Seat heads off road
03/06/08 11:37 Filed in: Road
tests
When Seat launched its Altea Freetrack 4 it was the
Spanish marque's first foray into the off-road market. Based on the
long-wheelbase Altea it aims to combine the practicality of an MPV
with the ability to take to the the rough(er) stuff.
To give it this ability to mix it with the off-roaders, the Freetrack 4 has a four-wheel-drive system, the suspension has been jacked up 40 mm to give greater ground clearance and there are the obligatory plastic sill extensions to give it that all important purposeful off road look.
The sills are linked to the plastic front and rear bumpers. At the front these extend up to near the top of the grille, so – if you want your Freetrack to look its best – it is important to choose a colour that suits this split.
Although it has only been on the market since August 2007, Seat have already revised the prices. The good news for buyers is that – far from going up – Seat have actually chopped up to £1,400 off the previous asking price. The price for the Seat Altea Freetrack 4 2.0 TDI just squeaks under £20,000 at £19,995. The petrol 2-litre is now £19,495.
My test car was the former, the Freetrack 4 2.0 TDI. It's a lively, willing unit. The fact that it reaches 60 mph in just 8.7 seconds is proof enough. The diesel grumble is quite well subdued, but still noticeable and there is a hint of diesel vibration that you feel through the pedals.
I was less happy with the inability to drive smoothly in traffic. I don't know whether it was only this particular car, but it felt like an over over-eager fuel cut off. In stop-start traffic there was a real jolt between throttle closed and throttle open, making it impossible to drive smoothly. Passengers complained about it, but I'm not sure if they accepted my explanation that it wasn't just bad driving!
It would be interesting to try the 2.0 FSI engined car to see if it is smoother. The figures suggest it is quicker with a very swift 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds.
The combination of MPV practicality with off road ability should put this car in the sights of many families, especially country dwellers who want to keep going when conditions get a little difficult. There is good space for passengers and luggage and the storage options are augmented by a series of small roof bins to store all sorts of oddments.
The test car would be a real hit with kids, because the final bin popped open to reveal the optional DVD screen. Great for keeping the kids amused on a long journey and the good news is there are headphone sockets!
That's probably where the Seat Altea Freetrack 4 would excel. Practical family transport which can cope with a bit of light off-roading, or just to shrug off winter snowfalls.
To give it this ability to mix it with the off-roaders, the Freetrack 4 has a four-wheel-drive system, the suspension has been jacked up 40 mm to give greater ground clearance and there are the obligatory plastic sill extensions to give it that all important purposeful off road look.
The sills are linked to the plastic front and rear bumpers. At the front these extend up to near the top of the grille, so – if you want your Freetrack to look its best – it is important to choose a colour that suits this split.
Although it has only been on the market since August 2007, Seat have already revised the prices. The good news for buyers is that – far from going up – Seat have actually chopped up to £1,400 off the previous asking price. The price for the Seat Altea Freetrack 4 2.0 TDI just squeaks under £20,000 at £19,995. The petrol 2-litre is now £19,495.
My test car was the former, the Freetrack 4 2.0 TDI. It's a lively, willing unit. The fact that it reaches 60 mph in just 8.7 seconds is proof enough. The diesel grumble is quite well subdued, but still noticeable and there is a hint of diesel vibration that you feel through the pedals.
I was less happy with the inability to drive smoothly in traffic. I don't know whether it was only this particular car, but it felt like an over over-eager fuel cut off. In stop-start traffic there was a real jolt between throttle closed and throttle open, making it impossible to drive smoothly. Passengers complained about it, but I'm not sure if they accepted my explanation that it wasn't just bad driving!
It would be interesting to try the 2.0 FSI engined car to see if it is smoother. The figures suggest it is quicker with a very swift 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds.
The combination of MPV practicality with off road ability should put this car in the sights of many families, especially country dwellers who want to keep going when conditions get a little difficult. There is good space for passengers and luggage and the storage options are augmented by a series of small roof bins to store all sorts of oddments.
The test car would be a real hit with kids, because the final bin popped open to reveal the optional DVD screen. Great for keeping the kids amused on a long journey and the good news is there are headphone sockets!
That's probably where the Seat Altea Freetrack 4 would excel. Practical family transport which can cope with a bit of light off-roading, or just to shrug off winter snowfalls.