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The Seat Alhambra and family value

Singapore — A multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) works well here. The Lion City’s car prices being what they are, if you are going to make do with a single car, as most folk do, an MPV fits the bill since it does everything a regular car can, and more.

The good news: The Alhambra is a big, boxy MPV offering lots of space in a practical package. The bad news: The Alhambra is well, a big, boxy MPV. Photo: Big Fish

The good news: The Alhambra is a big, boxy MPV offering lots of space in a practical package. The bad news: The Alhambra is well, a big, boxy MPV. Photo: Big Fish

Singapore — A multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) works well here. The Lion City’s car prices being what they are, if you are going to make do with a single car, as most folk do, an MPV fits the bill since it does everything a regular car can, and more.

If you are looking for an MPV and your key requirement is that it must have seven seats, then there are at least 10 cars that fit the bill, from diehards like the Toyota Wish, to newer, tech-filled offerings like the Honda Jade and BMW 2 Series GT.

If you need more room, then the crowd thins somewhat, with cars such as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Alphard, Ford Galaxy and Volkswagen Sharan offering the house-on-wheels experience of a big MPV. But Spanish brand Seat has just made that decision a little harder.

Under Volkswagen Group ownership since 1986, Seat, like Skoda, shares platform and drivetrain technology with Volkswagen-owned brands. For example, the Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo all have common frames, chassis and drivetrains.

 

SAME SLICE OF A SMALL PIE

 

While the economies of scale enjoyed have transformed the Volkswagen Group into one of the world’s largest car makers, it also means the Seat, Skoda and VWs are all locked in direct competition for the same slice of the mainstream pie.

In Singapore, local distributor Vertex Euro Motors says that of its line-up, the Alhambra has generated the most buying interest so far, which is interesting because it is basically the same thing as a VW Sharan — or vice versa. Seat does have a unique selling point with its sexier styling, as the Leon hatchback shows, but there’s only so much you can do on a big, boxy MPV like this.

Aside from the badge and front grille, they are nearly identical. Squint, and they could be identical twins — they are even assembled at the same plant in Portugal.

The Spaniard differs in its choice of engine though. Both have six-speed dual-clutch gearboxes, the Alhambra has a 2-litre turbodiesel engine. It is similar to ones found in previous Sharans, but currently the VW is offered here only with a 2-litre turbocharged petrol that produces 220bhp.

The Alhambra’s diesel engine offers plenty of torque, so you will not feel the power deficit, and there’s always immediate thrust on hand so the car does not feel like a lumbering giant. It handles tidily as well.

Ride quality is good, though a little stiff — the effects of being tuned to carry seven people. With a full load, the vehicle dynamics do not change much. The diesel engine’s torque shines through and chugs along without feeling winded — it is a real workhorse.

 

MILEAGE-HIGH CLUB

 

Diesel power means paying more per annum, or S$1,934 in road tax versus S$1,164 for the Sharan, but diesels are inherently less thirsty.

Technology like engine start-stop also means that it will easily better 9.0L/100km, or at the very least, deliver better mileage than the equivalent petrol engine though you miss out on higher-revving fireworks to break the family-man spell once in awhile.

In this respect, the Alhambra is perfect for a hard-core family commuter who racks up high mileage ferrying the kids around daily. This is where a prospective owner could easily claw back the difference in road tax from a petrol-powered car.

The Alhambra offers the same spacious, flexible user experience that we have seen in the Sharan. The three seats in the second row are adjustable, foldable and have their own air-conditioning control plus individual Isofix safety points so a child seat can be fixed to each one.

There are also tray tables and an integrated booster cushion for two of them. If occupants of this row can compromise, the third row can fit two adults without complaint and both rows of seats have air-conditioning vents. When you are not carrying people, all seats fold flat to offer a huge 2,297 litres of space.

BIG-MPV NICETIES

 

The car we tested was the more basic Style model — a Style Plus model adds niceties like a sunroof and xenon lights — but there is the usual you would expect from a big MPV such as electric sliding doors, powered tailgate, keyless entry and a basic infotainment system.

But of course, price is the most important factor and the “twins” share that too: The basic Alhambra goes for S$165,500 with COE, while the equivalent Sharan retails for S$166,400 with COE.

That is not much of a bargain, but the Style Plus, which has a similar equipment level to the high-spec Sharan EQP, is about S$11,000 cheaper at S$175,500 with COE.

So while the basic Alhambra does a doppelganger act on the Sharan, the more expensive Plus version is where the expected discount lies.

Whether or not most buyers are willing to bridge that price gap — and buy from a brand that’s returning to the local market — remains to be seen.

 

SEAT ALHAMBRA STYLE

Engine: 1,968cc, inline four, turbodiesel, 184hp, 380Nm

Performance: 213kmh, 0-100kmh: 8.9s, 5.2L/100km, 137g/km CO2

Price: S$165,500 with COE

Available: Now

 

PROS: Lots of space, frugal diesel, useful features

CONS: Looks like a big, boxy MPV

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