SEAT chooses Mii to take on VW group rivals

First there was the Volkswagen up!, then the Skoda Citigo, now SEAT has joined the VW Group rush to small cars with its Mii.

The new city car will be in showrooms in three-door form next Spring, at prices likely to be less than £8,000. The five-door will follow later in 2012.

However the car will launch in its home market, Spain, before the end of this year, in a similar way to Skoda which is starting Citigo sales in the Czech Republic.

Like the Citigo, the Mii is based around the up! However it has a much more distinctive, narrower front end following SEAT’s family look and pitched to appeal to younger buyers.

The engines will favour insurance-fearing new drivers too – both are 1.0-litre petrol units of just 59 and 74bhp. However Seat says the Mii’s low 854kg weight will ensure that it is a nippy machine.

Standard versions will soon be followed by a Mii Ecomotive, boasting a C02 figure of 97g/km, well into free road tax and congestion charge exemption territory.

Notable amongst the Mii’s equipment is City Safety Assist – the car uses a laser sensor to monitor traffic ahead. It warns the driver when there is the imminent threat of an accident at speeds of less than 18mph. If he does not react, the Mii brakes automatically.

SEAT has not had a small car in its range since the Arosa was dropped in 2005.

Words by: Andrew Charman