Overview

The SEAT Altea was billed as the sexiest people carrier ever when it was launched – and we reckon that’s spot-on. The sweeping lines and sharp styling give it a sporty look that few other family cars can match.

There’s more to the Altea than just a pretty face though. It has a range of modern and efficient engines, lots of equipment and although it only seats five, it makes the most of the available space. It isn’t particularly versatile though and the rear seats don’t do anything clever like folding flat. It is however, good value and there’s even a sporty FR model available which gets improved handling and a sportier specification.

In July 2009 it was revised with subtle exterior changes, engine tweaks and a much more upmarket interior. There is also a low emission Ecomotive version which is very cheap to run.