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Which used Seat Altea estate should I buy?
The 100bhp1.6-litre petrol engine is quiet and refined, but is a little short on grunt and needs to be worked hard when the car's fully laden. There's also a 148bhp 2.0-litre FSI model - which brings more oomph - and a turbocharged 197bhp 2.0-litre. In 2009, an 84bhp 1.4-litre and a 132bhp 1.4 FSI were introduced, with a 103bhp 1.2-litre added later.
There are 103bhp 1.9 DI and 2.0-litre diesels with between 138bhp and 168bhp. However, the 103bhp 1.6-litre Ecomotive diesel is the best package, with decent performance and low running costs.
Entry-level Essence trim is too basic, but Reference comes with air-con, electric front windows and a CD player, while Stylance adds alloy wheels, cruise control and rear electric windows. S Emocion adds alloys, but SE gets climate control and rear electric windows. Sport trim has firmer suspension, upgraded alloys and sports seats.
The Altea family was face-lifted in the summer of 2009, with an updated nose and headlights, and smoother diesel engines. All trims were improved, with air-con, stability control and curtain airbags added as standard.
The excellent DSG semi-automatic gearbox is available as an option.
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