SEAT Altea

Auto Express Car Reviews

Rating:
On the road price: £13,690 - £18,540
For : Good looks, spacious, comprehensive equipment
Against : Noisy diesel, gutless 1.6 petrol

The Altea is a compact MPV with a sporty bent; strictly a five-seater but with athletic looks, it's for mums and dads who still hanker after a hot hatch. The cabin is certainly roomy, though the unremitting black colour scheme means it doesn't feel as spacious as it is. And though it may sorely lack any sort of flexibility, the rear bench is high-seat and comfortable. Tall front seats impress too, and duo parcel shelves allow you to separate your luggage in the boot. Being based on the latest Golf's platform, the Altea offers a good driving experience, sportier models featuring stiffer suspension to sharpen things up even further. Safety is also a priority, the Altea coming with all the airbags and electronic driver aids you could imagine, while comfort equipment like air conditioning and CD players are available as standard across the entire range.

The engines follow the now familiar VW family hierarchy. The smallest, a 1.6-litre FSI petrol, feels a bit overwhelmed; the 2.0-litre petrol is a better bet. Most buyers though are likely to opt for the diesels, of which three are available. The 105bhp 1.9-litre and 140bhp 2.0-litre units offer easy, accessible power, though the 1.9-litre can prove a touch noisy when pressed hard. The range-topper is the 170bhp 2.0-litre TDI, in lowered, stiffened and sportified FR guise. With high-tech tweaks to the engine, it's a strong performer yet still averages 45mpg - just a few mpg down on the others. A selection of five and six-speed transmissions are on offer, as well as the DSG automatic transmission that so impresses on other VW Group models. An enjoyable drive that looks good, the Altea is a sporty alternative to the rather staid norm for the family buyer.