SEAT Alhambra

The SEAT Alhambra is a seven-seater minivan that was built from 1996 to 2020. It was manufactured under the SEAT brand from June 1996 onwards at the Volkswagen Group's AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal. It shares the same platform with the Volkswagen Sharan, and the first generation was also related to the Ford Galaxy. The vehicle is named after the Alhambra of Granada, a famous monument in Spain. It is considered in the motor industry to be a large multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Template:TOC left

First generation (Typ 7M; 1996)

A prototype of the first generation SEAT Alhambra was presented at the 1995 Geneva Salon International de l'Auto. The following year the production Alhambra was launched at the same motor show and went on sale in June.<ref>SEAT Hoy http://media.seat.com/en/company/368-seat-sa-en-cifras-2005-2009.html</ref> The Alhambra shares most of its components and design with the VW Sharan Mk1 and Ford Galaxy Mk1. However, the Alhambra has more options fitted for a given price range. The Alhambra has seven seats—the five rear seats can be folded down or unclipped and removed completely. When removed the seats leave a flat-floored load space, a unique feature for SEAT vehicles at that time. The load volume varies, from 256l with seven seats, to 852l with five seats, and 2610l with only the two front seats fitted.

The Alhambra was essentially unchanged from 1996 to 2010 but a major restyling in the year 2000 reflected the new SEAT image. Even so, the Alhambra remained faithful to the original design produced under the Volkswagen Group and Ford technology sharing agreement. When Volkswagen and Ford lost market share to other manufacture's MPVs, including the Toyota Previa and Mitsubishi Space Wagon, they changed the design of their versions.

The Alhambra, Sharan, and Galaxy were built on the same production line at the joint venture AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal, and were essentially the same but with different engine options and interiors. Ford has now withdrawn from the collaboration, and the Galaxy Mk III and the S-Max (a seven-seater based on the Mondeo Mk IV platform) are built in Genk, Belgium, alongside the Mondeo. The AutoEuropa plant did produce the VW Scirocco III from 2008 to 2017.

Introduced in 2009, the SEAT Alhambra Ecomotive is fitted with the 2.0 TDI Template:Convert engine producing 159 g/km Template:CO2 emissions.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 1997 SEAT Alhambra TDi 1.9 Rear.jpg

  Seat Alhambra pre-facelift (United Kingdom)

• SEAT Alhambra Mk1 odometer.jpg

  SEAT Alhambra first generation pre-facelift instrument panel

• Seat Alhambra Facelift 20090706 front.JPG

  Seat Alhambra facelift (Europe)

• Seat Alhambra Facelift 20090706 rear.JPG

  Seat Alhambra facelift (Europe)

Awards

• 'Monovolume do Ano' award in 1997, in Portugal<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Engines

• Petrol
  • 1.8L I4 Template:Convert 20V Turbo
  • 2.0L I4 Template:Convert
  • 2.8L VR6 Template:Convert 24V
• Diesel
  • 1.9L I4 Template:Convert TDI
  • 1.9L I4 Template:Convert TDI
  • 1.9L I4 Template:Convert TDI
  • 1.9L I4 Template:Convert TDI
  • 1.9L I4 Template:Convert TDI
  • 2.0L I4 Template:Convert TDI

Second generation (Typ 7N; 2010)

The second generation SEAT Alhambra went on sale in October 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At Template:Convert long it is 22 cm longer and 9 cm wider than the first generation. Like the Sharan access to the middle row of seats is via sliding doors.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In February 2013 SEAT presented the Alhambra four-wheel-drive version featuring a permanent all wheel drive combined with the 2.0 TDI Template:Convert diesel engine and a manual six-speed gearbox.<ref>Even more versatile with all-wheel drive http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/746-seat-presentara-el-nuevo-alhambra-4-en-el-salon-de-ginebra.html?g2_language=en_GB</ref>

In September 2015 the UK diesel models of the Alhambra were revised to meet the Euro 6 standards and the power outputs increased from Template:Convert to Template:Convert and from Template:Convert to Template:Convert.Template:Citation needed

In March 2020 SEAT announced production of the Alhambra would end that month.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 12-02-02-autostadt-wolfsburg-046.jpg

  SEAT Alhambra second generation rear doors now slide open rather than being hinged.

