Used Seat Altea: A Close Look Is Necessary

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Used Seat Altea: A Close Look Is Necessary
Used Seat Altea: A Close Look Is Necessary
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The Seat Altea has not been built since 2015. Anyone who decides on a used vehicle should follow a few tips in order to enjoy the compact Spaniard.

In addition to a large amount of space, the Altea was also available in many engine versions from 2004. There is a large selection on the used car market - from damaged specimens that have been ridden down to check-book-tended sweets. We have some advice on how to find the right Altea.

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Compared to its van relative VW Touran, the Seat Altea has a much more attractive bodywork, but offers less space - the interior offers more competition with the Golf V-based "Golf Plus".

Seat Altea with 409 liters trunk volume

Nevertheless, at least 409 liters of luggage fit in the Altea. If you take the 4.47 meter long "XL" instead of the 4.28 meter long normal Altea, you will find 532 liters in the trunk. The Spaniards also had an “off-road” variant called “Alltrack” in their program. It is characterized by all-wheel drive, lifting by four centimeters and plastic planking on the fenders, sills and bumpers.

The interior of the Altea scores with a foldable rear bench and a solid and robust interior. The hard plastic can be a bit annoying. The rear seats are easy to reach thanks to large doors and are also suitable for buckling small children into their seats without twisting them. In front you take a seat up and comfortably. In 2009 there was a major facelift in which the cockpit in particular was renovated. Vehicles from this year of construction are therefore recommended.

From 105 to 211 hp

As a future Altea driver, you are spoiled for choice: Should you prefer an economical diesel with 77 kW / 105 PS, a high-torque compression-ignition engine with a displacement of two liters and 125 kW / 170 PS or one of the widespread petrol engines with an output between 75 kW / 102 and 155 kW / 211 PS? The top unit comes from the Golf GTI and also gives the Altea a lot of legs. For those who just have to get from A to B with their children, the less susceptible 1.2-liter petrol engine that is found in most used car offers is completely sufficient.

Chassis and suspension are among the top disciplines of the Altea. The Spaniard steers much more precisely than the Touran and, thanks to its tight suspension, ensures good cornering. Only the quality of the mounted dampers and springs is criticized more than average by the TÜV - even with younger vehicles.

Front, side and head airbags are just as much part of the standard equipment of the Altea as the ESP driving aid. In 2004 it was awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test. From today's point of view, the Altea would be far less successful, but this is more due to a lack of ultra-modern assistance systems than to concept-related uncertainty. As far as the equipment is concerned, many used Altea are rather cautiously equipped. For example, navigation is only available at an additional cost

Chassis and radiator as defects

There is not much to complain about with used Altea. As already mentioned, the TÜV likes to complain about the chassis parts, and there are also defective fans and air conditioning units - a hereditary disease from VW's modular system. You should definitely pay attention to the service intervals of the timing belt. Cracks can quickly lead to major engine damage. Unfortunately, this also applies to the more durable versions with a timing chain, which the Altea likes to stretch. As a final point of criticism, the experts also cite the optional DSG transmission, which can sometimes be tough.

On the whole, if you're looking for a family-friendly van rather than an SUV, you can't go wrong with the Altea. But you should look carefully before buying, but that goes without saying. In principle, younger models with the prettier cockpit and the more modern engines are recommended. Those who have to pay attention to the budget can also be lucky with older vehicles or those with a higher mileage. Maintenance history and equipment should not be ignored. Altea can currently be found on the network with reasonable mileage from 11,000 euros. (SP-X)

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