SEAT Exeo Saloon (09 on) - Review

Thanks to a forgiving ride and good noise insulation, the Exeo is ideal for long distance motorway travel, helped further by the supportive seats. Wind noise at higher speeds is kept to a minimum too. The biggest gripe is the lack of rear legroom, particularly if you have a tall driver or front passenger. With the front seats all the way back, there is practically no room for anyone to sit in the back. On the plus side all models come with dual-zone climate control as standard and an acoustic windscreen is available on SE models and above. This reduces noise further and also includes a special heat reflecting material to lower the inside temperature by up to 10 C. A sunroof with integrated solar panels is also available - it uses solar energy to power the air vents and cool the interior even when the engine is off.

With a 460-litre boot, the Exeo is usefully practical and offers identical luggage space to the BMW 3-Series. The boot opening is wide and the rear seats split 60/40, folding down to allow you to carry larger items. There's also an extra compartment on the left side of the boot and four chrome hooks for attaching a cargo net. In the cabin itself there are map pockets on the front seat backrests, large door pockets and optional stowage drawers under the front seats.

The Exeo uses the dash from the A4 Cabriolet rather than the saloon, which gives it a more stylish look, helped by features like the circular air vents and deep-set dials. Quality is excellent, as is the finish and all the controls are easy to get familiar with, particularly the neat climate control system. However, the optional sat nav system isn't as intuitive as other systems available, but it works well nonetheless. The driving position is spot on and there's plenty of adjustment in both the seat and steering column while the instrument dials are clear and easy to read.