Seat Altea SE 1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive DSG 5dr Car Review - March 2012

Thanks to the firm suspension of the Seat Altea SE 1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive DSG 5dr the Seat Altea’s tall hatch offers excellent handling on the roads, although the ride can be a bit uncomfortable as a result.

The refinement is not great and there is a bit of wind noise at high speeds. The downside of the design means that the upsweep of the rearmost side windows tends to create a blind spot when reversing.

Producing 184 lb-ft torque power at 1500-2500 rpm and 103s bhp at 4400 rpm, the Seat Altea SE 1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive DSG 5dr has a top speed of 114 mph and a 0-62 mph time of 12.4 seconds.

The driving seat can be adjusted by height and the steering wheel can also be moved in order to offer the best comfort possible.

The Altea’s cabin is built with solidity in mind and has been created with fine hardwearing materials. Smooth lines make for a sporty finish and the Seat Altea is probably one of the better-looking MPV’s on the market.

The Altea SE comes with climate control, cruise control, front electric windows, side airbags, traction control and a CD player complete with AUX-in socket.

Bluetooth, satallite navigation and rear parking sensors are all available as optional extras.

The Seat Altea has adjustable seats to allow for more room in the cabin or the boot. The seats fold flat and slide in order to cater to the users’ needs. The split-level boot is both large and deep in size and comes in at a capacity of 1320 litres with the seats down.

The Altea’s VW-sourced mechanicals have been thoroughly tested and therefore shouldn’t provide the users with any problems. The Seat Altea SE 1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive DSG 5dr comes with a three-year 60,000-mile warranty.

All Altea’s come with anti-lock brakes as standard. Stability control works to keep the car in check, too. The twin, front, side and curtain airbags act as extra safety features and the Euro NCAP ratings have awarded the Seat Altea SE 1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive DSG 5dr with five stars. Other things to note are the ISOFIX child seat mounts and the fitted alarm and deadlocks.

The Seat Altea SE 1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive DSG 5dr offers a competitive price at £19,820.

Running costs are inexpensive with the Ecomotive technology with a combined average of 57.6 mpg and CO2 emissions of 129 g/km.

For those who want more room, there is the option to upgrade to the larger estate version, but this hatchback is a great value option for space, practicality and low running costs, all at a great price.