Seat Alhambra Review (2010-2020)

What is the Seat Alhambra?

When the second-generation Seat Alhambra arrived in showrooms, it marked a big improvement over the earlier model. Like its close relative, the VW Sharan, it was both longer and wider than the old model, so cabin space was much improved. Car reviews at the time were glowing, and the Alhambra MPV picked up several awards within months of going on sale.

It's no longer on sale as a new car, going off-sale in 2020 after a full decade of faithful service. And it's a bit of a shame, because what with the unfaultering rise of SUVs as the vehicles of choice for large families, there aren't many cars like the Alhambra on offer these days. And when this car is about as practical as cars get, that's something of a loss.

How practical is it?

Like the first Alhambra, the second-gen MPV offered seven seats, with room for three in the second row and space for two passengers in the third-row seats. But the new car's extra size allowed Seat's designers to improve shoulder room and legroom significantly. There's room for a full-grown adult in each and every one of the seven seats, and that's not the case in many such cars.

The Seat's sliding doors are a plus for a people carrier like the Alhambra, as they make it easier for passengers to get in and out in tight car park spaces. Electrically opening and closing doors were available as an optional extra.

The Alhambra MPV was offered with lots of family-friendly features, including integrated child seats in the middle row. All five rear seats have Isofix child seat mounts, and whereas the first-gen Alhambra had removable passenger seats, those in the second-generation Alhambra simply fold away when not needed.

With all the seats upright, boot space is tight, like it is in pretty much any seven-seat SUV. But with the third row folded into the floor there's 809 litres for bags. With both the second and third rows stowed away, that increases to a van-like 2,430 litres.

What's it like to drive?

Like its close relative, the Volkswagen Sharan, the Seat Alhambra was sold with a choice of TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines. The 148bhp 1.4 TSI was the only petrol engine available at launch. It's up to the job, but the more passengers and luggage are inside the cabin, the harder it needs to be worked.

Either of the launch diesel engines cope more easily with a fully loaded car. The 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel strikes a fine balance between performance and economy, while the 168bhp 2.0-litre TDI delivers extra overtaking punch. With all three engines, buyers could choose between cars with a six-speed manual gearbox or a DSG automatic.

Shortly after launch a 113bhp diesel joined the range, and in 2013 the most powerful diesel engine was uprated to 175bhp. Bigger changes were to come in 2015, with new engines consuming up to 15% less fuel and uprated driver assistance and safety systems. These updates have helped the Alhambra to compete with newer large MPVs like the second-gen Peugeot 5008 and the Renault Grand Scenic.

A petrol model, which disappeared from price lists in 2013, reappeared as part of the facelift, with the same 148bhp power output as before, but with lower emissions. The diesel engines were once again 2.0-litre units, but now with 148bhp or 181bhp. As before, manual and DSG autos were available with all three engines. As part of the mechanical changes in 2015, the DSG gained a coasting function, which decoupled the engine when the driver lifted off the accelerator, saving fuel.

Seat markets itself a the sporty brand of the Volkswagen-Group stable, but you'd think a sporty character might be difficult to achieve in a car that so closely resembles an upturned wardrobe. Well, the Alhambra somehow manages it. The body control is very decent for this type of car, there's plenty of grip, and the steering feel weighty and assured, so this is a surprisingly gratifying car to fling around.

Not that you'll be flinging it round much, mind, because if you're buying a car like this, you're buying it to ferry around people and stuff who probably won't thank you for any flinging. That's why ride comfort is way more important that handling ability in a car like the Alhambra, and thankfully, it does well there, too. It's perhaps not quite as cosseting and some large MPVs, but it's still effortlessly comfortable, especially given how pointy it feels. Shy of the Ford S-Max, this is the best car of its type to drive.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

Infotainment moved on a long way in the Alhambra's lifetime. The infotainment systems and satnav available from 2015 onwards are considerably more modern than those available in earlier versions of the Alhambra. These Easy Connect systems have high-resolution touchscreens, more rapid processors, and improved connectivity.

