SEAT Exeo 2.0 TDI CR 143 PS SE road test

Fellow VW Group manufacturer Audi provided a sound base for the latest Spanish model, enabling SEAT to take its first steps into the family car market. It’s feasible however that buying a second-hand Audi A4, the car on which the Exeo is based, would be a better proposition.

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Performance

SEAT Exeo There are three turbocharged engines – one 2.0-litre petrol plus 141bhp and 167bhp 2.0 turbodiesels – with a third oil-burner coming by the end of the year. The 143bhp 2.0-litre TD is likely to be the big seller, and it achieves 0-62mph in a respectable 9.2 seconds, going on to reach a top speed of 133mph. Fuel returns on the combined cycle hover at around 50mpg across the range, except for the Sport, which comes in at 36.7mpg. All variants have a standard six-speed manual transmission and are front-wheel drive.

Ride & Handling

SEAT Exeo The Exeo is built for comfort during motorway use, the A4’s set-up having been fettled to accommodate that very purpose. So, if you are fond of spending your days pummelling the tarmac, or have to do so, this is a viable choice. Head for minor roads, however, and you might find the suspension on the Sport model in particular rather hard going, though still an improvement over that of the car on which it’s based. My choice would be the SE, which offers more comfort and decent control without the uncompromising ride.

Build Quality & Reliability

SEAT lobbed together the exterior of the A4 saloon and the interior of the convertible variant, as this was seen as providing the optimum combination of quality and style. There is a long list of standard equipment, plus some interesting options which include double-glazed windows and a solar panel for keeping the cabin cool in summer even when the engine’s switched off. Crafty, eh? It stands to reason that, due to its Audi roots, the Exeo will have excellent reliability. And, as the entire contents of the A4 factory were shipped to Spain to construct the SEAT, is logical to assume the build quality is on a par.

Safety & Security

The VW Group works hard to maintain its reputation for safety and security, a trend which is upheld by this model. As you would expect, there’s remote central locking with deadlocks an electronic engine immobiliser, plus volumetric alarm with back-up horn and tilt sensor, just in case anybody has ideas about lifting the Exeo on to a low-loader. The outgoing A4 enjoyed a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating which, although the criteria have changed for this year, augurs well for the new saloon. As for safety aids, electronic stability programme with electronic brake assist, driver and front passenger airbags, front side airbags and curtain airbags are all standard.

Space & Practicality

It’s not the most spacious offering in class, with a 460-litre boot as apposed to the Ford Mondeo’s 535-litre capacity. Still, arguably the Mazda 6 is a closer rival and even that comes in with 510 litres. The manufacturer makes quite a song and dance about all the standard kit across the board, and there are some imaginative options. Dual-zone climate control, cruise control, electric windows front and rear plus front fog lights are factory fitted, as well as double-glazed glass and that solar-powered roof panel.

Ownership & Value

There are four saloon trims comprising S, SE, Sport and SE Lux, of which the SE is expected to be the big seller, and an estate variant arrives next month (July 09). Fleet sales are expected to account for 70 per cent of sales, and the SE comes in at 19 per cent BIK. Prices range from £17,740 for the S to £21,340 for the SE Lux. Apart from the mystery buzz coming from somewhere in the dash of both models I drove – the SE and the Sport ¬– the overall package was impressive. The interior’s on the verge of being an office-cum-living room on wheels, as it provides an MP3-compatible CD stereo, integrated Bluetooth, aux-in connection, steering wheel-mounted stereo and phone controls, eight speakers and even a USB port. Can’t help wondering, though, if SEAT has missed a trick by fitting an FM radio, due for extinction in 2015, rather than a DAB unit. Still, that would have pushed up the price. And really, price is what counts. The Exeo offers the chance to own an Audi-quality machine without the premium tag. Indeed, that’s possibly the source of its only major flaw, too. For more or less the same money, you could enjoy the prestige of the four-ringed badge by buying a year-old A4 rather than one of these. Still, the SEAT has a more funky image in its favour.

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