Auto and Motors Club

SEAT Mii

For SEAT, the arrival of Mii involves a return to a segment in which they have been for many years, the A (miniutilitarios). The newcomer is like the Volkswagen Up!, In turn, as the Skoda Citigo. There are three flavors of the same car, the key is exactly the same.

However, the Spanish brand, which is a leader in sales in Spain, is a very important model, and are making a considerable promotional effort. Although we tested the Up!, We took the chance to try the Mii in different circumstances.

So I opted for the simplest model I could: “I want the hubcaps of.” Furthermore, again asked for the less powerful engine, the 1.0 MPI 60 hp. Above is the 75 hp, which provides exactly the same maximum torque 95 Nm at 3000-4000 RPM. I wanted to squeeze every last horse.

Therefore, this test has two completely different fields. On the one hand, I put the car through the old town of Seville, where the boldness of a compact will go over like a suicide. In addition, I’ve tried on the highway, but ramp up the good, where the engine would have to give everything.

Regarding the Volkswagen, I have not found differences beyond what the equipment varies. It has the same advantages (rooms, settings, ergonomics, boot …) and the same defects (depth adjustable steering wheel, reverse comes when you want, folding seats with memory of a fish …)

In my opinion, and without having conducted Citigo yet, is that the choice should be motivated solely for cosmetic reasons or for offers dealers do. Skoda is not the worst nor the best Volkswagen are the same, although the housing is slightly different.

In ancient Rome tested the Up! with their filthy and chaotic traffic, something that does not happen in the new Hispalis. The Seville are much more civilized, just have to be the bird of the carriages, pedestrians confused, and who interprets the red light means “for two seconds you can skip.”

The SEAT Mii is very easy to drive in town, even for those who only touched a diesel at the driving school and has gasolinafobia (which is why it is deployed with ease in novice hands and feet). The truth is that the three-cylinder mill supports very well the awkwardness of a novel, and not easy calarlo.

The only thing we notice is that, at very low speed, how the engine makes a sound unpleasant, apportionment, when it goes below 1,000 RPM. A no fuel like that. Of course, stand like a champ and no stalls. When the road is cleared, agility and quickness out of the situation.

The developments are larguillos, but as the car weighs little, is a good city dweller. The computer will ask the fifth when we go to 50 km / h, and in plain engine does not cost very little effort to keep up. In fact, in fifth does not reach full speed, and the second can be squeezed to about 93 km / h (roughly).

Despite being mechanically very simple, in town we have all the power needed, and go about 60 hp. The 75 hp is barely noticed in urban areas, you’ll notice the difference the road. Consumption has grown from 12 l/100 km, while the engine is cold for the first kilometer.

Maneuver very well thanks to its long wheelbase (wheelbase) and it will loose the address. Easily park where the site is scarce. Of course, on drums have to be careful with the space needed to extend the doors. As of now three doors, these are long for easy access and exit from behind.

On the streets of Old Town, near the Cathedral and the Giralda, in some it is essential to fold the mirrors in the compact, and to drive a sedan must be mad. In the case of SEAT Mii is not necessary, if it can not happen is a street that is not suitable for cars directly.

By having a profile tires with “high” does not hurt either when the wheels scrape the curbs close Seville. This wheels equals one big drama. Has a model of hubcaps on 14 “, and then may have alloy wheels in 14 and 15.” The dimensions are perfect for a car of this category.

For those who live in an area like this, where there is very little room to pass and parking, the Mii and their cousins ​​have a very good balance between internal capacity in relation to its exterior size, and its trunk is very profitable. Furthermore, the suspension filtered squishy and where there are paved lot behind us thank you.

When we tested the Up! not had the opportunity to enter a demanding road where the engine could express, and do not talk about sports driving. I refer to endure ascending ramps at rates above the law or without the motor claudique and demand reduction gears. And I took the 60 hp with every intention.

If we go towards Seville Extremadura (A-66), we care ramps from 6% thereafter. By incorporating into the highway, crushing the third, and without reaching the injection cut, we already reached 110-120 km / h without an annoying delay. So far, so good, and stating that a passenger carrying ballast.

