Global News: SEAT Most Improved Used Car Brand

The sporty Spanish outfit has just been named ‘Most Improved Used Car Brand’ in the CAP Used Car of the Decade Awards.

And the influential used car valuation experts’ carefully considered verdict could not be timelier since it comes as SEAT UK prepares to celebrate its best ever annual used car sales performance, smashing the previous record of more than 7,400 vehicles at the start of this month.

Explaining why the SEAT range had come out top in the once-in-a-decade awards Mike Hind, Communications Manager at CAP, said: ‘SEAT began the decade with a dull range of cars, unchallenging to convention and with a typically characterless European image.

‘In a short time the SEAT badge has been transplanted from a range of instantly forgettable vehicles onto a revitalised, youthful, high quality range of cars that has become genuinely desirable to used car buyers.

‘The revised Ibiza heralded a move to bolder design and the Altea provided clues to a more distinctive future. But it was the introduction of the stylish and instantly recognisable Leon which signalled the complete revamping of the brand.

‘Today, a used SEAT is actively sought and chosen by buyers who care about what they drive. The brand has earned its own reputation and that is exemplified by depreciation that matches the class leader in its principal sector.

‘From zero to hero in just ten years, the SEAT brand has rightfully earned a place on the shopping list of the discerning mainstream used car buyer.’

The facts underscore CAP’s glowing assessment of SEAT’s used car offering, as demand for Approved Used SEATs continues to run at record levels across the firm’s 116-strong dealer network. Celebrating the historic success David Ardern, SEAT UK’s Used Car Manager, said: ‘The appeal of our youthful, sporty and strikingly designed cars goes from strength to strength.

‘Our new car sales are far more buoyant than we could have anticipated 12 months ago. We’re also on target to sell upwards of 8,000 used cars to the growing SEAT dealer network in 2009, setting an all-time used car sales record in the process.

‘I’m obviously very pleased to receive this important award from CAP and, on behalf of the entire Brand in the UK, look forward to further developing our used car success story.’

Credits: wilswong