SEAT ALHAMBRA TDI 130
SEATs Alhambra TDI 130 Could Well Be The Best MPV Buy Around At Present. Andy Enright Explains Why
The maxim he who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing is traditionally attributed to cynics, but time was when it could equally be applied to fleet managers. Keen to put you in a car that was lowest common denominator motoring, these penny-pinching people missed nothing, ratting to the tax man if they discovered a taxable perk such as a silicon-damped glove compartment lid. Those days have long gone and modern fleet managers have to satisfy a bunch of far more demanding user choosers. Thats why cars like SEATs Alhambra have proved so popular.
When Fleet News voted the
SEAT Alhambra Best MPV for the third time, it hardly came as news to either the more informed fleet managers or cannier private buyers. Here was a vehicle that offered the fit and finish of a
Volkswagen Sharan or a
Ford Galaxy with arguably a more distinctive look and feel at prices which undercut all but the most tin-pot rivals. The addition of the 130bhp TDI diesel engine as tested here has only served to underscore the point. The Alhambra is where the
smart money goes in the full-sized MPV class.
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The TDI 130 engine is already fitted to its Sharan and Galaxy doppelgangers and will be familiar fare to those weaned on
Volkswagen Group products, residing at various times beneath the bonnet of the
Audi A3, A4 and A6, the
Skoda Octavia and Superb, SEATs Ibiza and Cordoba as well as the Volkswagen Golf, Bora, Passat and Sharan. Amongst others. But familiarity in this instance certainly doesnt breed contempt. Although not of the common rail family of diesel engines, the Pump Duse powerplant is nevertheless a very impressive piece of engineering.
Mated to a slick-shifting six-speed gearbox designed to suit the TDis high torque output, the result is greater in-gear flexibility and top speed potential with improved fuel economy and higher levels of refinement. Direct injection architecture means that it isnt the quietest unit of its kind but dont let the fact that it clears its throat upon startup detract from the engines gutsy performance. The figures say that sixty shows up from rest in 12.8s, but it feels quicker than that, a legacy of the impressive reserves of mid-range torque on offer.
In practice, this means ready pulling power in almost any gear, something which is a real boon, both on the open road (where you often dont have to drop a gear to overtake) and around town (which you dont have to row the thing along with the gearstick). The result is a pleasantly refined but characterful engine that produces good figures as well. The top speed of 117mph and 43mpg average fuel economy were once the statistics of a warm hatch and a diesel supermini but the full-sized Alhambra now effortlessly combines the two with a level of cleanliness that seems beyond the ken of such a big, powerful vehicle. Its CO2 emissions figure of 176g/km is sure to make it a favourite amongst corporate users and is even lower than its 115bhp diesel counterpart.
Work that one out.
"The Alhambra is where the
smart money goes in the full-sized MPV class"
Inside, the rather plasticky feel of the original model has been replaced by a more up-market atmosphere, with better quality plastics, a new steering wheel and nicer switchgear that leaves room for the obligatory optional satellite navigation system. More practical improvements include retractable cupholders, extra map pockets in the doors and a pair of useful lidded cubbyholes on top of the dash. This plusher atmosphere is important, for cheap and cheerful MPV customers are increasingly opting for
mini-MPVs like
Renault's Scenic. Large models like the Alhambra must increasingly compete with executive cars. Two trim levels are available. The range kicks off with the value edition SX which features six seats and a fridge replacing the seventh seats.
Offering climate control, a CD stereo, cruise control, folding tables and integrated child seats for a competitive £19,227 it looks very good value for money. If you need yet more kit, the well-equipped Stylance variant priced at £21,077 is the alternative. Both models get air conditioning, ABS, twin front and side airbags, remote control central locking and electric front windows. The Stylance adds combination leather/alcantara upholstery and electronic climate control that you can operate front and rear, lowered suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels and a heated windscreen.
Factor parking sensors, a trip computer, front fog lights, cruise control, heated front sports seats and leather trim for the steering wheel and gearknob into the equation and youll agree that the Alhambra Stylance TDI130 cuts quite a bargain. There are also options like ESP (an Electronic Stability Programme that will automatically apply the brakes and reduce the throttle to get you out of trouble if you enter a corner too fast) or, more practically, a fridge. On the road, you have a car that not only costs around the same as a mid-range family estate but also measures in at about the same length, taking up no more space on the tarmac. Behind the wheel, it's exactly like a medium range estate - only better, thanks to that high-seated driving position and the glassy cabin. The biggest surprises, however, are reserved for the handling. This MPV doesn't roll, pitch or wallow like many of its rivals. Nor do you need a period of acclimatisation before you can drive it quickly, as you would, for example, with a fashionable four-wheel drive. The Alhambra takes its name from the ancient palace in Granada which dates back to the 12th century and plays a central part in Spain's early history. This place was apparently vast - an indication,
SEAT believes, of the capacity of its People Carrier - though unlike some boxier rivals, it can offer you only seven, rather than eight seats. As an MPV buyer, you'll be looking for flexibility as well as sheer space. So youll find, as before, that all of the seats can be folded down or unclipped and removed completely. The mark of a genuinely impressive car is one that appeals to the head as well as the heart. The SEAT Alhambra TDI130 has what it takes to secure the vote of both bean counting fleet managers and the British car buying public.
If youre in the market for a full sized MPV thats a notch or two above the south-east Asian cheapies but which still confers great value, even the most jaded cynic will appreciate the value proposition represented by this diesel Alhambra.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: SEAT Alhambra TDI130
PRICES: £19,227-£21,077 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 13
CO2 EMISSIONS: 176g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 117mph / 0-60mph 12.8s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 43mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4641/2142/1759mm
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