Compact, sturdy and stylish. That's the first impression created by Seat's Altea 2.0 TDI DSG. The vehicle's frame is marked by a squat, squarish grille and a distinct line that runs across the side of the body.
The alloy rims are unassuming but add to the attractiveness of the car without drawing attention away from the rest of the vehicle's design.
The interior is stylishly understated with seats that hug your body and a cabin that is snug but won't leave you feeling claustrophobic. The driver's seat is adjustable for height and leg roomb but the controls are manual. Not something I would have expected from a car that appears to have an electronic switch for just about everything else.
Controls for the radio and air-conditioning are in a broad, silver panel at the centre of the console, which - in the midst of all the black, soft lines - seems a little like hanging a disco ball in an upmarket restaurant.
The radio and CD / MP3 player are easy to operate from buttons on the steering wheel and I was listening to my favourite radio station after only a few seconds. According to the Altea manual, the steering wheel controls will also operate your cellphone if you have a car kit installed.
The instruments sit in a compact pod visible thruogh the steering wheel. The speedometer is on the right, followed by a rev counter and temperature and fuel gauges that hug a trip data display.
The windscreen wipers, automatically activated by rain, stow in the A-pillars. This is useful both for the broad arc it provides the blades and the novelty of challenging your mates to a game of Guess Where My Wipers Went.
The A-pillars also house tiny A-shaped windows where the pillar meets the body of the car. They provide some extra visibility when cornering but are largely cosmetic.
This diesel-powered Altea surprised me by how quietly the two-litre engine ticked over. I had to give this car a little more foot - literally - than a petrol-driven vehicle when looking for a boost of power but once accustomed to the engine response I could get the car to spring away like a branded cow with a solid kick in the seat to boot.
Road handling is firm and the car corners tightly and neatly without any hint of understeer, even when coming in fast on a sharp bend. The car sat tight when being battered by strong crosswinds, while other vehicles around me were snaking along the road.
The brakes are crisp but when applied there's a distinct hum that emanates from the front of the vehicle, making it sound like a small hive of bees has taken up residence under the bonnet. It's not a nuisance but is definitely noticeable.
Radar sensors
Parking the Altea in a tight spot is a touch-and-go affair. The bonnet drops off quickly and is not visible when you are seated - unless you want to press your face right up to the windsreen like some stuffed Garfield toy.
The vehicle is equipped with radar sensors in the rear and an alarm pings steadily as you reverse, becoming more urgent as you near an obstacle. The sensors can be fooled when the car is surrounded by several flat surfaces - so don't rely solely on this tool when backing out of a tight spot.
Storage space is no problem. There's a multitude of small compartments and cupholders throughout the interior. Boot space is 409 litres and can be expanded to 1320 litres when the rear seats are folded down. More than adequate.
The car will comfortably fit three passengers in the rear, or two with added storage and cup-holder spaces when the centre arm rest is lowered. My kids, aged seven and nine, found this very appealing and repeatedly pointed out how fantastic the Altea was.
Attractive? Feature-rich? Family friendly? The Altea is all three and gets my "thumbs up".
Prices:
- 2.0 FSI manual R212 080
- 2.0 FSI auto R223 350
- 2.0 TDI manual R228 920
- 2.0 TDI DSG R242 020