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SEAT Altea XL road tests and consumer car reviews

SEAT Altea XL

4.5 stars - average customer rating
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With its clever use of space, high roofline and multi-positional seats, the new Altea XL was born ready. As the name suggests, the Altea XL is bigger. 123 litres of extra space (over the Altea) and all of the finest comfort-focused ideas were applied with experience and the latest engineering technology to create a car that welcomes the family with the doors wide open.

SEAT Altea XL consumer reviews by year of make: 2008  2009 

Road tests

SEAT Altea XL

2.0 TDI Stylance - SEAT prides itself on making cars with flair, passion and spirit – cars for customers who want to stand out from the crowd. You may or may not agree, but on a more practical level, the Altea XL is an accomplished all-rounder with the biggest boot in its class. [...]

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating Full Report
An image of the SEAT Altea XL 2.0 TDI Stylance
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SEAT Altea XL consumer car reviews

M Timberlake, Sussex

SEAT Altea XL Stylance 1.9 TDI 2008

3 star review

This my third VAG Tdi and my second SEAT. I continue to be impressed by the VAG build quality and the road holding of the XL is surprisingly good. The suspension may be too firm for some and the rear seats when folded do not result in a flat loadspace. What I do not understand is why the performance and emission and economy of the PD engine is such a backward step from the previous 1.9 TDI with conventional injectors. The 105bhp engine provides mediocre performance in the XL which is further reduced to poor performance and thirsty motoring if the climate control is used. The tailgate on mine gets covered with sooty specs which is due to the marginal combustion caused by fundamentally poor fully computerised EGR control - inexcusable on a modern diesel! Add to this the fact that the cambelt, in common with all VAG PD engines, requires changing every 3/4 years and you may think twice before you decide to own one. This car required a new dual mass flywheel and clutch at 8k (under warranty) which is also another component like the second rate climate control compressor with built in failure. My vehicle has only done 15K and I’m disappointed. My two previous VAG vehicles, a Toledo and an Octavia were better performers, were much quieter and used far less fuel. Oh and you will need fully synthetic oil in the PD at £8 a litre.

Submitted: 02/08/2010 16:00:33 | ID: 5815

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Alan Hurt, Cheshire

SEAT Altea XL 2008

5 star review

I have the 2L auto. It is one of the best cars I have driven and the load space is big.

Submitted: 05/07/2010 20:51:28 | ID: 5584

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Wull Scott, County Antrim

SEAT Altea XL se 2009

5 star review

Second SEAT Altea XL I have owned, 1.9 tdi, great car. I am 66 years old, there’s plenty of room for stiff legs, ample room for grandchildren and their luggage going to school. Put your foot down and it feels like a boy racer car, feels great, but when things go past you it makes you realise it’s time to slow down. SEAT is five star motoring at very good prices. If I survive I certinly will buy another SEAT Altea XL to ferry my great grandchildren around.

Submitted: 14/02/2010 19:59:22 | ID: 4608

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DAniel Lea, Oxfordshire

SEAT Altea XL 1.9 TDI 2008

4 star review

Picked up the Altea XL second hand in June 2009 as my family were out growing my supermini! I’ve had a SEAT Leon in the recent past which I enjoyed, nice and perky, lots of grunt but well made, so picking another SEAT was an easy choice. Obviously, it’s a lot bigger than the Leon but I can just about pretend that I’m still in a hot hatch, it’s got good acceleration, looks pretty on the eye too. The TDI engine is great, well it is a Volkswagen! And I get good fuel economy out of it. I don’t keep too much tabs on it but I’m not heading to the petrol station every other day, so I’m pleased about that. Would I recommend one? No! Unless you’ve got a family!! That’s when I would totally recommend it!

Submitted: 13/02/2010 13:04:44 | ID: 4597

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