• Seat Alhambra Style (II, Facelift) – h 20052021.jpg

  Rear view

Safety

Euro NCAP

2010

In 2010, the safety of the second generation SEAT Alhambra was assessed under the Euro NCAP scheme; it achieved a 5-star overall rating:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Test	Score	Points
Overall:	Template:Rating	N/A
Adult occupant:	96%	34
Child occupant:	80%	39
Pedestrian:	46%	16
Safety assist:	71%	5

2019

The Alhambra in its standard European market configuration received 4 stars from Euro NCAP in 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Awards

• ‘Auto Trophy’ 2010 for the imported MPV category, by the German car magazine Autozeitung<ref>AUTO TROPHY 2010 – DIE SIEGER ALLER KLASSEN http://www.autozeitung.de/leseraktionen/auto-trophy-2010-die-sieger-aller-klassen/VANS-IMPORTSIEGER-SEAT/n390609/22</ref>
• ‘Best imported MPV’ in 2011, by the readers of the German car magazine Auto, Motor und Sport<ref>The SEAT Alhambra wins in best imported MPV category at annual auto motor und sport awards http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/741-el-seat-alhambra-mejor-monovolumen-importado-segun-los-lectores-alemanes.html</ref>
• ‘Best MPV on the market’ award in 2011, by the British magazine What Car?<ref>Car of the Year awards 2011 - MPV winner http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/what-car-car-of-the-year-awards-2011/mpv-winner/254786</ref>
• ‘Best MPV’ in 2011, at the UK Fleet World Honours<ref>New awards for the SEAT Alhambra in Spain and Europe http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/793-nuevos-premios-para-el-seat-alhambra-en-espana-y-europa.html</ref>
• ‘Best MPV’ in 2011, by the British motoring magazine Diesel Car
• ‘MPV of the Year’ award in 2011, by panel members of the Portuguese ‘Car of the Year – Crystal Steering Wheel Trophy’<ref>The SEAT Alhambra voted ‘MPV of the Year’ in Portugal http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/748-el-seat-alhambra-monovolumen-del-ano-en-portugal-.html</ref>
• ‘Best MPV’ in 2011, at the second edition of the Ecomotor Awards, organised by the Spanish newspaper El Economista
• ‘Best MPV on the market’ award in 2012, by the British magazine What Car?
• ‘Best MPV on the market’ award in 2013, by the British magazine What Car?

Engines

• Petrol
  • 1.4 L 110 kW (150 hp) TSI
  • 2.0 L 147 kW (200 hp) TSI
• Diesel
  • 2.0 L 103 kW (140 hp) TDI
  • 2.0 L 130 kW (177 hp) TDI
  • 2.0 L 85 kW (114 hp) TDI

Sales

Since 1996, almost 500,000 SEAT Alhambra have been sold.<ref>Seat prevé caídas mensuales de ventas por encima del 30% hasta final de año http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/Seat/preve/caidas/mensuales/ventas/encima/final/ano/elpepueco/20100906elpepueco_13/Tes</ref> In the year 2009, the total annual retail sales number of SEAT Alhambra cars was 6,215 vehicles.<ref>SEAT Annual report 2009 http://media.seat.com/info2010/annualreport/pantallacompleta.html</ref> The total production per year of Alhambras is shown below:

Model	SEAT Alhambra Total annual production
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	10,513
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	16,503
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	21,300
1999<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1999"/>	27,440
2000<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1999"/>	23,924
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	26,524
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	26,308
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	23,693
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	21,580
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	14,902
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	14,352
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	14,242
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	10,282
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	6,215
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	10,023
2011<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	18,139
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	19,393
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	19,990
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	22,612
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto"/>	27,925
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	31,214
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	33,638
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	19,588
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	23,015
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	14,672
Total	497,987

External links

• SEAT Alhambra official website

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