SEAT Alhambra Minivan Features DCT
The 2011 SEAT Alhambra replaces one of the most enduring minivan models of all time – its predecessor of the same name, which ran uninterrupted and without sheet metal changes from its launch in 1996 to 2010. The actual design was, in fact, older still; it was the production twin to Volkswagen’s 1995 Sharan, which was paired with the Ford Galaxy in a three-way arrangement.
The new Alhambra continues the pairing with VW’s Sharan, though Ford left the arrangement in 2006 when it launched a fresh Galaxy of its own design. Most models on a normal product cycle would have been replaced twice or even three times during the Alhambra’s 15-year tenure, so the new design has a lot of catching up to do. Reflecting the shift in the market and the rise in popularity of Scenic-sized medium minivans, the Alhambra and its Sharan partner have elected to move up a class, expanding a full 220 mm in length and 90 mm in width to become what Europeans would describe as a large minivan, almost five meters in length.
Along with the bigger dimensions comes a much more sophisticated specification, in terms of luxury and safety equipment, and engineering content. The all-turbo engine line-up includes a 1.4 liter TSi gasoline unit of 150 hp and a 2-liter TDI common-rail diesel in either 140 hp, as tested, or 170 hp states of tune. Transmissions are all six-speed – either manual or, as on the test car, the latest iteration of the familiar VW-group wet clutch DCT. Drive is to the front wheels. No all-wheel drive option is yet available, though the fact that the Alhambra is built on the VW Passat platform gives the possibility that such an option might be available at a later date.
In Action
The Alhambra’s cabin and furnishings are sufficiently plush and insulating; there is little in the way of sound or vibration to indicate the presence of a diesel, rather than a gasoline, engine. Torque from low rpm is strong enough to overcome the vehicle’s substantial 1776 kg unladen weight with no difficulty. However, with a full load aboard, driving uphill or into the wind on the highway would require extra pressure on the accelerator pedal.
The six-speed DCT works just as unobtrusively as a planetary automatic under most conditions, especially at higher speeds and on country roads. It is quick to shift up to the highest and most economical gear – confirmed by a figure in the instrument panel display – and also allows the vehicle to make the most of the engine’s low-down torque by permitting fairly large throttle openings without an unwanted kickdown. The wheel-mounted shift paddles provide an added level of override that is rarely needed.
Sporty driving is possible, but not really in the Alhambra’s nature. Higher engine revs bring more noise and the center selector lever needs to be slotted back into “S” to bring greater responsiveness to the transmission. Where the transmission does fall short of planetary standards is when easing away from rest very slowly. Forward creep in traffic is every bit as controllable, but the next step – the increase in speed needed to maneuver in a parking lot, for example – is not as truly seamless as with a good planetary. Sometimes, too, the box performs an unexpected downshift when slowing for an intersection or stoplight, and not necessarily on a downgrade.
Fuel Economy
Also betraying the box’s status as a first-generation DCT is the fact that the Alhambra’s declared fuel consumption is fractionally higher with the automatic than the manual option. Later seven-speed units, with the benefit of a taller top gear and less energy-sapping hydraulic systems, frequently show better economy than the equivalent manual. Nevertheless, considering the Alhambra’s bulk and weight, its overall average of 6.4 liters of diesel per 100 km is impressive. Its best, 6.0 liters (37.7 mpg) on an unladen cruise at 70 mph, compares with a long loaded run where it was difficult to persuade the consumption readout to move below 6.6 liters per 100 km (34.2 mpg).
In urban use, the automatic engine stop-start is effective and easy to get used to. Unlike similar systems on some other automatic vehicles, the Alhambra’s set-up is well judged and it is easy, even with a stopped engine, to judge when to press the gas to accelerate into the flow of traffic at an intersection or a roundabout.
Equipment
In line with SEAT’s market position of comprehensive equipment provision, the Alhambra SE is lavishly equipped with almost every imaginable device to make life aboard easier, safer and more convenient.
The process begins with the remote-control key fob, which includes buttons to electrically raise and lower the tailgate or slide the wide side doors open or closed. The front seats, but not the steering wheel, are electrically adjusted and the parking brake can be set to apply itself automatically when the vehicle stops, releasing itself when the driver pulls away.
A longer wheelbase gives good leg room in all three rows and significantly better ride comfort than in the outgoing model. All seats, including the front passenger’s seat, fold completely flat to create a load space 2.95 meters (almost ten feet) long – handy for trips to the lumber yard – and with a full complement of passengers aboard, the high-level air conditioning vents for the rear passengers will be welcomed in summer.
The Alhambra is well equipped with driver aids, too: Cruise control, automatic wipers and lights, automatically-dipping headlights and a large navigation screen which doubles as an overhead view of the vehicle for parking maneuvers, thanks to scanners around its perimeter. There’s even the option of auto-park, where the car does all the steering for the parking maneuver and the driver simply operates the accelerator and brake in accordance with the acoustic signals given by the sensors.
Add in a double panoramic glass sunroof, front fog lights that illuminate low-speed intersections and turns, and an electrically-extended tow hitch, and it becomes clear that this is an impressively thorough and appealing machine, both for luxury travel and heavy-duty hauling. Priced in the UK between £22,300 and £26,500 ($36,500 - $41,000), this is a strong competitor to the now nearly ten-year-old Renault Espace and the Ford Galaxy – with significantly better features and capabilities than the much larger and pricier Chrysler Grand Voyager.
| SEAT Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0 liter common-rail turbo diesel |
| Power | 140 hp |
| Torque | 320 Nm @ 1750 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed wet clutch DCT |
| 0-100 km/h | 10.9 sec |
| Fuel Consumption | 6.0 – 6.4 liter/100 km (34.2 – 37.7 mpg) |
| CO2 Emissions | 149 g/km |
| Price (UK) | £25,270 ($39,175) |
Story Filed: 1/26/2011
By Tony Lewin, managing editor DCTfacts.com