First drive: Seat Exeo ST

Monday 12 October 2009

The estate version of Seat’s first large family car is a solid, low-cost way to own a premium load-lugger

What is it? This is the Exeo ST, the estate version of Seat’s first large family car and a value proposition meant to rival the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia.

You may remember that the Exeo saloon is actually a last-generation Audi A4 with a few cosmetic nips and tucks and this ST estate is no different, except that it’s based on the old A4 Avant. The bumpers at the front and rear, the grille, the lights and, obviously, the badges are new, but that’s about it. It’s inoffensive but very familiar.

Thankfully, there’s new stuff beneath the bonnet. Here you’ll find a fresh range of cleaner and more powerful VW-Audi Group engines, including a range of modern 2.0-litre TDI diesels, and a direct injection 2.0-litre TSI petrol.

Is it any good? Dynamically, the Exeo ST isn’t as sharp to drive as a genuinely modern rival like the Ford Mondeo estate, but it corners safely and competently.

Tip into a bend too quickly and the Exeo behaves predictably, washing wide into understeer with the ESP system intervening early if the driver doesn’t sort out the problem. It’s more than adequate, but keener drivers who want to attack a back road from time to time should look elsewhere.

For those who aren’t interesting in hammering around, the Exeo ST offers a supple and smooth ride that will be familiar to premium saloon owners but is rare to find in a car in this price bracket.

Inside, there’s plenty of room, although taller drivers may find the footwells a little too narrow. The boot is fairly capacious, with 442 litres of space with the seats up and 1184 litres with them folded down. That’s not as big as a Ford Mondeo Estate, but it’s not bad.

Equipment levels are also very generous. Even mid-range models include iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, climate control, and leather, all of which help make the Exeo ST stand out as a strong value proposition.

The vast majority of Exeos will be sold with the familiar but modern 2.0-litre TDI common rail diesel, which comes in three different states of tune: 118bhp, 141bhp and 167bhp.

The pick is the mid-range 141bhp model, which best balances on the road go with good economy and low emissions (49.5mpg and 149g/km of CO2). It’s got useful mid-range shove for overtaking too, helping the Exeo ST 140 surge from 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds.

The Exeo ST should prove pretty reliable: as it’s based on the last-generation A4, it’s very much a known quantity (the Audi version four out of five for quality and reliability in JD Power consumer surveys.) There’s no reason why Seat’s cosmetically enhanced clone shouldn’t achieve similar results.

Should I give it garage space? Value for money is one of most compelling arguments in favour of the Exeo ST. It’s a lot of car for the money, and, despite the Audi ancestry, it’s not pitched against premium brands such as Mercedes and BMW.

This is unashamedly a family load-lugger and has a price advantage – it’s about a grand cheaper that the Insignia and two grand less than the Mondeo. And that sounds good to us.

So, if you’ve always hankered after an A4 Avant but could never stretch to Audi prices, the Exeo ST is the ideal opportunity for you to fulfill your ambition. It’s also the most grown-up car Seat has ever built.

Specifications Model: Seat Exeo ST 2.0-litre TDI 140

Price: £19,240

Engine: Four cylinder, 1998cc diesel

Power: 141bhp at 4200rpm

Torque: 236lb ft at 1750-2500rpm

Performance: 0-62mph 9.8 seconds

Fuel economy: 49.5mpg

CO2 emissions: 143g/km