Item: Used Seat Alhambra MPV 1996 - 2011
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

ALHAMBRA

For the money, few big MPVs are as versatile or as enjoyable to drive and own as the Seat Alhambra

Used Seat Alhambra MPV 1996 - 2011

Generally, the Alhambra is wallet-friendly transport. It's keenly priced for the versatility, drive and quality on offer. You can also pick one up for noticeably less than its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/sharan/mpv/review/n17262">VW Sharan</a> lookalike, and a little cheaper than the other triplet, the Ford Galaxy. Expect it to hang on to its value as well as most MPVs.

The diesels make their fuel go a long way. Expect high-30s or low-40s to the gallon. Go for the 2.0 or 1.8 T petrols, and you're looking at a reasonable but not outstanding 30mpg or so.

Servicing will cost you about the same as most comparable MPVs.

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For the money, few big MPVs are as versatile or as enjoyable to drive and own as the Seat Alhambra

The diesels are the ones to get. There have been a few since the Alhambra's 1996 launch - the VW-supplied 1.9 TDI turbodiesel comes in various flavours from 90-130bhp - but our pick is the 110 or 115bhp version.

The smaller petrols are cheaper, but not so widely available. Of these, the 113bhp 2.0 can feel weedy, so the 150bhp turbocharged 1.8 T is our choice. There's also a stonking 201bhp 2.8 V6, with lower, firmer suspension and four-wheel drive, but it's expensive to run, so best avoided.

A major face-lift happened in 2000, when all models became seven-seaters as standard. They also got more kit, a slightly more modern look outside and an updated cabin.

From the outset, even basic spec (S on early cars, Reference on later ones) meant air-con, a CD player, electric front windows and a good level of safety equipment. Stylance (SE on early cars) is the more upmarket choice.

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all the family and their paraphernalia</li> <li>Comfortable ride for everyone inside</li> <li>Seats with plenty of adjustment and versatility of layout</li> <li>Engine that can cope with a full load of people and luggage</li> <li>Excellent efficiency to avoid big fuel bills</li></ul>

Practicality is king in the MPV market, which has taken a hit as buyers have turned towards trendier SUVs. There are still plenty of decent offerings to suit most budgets, though, with Citroën fielding a particularly strong line-up. The French manufacturer’s Berlingo offers bags of space for not much money and you can easily haggle off thousands of extra pounds in discounts, too.

Citroën also scores with the larger Grand C4 Spacetourer, which offers seven seats, lots of oddment space and appealing running costs for something so large. A similarly priced and even better option is the Volkswagen Touran. Meanwhile, if you prefer a premium badge, there's always the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers or Mercedes B-Class and V-Class.

But for something sizeable that's still decent to drive, we’d recommend you check out the Ford Galaxy, which can offer three rows of seats and decent luggage space at the same time. It’s not that much pricier than the smaller S-Max.

The Alhambra is sound and robust, but there are a few areas that demand special attention. The air-con is a known weak spot, for a start, so test it properly before you buy, because fixing it could land you with a four-figure bill.

Among the other things to look for are: on some cars, the wipers won't switch off or can seize; the immobiliser can fail and lock you out; and, electric windows that drop into the door and won't come back out. Owners also report other sporadic electrical-related gremlins, so ensure everything works as it should.

The engines are largely trouble-free, but catalytic convertors can fail on diesels. Suspension and brakes can wear if the car has been used to cart heavy loads on a frequent basis. Also check the cabin for signs of a hard life.

Insist on a full service history, for your own reassurance and to help verify the mileage is genuine - clockers like the Alhambra because they wear the miles well.

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The Seat Alhambra was forged from the same DNA as the Ford Galaxy and Volkswagen Sharan, and given only the mildest dose of Seat corporate medicine.

That means it's a hugely capable MPV that drives more like a family hatchback, with a comfortable ride and taut handling (but not quite as sharp as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/galaxy/mpv/review/n142">Galaxy</a>'s). Every engine is refined, and the cabin remains hushed, even at motorway speeds.

All shapes of driver should be able to get comfy behind the wheel, and stay comfortable over long distances. On top of that, the layout of controls is intuitive, and all-round visibility is good.

Talking of seats, most Alhambras are fitted with seven. The 2-3-2 layout allows for the five rearmost to be slid backwards or forwards - to create more legroom or boot space, as necessary - folded or removed (a heavy and fiddly job). With all seven in use, you won't be able to carry much more than a single suitcase, so pack light.

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Used Seat Alhambra MPV 1996 - 2011 review

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Used Seat Alhambra MPV 1996 - 2011 review

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