2021 SEAT Alhambra
There is a good range of petrol and diesel engines to select from, too, that have at the least 150hp. The five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP is reassuring in a family group car, as the Alhambra cements its position as a good-value choice by having a lot of equipment on any trim level. If spent most of your amount of time in town, the 1.4-litre petrol (the cheapest model in the range) is going to be ideal. But, if you will end up venturing out onto the motorway more often, especially with much load, then go for the 2.0-litre diesel, which can be acquired with a guide or automatic gearbox.
The Alhambra is closely related to the Volkswagen Sharan but was always an even more cost-effective choice compared to VW. There is a 1.4-litre petrol with 148bhp that's only available with a manual gearbox, along with a 2.0-litre diesel engine that creates 148bhp and can be had with an option of manual or dual-clutch automatic gearboxes. All trim levels were well equipped and it's practical, good to drive and includes a simple engine range. A 175bhp version of the 2.0-litre engine tops the product range, but it's only available having an automatic gearbox on the Xcellence trim level.
In the last couple of years of production, the SEAT Alhambra still counted the Ford Galaxy and Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer as its direct rivals, while increasingly facing the process from large seven-seat SUVs like the Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008 - including in-house competition from the SEAT Tarraco. The 2021 SEAT Alhambra is really a seven-seat MPV was a sales success in the nineties and noughties but its popularity has waned ever since then and far fewer of them are increasingly being launched as manufacturers give attention to fashionable SUVs instead.
With the SEAT Alhambra, essentially what you're getting is the spacious and practical Volkswagen Sharan for a more reasonable price. Go for one of many top two trim levels and additionally you will get DAB radio and a sat-nav system. The safety features include seven airbags, stability control, ABS, a tyre-pressure monitor, and a hill-hold feature as standard, as well as a tiredness recognition system. There's also Isofix child-seat mounting points on the second-row seats. Every model comes with alloy wheels, metallic paint, climate control and a colour touchscreen, and in the event that you prevent the basic S trim, you will also have chrome trim round the windows, tinted rear windows and chrome roof rails, along with some extra storage in the cabin. True, it might be slightly more costly than some alternatives like the Galaxy, but you get a good handling, comfortable, and fuel-efficient MPV.
Naturally, the total amount of luggage space depends on how many seats you're using. Given so it makes such a fine family car, what's promising is that the SEAT Alhambra is stable, safe and inspires confidence when you're driving it. All the rear seats drop with an easy pull of a lever and fall flat to the floor, leaving a massive 2,297-litre space – just as much as in a Sharan and a little less compared to the Ford Galaxy. But, despite all seven seats upright, you have 267 litres at your disposal, which is almost as much as you obtain within an Ibiza. Just like importantly, you won't feel way too many bumps and there's not an excessive amount of body roll when you're on offer corners, so the children shouldn't feel car sick.
Safety is just a big factor whenever you choose a household car, and SEAT Alhambra the Alhambra initially scored no more than five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests. Safety features include seven airbags, stability control, brakes, tire pressure monitor and hill holding feature, as well as a fatigue detection system. Even the simplest model 2021 Seat Alhambra gets sensors for leading and rear cars, which can be convenient for such a large car. The 2nd row of seats has Isofix child seat mounting points. The five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP assures the household car that the Alhambra will prove its worth as a valuable choice as it has plenty of equipment at any trim level.
Inside, there is a logical and clear dashboard but it's starting to exhibit its age, missing some features within the most recent SEAT models. Despite having seven seats, there's nothing minibus-like about the way in which it drives. There's plentiful head and legroom in the first two rows and enough room in the 3rd row for adults – albeit not in quite as much comfort. Even when using all seven seats, there's still a 267-litre boot, which will be in regards to the luggage space you get in a Ford Fiesta.
The Alhambra will come in three trim levels, with the entry-level SE obtaining a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sat nav, plus Bluetooth, parking sensors and three-zone climate control. Considering it's bigger than some SUVs, the Alhambra is impressive to drive on a difficult road. With suspension tuned purely for road driving, there's hardly any lean in corners and precise steering, but it's not so stiff that each bump is felt by passengers. SE also features privacy glass, chrome exterior trim, folding door mirrors, cruise control, automatic wipers and headlights, aircraft-style fold-down tables and a 230-volt socket.
