SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 road test report
SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 2.0 TSI Estate
What is it?
The SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 is a five-seater MPV – or a more practical five-door hatchback if you prefer, particularly suited to outdoor activities.
But it’s fitted with a turbo engine for brilliantly entertaining hot hatch performance, has higher ground clearance for limited 4×4 duties, and sporty styling. But the real killer is the price tag: just £20k.
What’s hot?
- Crackerjack performance from turbo engine
- Comfortable, secure Recaro-style seats
- Direct sports oriented steering provides good control
- Fantastic spec: turbo engine; four-wheel drive; 17 inch alloys, plus…
- …rear DVD, climate control, four electric windows, rear parking sensors
- Loads of storage areas and rear fold down tables
- Astonishingly good value
What’s not?
- Fuel economy: rated at 30.1mpg but expect more like 25mpg
- Rear seats don’t fold flat
- Sports suspension can get crashy
- Some buzzes in the interior
Verdict
Talk about hiding your light under a bushel. If you need a sensible family hatch, but don’t want to give up the fun of GTI driving then this car sounds right for you. There’s even a DVD player to keep the kids quiet in the back. Plus there’s four-wheel drive, useful for outdoor sports activities such as sailing and horse riding. Given its CO2 emissions – 32% tax rating meaning £205 per month for a 40% tax payer – this might be better for a business car user on a private Personal Contract Hire deal. But it’s still amazing value for money.
SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 2.0 TSI Estate specification
- Price £19,230
- Tax band 32%
- Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrol
- CO2 emissions 223g/km
- Power/torque 200PS/207lb ft
- Economy 30.1mpg
Read more on the SEAT Altea Freetrack
For additional commentary on the SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 read the Editor’s Blog: SEAT Freetrack does the business but not the wind
