Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 170 CV DSG, road test (Equipment, prices and verdict)

We have arrived at the third and final part of the road test of the Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 170 CV DSG Style Ecomotive. If you want to know the impressions this powerful diesel engine has left us with, as well as its pairing with the DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox, take a look at the first part. If, on the other hand, you are more interested in finding out about the quality of its interior, its generous space and its practical aspects, I recommend you head to the second part.

In this third part we will focus on the equipment and prices, and deliver our final verdict on this Spanish MPV.

Equipment

The Seat Alhambra is offered with two trim levels, Reference and Style, the latter being the better equipped. There are also 5 engine options available, 2 petrol and three diesel. The petrol versions are a 1.4-litre 150 CV and a 2.0-litre 200 CV (mandatorily paired with the DSG gearbox). The diesels are all 2.0-litre, with three power levels: 115, 140 and 170 CV. The 115 CV diesel can only be combined with the Reference trim. The 140 CV diesel is the only one that can be fitted with all-wheel drive 4WD.

Where it is possible to opt for the Style line instead of the Reference, you have to pay around €4,250 over the base price. Is it worth the outlay? I think so. The Style line comes as standard with elements such as front fog lights with cornering lighting, an 8-speaker sound system with USB and iPod input, three-zone climate control, the auto hold system, cruise control, light sensor and front and rear parking sensors, sun blinds on the second-row windows, a multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel, and so on.

The options list is very extensive, and you need to be cautious when choosing, because some of them are not cheap. In any case, our test unit came with numerous extras. Some of the most interesting are the following:

Multifunction camera (€550). This is a camera mounted at the top of the windscreen, capable of recognising traffic signs, as well as detecting ambient light and determining when to switch the main beams on and off. Sign recognition works very well both by day and by night, and the high-beam assistant performs its task with notable precision when judging when to switch from dipped to main beam and vice versa.

Sliding side doors and electric tailgate opening/closing (€1,001). I have already mentioned that this is a very comfortable system for accessing the cabin and/or the boot. The only drawbacks I see are the price and the slowness of the mechanism. It is important to note that they will not move any faster if we push them. Quite the opposite. They will stop, and we will have to press the button again to restart the movement.

Third-row seats (€753). Essential if you are going to carry more than 5 people. In any case, although it is not used much, an additional row of seats is never a bad thing. You may find that if we don’t fit it on some occasion, we will miss it.

Park Assist (€369). This is a parking assistant (literal translation) that is capable of autonomously carrying out the steering movements needed to park the vehicle in a parking space. The driver only has to control the accelerator/brake and engage reverse. It is a very useful system if you are not an expert at parking or if you are not sure you can get a handle on the dimensions of such a beast. It is capable of parking both parallel and bay parking, and works very well in both cases. Even so, it is not perfect, and if the reference points are unclear, it may not leave the car as “square” as would be desirable.

Whether each of these elements is worthwhile depends on each buyer’s personal preferences and budget. The latter is very important because, in the case of our test unit, the starting price was €38,100, but with all the optional equipment it had, it came very close to €50,000. What is true is that you enjoy all of them and they always make life on board more pleasant.

As for the safety level of this car, there is no complaint possible. All the safety systems common today are part of the standard equipment: ABS, ESP, 7 airbags and ISOFIX on the rear seats (for three child seats). In the Euro NCAP crash tests it has achieved a 5-star rating, which demonstrates the excellent work done by the group Volkswagen with this vehicle.

Prices

The starting prices are as follows:

Petrol

• Alhambra 1.4 150 CV Reference: €30,750
• Alhambra 1.4 150 CV Style: €34,960
• Alhambra 2.0 TSI 200 CV Style: €39,525

Diesel

• Alhambra 2.0 TDI 115 CV Reference: €30,750
• Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 CV Reference: €32,270
• Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 CV Style: €36,520
• Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 CV DSG Style: €38,560
• Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 CV 4WD Style: €38,500
• Alhambra 2.0 TDI 170 CV Style: €38,100
• Alhambra 2.0 TDI 170 CV DSG Style: €40,135

General Verdict

I find it very difficult to criticise the Alhambra negatively. It is a vehicle that fulfils perfectly the family role for which it has been designed. Inside it is spacious and can accommodate quite a few people, regardless of their height or build. Furthermore, each of the seats can be folded down individually, and so the interior can be configured to suit specific needs. Want to move house, go fishing, or take the bikes? No problem.

The 170 CV diesel combines good performance with reduced consumption. The 140 CV option may be more rational, and in most cases sufficient, but if you can opt for the 170 CV, do it (even if it is a big burden). You won’t regret that extra expense when you’re carrying all your passengers and their luggage and want to overtake quickly and safely. The DSG automatic gearbox is also recommended for its smoothness and speed, although the choice between automatic and manual is a decision that can be very personal.

The Seat Alhambra is a magnificent car, and I found it very hard to part with. But while that is true, it is equally true that you should carefully assess whether you will be able to make full use of its potential as a vehicle for transporting people and luggage. On the market there are smaller and cheaper MPVs, such as the Seat Altea for example, which can meet a family’s needs just as effectively. It would be a shame to buy an Alhambra and waste it.

Photos | Pablo David González González