According to the ramps begin to appear, of course the car calls for more throttle, but not reduce, I’m in fifth. The needle is maintained in the 120-130 at the moment. More ramp, faster, and still holds the condemned. Suddenly, a slower driver that I cover the left lane, and I am forced to lower speed.

When the deceased is thrown to the right, my ability to accelerate is very small, but I have. Still, not to make the puñeta others, reduced to one third to win and regain the pace accelerated. The engine continues to meet, and now above my expectations. We approached the tunnels and their brutal Fanega Media pending.

After the tunnel, we entered a valley in a “v”, is too low, then rises sharply. Downhill, the engine accelerates quickly in fifth, I’ll bet that this slope the car can comfortably exceed its maximum tab (160 km / h), because gravity takes effort to remove air and the fifth is long. But it is a utility, we care little.

We reached the summit and began the climb, floor the throttle pedal and I look to see how fast you are able to maintain. The speedometer needle, after a small stretch over 120, begins to fall rapidly, but the closer to 120, it slows down the brakes, and seems likely to endure.

Finally, the needle is not touching the hairline 120, and hence no longer drops. For the record, the air conditioning was not necessary and was off, but still did not expect to endure. For example, the Dacia Logan 1.4 MPI 75 hp that I could stand in fifth or chance (see test), rather it was at 100.

By constantly going uphill with a heavy load of gas, you might think that consumption would be brutal, but no. It reached 7 l/100 km. Upon warming, the amount of air that can be swallowed is limited, and if there is more air, more fuel is not involved, then consumption has a reasonable limit.

In these circumstances, consumption is equal to or better than a hybrid of high end, I do not care if it’s a Honda or a Toyota. It’s normal, are heavier and have higher displacement internal combustion engines (1.3 to 1.8 liters). In short, the little one spends little even in these conditions.

I am beginning to paste the time the mirror, and I have to turn back to Sevilla. Downhill, I’m at a brisk pace, being 120 and 140 km / h. I was interested to know how the suspension reacts pass strong expansion joints on the viaducts and bridges, when the car is cornering.

The movement and compression of the springs is soft, and not in a bad sense. In a roundabout will notice something strong balance taken, but on the highway, but let’s even a strong wavy bumpy, is less noticeable than in most cars. It is very isolating, and that is moved to the expansion joints.

The Mii transmits a dual carriageway aplomb, certainly not passed me the same feeling as other cars in its segment. It is quieter, is more isolated, less noticeable his humble origins, it seems that the engine will blow constantly. In short, a car is something different from its competitors.

Conclude the proof, having combined urban expressway traffic demanding plan, and consumption is quite reasonable. The final average is 6.8 l/100 km, with an average of 36 km / h, not bad! This Mii is quite resultón, and worth what it costs, especially in relation to its direct competitors.

My experience in the segment A, and are not very few cars, is that the client must resign themselves to a cheap car, and shortcomings. This time, we approach a bit like a higher segment, but at a price commensurate with their segment and the equipment you have.

However, the VAG Group should not sleep. Several updated Mii rivals this year or have already been updated, and sometimes are more competitive in price. To see how the market works, it lacks the hatchback and fueled by CNG (which still does not make much sense in Spain by the lack of public pumps nationwide).

Is it wrong obviating a diesel engine in the range? I think not, when you have gasoline engines that consume little, buying a diesel makes less sense. Makes less sense even in a segment where there are very high mileage and where reliability is paramount, so the child support.

Of course, if instead of a version to CNG, LPG version leaves the factory, then the Mii economy would be a champion in every sense. Perhaps dare later, if that decision up to me … And to see when launching an automatic, that in this segment is becoming a very reasonable option.

As you know, SEAT was a sales leader in Spain during 2011. With the advent of Mii, the brand intends to continue to hold that lead, especially in a context of lower overall sales, and where the average budget of the Spanish buyer gets closer to this type of car.