SEAT Alhambra

SEAT Alhambra at a glance

The Alhambra is listed in our SEAT catalogue. It was SEAT's only large MPV and was never replaced by a direct successor.

Generations and model history

First generation (7M, 1996-2010)

A prototype appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in 1995 and production started in June 1996. The 7M came out of a joint venture between Volkswagen and Ford, so the Alhambra, the Sharan and the Galaxy shared one body and one assembly line in Palmela; Ford later left the collaboration. It had seven seats, and the five rear seats could be folded or removed to leave a flat floor. With seven seats in place the boot held 256 litres; with five seats, 852 litres; with only the front row, 2,610 litres.

The 7M received a major facelift in 2000. ADAC lists the German range of 2000-2010 as follows:

The Ecomotive version of 2009 used the 2.0 TDI with 103 kW (140 PS) and emitted 159 g/km of CO2. German list prices for the facelifted 7M started at EUR 22,795 for the 2.0 petrol (2000-2009 price lists).

Second generation (7N, 2010-2020)

The 7N went on sale in October 2010. It was about 22 cm longer and 9 cm wider than the 7M, and it switched to sliding rear doors for the middle row. Ford was no longer involved, so the 7N was simply a SEAT version of the second Sharan. At launch the petrol engines were a 1.4 TSI with 110 kW (150 PS) and a 2.0 TSI with 147 kW (200 PS); the 2.0 TDI came with 103 kW (140 PS) and 125 kW (170 PS), and an 85 kW (115 PS) diesel followed. In February 2013 SEAT added a permanent all-wheel-drive version with the 103 kW (140 PS) 2.0 TDI and a six-speed manual.

The 2015 facelift (on sale from June 2015) replaced the EA189 diesels with the EA288 family: 85 kW (115 PS), 110 kW (150 PS), 130 kW (177 PS) and 135 kW (184 PS). The 2.0 TSI was raised to 162 kW (220 PS). SEAT ended production in 2020, while ADAC's catalogue lists German versions up to January 2022.

Engines, transmissions and performance

A representative late car is the 2.0 TDI Ecomotive with 110 kW (150 PS) and 340 Nm, which ADAC lists with a six-speed manual, 0-100 km/h in 10.3 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h. The 1.4 TSI with 110 kW (150 PS) was the entry petrol engine, and the 2.0 TSI with 162 kW (220 PS) the most powerful version of either generation. The 7M was sold with five-speed manual gearboxes. Our power converter translates the kW and PS figures used here into hp.

Dimensions, space and boot

Key figures for the facelifted 7N (2.0 TDI 150, ADAC data):

Five seats were standard on the 7N in Germany, with seven available. For the identical Volkswagen Sharan, ADAC lists 955 litres in normal configuration, so the measurement method matters when you compare figures. The 7M was about 4.63 m long.

Fuel economy and running costs

The 2.0 TDI 150 Ecomotive was rated at 5.0 l/100 km (about 47 mpg US) and 130 g/km of CO2 on the NEDC cycle. German list prices for the facelifted 7N ran from EUR 30,815 for the 1.4 TSI to EUR 48,690 for the top 2.0 TDI with 135 kW (184 PS) (2015-2022 price lists). Run your own numbers with the fuel cost calculator.

Trims and equipment

Facelifted 7N versions sold in Germany included the entry Reference and the better-equipped Style, with five seats standard and two extra seats as an option. The 7N's sliding doors, which open wide in tight parking spaces, were one of its main selling points over hinged-door rivals.

Safety

Euro NCAP gave the Alhambra five stars in 2010, with 96% for adult occupants, 80% for child occupants, 46% for pedestrians and 71% for safety assist. In December 2019 Euro NCAP rated the Sharan and Alhambra again under its newer protocol and awarded four stars: 89% adult, 78% child, 59% vulnerable road users and 62% safety assist. The 7M's crash results are not included here.

Reliability and known issues

The sources used for this article do not contain a model-specific defect list for the Alhambra. Note that the 7N diesels sold before the 2015 facelift used the EA189 engine family, which the facelift replaced with the EA288. Ask for proof of completed recalls and a full service history, especially on high-mileage diesels.

Rivals

The Alhambra was usually the cheapest way into the Sharan body. The Ford pair had conventional hinged rear doors. Line them up in our comparison tool.

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