New SEAT EXEO review at a glance:
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Advantages: Considerably cheaper than the equivalent Audi A4, strong residuals based on the limited numbers predicted to be sold, a lot of kit as standard, strong performing power plants, Audi benchmark quality underpinning model

Disadvantages: Ford Mondeo is cheaper, unoriginal, might be frowned upon in certain circles

Summary: Having taken re-cycling to a new dizzying height, the Seat Exeo upper-medium market family saloon will gate-crash the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia party, causing quite the stir. If only because the competition will automatically assume they’ve been re-joined by Audi. Copy cattiness aside, the Exeo is a solid, stylish, well appointed, premium feeling family car with a raft of extras, all for, well, Seat money. You’d be silly not to really.



New SEAT EXEO Review:
You would be instantly forgiven for thinking the Seat Exeo had a familiar look about it. It’s like someone you’ve seen somewhere before but just can’t place, or a distinct feeling of déjà vu that try as you might you cant determine whether belongs in the realms of fantasy or has some roots in reality.

Of course, if you’ve ever owned an old Audi A4 you’ll know exactly what’s what, and will concur that you’re not loosing your marbles. As in a nutshell, that’s exactly what the Seat Exeo is.

Hand-picking any surplus body frames, running gear, major components and trims that Audi had tossed into the parts bin before embarking on its latest A4 representation, Seat used its long-standing Volkswagen group connections to pilfer just about anything. Taking the waste not, want not ethos to a whole new level of cynicism, the Exeo conclusively proves that other age-old adage that suggests imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

Which ever way you look at the ‘arrangement’ though, the Exeo is a lot of someone or other’s family saloon car. In fairness the Spanish auto maker has put its own little design flourishes here and there so as not to make a mockery of the entire laws of patent, tellingly in the front and rear elevations; and so perfecting Seat’s current corporate snout.

Seat has developed two new engines specifically for the Exeo however, both common-rail diesel assimilations in the form of a 143bhp and a 168bhp 2.0-litre TDi, whilst the range is completed by a 197bhp 2.0-litre FSi removed straight from the clutches of the current VW Golf GTi for good measure. More than enough grunt, free revving and torque across the engine range to distract critics still harping on about copyright. The 62mph flag taken in 9.2 seconds, the Exeo will return 51.4mpg and emit in the region of 143g/km of CO2 as it goes about its family transporting business.

The Exeo’s suspension and steering has borne the brunt of enough fettling by Seat to ensure cries of ‘cheat’ can be levelled in either of those departments. The Servotronic speed-sensitive power steering is a definite bonus, and instils a sense of front end reassurance in the Exeo’s driving make-up.

Taking a ganders inside, and the cabin increases your suspicions and makes you question whether familiarity doesn’t always breed contempt. And that’s because you’re faced with a facsimile of the Audi A4 cabriolet’s interior. But in its defence, that’s not exactly a negative thing in our book, as this inadvertently results in the application of high-quality materials and well positioned switchgear left, right and centre.

S, SE trim and Sport levels are the trim levels to take your pick from, with a minimum of 17” alloys, new-fangled suspension, climate, MP3-compatibility, tyre pressure monitoring and Bluetooth telephony found on all Exeo versions.

The automotive gossip columns are also full of rumours of a ‘hot’ estate Exeo and the possibility of performance inspired FR and Cupra variants to pep things up a bit.