Used tow car: Seat Exeo
It might not be the biggest on the market, but the Exeo is a very capable tow car
IF IT ISN’T broken, don’t fix it. It’s an old saying, but one that reeks of common sense. It’s also a saying that Seat kept in mind with the Exeo saloon and estate, which were basically the then-previous-generation Audi A4 with Seat badges. There’s no harm in that, as the A4 had been on sale for a good few years and had been thoroughly developed, so Seat was simply reaping the benefits of sister brand Audi’s work. The Exeo is a vehicle that should appeal to tow car buyers, because there’s a range of engines available, it’s well put together, it’s reasonably quiet, and it has a huge boot. Better still, if you find the boot isn’t quite big enough, there’s also an estate (badged ST) model. Engines comprised a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with either 118bhp, 140bhp or 168bhp. In addition, there was a 197bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol model. A six-speed manual gearbox was standard on all models, with continuously variable transmission available on the 140bhp 2.0-litre TDI. Five trims were offered over the course of the car’s life, starting with the S and rising through SE, SE Tech, Sport and Sport Tech, with standard kit on all models including dualzone climate control, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, an auxiliary socket and electric windows all round. Moving up the range brought high-tech equipment, such as double glazing, a solar sunroof to help power the air-con when the engine is off, bi-xenon headlights and electrically adjustable front seats.
Model history
Back in 2009, there was a bit of an executive-saloon-estatesized hole in Seat’s range, so the company took the tooling for the recently replaced Audi A4 and Avant, and turned it into the classy Exeo. It wasn’t cutting-edge, but it had been finessed throughout its life and was as good as it was going to get – which is to say, pretty good. The fact that Seat could offer it at a reasonable price was also a bonus.
It had reasonable front cabin space from the off, but the rear was short of leg space. However, rear-seat room was improved when the car was facelifted in 2012, because the backs of the front seats were reprofiled to allow for greater rear legroom. The boot of the saloon was huge, having been specifically shaped to allow golf clubs to fit. It’s actually bigger than the luggage area of the ST model when the rear seats are raised, but obviously, the estate has the advantage in ultimate carrying capacity, which could tempt tow car users. Given the vehicle’s roots as an Audi, cabin quality is good; albeit with the proviso that this is an interior originally designed at the turn of the millennium. It definitely looks dated these days, but it was made to last the twin tests of time and family life, so it should be in good nick. As mentioned, a range of engines was offered; but the best option is the 140bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel, which gives the Exeo a reasonable turn of pace and calm cruising ability, and views fuel stations with commendable revulsion. On top of this frugality, an Exeo should be a pretty cheap car to keep running in terms of maintenance costs. According to our sources, a minor service will cost just £101, while a major service is less than £135. That is seriously bargain territory, and means there’s little excuse for the previous owner not having kept up the maintenance schedule. The Exeo does a fair enough job as a tow car. When we tested it back in 2010, it proved stable at speed, and provided reasonable punch in overtaking. Even our violent emergencylane-change manoeuvre was unable to shake it. However, we would advise against looking at cars with the Sport suspension system fitted, because this makes the ride firm to the point of being tiresome on even the most mundane journey.
Trouble spots
The good news is, the Exeo has been subject to just one recall in its life. The word ‘Dieselgate’ should make everything clear. Yes, the car’s engines were part of the shenanigans, so it’s worth making sure the work has been carried out. That said, there have been a few reports of the Dieselgate remedial work causing some problems with the way the engine runs, making it drop into limp-home mode with the attendant engine warning light on the dashboard. It’s worth taking along someone with mechanical savvy to ensure the car starts and runs as it should. If there’s any sign of dashboard warning lights, walk away. Aside from that, the Exeo has had no problems. Better still, neither has the car on which it is based, the Audi A4.
Verdict
The Seat Exeo isn’t the biggest tow car you can find – rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and even VW Passat are larger – but it is nevertheless a capable and practical tow car. It remains reasonably unaffected by the weight of a trailer, and the estate version will provide extra lugging space should you require it. On top of that it should be reliable and cheap to run. If you need a lot of space or the traction offered by four-wheel drive, perhaps this one isn’t for you, but for most people, the Exeo should be perfectly adequate.