A4 v Exeo. So much for progress then.

PG · A4 v Exeo. So much for progress then.

Autocar this week run a comparison test of the Seat Exeo (aka last series A4 with new bumpers) versus the current Audi A4. The outcome makes you wonder why Audi bothered to spend goodness known how much on the new A4.

Price wise, stealing other people’s tooling once they have finished with it really seems to work. They compared an Exeo Sport 2.0 (143hp diesel) at £19,255 v’s an A4 SE with the same engine at £23,900. If you went for an Audi S Line it would be £25k plus. And those price differentials survive discounting from a quick check on drivethedeal.

Checking PCP rates the Exeo is a steady £30 per month cheaper, so I expect its residual value is not that great, but it still stacks up financially overall.

And most interestingly, the testers seemed to prefer the Exeo. Some comments I particularly liked and could identify with –
“The new A4’s dash is also arguably less clear than the classically (and clinically) Audi interior of the Exeo and the exterior is more obviously styled with half an eye on BMW’s bangle period. I’d take the Exeo’s old-school restrained Audi Bauhausian industrial design any day”

“The A4 feels more like an A4.99, a good half size above its predecessor…….. The Seat finds itself in its own distinct niche: the compact premium car, an otherwise dying breed.”

“As road tester Jamie Corstophine said, if he had to do 20,000 miles in the next 6 months, he’s want to do them in the Exeo.”

So, have VAG taken careful aim at their feet here? Perhaps we will start to see a backlash against each model being superseded by an ever bigger version that loses most of what actually made the original what it was. Or do we hope in vain?

Our new truck came from a dealer that is Mitsubishi and Seat, so I had a quick poke in an Exeo Sport when I was up there yesterday having a dog guard fitted. I was impressed, especially to experience that “hewn from solid” feel of the interior and the understated exterior.

Mind you, I still expect to see A4 S Lines piling past me on the motorway. But in a way that defines exactly what’s being said.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

I had a poke around an Exeo in the huge VW Emporium the other day. It looks classy both inside and out, and I greatly prefer "classic" Audi interiors like this to their over-styled recent ones.

Also echo your question as to what Audi have achieved with the new one: after all, the best Audi of recent times (with the possible exception of the R8) is based on the old platform.

Speaking of which, how about recreating the RS4 as an Exeo Cupra R? It wasn't exactly being killed by the opposition when Audi discontinued it.

Frank Bullitt

One of the things I've been looking forward to seeing is whether SEAT have made good the errors in the B7 A4 which they appear to have largely done - the list of 'deprovements' on the current A4 should include a poor RHD conversion too.

Blarno

I like the sound of a V8 Exeo Cupra R.

scamper

I drove the new A4 1.8T a few months ago, and wondered why Audi bothered. It was huge, the cabin was nice, although appeared to lack the build quality in depth of old and more Toyota than Audi, and the 1.8T engine was nice enough, although with poor fuel economy if pushed. However, it was boring to drive and not great to drive either- the fact the ride was the best bit says it all. Made the three series look even better.

Mark

Last week they were saying the Exeo rides and handles better than even the old A4 on which it is based.

Nice to see Seat build something that resembles a car, too.

tali

Apparently the Exeo is the first Seat model range (not Cupra) not named after a place.

Guitar Zero

Exeo is the nubs - it's no surprise that it's better than the B7 A4 given that Seat and Skoda made much better use of the Golf Mk 4 chassis than VW ever did.

For what it's worth - the 140ps Exeo beat the Lexus IS220d in Auto Excrementpress.

Although I have noted that some testers Autocar think the Exeo has a " dated " interior. Complete cobblers when you consider the same journos were milking their goolies over the A4 Cabrio interior but a few years ago.

They just need to do a 5 or 6 cylinder version and I'd certainly consider a second hand one.

PG

TimR

I'm sure Audi will be fine as there are plenty of people out there who wouldn't consider a SEAT due to it's badge.

Since it's only £30/month cheaper on a pcp it's not a stretch to get the Audi which will be perceived as being superior due to being newer.

A more comfy ride isn't going to swing it either - look how many S-lines and M Sports there ar ecompared to standard versions.

Guitar Zero

Sadly you are right and the Exeo will be as popular new as a dog shit flavoured chewing gum

ALF

As has probably been pretty obvious on here, I've become pretty fond of our B7 A4 - it is a perfect size, the dash and interior generally are superb, and it is definitely a quality item. The FWD setup is far better than many people bothered pointing out at the time, and it feels just a good set of dampers away from being an excellent motor (FSD's - with their capability to smooth out the ride even with limited travel - were made for the job, watch this space).

On the other hand the new one is too big and I concur that the interior just does not look right, in the A4 or A5. It's not bad - but it has some dodgy plastics and majors on the cancerous addition of the big screen, few dashes integrate them well.

I often think to myself that besides adding FSD's, if I could swap out the Audi's engine for the one in the Alfa (more powerful/soulful/revvy and a lot less spiky power delivery) and speed up the steeting a tad, the Audi would suit me just fine!

Frank Bullitt

Really?

I've not driven the exact combo, but have tried an S-Line Avant with the 1.8T motor and a 2.0T SE saloon and neither inspired me that anyone at Audi had a real clue about how a car should feel; the S-Line's especially rely too-heavily on front-end grip at stratospheric levels rather than feel. The powerful ones are good for a courtesy car to throw around but I did get bored of the ooomph very quickly.

BMW E91 320i touring was soooooo much nicer in every way!

Still, as a £17K SEAT the A4 make some sense.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

What is frustrating is that Audi have proved they can do it. The RS4 is every bit a match for both old and new M3s (talking of new cars that aren't a huge step forward), and the R8 has the measure of every Porsche other than the GT3. But it seems as though they don't put the same effort into making their regular cars as enjoyable to drive.

ALF

Turbonutter

Grampa

I have to admit that it wasn't until the Exeo was introduced that I even realised the A4 had been replaced by a new model - I thought it was just a mild facelift and a new interior.