SEAT ALHAMBRA V6 SPORT
SEATs Alhambra V6 Sport Is The Kind Of People Carrier You Really Might Choose In Preference To A Luxury Estate. Jonathan Crouch reports
It wasnt so long ago that People Carriers were thought of as little more than glorified minibuses. But thats all changed. So good are the current crop of MPVs that you might conceivably buy one instead of a luxury estate and many people are.
It is to meet this growing demand that
SEAT has included a flagship V6 Sport version in its Alhambra People Carrier line-up, stuffed with equipment, yet priced to make the opposition look expensive. For £22,977, buyers can expect to find virtually every imaginable item fitted as standard, from alcantara and leather trim to anti-lock brakes and electronic climate control. Power comes courtesy of a 204bhp 2.8-litre V6 petrol engine, the first time the Spanish marque was allowed to offer more than four cylinders by parent company, the VW Group.
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Until the arrival of the Leon Cupra R, this made it the most powerful
SEAT ever offered in the UK. Otherwise, the recipe is much as with any other plush Alhambra. This of course is SEATs version of the same car youll also find badged as either a
Ford Galaxy or a VW Sharan. Buying it with a SEAT badge however, tends to mean that you get more for your money.
Spec for spec, you should find that this Spanish MPV holds a small but significant advantage over its in-house rivals.
"Its stuffed with equipment, yet priced to make the opposition look expensive."
The V6 model comes only in plush, up-market Sport form, but competitive pricing means its around £7,000 less than a V6-powered
Renault Espace: VW and Ford apart, only the 3.3-litre six cylinder Chrysler Voyager is in the same ballpark. Perhaps more importantly, its around the same or less than youd pay for a six cylinder
BMW 5 series or
Volvo V70-class executive estate. Given that an MPV like this can offer so much more space and versatility, yet equal levels of comfort, it would seem to be a tempting proposition.
The problem so far has been that most People Carriers are pretty dire to drive a crucial factor for most upwardly mobile executives. And those that arent (like the Alhambra) havent so far had the kind of upmarket image thats needed in the boardroom carpark. Hence SEATs most recent round of changes to its best-selling MPV, all intended to justify the Alhambras up-market marketing aspirations. The improvements have included smarter styling front and rear and a heavily revised interior with a sophisticated set of high-tech options.
The
Volkswagen-sourced V6 engine puts out a useful 204bhp and works alongside an ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) system thats included as standard. This will over-ride both brake and throttle to keep you on the tarmac should you enter a corner too fast. Which is maybe just as well, given that this glorious light alloy powerplant is fast enough to make this Alhambra something of a wolf in sheep's clothing, with progress to 60mph in 9.9s seconds accompanied by a satisfying yet muted roar on the way to a maximum of around 135mph. As with the previous model, the biggest surprise for the uninitiated will be its car-like qualities, further refined with more responsive steering and slight suspension tweaks. Handling is exemplary, and the Alhambra doesn't roll, pitch or wallow like many of its MPV counterparts. 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. 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.
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. In fact, the only difference this time round is that the removable chairs themselves have been redesigned, so should feel a lot more comfortable. Sadly, they're no lighter, so lugging them in and out remains a job not to be undertaken by the weak or faint-hearted. The two front seats on this model can be swivelled round completely to face the rear - which is great for picnics and business meetings if you're stationary and there's only four in the car. It's annoying however, that you still can't do the same with the middle set so that occupants behind the driver can face each other and talk on longer journeys. It all adds up to a car which could make an awful lot of sense to the right well-heeled family or executive looking for something more versatile. Of course, since Volkswagen and Ford provide much the same kind of package with the almost identical V6 Sharan and Galaxy models, youll need to choose between the relative merits of these three makers. However, for many, the SEATs tight pricing, sharp styling and excellent packaging could win the day.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: SEAT Alhambra V6 Sport
PRICE: £22,977 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 259g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 135mph / 0-60mph 9.9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 19.1mpg / (extra urban) 33.2mpg/ (combined) 26.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS / ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 182/84/69"
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