Manufacturer SEAT Assembly Martorell, Spain Class Compact MPV (M) | Production 2004–2015 Designer Walter de Silva | |
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Body style 5-door multi-purpose vehicle | ||
The SEAT Altea is a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) produced by the Spanish automaker SEAT since 2004. The vehicle was designed by the Italian Walter de Silva and launched in 2004, as the first example of SEAT's new corporate look. The third-generation Toledo was identical, except for the addition of a larger boot.
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Another extended version, the Altea XL, is also available (having been first presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show). In 2007, the Altea Freetrack, with 4WD and higher suspension, was released.
On 21 August 2015, SEAT announced that the Altea and Altea XL had been discontinued. Although no direct replacement for the Altea is planned, SEAT is following the global shift from MPVs to SUVs by launching its own SUV model based on the SEAT León. In 2016 the Ateca was launched, which was the successor to the Altea according to CEO Luca de Meo: "For us the Ateca is the replacement of the Altea." SEAT sold a total of 439 Altea models in the United Kingdom during 2014, and 445 Altea XLs.
Overview
The Altea was released a few years after many of its competitors arriving on the scene, but it was expected to sell well. However, it exceeded expectations and 31,223 Alteas were sold within the first year.
It is a family-oriented five-seater, which attempts to portray a more sporty image than most of its rivals. The car is based on Volkswagen Group's A5 (PQ35) platform. An unusual design feature is the 'vertical parked' windscreen wipers, which are designed to improve pedestrian safety. They disappear in to the window surround either side of the screen. The effect is a completely cleanly swept windscreen but does mean the 'A pillars' are rather wide and cause a blind spot.
There are six trim levels: Essence (no longer available in the United Kingdom), Reference, Reference Sport, Stylance, Sport (no longer available in the United Kingdom) and FR. Internal combustion engines are available, with the range-topping 2.0 FR Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) delivering 125 kilowatts (170 PS; 168 bhp), available since April 2006. There are four gearboxes available (depending on market and engine); five or six-speed manual, five-speed tiptronic automatic, and six or seven-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox.
It is named after the Spanish city of Altea.
In March 2014, Auto Express reported that SEAT were working on a family of SUVs, with an estimated release date of 2016, to be based on the same platform as the SEAT León. This proved to be exact, with the launch of the SEAT Ateca SUV in 2016.
Safety
In 2004, the SEAT Altea was tested for its safety performance under the Euro NCAP assessment scheme and it achieved a 5-star overall rating:
Awards
Powertrain
The following powertrain specifications are available:
A flexible-fuel vehicle model is also on offer under the label "MultiFuel", featuring the 1.6 MPI E85 102 bhp engine.
Seat Altea XL/Freetrack
The SEAT Altea XL is an 18.7 centimetres (7.4 in) longer variant of the normal SEAT Altea, a five-door five-seat compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), with increased luggage capacity compared to the standard Altea.
The SEAT Altea Freetrack is dimensionally similar to the Altea XL, but is designed as compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV). It features raised suspension for increased ground clearance and larger plastic bumpers, and plastic wheel arch and sill extensions - which all increase its exterior dimensions.
All versions of the Freetrack, except the 2.0 Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) 2WD, are equipped with a Haldex Traction based on-demand four-wheel drive (4WD). The 4WD versions are also called Seat Altea 4.
In Mexico and Russia, the SEAT Altea Freetrack is marketed simply as the SEAT Freetrack.
Although the Freetrack is available with 4WD, it is not marketed by SEAT as an "SUV". However, the Freetrack could be seen as a competitor for small SUVs from other marques.
The possible internal combustion engine choices are almost the same as for the normal Altea.
When the car was launched it was available in a very uncommon intense yellow. This colour was also seen on models in several promotional brochures. The colour scheme is no longer available (last verification August 2010).
Awards
Powertrain
The following powertrain options are available, with certain configurations utilising Volkswagen Groups highly regarded Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG):
A flexible-fuel vehicle model is also on offer, under the label "MultiFuel", featuring the 1.6 MPI E85 102 bhp (76 kW; 103 PS) engine.