THE SEAT Altea is one of those crossover breeds which are becoming more common, a family hatch with MPV inclinations.
It's tall, for a start, generating considerable room within a compact frame, and possesses a couple of tricks, such as rear seats that slide 14cm, so you can choose to have extra space for people or cargo. And the boot also has two tiers for further flexibility.
But there, apart from the usual MPV poor visibility in all four corners, the analogy stops. The rear seats can't be taken out, for example, although they are split and fold nearly flat - take out the luggage cover and there's a more-than-useful 1,320 litres of cargo capacity. It is, frankly, amazing at what can be stacked into a car under 4.3m in length.
More tellingly, the Altea doesn't perform like an MPV, with barely a trace of the roll you get in tall vehicles. This, says SEAT, is down to its Agile Chassis Concept, originally developed for the hot Leon Cupra R.
Certainly the car exhibits lovely control, which you would expect anyway as it features the same foundations as the latest Golf. The new front and rear suspensions are impressive.
Things are crisper anyway in this lowered Sport version, and there's an electronic stability programme at work.
The whole Altea range is sporty, as is SEAT's want, but this top-of-the-range DSG version has all the qualifications, sports seats, special 17in alloys etc.
DSG? That's the dual-clutch six-speed gearbox which is mated here with a two-litre turbodiesel engine. In effect, it's two three-speed gearboxes working in partnership, with an overlap which means changes are very fast indeed - the 0-62 time for this auto box is under ten seconds and quicker than can be achieved with manual transmission.
If you want the full engineering details you'll have to read the technical manual, but performance is certainly rewarding, as is the fuel economy for a spirited car.
The DSG also offers a Tiptronic function and a sport setting to get more out of the gear ratios.
The engine itself is an evolution of the familiar VW Group four-cylinder TDi units, being pumped up to 140bhp and a hefty 236lb/ft of pull. Quick response is there when you need it - and produces a nice sound through the twin tailpipes - but over 47mpg is produced. A nearly full load of passengers and their luggage doesn't seem to have much of a detrimental effect on it.
In style terms, SEAT's accomplished touch is on show as always.
Outside there's the confident face, with its bold grille, even bolder chrome-framed S, a touch of honeycomb and eye-shaped double headlamps. Butterfly wipers on the big screen tuck away behind the front pillars, although the car still produces some wind noise.
The cabin is equally pleasant on the eye. The plastics look good - hard but more durable in family use, I suppose, than soft-touch materials - and I like the big, clear, angled controls panel. SEAT's red-lit dials are always a winner, too.
Equipment in this particular trim includes dual-zone climate control, four electric windows, electric door mirrors with park function, reach and rake-adjustable steering wheel, height and lumbar adjustment on the two front sports seats, cruise control, six airbags, trip computer, eight-speaker radio/CD player with steering wheel controls, leather grips and front fogs.
Storage areas abound - 30 of them - and include trays under both front seats.
With a five-star crash test rating, and four stars for child passenger protection, the Altea offers good-build reassurance for families as well as the bright, breezy, attractive character which is SEAT's trademark.
FAST FACTS
SEAT Altea 2.0 TDi PD DSG Sport 5dr
Price: £17,595
Mechanical: 140bhp, 1,968cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd automatic gearbox
Max speed: 125mph
0-62mph: 9.8 secs
Combined mpg: 47.1
Insurance group: 8
CO2 emissions: 162g/km
BiK rating: 22%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 1yr paint; 12yrs anti-rust