first time you are using your car or if it fails to connect, learning how to enable this feature can be a game changer.

How to Activate

Firstly, connect your smartphone to the car’s USB port using a compatible cable or via Bluetooth. If you are not sure how to do this step, please see the section above.

The infotainment system will then automatically detect your phone and prompt you to activate either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup, and you can now use this feature.

Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Logos
Seat parked on the beach

Using Voice & Gesture Controls

Did you know that most modern SEATs can come with voice and gesture controls?

If your car has these features, they can be a game changer. You can now control your car entirely via the power of your voice and hands rather than having to take your eyes off the road to do it manually.

How to Activate

Activating the voice controls is really simple, as all you need to do is press the voice control button - which is normally located on the steering wheel.

You can then speak commands such as “Call Mum” or “Navigate to work” to control various functions all hands-free.

For gesture controls, if your car has this functionality, these are turned on in the car's settings on the infotainment system. You can then control your infotainment system by waving your hand in a circle in front of your centre console display to turn the music up or down or by moving your hand to the left and right to move between tracks being played, for instance.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Adaptive cruise Control is a fantastic monitoring system to make sure you have enabled - especially on the motorway. This system will keep your car cruising at a speed setting that you usually set from the steering wheel. If you have a Head-up display with the Traffic Sign Recognition feature, it will show you and allow you to automatically set the speed to the speed limit of the road you are on with the press of a button.

If another vehicle then gets in front of you, it will then slow down until the road ahead is clear again, and then it will accelerate back up to your set speed.

How to Activate

To turn on this feature when you need to, you need to press the ‘ACC’ button on the steering wheel to turn it on.

Extra Tip

You can then use the up and down switch near the same control to set your desired speed. You can also use the ‘+’ and ‘-’ buttons to set the desired distance you want your SEAT to keep from other cars in front of you.

The system will then automatically adjust your speed and distance to maintain a safe distance from the car ahead based on the commands you have given it.

To turn it off, just press the ACC button again, and you'll be back in complete control of the car.

Seat Leon
Seat Ateca

Lane Keeping Assist

The Lane Keeping Assist feature really is a must to get the most out of your drive, as the car will monitor the lane you are in. Suppose it detects lane drift occurring, and you haven't activated the indicator light. In that case, it will alert you that the car is drifting into another lane, and then corrective steering will be applied to keep you in your lane. This is really useful to help prevent accidents from occurring where your car accidentally drifts into another lane.

How to Activate

If this feature isn't activated, and your car has the ability, simply go to the ‘Driver Assistance’ menu on the touchscreen, which can sometimes be located in the car section.

Select ‘Lane Keeping Assist’ and toggle it on - that is it; this system will now start to keep an eye on the road ahead for you automatically.

Blind Spot Monitoring

With Blind Spot Monitoring, you can check if it’s enabled on your car by looking for a small triangle on the glass of your wing mirrors. This triangle can then light up when it detects vehicles in your blind spot that you may not see, giving you a notification to double-check if you are thinking of pulling out.

How to Activate

If you can see the triangle in the wing mirror but this is not turning on, this could be due to this feature being deactivated in the settings.

To check this, go into your car's infotainment system and then into the car settings. Check the driver assistance settings and check if they are unticked. If it is, tick this to enable this feature. This will now start up every time you start the engine automatically for you.

Seat Rear
Blue Seat driving

Rear-View Camera

The rear-view camera is convenient as it allows you to see what is behind you when reversing.

How to Activate

To activate this, all you need to do is put the car into reverse. If you have this feature, the rear-view camera will then automatically activate for you on the infotainment system, displaying the rear view on the touchscreen.

Automatic Parking Assistance

Parking assistance is a fantastic feature that makes parking your car much easier and safer for you as the car does all the work.

This system then helps you manoeuvre into tight spaces by providing visual and audio cues while also doing all the steering and acceleration for you.

To activate the system, you first need to turn it on. You can do this by looking for a button on your dashboard with a "P" symbol - or a car icon with lines.

Press this button to activate parking assistance.

