SEAT Altea mini MPV

Drive

Steer clear of the entry-level 1.4 S version, as it's not really powerful enough for the Altea. The 1.2 and 1.4 TSI petrol engines are well worth a look though, as they're punchy, quite cheap to run and good value. The 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0 TDI diesels are excellent. They're more than capable enough in terms of performance - even the smaller 1.6 - and they suit the Altea well. The steering is accurate and the brakes are sharp, while there's very little body roll in corners. The SEAT generally feels composed and safe on the move.

Comfort

Diesel engines clatter a little at low speed, but this dies away as soon as you get moving. The petrol versions don't suffer from this and there's generally very little road noise. There is a little wind buffeting around the front doors, but nothing unbearable. For the most part, the Altea is comfortable and rides well, although Sport models with larger 17-inch alloy wheels can suffer from a jittery ride.

Reliability

The SEAT scored five Euro NCAP stars for adult occupants, four for child occupants and three for pedestrians, which is very impressive and means it's one of the safest small people carriers around. Six airbags, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and electronic brake assist are standard on all models. The Altea finished just shy of the top third in the 2010 Driver Power reliability survey in 36th place overall, which is respectable. Build quality is good, but it's not quite up to Volkswagen standards, as VW has reserved the best fit and finish for its more prestigious brands.

Practicality

A 409-litre boot is reasonable, but it's bettered by rivals like the Ford C-MAX with 550 litres. There's additional storage beneath the boot and the parcel shelf has a built-in cubby hole. The rest of the cabin is equally practical with all manner of useful storage areas throughout. The downside is that the rear seats can't be removed, but they are mounted on runners, which allows you to alternate between boot space and legroom - they also split 60/40 and fold flat without the need to remove the headrests.

Value for money

Next to most rivals the SEAT is a veritable bargain. Starting prices are low and even the top-spec models are more affordable than equivalents from Ford or Volkswagen. The entry-level S version misses out on alloy wheels, but it does get air-conditioning, a CD stereo, electric front windows and electric mirrors as standard. S Emocion adds metallic paint and steering wheel mounted stereo controls, while top-spec SE models get climate control and cruise control as standard. Insurance groups range from seven to 13, which isn't bad at all, while resale values are reasonably good, as the SEAT has plenty of equipment and it's not exactly dear to buy in the first place.

Running costs

No Altea - petrol or diesel - returns bad fuel economy, as every version offers over 40mpg. The cream of the crop is the 1.6 TDI Ecomotive, which manages an impressive 63mpg and has emissions of 119g/km, so Road Tax costs only £30 per year.