The spaceship Altea XL has landed

The new SEAT Altea XL has touched down in UK showrooms, offering vast luggage space (the largest in its class, in fact), superb value and typically sporty SEAT dynamics.

XL by name, and extra large by nature, the newcomer joins the existing Altea to fully capitalise on customer demands for ever greater space and flexibility, but in doing so does not sacrifice driving pleasure or fresh, appealing design. Compared with the ‘standard’ Altea, the new XL is targeted much more at families, which means the kids will literally be ‘Lost In Space’.

An increase in length of 18.7 cm means that the Altea XL benefits from improved luggage volume and extra rear leg room, while maintaining usefully compact exterior dimensions. The new model boasts a boot capacity of 532 litres as opposed to the already generous 409 litres offered by the Altea.

With the rear seats moved forwards by 14 cm, luggage space grows to a truly cavernous 635 litres – more than all of its competitors. And if you plan to throw everything at the Altea XL – yes, even the kitchen sink – then folding down the back seats liberates a total capacity of 1,604 litres.

The extra spaciousness of the Altea XL can also be appreciated in the back seats, which can be moved back 2 cm further than in the Altea for even more generous leg room. The front seats – just like those in the Altea – are notable for their commanding driving position, which gives a better viewpoint of the road ahead.

Despite its more practical appeal, the Altea XL keeps the design which is so highly rated by SEAT’s customers: rakish and dynamic. From the front to the B-pillars, the Altea XL has very similar features to its smaller brother. The rear, however, is all new, featuring striking split lights and an appearance reminiscent of cars from the next class up. In addition, roof bars are fitted as standard.

Every Altea XL is well specified with, for example, the following items fitted as standard: air conditioning, cruise control, electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors, radio/CD with MP3 compatibility and AUX IN socket, four electric windows, and six airbags. Stylance models are even more luxurious, with dual zone climate control, rear parking sensors, rain sensor wipers, front fog lights, alloy wheels and light-sensor headlights also included.

An advanced choice of engines is available, comprising three ‘Pumpe Düse’ diesels – a 1.9-litre TDI 105 PS, 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS (with six-speed manual or DSG gearboxes) and 2.0-litre TDI 170 PS – and three petrols: a 1.6-litre 102 PS, 2.0-litre FSI Tiptronic 150 PS and a new engine, a 1.8T FSI 160 PS.

Safety is one of the most important features for a customer buying a car for the whole family and, as a member of the Altea range, the Altea XL achieves a full 5 stars in Euro NCAP for passenger protection and 3 stars for pedestrian protection. This makes the Altea XL one of the safest cars on the road.

To locate your nearest space station – sorry, we mean SEAT UK Dealer – to see the new Altea XL at first hand, visit seat.co.uk.