First look: Seat wagon is A4 effort

VOLKSWAGEN’S Spanish subsidiary Seat is rolling out a wagon version of its recently announced Exeo sedan.

Based on the B7-series Audi A4 from 2004 to 2008 (itself a facelift of the 2001 B6 A4), the Exeo wagon is known as the ST in Seat-speak, and is closely related to the A4 Avant.

However, Seat says about 30 per cent of the Exeo’s parts are new compared to the Audi version, while there are a choice of Euro V-compatible engines, including a pair of four-cylinder turbo-diesels and a petrol-powered unit, mated as standard to a six-speed manual transmission.

The nose and tail are different, while the cabin is a modified version of the interior found in the recently discontinued B6/B7 A4 Cabriolet.

Key ST measurements include a 442-litre cargo area and an overall length of 4.67 metres.

The Exeo is built in Spain at the Martorell factory on the same B7 production line that Audi used before it was lifted wholesale to Spain from Ingolstadt in Germany.

In a dwindling D-segment market in Europe, Seat’s decision to use an obsolete model from within the Volkswagen Group is considered a smart one, as it gives the struggling brand a proven product against impressive newer rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, at a fraction of the development cost.

As a result, the Exeo is more than 20 per cent cheaper than the latest, B8-generation A4.

Yet most modern conveniences are either standard or available, including Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, cruise control, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning and alloy wheels.

Exeo buyers will also be able to choose a DVD-based satellite-navigation system, double-glazed side windows, electrically adjustable and heated front seats and a solar sunroof.

Employing Audi technology and know-how may also allay consumer fears of less-than-stellar Latin quality, as the Exeo program was personally overseen by former Audi manager and new SEAT boss Eric Schmitt.

Australia is unlikely to see the Seat brand in the near future, let alone a reheated A4 in Spanish livery.

European sales start a few weeks after the Exeo ST’s Geneva debut.