SEAT ALHAMBRA MPV REVIEW

My car

One gripe. My right foot gets cold in winter,hot air does not reach it, perhaps because its designed as a Left hand drive and converted for UK use as the passengers feet remain warm !

My car

When compared with the 2011 Renault Grande Espace, The Alhambra loses out for the following reasons: *) The width and height of the interior is not a spacious as the Renault With 4 grown up children a major point The fold-away chairs (much better implemented in the Seat that those in the Ford Galaxy) take away a lot of space when not in use. You lose at least 10 cm height to the ceiling The back row is almost 10 cm lower than in the old current Alhambra and the Renault The width of the car interior at the back row of the vehicle is much smaller than the Renault. Our dog bench doesn't fit with 4 chairs in the back up, while the Renault has space left on the last row in between the chair and the bench The overall impression of the Alhambra is that the car is surrounding you as a coat / glove, while the Renault has a impression of openness but not at the cost of safety (Renault also gets 5-stars) This is a very personal thing and some people may like it for that reason The view from the driver seat is hindered in the Seat by the forward beam that supports the roof. This allows more cars to be hidden from view when approaching an intersection, while the solution of Renault is to slim that particular beam. This gives better view to closer vehicles at the expense of a thicker beam that blocks the view for more distant vehicles.

My car

Only just got this car - 2.0 TDI, SE, manual. Waited for the VW Sharan, then drove this as well. Reviews to date don't seem to take into account difference in spec (Seat much better in detail), I was particularly interested in dark glass A pillar back, fog lights and not having tiny 16" wheels. I have heard some talk of differences in quality - I don't get it as every molding is the same, apart from the wheel, which is just like the one in our Audi A3......

Very impressed thus far, not cheap, but comparitively good value - nicely appointed. Very quiet at speed for a big box on wheels.

Will update after a few thousand miles.