SEAT EXEO ST test drive since 2009 station wagon
Sport family
Seat EXEO ST. Price: from 22790*. On sale: Autumn 2009 Family car with sports character, utilitarianism and incendiary drive ... The Spaniards decided to offer such an unusual mixture in one version of their new EXEO ST novelties
Test pilot
Stanislav Shustitsky, 55 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience 27 years old, personal car - Shevrolet Lanos
The desire to solve this charade led me to abuse of an official position: I made a decision that was originally incorrect to readers. However, about everything in order.
Having created the Seat EXEO sedan on the Audi A4 platform, the designers from Martorel went on, designing Sport Tourer universal based on the Avant model. The solution is quite bold. When asked about whether it was worth using the worn B7 platform to create a new model, the designers and marketers Seat patiently explained that this is a great opportunity to enter the D segment without much effort. Yes, and what was bad Audi A4 car? And the corresponding price bar will help make the novelty attractive to corporate customers. True, it is difficult to disagree with the last statement when it comes to the sedan, but it seems to me that the station wagon is unlikely to become a hit of corporate sales. As for the power units, the gasoline family of ST will be represented by an atmospheric 4? Cylinder 8? A valve engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a capacity of 102 liters. With. and two turbo engines 1.8 liters (20? Valve) and 2.0 liters (16? Valve TSI) with a capacity of 150 and 200 liters. With. respectively. There are two new TDI CR DPF two -liter diesel engines made based on VW Group blocks with a capacity of 143 and 170 liters. With. And for all versions of 6? Step mechanical KP. Only by the end of the year and only for 200? A strong version will appear automatic transmission 6? Step Multitronik. But the suspension is proposed in two versions: comfortable and sports. The latter in the database is equipped with EXEO with 200? A strong engine. As a matter of fact, it was with the 200? A strong sports and family version, this very abuse was connected: despite the fact that cars will only be delivered to Russia with gasoline engines with a capacity of 102 and 150 liters. S., for the test I chose this particular car.
It is worth noting that the SEAT designers managed to carry out a cosmetic operation relatively painlessly, complementing the strict and painfully familiar Ingolstadt features with Spanish temperament. In any case, the profile of Avant and the Afas a la Ibiza is not irritated. In the cabin, there are even fewer differences from the ancestor. But, as in the fourth, everything is solid and functional. The length is 4666 mm, a large rear door, a 442 -liter trunk with a volume of 442 liters (with folded rear seats, the volume increases by more than 100 liters), rails ... No, this is, without a doubt, a family car. True, the passengers on the rear seats are cramped, although the Seat engineers specially worked on a decrease in the thickness and shape of the back of the front seats.
I enjoyed the car control. At the same time, the authority of Audi did not provide any pressure. The suspension is moderately tough, while reading the relief of the road does not annoy, the smoothness of the course is at a height, and the rolls are very small in the design of the shock absorbers, adaptive valves are used. Management also does not cause complaints, especially since in the basic configuration of a given car (as in the version with 170 diesel, a strong engine) used the Servotronic rudder with a progressive characteristic, which works impeccably at any speed. I was also pleased with the engine: elastic (in his work there is practically no turboyam), with good dynamics, acceleration to a hundred takes 7.6 seconds. The athlete’s appearance is complemented by two exhaust pipes integrated into the rear bumper, and low -profile tires planted on 17 inch alloy wheels. As an option, you can choose 18 inch wheels. In total, three sets are available to customers of Seat EXEO ST: Reference, Style and Sport.
After the test, I asked one of the SEAT marketers in a nutshell to characterize the technical task when constructing the EXEO model. He almost met the proposed format: an extremely sports vehicle, but with comfort corresponding to a car of this class. But does a slightly worn livery harm such an image? Nevertheless, they meet on clothes. In Seat, a similar question is not offended. Our strategy is based on the fact that this platform will not become obsolete for a long time, and in any case it is more successful than among competitors. As for the impressions of the management, many believe that the Seat EXEO is even better than Audi, as the project manager of the project Carlos Gonzalez Treger believes. We do not love
Drawers, shelves, cup holders, etc. Here are in abundance. Comfortable
The dimensions of the trunk are fully consistent with the concept of a family car. Practical
The designers tried, but in the back seats it is still crowded. Closely
Driving
Dynamics, information content, feedback here is more important than another: the car is balanced in all respects.
Salon
Convenient, with good ergonomics that has long journey. And what is surprised, just remember the roots.
Comfort
The suspension in this version is more rigid, but this will not hurt comfort.
Safety
The standard has seven airbags, including a pillow that protects the driver's knees.
Price It is assumed that in Russia the base will be the price of 1? 053? 000 rubles.
Advantages and disadvantages
+ You can safely transfer all the positive details of the Audi A4 design to the Seat EXEO tracing paper.
- lack of space for the legs of the rear seats passengers.
Specifications
Mark and model - Seat EXEO ST
Dimensions - 4666/1772/1454 mm
Engine - gasoline, TSI, 1984 cm3, 200 hp/5100 min -1
Transmission - mechanical, 6? Step
Dynamics - max 235 km/h; 7.6 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - Toyota Avensis, Renault Laguna.
Our opinion
The use of a well -established platform for the production of the SEAT EXEO models line is justified. But there are questions. Seat marketers hope for corporate customers, but if this idea may be justified with regard to the sedan, then everything is not so simple with the station wagon. As for the success of sales in Russia, here, first of all, everything will depend on the price ...
Author: Stanislav Shustitsky
