Seat Altea
Ratings
4 stars
Summary
Recommended. Less spacious than rivals, but this handsome mid-sized MPV is surprisingly good to drive.
Review
Despite being a mid-sized MPV, the Altea isn't being pitched as a competitor for the segment's more utilitarian, seven-seat offerings. It's a resolute five-seater, intended to combine a reasonable amount of space with a rewarding driving experience.
The design is certainly distinctive. The Altea bears a close visual relationship with the Leon and Toledo, sharing its sibling's front-end treatment and heavily contoured flanks. Inside the cabin it is far more conventional, and although the quality of some of the plastic trim doesn't feel that great, it's well constructed and spacious for both front and rear seat occupants. The standard car offers a decently sized boot, while the slightly stretched Altea XL has a massive amount of luggage space.
On the road it's immediately clear that the Altea drives differently from the majority of people carriers. The firmly-sprung suspension gives tenacious roadholding with plenty of grip and good manners as the limits approach. The flipside is a bumpy ride over rougher road surfaces, although the Altea copes with the demands of motorway crusing well enough.
Three petrol and three diesel engines are available. Of these, the entry-level 1.6 litre petrol unit lacks urge beyond derestriction signs, but the others all provide strong performance: the range-topping 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol motor particularly so. Of the diesels, the 1.9 TDI lacks much in the way of punch but the 2.0 TDI 140 is excellent - far better than the expensive and barely-faster TDI 170, in fact.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
4 star
At least Seat is trying to do something different with the Altea's design. Handsome and distinctive, although the heavily creased flanks are maybe a little OTT.
Handling
4 star
Corners with considerably more conviction than you would expect any mid-sized people carrier to.
Comfort
3 star
The firm suspension means that ride quality can get choppy over rougher roads.
Quality & Reliability
3 star
The interiors feel tough and up to the rigours of young families, but some of the plastics feel very cheap compared to classier rivals.
Performance
4 star
The entry level 1.6 litre petrol and 1.9 litre diesel engines struggle a bit with full loads, but all the others give excellent performance.
Roominess
4 star
Not as big or practical as seven-seat rivals, but noticeably more spacious than a conventional family hatchback. A good compromise between the two extremes.
Running Costs
4 star
Decent residual values and good-value servicing from Seat dealers make the Altea a cost-effective proposition. Less powerful versions also have respectably low insurance ratings.
Value for money
4 star
Standard equipment levels are good, with the middle and upper reaches of the range getting loads of kit.
