Used SEAT Exeo review and buying guide (2009 to 2013): which one to buy and what to check

Which used SEAT Exeo should you buy?

Go for a 2.0 TDI that's run without a warning light since its emissions fix. It's the only Exeo engine with any real record, and its one known fault, a failed EGR valve and blocked DPF after that fix, shows up between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. Saloon or ST estate makes no difference to that risk, so it's how the individual car has coped that counts.

The Exeo was sold from 2009 to 2013, and the Multitronic automatic only came along from 2011. Nothing points to one year being more reliable than another, so don't pay extra for a later car on age alone. One owner's 2012 auto had its gearbox oil cooler fail, which is worth checking for but isn't enough on its own to rule the automatic out.

Which Exeo engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 2.0 TDI is the one to have, as long as it's coped with the EA189 emissions fix. That fix is behind its known fault: the EGR valve fails and the DPF blocks, usually somewhere between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. It's rated medium rather than high, so it's a reason to test a car carefully rather than to avoid the model.

Owners' reports back that up. Several had a flashing glow plug light, then the engine management light and limp mode after the remap. One car cut out at high speed and then wouldn't restart, and another came back from the remap noticeably thirstier. One dealer replaced a crankshaft sensor for £700 and another owner was billed £200 for a solenoid, and neither cured it.

On 2.0 TDI automatics the gearbox oil cooler sits inside the radiator. One owner's 2012 Exeo ST auto had it fail at 32,000 miles, leaking coolant and gearbox fluid and getting coolant into the transmission. That owner was quoted £1,000 for a new radiator, heat exchanger and a flush of both systems, with no promise it'd work. There aren't any reports on the manual, but that's a thin record rather than a clean one.

What should you check when viewing a used Exeo?

Ask for the paperwork for the EA189 emissions fix and every invoice since, because most of the reported trouble followed it. On the test drive, watch for a flashing glow plug light or the engine management light, and get it up to motorway speed to make sure it pulls cleanly without cutting out or dropping into limp mode.

On an automatic, look under the front where it's been parked for a puddle of mixed coolant and gearbox fluid, and check the coolant isn't discoloured. Ask whether the radiator's ever been replaced and get the receipt if it has. One owner gives the car longer runs on purpose to keep the DPF clear, so find out whether it's mostly done short hops.

One 2009 Exeo had a brake pressure sensor fault, so make sure every warning light on the dash goes out once the engine's running and stays out on the drive. If the invoices show a crankshaft sensor or solenoid fitted to cure limp mode, ask whether the symptoms came back, since neither part fixed it on the cars where it was tried.

Thousands of Exeos built between 2009 and 2013 were recalled because the Takata passenger airbag's propellant breaks down with heat and damp, so its housing can burst and throw out metal when it fires. A small batch of 2009 and 2010 cars was also called back over a front airbag inflator. Ask for proof the airbag recall work was done, and don't take one that can't show it.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used SEAT Exeo cost to run?

What do Exeo owners like about them?

It's built like a vault, and that solid feel is the Exeo's strongest suit. It's also better to drive than you'd expect of a sensible family car, with a comfortable ride, and the 2.0 TDI's the version that's been singled out for how well it drives.

The ST estate's the better-looking of the pair, with sharper lines than the saloon it's based on, and it gives nothing away on the road: it's just as good to drive and every bit as comfortable. If you're torn between the two bodies, the estate's the one to pick.

• The 2.0 TDI engine in this model provides a surprisingly good driving experience.
• The car features an exceptionally solid build quality, contributing to its overall durability.
• The Exeo offers good value for money, making it an attractive used car option.
• The Exeo station wagon is a handsome vehicle, offering a surprisingly good driving and riding experience.
• The station wagon variant has a more appealing appearance than the saloon.