SEAT reveals new Exeo saloon in Paris

SEAT launched its first D-segment challenger, the Exeo saloon, in Paris. The Spanish firm's new Mondeo chaser looks rather familiar to those in the know...

What's all the fuss about?

We can say with confidence that SEAT's new Exeo is going to be a good car, as aside from restyled front and rear, SEAT's new D-segment model is basically a previous generation Audi A4. That's quite a boon for SEAT, as the old A4 was a fine driving car, which in its second life as a SEAT will provide a cheaper means of getting into a premium product.

Anything that stands out?

Sitting alongside its Ibiza and Leon relatives on the SEAT stand the Exeo is rather conservative in its style - there was only so much SEAT's stylists could achieve with the Exeo's Audi origins. The front and rear styling attempts to ape the edgy look of the rest of the model line-up, but isn't actually that successful, the Exeo having the look of one of those cars made 'faceless' on TV advertisements for car insurance. It's an average looker then, though that's perhaps not a bad thing, as the Exeo is likely to appeal to more conservative buyers than some of the more overtly styled models in SEAT's range.

When can I buy one?

The Exeo will reach the UK around the same time as its Ibiza Cupra relative, so expect to see it here in the first six months of 2009. Prices have yet to be announced, but the Exeo will undoubtedly come very well specified as standard and be attractively priced - expect the range to start from around £13,000.

Kyle Fortune