SEAT Alhambra vs Ford S-MAX

Space

If space was your only real criteria, why was the Alhambra not tested against the bigger Galaxy?

By Shaun34 on 18 July, 2011, 4:55pm

Exactly right, Shaun.

I've owned S-Maxes and new and old shape Galaxies and have test driven the new Alhambra. The S-Max annihilates the Alhambra for driving pleasure and performance, the Galaxy equals the Alhambra for space and comfort while still providing a slightly more natural driving feel and better performance.

The Alhambra should have been designed with sliding 3rd row seats: that way the boot space could really have been maximised when carrying large families with younger children and all their paraphernalia.

.... and why was a 140 dsg tested against a 163 manual ?

By morellomax on 18 July, 2011, 5:07pm

Depp

Truly amazing! Seat impersonal that looks like comparing a bus with Best MPV ever? Lost your compass, gentlemen. Ford S Max is a light year ahead of Volkswagen's second-class brand in Spain and his plastic car. Too bad, I thought that Auto Express still has slightly different criteria than those of German life to give to their national pride ...

By Depp1 on 19 July, 2011, 8:42am

Give me the SEAT

Personally I prefer the look of the Alhambra. Neat, tasteful. - it doesn't try to be something it isn't. Having owned the previous gen Alhambra and several other VW products, but now mistakenly driving a Toyota Verso, I can't wait to return to the VW fold with quality interiors and well thought out features.

By pajbse on 19 July, 2011, 8:58am

FAST

Seems to be some national bias coming out here! The galaxy is NOt as comforable or as practical as the New Alhambra. As for performance, the Alhambra does offer the 170hp if you want more grunt, however, lets remember that you are buying one of these cars because you have a large family - children/elderely dependants. If you want a sporty/performance vehicle why would you buy a MPV?,you would surely look elsewhere!! As for Depp1's ill informed comment, the fact is the VW Sharan and the New Alhambra come off the same production line in the factory in Portugal.

By George210 on 19 July, 2011, 9:44am

The ultimate people carrier??

Surely that is a transit if you want to carry lots of people...

I agree with Shaun34, if the test was about space and carrying people then why was the test not done with a Galaxy? They could have picked a Galaxy Titanium X with a 163bhp oil burner and a list of options for the same price, making it size comparable with a rack of goodies.

The S-Max is more designed around carrying up to 5 with lots of space for the kitchen sink, maybe occasionally carrying 7 (the 7 seats are not standard on all models anyway).

A poor comparison in my opinion.

By globalste on 19 July, 2011, 12:20pm

Seat has the edge.

I agree with AE verdict, the Seat for me has better design, VW Group precision build quality and I would also guess has the superior engine.

By JTravolta77 on 19 July, 2011, 10:28pm

Seat has the edge.

At last, someone who actually knows what they are talking about!

By George210 on 20 July, 2011, 10:09am

Wrong Headed Comparison

Why the comparison with the S-Max?

Surely the natural competitor to the Alhambra is the Galaxy, which is bult as a true 7 seater; unlike the S-Max which is an "optional" 7 seater. The Galaxy has the edge in the space department, is better made and has far more "Driver Appeal" than the VW' Budget Brand Bus. The S-Max is more of an alternative estate than an MPV much like it's smaller sibling the C-Max, it seems you chose your vehicles to make a point, not to make a comparison.

By derkdangler on 21 July, 2011, 7:31am

I test drove an S-Max before settling on my Renault Grand Scenic and I have to say I was seriously unimpressed by the Ford. Equipment levels weren't even close to the Scenic and the Renault was on a par for driving pleasure, but my main gripe with the S-Max was build quality. The test vehicle I drove was only two months old and it had begun to fall apart inside and everything rattled and creaked. Interior design wasn't to my taste either, it felt like I was sitting inside an old Nokia mobile phone.

By sgtgrash on 21 July, 2011, 8:13pm

Wrong headed comparison?

Oh dear, a case of VW envy! As a senior mechanic told me recently, the big difference between the Galaxy and the VW/Seat is RUST! The Ford is a clear winner in that competition!!

By George210 on 22 July, 2011, 10:24am

George - you've been a busy boy !

All I can say is I've put my family of 6 into both the new Alhambra and Sharan and tested them thoroughly against both the S-Maxes that we own and against our recollection of current shape Galaxies we've also owned, and I was disappointed. I'm not a Ford fanboy: I've owned VW's in the past, from Golf through to Phaeton.

It's important for full size MPVs to have a decent amount of power, precisely because they do regularly get fully loaded up, unlike the Passats and Mondeos with their lone drivers. Even the 170bhp version of the Alhambra will give dull performance when fully loaded.

If VW put their biturbo 2.0d from the Caravelle into the Sharan/Alhambra, improve the leg support in the middle row seats (it's not as comfy for adults/teenagers as the S-Max or Galaxy) and sort out the mild resonant boom that comes through into the cabin at about 70+ mph in 6th, then I'll look again.

By morellomax on 23 July, 2011, 1:09am

Have another look!

Have you test driven the Seat 170bhp,DSG when fully laden?

It's not a Ferrari, but it certainly matches any other 'mainstream' MPV you would like to mention..

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By ansdka on 27 July, 2011, 9:15am

Seat has the edge

I have just driven the new Seat Alhambra (170bhp) over 600 miles throughout Spain fully laden, including a large top box and it was an absolute pleasure to drive. Still plenty of grunt for overtaking, sat nav worked perfectly and didn't have any of the 'boom' referred to in a previous comment. Its simply a better package than anything Ford can offer.

By George210 on 8 August, 2011, 3:15pm