SEAT altea test drive since 2009 minivan

Spanish blood

SEAT cars have been on third roles among other European brands for many years. So localized production for the needs of the domestic market of not rich Spain. Now, among other brands belonging to the Volkswagen concern, these cars are positioned as sports.
It sounds somehow unconvincing, given that in the SEAT lineup there are no types of machines that are considered to be sports, two-seater coupe or relatives. So if for wide masses the abbreviation SEAT is the terra incognite, then the phrase SEAT is more advanced to people more advanced. To dispel doubts, we took the Seat Altea test and the pseudo -resistant all -wheel drive Seat Altea Freetrack created on its basis. More precisely, Freetrack is made on the basis of Seat Altea XL, which is an extended by 18.7 centimeters with a version of Seat Altea. On the wheelbase, all cars are the same, and lengthening was on the rear overhang of the body. Of course, this worsens the parameters of the geometric cross -country ability of the car. But if you create a truly universal machine, which has a large single -combed body, and a four -wheel drive, and an increased road clearance, then the extra 123 liters of the luggage volume will not interfere with it at all.
Our cars can only be compared in motion and in appearance: the machines salons are almost identical, only one of them has a gray upholstery material of gray doors, and the other beige. This is not surprising, because both cars we went to the test in StyLance. For Seat Altea, this is almost the maximum level of equipment, above only a completely sports version of the FR, which is distinguished by an aerodynamic body kit and a low road clearance.
And the buyer Seat Altea Freetrack does not have to choose a StyLance equipment for this model is the only one. Freetrack engine is also only one turbocharged 2-liter Volkswagen motor with 200 horses. As if emphasizing the sports image of the brand, both cars were with a mechanical gearbox, only the Seat Altea has a 5-speed one, and the Seat Altea Freetrack for one gear is more. This additional sixth gear turned out to be the most of the way. If you go in the style that the Seat Altea Freetrack provokes, at the sight of the average fuel consumption on the on -board computer, it takes a dumb to such indicators more to the face of an American SUV with a multi -liter engine or a small truck.
However, already on the second day, we adapted and found the correct tactics: if you actively manipulate the box and use the fifth and sixth gear more often, without promoting the engine more than 2500 rpm, then gasoline consumption begins to be stacked in a reasonable framework. Moreover, this is not reflected either on dynamics or elasticity at any speed and on any gear, the car willingly accelerate and has a sufficient supply of power under the gas pedal. True, like any turbocharged engine, the bottom is weak here, crawling in the way it turns out badly.
Surprisingly, the younger brother of Seat Altea in dynamics is not inferior to the eldest, although he has almost half a power. At first it shocked: under the hood, the engine is 1.6 liters and some 102 horses, and on the road the complete feeling that you are only going, and everyone else is standing. And all because the ligament of the motor transmission suspension of the steering brake operates very harmoniously, everything is selected for each other exactly, like figures in a puzzle.
So we can safely say that in this case, advertising did not lie with SEAT cars with sports blood.
Alexey Khresin
Photo author: Andrey Aksenov
 

Source: MKOMBILA magazine [July/2008]