Next, you need to drive around 10 - 15 MPH, and the car will start looking for parking spaces.

Once it finds one, it will display a rectangle on the touch screen and alert you. The way this rectangle is shown will be the direction the car tries to park in. Next, press the rectangle where you want the car to park.

Some lights will now show on the steering wheel, showing you that the car is taking control. The car will now park for you in the designated space, and you will see the steering wheel turning directions for you.

At this stage, keep your foot over the brake, especially just in case you need to take control.

Emergency Braking

Emergency braking is a safety feature designed to help you prevent collisions. It automatically applies the brakes if it detects an imminent collision ahead of you that you haven't reacted to.

How to Activate Emergency Braking

If your SEAT car has this feature, emergency braking is usually on by default. To make sure, or if you think it isn't working, go into your car’s settings menu in the infotainment system, and look for safety or driver assistance settings under the car menu.

You might see it listed under names like "Automatic Emergency Braking" or "Forward Collision Warning with Automatic Braking, as well, depending on the version of the infotainment system you have.

You can then enable or disable the feature.

This system then does not require any special activation while driving, and it will now continuously monitor the road ahead.

If it detects a potential collision and you don’t react in time, it will automatically apply the brakes to reduce the impact or avoid the collision entirely for you.

Seat Arona parked on the beach
Seat with bike rack on the back

Hidden Storage Compartments

Many SEAT cars come with clever hidden storage compartments built into the seats. These compartments are perfect for stashing away small items like sunglasses, snacks, or even important documents.

How to Activate and Use

This can vary massively from car to car. For instance, some cars tend to have a hidden storage compartment in the middle rear seat. You can then pull this seat down, and it will reveal hidden cup holders and a storage section for your passengers to use.

You can even find storage spaces under the seats, in the centre armrests, behind the seat backs, and sometimes by lifting up the rear mat, as these can also contain hidden storage compartments underneath.

Customisable Seating Positions

Long gone are the days of simply moving your seat forward or backwards via holding and pulling on a lever at the base of your seat.

Today's car seats instead offer you a range of customisable positions to ensure that you get maximum comfort from your seats.

For instance, a lot of SEAT cars come with electronic height adjustable seats, allowing you to change the height, tilt, and lumbar support to find the perfect driving position for you. Some cars even have memory settings, so you can save your preferred seating position and easily switch back to it with the press of a button.

Seat Tarraco seating

For seat positioning, these controls are typically located to the right hand of the seat, on the base of the seat itself. If you notice a series of buttons here, holding and pressing them will adjust the chair for you. To stop, simply release the button.

On some models as well, you can also use seat memory control. This is normally located on the door with buttons listed as 1 and 2. Once your seat is in the right position, you can then press and hold the number you want to save your exact seat position to. The car will then remember these settings.

If someone else then gets in and adjusts your seating position, you can then reset it back to exactly how you like it by pressing the button you saved it to. The car seat will then automatically adjust for you.

You and your partner also have a couple of buttons that allow you to save your own seating configurations. At a press of a button, the seat automatically adjusts to the ideal configuration for whoever is driving.

Seat Leon interior

Heated & Ventilated Seats

Heated seats are perfect for chilly mornings, while ventilated seats help keep you cool on hot summer days.

How to Activate

If your car has this ability, it is usually controlled by a seat icon located on the centre console. By pressing this button, you will turn these features on. A series of lights can also appear, and repeatedly pressing the button will either increase or decrease these lights, allowing you to control the temperature of your seat.

Ventilated and Cooled Seats

Similarly, look for a button with a seat icon and small cooling fans or even a snowflake symbol.

Press this to start the cooling function, and like the heated seats, you can adjust the intensity by pressing the button again.

Heated Steering Wheel

Another climate control feature that is ideal for cold mornings is the heated steering wheel, which is also ideal for chilly mornings, as it warms up the steering wheel and your hands.

How to Activate

If your car has this ability, this functionality is usually turned on and off by a button at the base of the steering wheel. Pressing it once it turns on and pressing it a second time will turn it off.

Turbo Boost Systems

Some SEATs come with a Turbo boost feature, which is designed to give your vehicle an extra burst of power, making acceleration much quicker.

