| A Week at the Wheel | Cambs, England | SEAT Altea XL |

Inside & Out:

The SEAT Altea XL is an enlarged version of the Altea itself, so no surprise that it bears a very close resemblance. It's a shame to say it, but it's actually becoming difficult to differentiate between different SEAT models nowadays. The Altea XL stands out from others courtesy of its somewhat bulbous extended rear overhang - not to be confused with that of the Leon.

Inside there's a much better story where the family resemblance is actually a strength. Spacious and practical, the Altea has all of the cabin space required by the family on the move and courtesy of the XL part of the name, the boot is very usable as well; perfect for swallowing prams or children's bicycles, it dwarves the offerings from the competition and with the seats down offers a load space hard to find at any price, never mind the £13,000 that the Altea XL range starts at.

Engine & Transmission:

VW's new 1.8-litre TSI engine is derived from the 2.0-litre engine already used in FR models within the SEAT range. It debuts here in the Altea and it serves the SEAT well. Like the larger unti, the 1.8-litre engine features direct injection and a light pressure turbo. In this case the outputs are 158bhp and 184lb.ft of torque with a nice linear delivery that offers a relaxed driving experience.

At the end of the day the engine is rather bland and characterless, but despite the lack of charisma its performance characteristic suits the application well with a good dose of torque at the lower end of the rev range - the engine feels tuned for tractability rather than top end sparkle. The gearbox is slick and the ratios are well judged for a blend of performance with a refined cruise.

Ride & Handling:

SEAT's Altea is a fine handler and the addition of the extra weight and volume aft of the rear axle doesn't appear to have deteriorated this quality. The chunky steering wheel is good to hold and while there isn't a huge amount of feel and feedback, the steering is certainly direct and quick enough. The turn in is nice and sharp and save for a bit of body roll the MPV handles well and compares favourably with any of the competition, ensuring that the driver can exploit the chassis and enjoy some driving fun once the kids are dropped off at school. Impressively this handling capability isn’t at the expense of the ride quality, which is firm but comfortable.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

The trim level tested brings with it most of the standard equipment the average family would need. It's hard to ignore the price element when considering the Altea XL - the space and practicality offered for the price is hard to find anywhere else. Economy round about 30mpg is acceptable for a petrol-fuelled MPV, but we'd be tempted to give the diesel model a test drive before committing to the petrol.

Overall:

The SEAT Altea XL's space is generous at any price and considering its other talents (equipment and safety are also key strengths in a family car) the Altea gives a strong case for itself as a mid-size MPV.