Seat was relatively early to introduce compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as an option with its Easy Connect generation of infotainment system, as well as speech recognition through the Seat Connect App. However, the Alhambra's 6.3-inch screen looks rather small compared with more modern designs.

Standard safety kit on all models includes seven airbags, one of which protects the driver's knees, and electric child locks on the rear doors. Anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control also feature in every Alhambra, as does trailer stabilisation and a tyre pressure monitoring display.

Seat Alhambra running costs

For the lowest running costs, choose one of the diesels. They're significantly more fuel efficient than the 1.4-litre petrol.

The 138bhp 2.0-litre Ecomotive diesel with a manual gearbox is capable of 50.4mpg according to official fuel consumption figures, which the later 148bhp diesel improved to 57.6mpg. Closer to 40mpg is more likely for the earlier car, while low- to mid-40s mpg is what you can expect from Alhambras with the later diesel engine.

Choose the 168bhp diesel and the official figures suggest 48.7mpg is achievable. Around 40-42mpg is more likely. Expect something similar from the 175bhp engine.

Economy improved with the introduction of the most powerful 181bhp 2.0 TDI in 2015. According to the official figures it will achieve 53.3mpg. Close to 45mpg should be a realistic real-world target.

All these figures are for cars with manual gearboxes. Choose the DSG auto and fuel economy takes a hit. Bank on around 5mpg less with the DSG.

The Alhambra is a big car for a 1.4-litre petrol to cope with, and that's reflected in a thirst for fuel. You'll need a very gentle driving style to get close to 40mpg.

Insurance starts from group 16 of 50 for an early 1.4 TSI petrol in entry-level S spec. That's just one group higher than the equivalent Ford S-Max. Post-facelift petrols start from group 18.

Go for an early 113bhp 2.0-litre diesel, and insurance groups start from a lowly 13 out of 50. A 168bhp 2.0 TDI DSG in SE Lux spec is in group 21, so premiums should still be relatively affordable even if you choose a more powerful and well equipped Alhambra.

Seat offers fixed-price servicing for cars from three to 15 years old. Service plans are available to help spread the cost. Even so, you can expect a good independent garage to undercut franchised servicing. There are plenty of Volkswagen specialists who will be familiar with any Volkswagen Group car.

Seat Alhambra reliability

So far, we've painted a pretty rosy picture of driving and owning a Seat Alhambra. However, this is where we have to include a few words of warning: the Seat Alhambra is far from the most reliable MPV. It's certainly not as trouble-free as, for example, a BMW 2 Series Grand Tourer.

As with any diesel car fitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF), owners need to make sure their Alhambra is used on long enough journeys for the exhaust to get up to temperature, allowing the DPF to cleanse itself. The trouble is, the type of short stop-start journeys that lead to clogged DPFs are exactly the type of trips that people carriers are often used for. So if you are looking at the Alhambra to be used on the school run and a weekly trip to the supermarket, the petrol is a better bet than one of the diesels.

We've also heard reports of AdBlue warning lights illuminating, even when the AdBlue tank was full.

Electrical components and the air-conditioning can also be troublesome, so when you look over any potential buy, check that everything works. Make sure the air-con blows cold air, and that the electric windows and central locking all behave as they should. If the car has electrically sliding doors, make sure they open and close properly.

A life of school drop offs and shopping trips can lead to parking bumps and scuffed alloys, so take a close look at the bumpers and wheels, and use any minor damage to chip away at the asking price.

There have been several recalls during the Alhambra's life. One concerns a faulty condenser in the airbag control unit, which can trigger the airbag and seatbelt tensioners in normal driving, increasing the risk of an accident. The problem applies to Alhambras made between 16 January 2015 and 10 December 2015.

Before buying a used Alhambra, run the number plate through the recall checker on the gov.uk website to find out if the car has any recall work outstanding. It only takes a moment and will stop you buying a car which has a safety fault in need of correction.