More space in the back

[Dark Andrew]

I read a post earlier quoting a press release from September 2010 saying that the Exeo was to get redesigned seats in order to improve room in the back. Does anyone know if this has happened yet and whether this also applies to the leather "Tech" seats?

[julianat57]

Hi, supposed to be available this year (pos Spring), a re design of the seats giving more room in the back, got to be across the entire range I would think. Also first available with an auto box in the form of the multitronic gearbox,,,Julian

[Dark Andrew]

So does that mean that the car that I've just ordered (4th Feb 2011) should turn up in May with the revised seats (assuming it's built about 4 weeks prior to that)?

[julianat57]

Hi, that is a difficult one to answer, I would imagine that it applies to the cars that are available to order from springtime, there are people on here with connections to Seat, who could answer your question better. Julian

[Dark Andrew]

I assume they have a standard parts bin and once the old seats are used up they'll use the new ones, and since they've been promoting this update since September of last year I'd be suprised if they're still using old parts 7 months later.

[julianat57]

Hi, have looked on the net, and all I can find is that the new model is available in Spanish Dealers. I don't think this is just a parts bin change, it is a new model to overcome the short falls of the old one, ie, lack of space in the rear and no auto box availability. Julian

[Dark Andrew]

Reviews of the new model are starting to pop up in the motoring press now ( http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/seat-exeo-exeo-st-multitronic/255286 and http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/seat-exeo-20-tdi-multitronic-2204467.html ), and so I phoned a dealer today to find out what they thought. The guy I spoke to said that he expected to be selling the model from April and that any ordered up until then would still be the older model. He also didn't expect the current 20% discount offer to be extended again and so presented it as a straight choice of either buy now with the £3500 discount or wait until April to get the newer model but pay full price.

So, if he is correct, I suppose the question is how much will my kids value 44mm extra leg room in the back? At £3500 it works out at about £800 per cm. Having said that, I'm a little unimpressed with the idea of Spanish customers getting the newer model while we get an older one - I'm suprised they are doing that, I would have thought it was easier and more cost effective to make just one model.

[julianat57]

Hi, got to remember it is a Spanish car, so they are looking after their own market first. Go for the cheaper deal, it's adults who are supposed to suffer in the back, I had an earlier A4 for 4 years before the Seat Exeo and never had any complaints. It really is a great car and if you can get 3.5k off, then it's even better. Julian

[IMG SEAT]

All Exeo models produced from week 5 2011 will have the new seats with the extra legroom unless the car is ordered with the electric seat pack as an option.

[Dark Andrew]

So if I ordered mine last week (which I think is actually week 5) then I should be getting the new seats? I hope that's the case - it would be good to have a little extra room in the back (kids may be smaller but they seem to take up more space!).

Maybe someone could post a mini-review when they receive one?

[Dark Andrew]

I thought I'd phone up Seat UK today to find out what they knew, and the answer was that they knew absolutely nothing. They weren't even aware of any revisions being made to the Exeo - so no use there then!

[Dark Andrew]

Just had a look on the Seat.co.uk ( http://seat.co.uk/generator/su/uk/Exeo/site/start/main.html) website this evening and saw that they are now describing the Exeo as having "a re-designed interior to give more space to passengers and easier access to the vehicle". I assume this is confirmation that they are now building the new model - maybe someone should tell Seat UK Customer Services!