Seat Mii SE 1.0 Auto 5dr Car Review - May 2013

The Seat Mii is offered with two choices of 1.0 litre engine, and the automatic gets the more powerful of the two engines, although as with almost every automatic gearbox it isn't quite as swift off the mark as a manual. The acceleration from 0-62mph is a stately 13.9 seconds, and the top speed of 106mph means the engine is capable enough for driving on the motorway. The handling on the car is very good, with light and responsive steering perfect for city driving and making it a doddle to park, while the suspension holds the body well while cornering, although the automatic gearbox can be a little jerky at times.

Although it is a small car, drivers will find plenty of space on offer and a seat that adjusts for height as well as distance from the wheel, and most people will find the lack of adjustment for reach on the steering wheel not too much of a problem. Although many small cars can be rough and ready with refinement, the Mii is actually quite good, with very little road and engine noise to be heard even at speed.

One of the main differences between the Mii and its rivals is that it has avoided the rounded bulging designs in favour of small and sleek, with a front end that is very similar to that of its big brother the Seat Ibiza. The small tail lights and small spoiler over the rear window also help the car to stand out, although the back end is also a little squarer than its rivals. The package is completed with a very attractive set of twin spoke alloy wheels, that are included as standard with this model.

The level of equipment is not at all bad with the SE version of the car, with air conditioning and electric heated mirrors helping to give the car a classy feel. The car doesn't include an alarm as standard, but apart from that comes with all of the expected security equipment such as central locking and an immobiliser. One worthwhile optional extra is the Seat Portable System, which is a combination of satellite navigation, bluetooth hands free kit and on-board computer in one small device that can be taken with you for security when you leave the car.

This five door version of the Mii does mean that access to the rear seats is a little better than in the three door version, but the back seats are still very cramped, and the boot is also quite small. Nonetheless, this is to be expected in a super mini, and this city car is very good when it comes to parking and getting around town quickly and effortlessly.

The car does have a reasonable level of safety equipment, including four air bags, ABS and stability control, which helped the car to achieve five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests. SEAT does enjoy a very good reliability record since becoming a part of the Volkswagen Group, and this is fully expected to be another of their reliable models.

The Mii range is one that sets a very low price point even compared with some of its competitively priced rivals, but with a list price of £10,840, the automatic version doesn't really make sense unless you absolutely must have an automatic gearbox. The fuel efficiency figures are a minor improvement over the manual transmission models, offering an average 62.8mpg.

Smaller cars naturally tend to hold their value reasonably well, but depending on the market and those looking for an automatic the scarcity of this model could help when it comes to selling the car. The Mii comes with a reasonable after care package which includes a two year roadside breakdown assistance policy and a three year or sixty thousand mile warranty.