Looking for a value-for-money MPV? Something that will take 3 kids, their friends, their football kit and as much mud as they can get on their shoes?
No problem, as you will see in the ‘Large MPV’ price section of the magazine there are nearly 30 to choose from. But you will quickly dismiss the impressive new-shape Renault Espace, Ford Galaxy and Ford S-Max as still being too expensive to pass the value test. You might conclude the same about the Mitsubishi Grandis and Honda FR-V.
The Mitsubishi Space Wagons and Space Stars are too old and too rare to get a sensible price, the Mercedes V-Class likewise. The Mazda MPVs and Premacy’s don’t fare that much better.
So that leaves the Peugeot 807 (which is pretty much also the Fiat Ulysse and the Citroen C8), the Kia Sedona, Chrysler Grand Voyager/Voyager and the Seat Alhambra (which is pretty much a Ford Galaxy or VW Sharan).
The Alhambra has been on the market since 2000 and to keep sales strong, the nearly new models come laden with all the gadgets and doodads you can image. The test car offered leather upholstery, Sat Nav, Air conditioning, electric windows, cd-player, parking sensors, heated seats and tinted windows.
You don’t get all that in the equivalent Kia, which is the MPV most people expect to find in the best value picks. In fairness a Kia Sedona would be about £2,000 less if you look at two to three year old cars. But it also does 8 MPG less.
The Alhambra is still an attractive looking car. Indeed in ‘Stylance’ trim with alloy wheels and tinted windows it passes for a much younger car. It is much less van like than the Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen alternatives. Looking at equivalent cars, again that are two or three years old, these three all work out to be cheaper, by just under £2,000. But, who wants to drive a van?
The Alhambra handles high speed corners, if not like a car, then at least like a good MPV. Around town though, it is hard to manoeuvre; the vanishing bonnet takes a little getting used to and when changing lanes in traffic, or trying to get down side streets, the car can feel like an enormous boat.
The 2.0 Tdi is refined and pleasant on dual carriageways and the like, plus very nippy off the line. It is only really the 1.9 diesel engine that may not deliver enough refinement for you as this is a big car to be lugged around by a small engine. Indeed, even the petrol units deliver well, albeit are not as frugal.
In terms of day-to-day living, the Alhambra represents a very flexible workhorse. I have quite a bit of history with these people movers. I used one, with friends to complete the three peaks challenge. Loaded up with six grown men and lots of equipment, we raced against the clock to climb the three highest mountains in the UK. Which means not hanging about on the motorways. While I got a bit stiff trying to sleep in the back because there isn’t huge leg room, overall, the car took everything we threw at it and delivered faultlessly. It would respond to the weekly shop, daily school run and occasional weekend with the in-laws on board equally well.
Band I for road tax means a reasonable – if that’s the word - £200, whereas the Kia Sedona is £300. The Alhambra is reliable and servicing costs shouldn’t need to max your credit card. The MPG is in the 40s, which is excellent and the performance, considering how frugal the engine is, impresses. If you live in the countryside with a long commute, overtaking can be essential; the Alhambra’s acceleration is more than adequate for overtaking to be safe.
So this is a car that delivers what it promises. If it were slightly cheaper on the used market, then the small and slightly dated dashboard controls, the too-low-to-see sat nav, tiny wing mirrors and the Seat badge, would all seem like minor compromises for the value the car delivers. As it is, only when it reaches 4 years old does it become an obvious budget buy.
Summary
A VW Sharan with all the bells and whistle for slightly less money. Still a very capable family MPV despite its age. Economical to run if you shop around for servicing.
Road test car details:
Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI Stylance
OTR: £21,270 (new price – check out the used price)
0-62: 12.2
Co2 g/KM: 175
MPG: 43
By: Matthew Tumbridge