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Heres An MPV That Offers A Little More Than The Usual Humdrum Family Fare. Andy Enright Takes A Look At The SEAT Altea FR TDI 170.
Right now, at this particular minute, SEATs Altea FR TDI 170 might just be the most modern vehicle on the road. Not in terms of engineering or design but in concept. Heres a compact MPV that ruthlessly plugs into any number of cutting edge trends. Quick, stylish and fun to drive, the Altea FR possesses qualities that are a long way off the MPV norm.
Small wonder SEAT have high hopes for it.
SEAT arent the first to market high performance MPV vehicles. Vauxhall well and truly beat them to the punch, first with the Zafira GSi and then with the potent VXR model, but SEAT have played things rather smartly. They realise that MPV drivers need to sell the benefits of their choices to their families. Anything festooned with spoilers is going to have a hard time passing muster, so an element of guile is required in the cars styling.
A vehicle that looks as if it has benefited from the proceeds of a ram raid of Halfords is just that little bit too obvious. Likewise a turbocharged petrol engine will likely get the vehicle axed from a shortlist when the fuel consumption figures and insurance quotes are received. Therefore, the smarter performance compact MPV needs to have sleek styling, a dose of practicality and either a powerful hybrid engine or a decent turbo diesel. The Altea FR opts for a 168bhp diesel that drives the front wheels and which endows it with an almost savage midrange overtaking ability.
You may be familiar with a 140bhp version of this engine found in the Altea and Leon amongst others but the experts have dug deep in the engine, found the wick and turned it right up. In reality, the turbocharger has been modified and the injection system has been optimised to handle higher fuel capacities at peak loads. SEAT call this the Piezo Pump injection system, and it refines the injection timing and quality, resulting in superior acoustics and cleaner emissions. Fully compliant with Euro IV emissions regulations and featuring a diesel particulate filter, the Altea FR can do responsibility too.
For those less interested in taking the responsible approach, theres a 2.0-litre Turbo petrol-engined version of the FR packing nearly 200bhp. This is the same engine found in the VW Golf GTi.
"Picture how amazed 1980s car designers would be if the SEAT Altea FR was teleported twenty years into the past"
The Ibiza and the first generation Leon established the FR (Formula Racing) brand and this Altea is the first of what SEAT dub the new generation models to wear the badge. The changes to the exterior are subtle but effective. A restyled front bumper houses a full-width air intake and a honeycomb grille. The titanium-coloured door mirrors are becoming an FR trademark, as is the red badging.
At the back, theres another redesigned bumper assembly, this time with black diffuser styling. A pair of chromed tailpipes and five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels round off the visual enhancements. The interior has been given a sporting makeover too, with a three-spoke FR-branded steering wheel and more deeply bolstered seats being the main changes. Look a little closer and youll also spot a grey and black dashboard colour combination, an FR logo on the gear knob and white instrument dials with a centrally located rev counter.
The car has been improved for the latest model year, mainly through the addition of a clever rear seat which slides forward 14 cm to increase boot space by an additional 101 litres, but still leaves plenty of rear legroom for the rear seat passengers. The Altea unashamedly offers five spacious seats rather than seven cramped ones but weighs in with some innovative thinking. The side profile has the same 33:66 glass to metal ratio that features on so many sports cars and gives the Altea a far higher waisted and more dynamic look than, say, a Volkswagen Touran. Inside there are more than thirty places to stow and stash goodies, including a supersized glove compartment, big storage bins on all four doors, drawers under the front seat and even a storage area under the boot floor. Even the parcel shelf has a storage cubby incorporated within. The two-tiered boot has a capacity of over 400 litres.
The rear bench is a 60/40 split affair with a fold down armrest incorporating cupholders. As befits SEATs position within the sportier Audi side of Volkswagens empire, the seats are supportive and the steering is meaty, the multi-adjustable wheel making it easy to find a decent driving position. The Alteas greatest party trick is definitely the windscreen wipers that park vertically in the A-pillars until called upon. Based on the latest generation Golf chassis, the Altea serves up a set of sophisticated road manners.
The multi-link rear axle and McPherson struts up front offer a very good ride/handling compromise, helped in no small part by one of the best electro-mechanical steering systems weve yet come across. Turn-in is surprisingly sharp for a vehicle thats fully 1,560mm high and body roll is very well controlled. The FRs cause is helped by firmer springing and thicker anti-roll bars. The Altea isnt found wanting in terms of safety provision, being SEATs first car to be sold in the EU with twin front, side, and head airbags as standard.