SEAT ALTEA RANGE
Most MPV Style Vehicles Go Large On Practicality But Offer Meagre Measures Of Style And Sportiness. SEATs Altea Takes A Different Tack. By Andy Enright
Product development offers a fascinating insight into the psychology of buying decisions. When Japanese manufacturers starting making hi-fi equipment, everything was finished in either black or brushed aluminium in a bid to appear credible. Only with said credibility achieved could they begin to offer audio equipment in pastel shades with funky shapes and so on. A similar thing happened in the MPV market.
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At first, MPVs could only concentrate on safety and practicality. These days, cars like SEATs Altea show how those shackles have been cast aside.
Customers these days take the practicality and safety angles for granted and demand more. Much more. Suddenly style and fun become key concepts for MPV drivers in an evolving market. Whereas an MPV-style car was once a grudge purchase for the cash-strapped, nowadays there are some very desirable offerings.
Honda were probably the first to exploit this with the Stream, a seven seater that was a genuinely fun pedal.
Fiat launched the quirky Multipla,
Vauxhall launched a turbocharged version of their Zafira and
Ford developed the Focus C-MAX, a car that tackled corners with relish. Now
SEAT is in on the act and the Altea is unlike any MPV youve ever seen. In fact, the Spaniards shy away from the MPV tag, preferring the rather inelegant MSV (Multi Sports Vehicle).
Prices start from £12,855.
"Based on the latest generation Golf chassis, the Altea serves up a set of sophisticated road manners."
First shown at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, the reaction to the Altea was so positive that SEATs paymasters, the
Audi Brand Group (Audi, SEAT and
Lamborghini), threw everything into turning the car into a production reality. Just five months after its debut under the tungsten lights it was ready to roll into dealerships. Its a significant precursor of whats to come from SEAT. The huge radiator grille with prominent S logo, the almond-shaped headlamps and the dynamic line that runs from the front wheel arch over the doors to the rear wheel are all styling traits that SEATs design director, Steve Lewis, proposes to incorporate into all the marques forthcoming models.
The Altea unashamedly offers five spacious seats rather than seven cramped ones but weighs in with some innovative thinking. The side profile has the same 33:66 glass to metal ratio that features on so many sports cars and gives the Altea a far higher waisted and more dynamic look than, say, a
Volkswagen Touran. Inside there are more than thirty places to stow and stash goodies, including a supersized glove compartment, big storage bins on all four doors, drawers under the front seat and even a storage area under the boot floor. Even the parcel shelf has a storage cubby incorporated within. The two-tiered boot has a capacity of over 400 litres.
The rear bench is a 60/40 split affair with a fold down armrest incorporating cupholders. As befits SEATs position within the sportier Audi side of Volkswagens empire, the seats are supportive and the steering is meaty, the multi-adjustable wheel making it easy to find a decent driving position. The trim and build quality, whilst maybe not the most exciting in terms of colour choices and materials, is nevertheless of a relentlessly high quality. The Alteas greatest party trick is definitely the windscreen wipers - spot them if you can.
Clue: theyre hidden in the A-pillars. Based on the latest generation Golf chassis, the Altea serves up a set of sophisticated road manners. The multi link rear axle and McPherson struts up front offer a very good ride/handling compromise, helped in no small part by one of the best electro-mechanical steering systems weve yet come across. Turn-in is surprisingly sharp for a vehicle thats fully 1570mm high and body roll is very well controlled.
The Altea isnt found wanting in terms of safety provision, being SEATs first car to be sold in the EU with twin front, side, and head airbags as standard. Three-point anchors for all five seats, ISOFIX child seat attachments, anti lock brakes and traction control are all offered. Four engines are available; two petrol and two diesel. The petrol engines comprise a 102bhp 1.
6-litre entry level unit and a peppier 150bhp 2.0-litre FSI unit. Diesel buyers choose between the 105bhp 1.9-litre powerplant and the 140bhp 2.
0-litre turbodiesel unit. A five-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard to all models although buyers of the two more powerful engines can opt for a six speed unit (at additional cost). A six-speed Tiptronic automatic is available with the 2.0-litre FSI engine and those whove opted for the most powerful diesel will also get the chance to use the astonishing twin-clutch DSG gearbox of Audi TT fame.
SEAT think the 1.6-litre petrol engine will shift the biggest numbers in the UK and with a full 1320kg to heft up Her Majestys highway, this surely would be a stern test of SEATs pre-launch promises of fun behind the wheel. It turns out to be just enough engine, getting the Altea to 60mph in 12.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 113mph.
Obviously, driving as if your trousers are on fire isnt going to see anything like the 36.7mpg combined fuel consumption figure quoted by SEAT but the Altea does encourage spirited progress. Tested back to back, most buyers would probably prefer the 105bhp 1.9-litre diesel which offers bags more torque and therefore superior real world performance.
Although the Altea may leave some potential buyers scratching their heads and wondering what exactly its trying to be, if youre not too hung up on vehicle definitions and prefer something thats fun, stylish and practical, its well worth a look. A good deal more distinctive than most of the me-too family hatches that populate our roads, the Altea is a welcome breath of fresh air. Or at least it is until the rest of the SEAT range look just like it.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: SEAT Altea range
PRICES: £12,855 - £17,605 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-9
CO2 EMISSIONS: [1.6] 182g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.6] 0-60mph 12.5s/ Max Speed 113mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.6] (combined) 36.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front side and head airbags, ABS, ISOFIX, traction control
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4280/1770/1570mm
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