WHEN Seat took the plunge and entered the intensely competitive upper medium saloon sector, the resulting car came as something of a pleasant surprise.

The Spanish car-maker relied on a re-worked version of Audi’s previous-generation A4 to produce the Exeo, a handsome and elegant car in anyone’s book.

Now the Exeo has had some tweaks – and the big news is that it is now available with the CVT multitronic transmission.

Mated solely to the 2.0-litre TDI common rail unit producing 141bhp, the multitronic gearbox works on the principles of pulleys and belts rather than conventional gears. The advantage is smoother operation and better efficiency.

This is still a Seat of course, so a sporty flavour must be part of the package.

As well as a conventional D mode, slot the transmission into S mode and it will keep the engine revs higher for quicker responses. Transmissions like the multitronic operate by holding the engine revs at peak torque then altering the gearbox ratio for maximum acceleration.

However, the Exeo also has a manual mode operated by the lever or the paddles on the back of the steering wheel and offers seven virtual ratios to give the driver full control.

Driving with the transmission firmly in the D position delivers a largely fuss-free experience that is exactly why you would choose an automatic in the first place. Squeeze the accelerator and the revs rise gently, followed by smooth acceleration. One of the most notable benefits of the CVT is its fluid nature, which makes life behind the wheel more comfortable.

The rest of the Exeo experience is helped by the Audi parentage. The cabin may be an elder statesman compared to some of its rivals, the materials are still of a very high quality, the layout is sensible and clear and the specification is impressive.

The other significant change which applies to all Exeo models is a reconfiguring of the rear door pillar and seat back to liberate an extra 44mm of legroom for back-seat passengers. That might not seem like a huge amount, but in an already well-proportioned cabin it makes for a pleasingly spacious place to spend time.

There are some new trim options too, including some attractive leather colour schemes, plus higher specification models are available with rear LEDs for the first time.

Seen in profile, where the simple lines are indicative of a mature, imposing and elegant D segment saloon, you would be hard-pressed to tell that this was anything other than an Audi A4.

Apart from the Exeo’s impressive diesel engines, it is the generosity in the equipment department that really sets this car apart from its rivals.

The company has reinforced the Exeo’s business car status by fitting a Bluetooth hands-free system across the range.

With the likes of 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, electric windows, eight-speaker MP3-compatible CD and radio, auxiliary audio connection, a multi-function display including trip computer, automatic rain and light sensors, cruise control, integrated fog lights, rear parking sensors and steering wheel-mounted phone and audio controls, there’s little doubt that Seat has gone down the value-for-money route.

The Exeo came about largely because of Seat’s narrow model range, which prevented it from keeping customers that were otherwise happy with the brand, but also to attract new buyers in the business/fleet sector.

It was a gap that needed to be filled quickly, hence the plundering of Audi expertise.

With this type of customer in mind, Seat has focused on diesel power, and is offering generous equipment levels with a price tag to tempt. The addition of automatic transmission should bring more customers to the brand. This is a fine-handling and good-looking car that won’t cost the earth to buy and run.

Fact file

Model: SE Tech Multitronic 2.0 TDI CR.

Price: £23,230. Range from £19,175 to £24,215.

Engine: 2.0-litre diesel unit developing 143bhp.

Transmission: CVT multitronic automatic.

Performance: Top speed 129mph, 0-62mph 9.3 seconds.

Economy: 48.7mpg.

CO2 Rating: 153g/km.