How to Activate

You first need to locate the Turbo Button. Some cars have a dedicated turbo button, usually located on the steering wheel or near the gear shift.

This button might be labelled as “Turbo” or have a similar icon.

Next, press the Turbo Button to engage the turbo boost. As the turbo kicks in, you might feel a slight change in the car’s performance as it provides more power to the engine.

Seat Leon Interior
Ateca interior

Monitor the Turbo Gauge

If your car has a turbo gauge on the dashboard, monitor it to see how much boost is being used. This can help you manage the extra power effectively.

To Deactivate

To deactivate the turbo boost, just press the button again, and the car will return to its standard power mode.

Seat Massage Function

With the seat's massage function, you can enjoy a relaxing back massage in the seat itself if your car has this ability.

How to Activate

This feature is then often controlled through the car’s infotainment system - or sometimes a dedicated button on the seat or door panel itself.

You want to look for a symbol resembling a seat with small vibrating lines.

You can then use the car’s touchscreen or press the button to start and adjust the massage settings.

Driving Modes

Driving modes allow you to adjust a lot of settings in your car automatically at the press of a button.

For instance, this can tend to consist of Eco Mode -which increases your range and fuel efficiency at the cost of your acceleration - Comfort or Balanced Mode - which gives you good all-around settings - and Sport Mode - which stiffens the suspension and increases your accelerating and handling while reducing your battery range and increasing your fuel consumption to do so.

How to Activate

These modes are generally marked near the gear selector in the centre console. Pressing each one tweaks the car to adapt to that setting.

Ateca infotainment
Seat Ateca

Drowsiness Detection System Hidden Features

The SEATs Drowsiness Detection Systems, especially in modern cars, are designed to really enhance your safety by monitoring the driver’s alertness and providing you with warnings when signs of drowsiness are detected.

How to Activate and Use Drowsiness Detection Systems

In most vehicles, the drowsiness detection system is a hidden feature that is automatically activated when the car is started.

For vehicles that require manual activation or adjustment to this system, navigate to the car’s settings menu through the infotainment system and you can adapt it there.

Petrol Fillup Indicator

Did you know that when you get to a petrol station - on petrol and diesel cars - there is normally an icon with a little arrow pointing to a car near the car?
Have you never seen it before?
Then next time you get in, take a look as it is really easy to miss.

This arrow shows you which side of the car the car's fuel cap is located, helping you to know which fuel pump to pull up to be on the right side of the car.

Ambient Lighting Options

Many new SEAT cars come with ambient lighting that really does give you a subtle yet modern setting feature that enhances the overall atmosphere of your interior.

For instance, these can add a touch and feel to driving a very luxury car while also creating a more relaxing environment.

Ibiza interior

Activating ambient lighting is really easy, as all you need to do if your car comes with this feature is to locate the Lighting Control Panel. You will tend to find this through the infotainment system, under Car settings -> Lighting.

Now, you can choose the ambient lighting option you want, including the option to select several preset colours and themes.

Here, you can adjust brightness and colour, and some cars allow you to change the colour for different areas of the car, like the footwells, door panels, and dashboard.

Once you're happy with the settings, save them, and the car's ambient lighting will now show.

Some cars allow you to save different profiles for different drivers, allowing you to have varying ambient lighting sets for whoever the driver is.

In addition, if your SEAT car supports it, you can also try changing the car's colour using voice commands by activating the voice system and then saying, "Change ambient light to [colour]," for instance.


Premium Sound Systems

A premium sound system can transform your car into a concert hall on wheels. Its high-quality speakers and advanced audio give you crystal-clear sound and bass, making every drive a bit more enjoyable.

Firstly, turn on the infotainment system, which is usually done by pressing the power button on the dashboard or steering wheel if it doesn't turn on by default.

Next, navigate to the audio or sound settings in the infotainment menu.

Now select the Sound Mode menu, as many premium sound systems have different sound modes, such as surround sound, studio, or concert hall. Consequently, from here, choose the mode that best suits your preferences.

