Seat's supersized Altea XL (2006): first official pictures

By Phil McNamara

First Official Pictures

22 August 2006 00:01

The lowdown

Seat has altered the Altea, with a redesigned rear end that boosts practicality. The Altea XL is similar in concept to Volkswagen's enlarged Golf, the Plus, but the Seat is an even better load-lugger. It goes on UK sale in February 2007. Despite the stretch, Seat has not taken its chance to create a seven seat Altea: the focus is on carrying cargo. So both versions are five seaters, which appears an oversight considering the success of Vauxhall's Zafira. Seat says its ageing, full-size MPV, the Alhambra, caters for these customers.

The XL is 187mm longer than the regular Altea. The wheelbase is no bigger: all that stretch is in the rear overhang. The result is 532 litres of boot space behind the rear seats, or a whopping 1604 litres if you fold them flat. The rear seats also slide back and forth by 140mm. Bring them forwards, and 635 litres of luggage can be accommodated behind the bulkhead. Slide them the other way, and it's the rear passengers who benefit from extra legroom.

By Phil McNamara