Seat’s stylish new Exeo is sure to be a smash hit
WHEN Volkswagen-owned SEAT decided to base their new compact executive four-door saloon, the Exeo, on the previous generation 2005 Audi A4, they didn’t just take the relevant bits and pieces they wanted — they took the entire production and assembly lines too!
Upped the lot from the Audi plant in Bavaria, Germany, and re-installed them at VW Group’s related SEAT factory in Martorell, Spain.
Still the new ‘A4’ Exeo — the Latin word ‘to go forth’ and pronounced ‘ex-ay-o’ — is, however, more than a rebadged and rehashed Audi.
SEAT, owned by the Volkswagen/Audi group since the late eighties, having costeffectively used the group’s parts bin — taking the platform and engines, for example — they did a lot of development and engineering work of their own in producing this elegant hi-tech, hi-spec package.
Measuring 4.6 metres long with a 460-litre boot, the Exeo looks big and handsome.There are even strong hints of the styling from the current generation Audi 4, especially around the back, where there’s a new boot lid and rear bumper, but the front is pure SEAT with an almost identical grille and bumper design to that of the new Ibiza and unique new wing mirrors.
Inside it is not quite as spacious as many of its rivals, providing enough room for four adults (five were it not for the transmission tunnel hampering rear space).
Comfort
Everything in the faultlessly finished cabin looks and feels solidly constructed.
The dash, which is a little bit too fussy here, comes from the Audi A4 Cabriolet and is classy and there are lots of soft touch surfaces.
Good two-way adjustment, too, for the steering wheel, courtesy of the Ibiza, and together with the height-adjustable seat ensures finding a good driving position.
The car, which has foes including the Ford Mondeo, Toyota Avensis, Opel Vectra and Skoda Superb, comes with an array of comfort and convenience features.
On the entry ‘Reference’ trim they include illuminated glovebox, split folding rear seats, front and rear power windows, remote central locking, radio CD, MP3 capability plus AUX in, four speakers, Bluetooth, on board computer, electric and heated exterior mirrors, front fog lamps, dualzone climate control, trip computer, rear folding armrest, ISOFIX, 16-inch
steel wheels, six airbags, ESP, EBA and electronic immobiliser.
The ‘Style’ trim, our review car, adds cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, passenger seat-height adjustment, front seat with lumbar support, low tyre pressure warning, chrome framed on side windows, 16-inch alloys, 8 speakers, rear parking sensors, coming home lights function plus auto lights on and rain sensors.
Power
The Exeo is available with three superb 2.0 litre VW turbodiesel engines, equipped with the DPF particulate filter and common-rail technology for the first time, outputting 120bhp, 143bhp and 170bhp respectively.
There are also two petrol engines, a 102bhp 1.6 litre and a 200bhp 2.0 litre.
Our Irish review car was powered by the 143bhp turbodiesel. Last year on our Spanish preview I drove the 170bhp. Both engines are strong and flexible and make for fine motorway cruising.
However, you don’t need the extra power of the 170 — the 143 is ideal and will do everything you ask from it, very smoothly and so quietly. It keenly outputs those 143 horses at 4,200rpm for the sprint to 100km/h in 9.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 214km/h. Both the 143 and 170 are mated to a standard six-speed manual gearbox with tight gear ratios.
The ambitious Spanish carmakers have come on in leaps and bounds in the intervening years since being taken over by VW. The Exeo, their first entry into the upper medium sector, even if it is with a little help from the Audi A4, is yet another indication of just how much.
PRICE (ex works): €29,050 (2.0TDi CR Style review car). Prices start at €24,305 for a Special Edition 2.0TDi CR SE with Reference trim plus 16-inch Dante alloys, chrome frame on windows, tinted windows and Convenience Pack.
CO2 RATING: 139g/km./km.
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