Winner of the Best MPV award from the highly respected industry journal, Fleet News, a total of three times, and also recognised as the Best MPV by Used Car Buyer magazine for two consecutive years, the SEAT Alhambra continues to be recognised as one the most highly specified and attractive looking vehicles in its class, combining outstanding value, quality high specification, versatility and reliability, and low running costs as just a few of its many virtues, and even improving on the 2006 model, by enhancing its overall performance and style.
The New SEAT Alhambra
A recent newcomer to the SEAT range, the highly regarded 2.0 litre TDI 140 PS, with its highly advanced 16-valve diesel engine and skilfully designed high-pressure unit injectors, still continues to impress immensely. Apart from the complete repositioning of the ‘Alhambra' badge, new paintwork options have also been added, and an entirely new fixing mechanism incorporated to the rear seats, allowing even more security when locking into the upright position. Curtain airbags are a further fitted addition, making a total of six protective airbags, as well as the incorporation of the ingenuous ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) on manual transmission models to ensure the maximum of safety.
SEAT Alhambra Economy with Style
With prices and running costs remaining highly competitive, the Alhambra includes a very full range of impressive equipment as standard, including CD player, climate air-conditioning control, six-speed manual gearbox, front fog lights, easily manipulated headlight function, remote central locking, electric mirrors and four fully electric windows.
The cleanly styled Alhambra exterior has a host of sporty touches, suggestive of SEAT's more racy models, such as the Leon Cupra and Altea FR, whilst at the same time maintaining its more practical aspects, including its large glass area making visibility exceptional, and neat roof rails. The SEAT MPV's impressive overall appearance is also enhanced by the clear-lensed quad headlights beneath the short and streamlined bonnet, squared-off tail lights, front fog lights and tinted glass, and, completing the Alhambra's good looking external appearance are durable 16" steel wheels with attractive wheel trims, and on Stylance models dynamic-looking 17" alloy wheels (16" on the Tiptronic model).
As well as the quality of the exquisitely crafted Alhambra bodywork, a sense of essential sportiness and unique road presence has been achieved through lowered suspension, resulting in minimal roll on corners and, consequently, even grater levels of driver enjoyment and safety. The durability and robustness of the design can be further evidenced by the slick door closing mechanism, which is as true as a craftsman's perfect dovetailed joint.
SEAT Alhambra Interior
With an attractive, but logical interior layout, the Alhambra has a superior quality lacking in other large MPVs in a similar class. Furnished with high quality fittings and ergonomically designed seats, which are very easy to remove and replace, The Alhambra utilises the space available perfectly, providing extra storage in the dashboard area for large pockets, and creating space for lidded boxes on the door mounts. The arrangement of five seats in the rear allow complete flexibility in positioning and removal, with each one designed to fold forwards or backwards, or to be removed completely to increase boot capacity from 852 litres to a capacious 2,610 litres. And further touches of excellent design and quality are evident in the minor addition of air vents that close flush with the dashboard, rather like a Venetian blind, and in the damped glove box compartment and the highly-attractive dappling effect on the main facia.