For a more personalised sound experience, try adjusting the equaliser settings, which can increase or decrease the bass, midrange, and treble frequencies to match your individual taste as well.

From here, you can also adjust the balance (left to right) and fade (front to back) to ensure the sound is perfect from your seat, which is especially useful if you usually drive alone or with passengers.

Once you have set everything to your liking, save your settings, as this way, you won't need to readjust them every time you get in the car.


Driver Profile Settings

Many SEAT cars now have driver profile settings, which allow you to save your preferred seat position, mirror angles, and even climate control settings. Suppose these get changed by a passenger or another driver with a tap of a button. In that case, everything resets exactly how you like it.

To set this hidden feature, start by accessing the settings menu on your infotainment system.

Next, find the driver profile section labelled "Driver Profile," "User Settings," or something similar.

Now, create a new profile by selecting the option to do so. You might need to enter a name for your profile, such as "Driver 1" or even your own name.

Next, adjust your seat and mirrors manually to your preferred position, and make sure to set the mirrors so you have a clear view. Once everything is set, next save these settings to your profile by following the on-screen prompts.

Depending on your car, you might be able to save other preferences, such as radio stations, climate control settings, and even navigation destinations. Consequently, if your car allows this, adjust them as you desire and save them to your profile.

Finally, once you have saved your profile, it should automatically activate each time you use the car key associated with it.

Some of the newer SEAT models can even recognise the driver by the key fob and automatically adjust to your saved settings when the door is unlocked automatically for you.


Customisable Displays

Next are customisable displays. For instance, did you know that you can choose what information you see on your dashboard or infotainment screen?

 

To change this information, with your car on, go to the main menu on the infotainment system.

Next, look for a section labelled "Display Settings," "Instrument Cluster," or something very similar, depending on the infotainment system you have.

Next, in this menu, you will find options to customise what you see on your main display, which might include speed, navigation, fuel efficiency, and other driving information.

You can even choose your layout, and some cars will even offer you different layout styles for the main display.

For instance, you can select between a classic look, a modern digital display, or even a minimalistic style, depending on your preference for what information you want to see.

Lastly, once you have chosen your preferred display settings, save them, and these settings should stay active each time you drive unless you decide to change them again.

Tarraco interior

Dual-Zone Climate Control

Dual-Zone Climate Control is up next and comes with many hidden features. For instance, did you know that it can allow you to set both your driver's seat and your front passenger seat to set their own preferred temperature settings?

This means if you prefer it warmer and your passenger likes it more relaxed, you can both be comfortable.

How to Activate Dual-Zone Climate Control

Activating Dual-Zone Climate Controls could not be simpler, as this functionality is normally found in the centre console of your car.

Turn the dial - or press the buttons depending on your car's layout - marked for the driver’s side temperature.

You can then adjust the passenger’s side temperature, as well as being able to separately adjust the temperature for the driver as well.

Seat logo

Who is Sinclair SEAT

Here at Sinclair SEAT, we are a trusted group of car experts and motoring experts across our SEAT dealerships located across South Wales and the UK, specialising in all things SEAT.

Known for our excellent customer service and knowledgeable staff, Sinclair SEAT offers you a wide range of new SEAT cars and used SEAT cars alike.

We can also provide you with comprehensive services, including vehicle financing, car maintenance, and repairs as well.

Our customers also appreciate our dealership's friendly atmosphere and commitment to helping you find the perfect car for your needs. We are here to help you.

SEAT Cars Final Thoughts

As you can see, SEAT cars can come with many features that may need enabling or adjusting to get the most out of them.

Consequently, we help ensure that you are aware that these features exist and how to get the most out of them, making every journey that bit smoother and more enjoyable.

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In other news...

Sinclair Group Websites win Prestigious Industry Award

Sinclair Group Websites win Prestigious Industry Award

11 December 2017

We're delighted to announce that Sinclair Group have been awarded 1st place in this year's Auto Retail Network Website Report. This report is one of the most statistical in the industry, mystery shopping dealers and meticulously assessing their website functionality and design - which makes this award even more of an honour.

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