The SEAT Altea is a compact MPV built by SEAT and named after Altea, Spain. The vehicle was designed by the Italian Walter de'Silva and launched in 2004 as the first example of SEAT's new corporate look. The current Toledo is identical except for the addition of a larger boot.
This MPV was released in 2004, a few years after many of its competitors arriving on the scene, but it was expected to sell well. However, it exceeded expectations and 31,223 Alteas were sold within the first year.
It is a family-oriented 5-seater which attempts to portray a more sporty image than most of its rivals. The car is based on the A platform, the same as several other cars from the Volkswagen Group, such as the compact MPVs Volkswagen Golf Plus and Volkswagen Touran.
It has a five star EuroNCAP rating. There are five trim levels: Essence, Reference, Reference Sport, Stylance, Sport and FR. Eleven engines are available, with the range-topping 2.0 FR TDI delivering 170 bhp, available since April 2006.
