SEAT Alhambra TDI
Budget-conscious diesel MPV hits the road
The Alhambra is a great buy, and if you’re looking for a practical and comfortable seven-seater people carrier that’s guaranteed to be cheap to run, the 114bhp TDI model is a welcome addition to the range. SEAT claims it’s perfect for company buyers who are limited on how much they can spend. But if it’s your own cash, we’d recommend stretching that little bit further for the more powerful 138bhp unit.
Owning a diesel Alhambra has just got cheaper. SEAT previously offered only 138bhp and 168bhp 2.0-litre TDI oil-burners. But now, there’s this 114bhp model which starts from £23,535 – that’s £520 less than the 138bhp version.
It’s quiet, refined and does its best work between 1,750rpm and 2,500rpm, with peak torque of 280Nm. Rev any higher or lower and it begins to feel underpowered. On one uphill stretch of motorway, we were forced to change down from sixth to maintain momentum.
Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the SEAT Alhambra
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Economy of 50.4mpg and 146g/km CO2 emissions are exactly the same as for the 138bhp engine. Nevertheless, the figures still impress, and have been achieved through stop-start and brake energy regeneration.
As for the rest of the package, it’s business as usual. The ride is comfortable and the quality high, and with SEAT’s EasyFold seating layout, the second and third row can each be folded away in one movement, giving a massive 2,297 litres of boot space.
We are big fans of the Alhambra, and this latest powerplant offers a new, lower-priced entry point to diesel ownership. But it should be even cheaper – £520 is not enough of a gap over the more powerful oil-burner.
