The Altea XL is a jumbo-size version of SEAT's popular and distinctive five seat people carrier. It's almost 19cm longer than the standard car and although this doesn't sound a lot, it substantially increases space in the rear, so both passenger legroom and boot space are increased. Aside from that, the Altea XL is the same in every department, so that means you get a range of powerful and efficient petrol and diesel engines, generous amounts of equipment and - for a people carrier - a good drive. It was revised in 2009 with some subtle exterior tweaks and new engines.
However, the biggest changes came inside where the interior was given a more upmarket feel and look. In 2010 an Ecomotive model was introduced which has impressive fuel economy and low CO2 emissions, making it very cheap to run.
The diesel range starts with the tried and tested 1.9 TDI which is used across the Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT and Audi ranges. This has 105bhp and although it's pretty noisy and not very refined, it does average a useful 52mpg overall. But the best engine in the range - for a blend of performance and economy - is the 2.0 TDI with 140bhp. It has masses of pulling power and accelerates well from low revs, managing 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds. However, it's the in-gear performance which really impresses and makes it ideal for motorway driving as it requires few gear changes.
This engine is also available with 170bhp which brings the 0-62mph down to 8.7 seconds but still averages 46mpg. The standard gearbox is a slick five or six speed manual and there's a Tiptronic automatic available on the 2.0 FSI. An optional DSG automatic - that uses two clutches to provide super fast changes - is available on certain engines. In March 2010 the 1.9 TDI was replaced by a far superior 1.6 TDI which is smoother, quieter and more economical, despite having the same 105bhp power. Thanks to an engine start/stop system, which cuts the engine when stationary, such as at traffic lights, and then automatically restarts it again when needed, it emits just 119g/km of CO2, so is cheap to tax, while average economy is 63mpg.
Cruise Control, Climate Control, ABS, Radio/CD, Isofix Child Seat Anchor Points, Roof Rails, Remote Central Locking, Electric Windows, Power Assisted Steering.