Sports Tourer 2.0 TDI 184ps FR Technology Pack DSG 5dr Estate

stylish, well thought out but does not stir the soul

Bought this car from a main dealer, 6 months old, 5k miles on the clock. Competent to drive but no more. Streering is either too light or too sticky, a Focus mk3 is miles ahead. Top spec diesel fairly fast but no more, rather slow to rev up. Ride is brittle, handling is acceptable but not a patch on a Focus or a Giulietta. Stupid defrost button position for the wing mirrors, unintuitive and impractical sunroof controls (2006 Fiat Grande Punto sunroof buttons are so much better) totally irritating sat nav postcode function, slow responding touch screen, inaccurate trip computer (mpg is up to 10% optimistic), voice command absolutely useless - can hardly understand 'call Sophia' or 'call Michael Taylor', fussy climate control switchgear, QI wireless phone charger stopped working and auto function for windows works intermittently, some rattles in the cabin and the sunroof, not a great deal of room in the driver's footwell the only blotches on a highly competent package. Superbly thought out interior though, excellent all round vision, thin A-pillars and excellent rear visibility. Incredibly roomy in the back, massive boot despite compact size, miles ahead from Focus/Giulietta. Fairly quiet on the M'way, Seat's choice of selling the vehicle with Bridgestone Potenzas wreck both ride and rolling quality, Pirelli P-Zero Nero would have suited the car so much better. Great brakes, fine DSG gearbox, quality switchgear, plenty of storage compartments (big glovebox, storage boxes underneath front seats), lots of toys, keyless entry, seamless stop/start, Seat Sound, excellent leather/alcantara heated seats, adaptive cruise control, Android Auto/Carplay and painless Bluetooth connectivity make this car near excellent. Good fuel economy too, 38mpg around town, up to 55mpg at 70mph on a long M'way trip, quiet diesel engine, great panoramic sunroof. Excellent LED headlights, so much better than xenon. Cheap maintenance, currently on variable service schedule, looking at 18-19k miles before a pit stop. Reliability is very good, always gets me from A to B, although I have already had an airbag sensor replaced under warranty and will visit the main dealer again to fix the QI wireless charger and the intermittent automatic window function. Overall a very fine car, bit soulless and electrics/electronics reliability not unblemished, but a fine proposition through and through.

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