The Altea was alien in 2004, and while it got the odd nip and tuck, it now feels outdated. Yet it’s still account a look, as you’re accepting tried-and-tested VW underpinnings and a car with a best Euro NCAP rating, at a cut price. If you’re attractive for an abnormal tow car, a four-wheel-drive Altea XL Freetrack with a 2.0 TDI agent should fit the bill nicely, while any able-bodied maintained front-wheel-drive archetypal will accommodate affordable ancestors motoring. The facelifted editions alien in 2009 are a audible footfall up from beforehand examples, abnormally if you go for one of the newer engines. These should accommodate years of cheap, family-friendly motoring for peanuts.
Few models can bout the low contour of the SEAT Altea. On auction from 2004 to 2016, this ancestors car is a decidedly abnormal afterimage on UK roads, admitting the actuality it’s a appropriate best that array analytic able-bodied area it affairs – alike if it serves up little in the way of excitement.
The Altea is spacious, able with able engines and actual bargain now the newest examples are three years old (and the ancient ones a decade older). It has affluence to action bargain-hunting families. Alongside added contempo arrivals the SEAT is hardly the aftermost chat in composure but, aback compared with its contemporaries, we account it’s still account a attending if you buy with care.
The Altea accustomed in May 2004, with 1.6, 2.0 FSI or 2.0 TDI engines. Two years after a ambit brace brought the 197bhp 2.0 TFSI and the Altea XL, which was continued by 187mm and had the aforementioned agent options as the approved car.
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The August 2007-on 4WD Altea Freetrack 4 (with 2.0 TSI or 2.0 TDI power) would be a rarity, but a facelift in summer 2009 revitalised the range. Forth with an overhauled autogenous and added kit, it alien 1.4 and 1.4 TSI petrol agent options and a 1.6 TDI diesel. The trim levels were additionally revised; antecedent Essence, Reference, Reference Sport and Stylance were rebadged as S, S Emocion, SE and Sport (then rationalised to S Copa and SE Copa from January 2013).
SEAT Altea all-embracing reviewSEAT Altea 1.6 FSI reviewSEAT Altea 2.0 TDI Sport reviewSEAT Altea 2.0 TDI FR reviewSEAT Altea Freetrack 4 reviewSEAT Altea XL all-embracing reviewSEAT Altea XL 1.8 TSI review
The commonly aspirated 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines aren’t actual inspiring, but the TSI and TDI turbocharged units are befuddled and frugal, and about refined, although the 1.9 TDI can complete thrashy.
Best of all is the 1.6 TDI, which is torquey, economical and quiet; it’s the costliest agent of all but it’s account advantageous the exceptional for. The Altea XL seats alone five, not seven, but it does action added amplitude in the aback additional added baggage capacity; all Alteas accept a sliding rear bench to addition versatility.
The DSG automated chiral is abundant to use, but the chiral addition is acceptable to prove added reliable, and appropriately will ultimately be cheaper to run. Entry-level Alteas aren’t actual able-bodied equipped, so buy at atomic a mid-range edition.
Rival bunched MPVs accommodate the Ford C-MAX and the Citroen Xsara Picasso and C4 Picasso, forth with the Renault Scenic – the closing two are additionally offered in Grand seven-seat forms. The Xsara Picasso is rather anachronous now, so the added avant-garde C4 Picasso is a bigger bet.
Renault invented the bunched MPV with the Scenic, and the additional and third-generation models are alike better. The C-MAX is additionally actual able and nicer to drive than the Altea. Want to stick with the VW Group? You could buy a Golf Plus, but it’s beneath beautiful than the Altea while additionally actuality added costly. Or for agnate money you could buy a VW Touran, with seven-seat acumen in a analogously sized package.
Control units for the ABS can abort on pre-facelift cars, so analysis for admonishing lights; backup costs can be steep.
Manual gearboxes can get actual notchy, sometimes because of an centralized fault. This can crave a complete rebuild.
Many Alteas appear with cruise control. This can be temperamental, alike already key genitalia accept been replaced.
Patchy body affection sees some abstracts actualization calmly and bootless switchgear. Squeaks are common.
The Altea’s berth plastics are boxy but attending bargain in places, while creaks and rattles can apparent over time. Cubbyholes abounding add to the practicality, as does a sliding rear seat, additional there’s affluence of arch and legroom for bristles people. Boot amplitude is acceptable rather than spectacular, but if it’s a antecedence go for an Altea XL: this can bundle up to 1,604 litres of luggage.
Alteas can be set up for anchored or capricious servicing. The above agency a barn appointment is bare every 12 months or 10,000 miles, while the closing allows up to two years or 20,000 afar amid services.
Annual aliment agency the check-ups alternating amid accessory and above (at £169 and £279), while every capricious account is a above one at the college price. All engines accept a cambelt, which charge be replaced every four years or 40,000 miles; apprehend to pay £329 for a petrol, or £399 on a diesel; add an added £130 to additionally alter the baptize pump. Every two years the anchor aqueous needs to be renewed, at £39.
SEAT has issued bristles Altea recalls, the aboriginal for ammunition leaks in diesels congenital up to August 2004. Flywheel failures in six-speed chiral 2.0 TDIs fabricated from February 2004 to June 2005 led to addition recall. DSG cars congenital from September 2008 to August 2009 were alleged back, and all 2009 2.0 TDIs were recalled over ammunition leaks. The agent emissions anamnesis involves some 2.0 TDIs; log on to tinyurl.com/ycrng28f for added info.
The Altea’s aftermost actualization in our Driver Ability achievement analysis came in 2015, aback it ranked 181st; disappointing, but still advanced of the BMW 1, 3 and 5 Series at the time. Acumen and low active costs were calmly the SEAT’s arch suits, with owners criticising affluence of driving, in-car tech and ride quality.
Research New 2023 Seat Altea – 2023 Seat Altea
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