7 seater: Seat Alhambra vs Peugeot 5008

[calishire]

We are trying to decide between these two 7 seaters. I prefer the Seat and husband prefers the Peugeot. We have scoured our options and are not considering others due to 3 individual seats with isofix in the second row.

We are a one car family and have two children - 1 year old and almost 8 year old. 8 year old in HBB up to 150cm so hopefully still use it for some time.

Looking for 7 seater as we have visiting family from overseas 3-4x per year. Also want to be able to cart children’s friends.

I prefer the Seat due to space and sliding doors. Husband for some reason just can’t get excited about it - I think mostly because it’s a bit of a mum bus and likes the SUV look and feel. We also agree the “cockpit” of the Peugeot is much nicer/modern. We are looking at model around 2018.

Does anyone have or used to have one of these vehicles and can offer any words of wisdom??? We really just want to make a decision and get one or the other.

SEAT. I have only ever heard a load of bad things about issues with Peugeot unfortunately. The sliding doors will also be useful for tight spaces.

I know you're not considering others but we have a Vw Touran which is also 7 seats, with 3 independent isofix seats in the middle row. Just in case you've missed it

We have a galaxy which is basically the seat. We chose it because we have 4 kids and the seats are suitable sizing for adults. The extra space definitely makes it more comfortable.
The boot size when everyone is seated is also reasonable.
It really depends on how much you'll need all the seats I'd imagine.

SEAT over the Peugeot any car any day.

I own a 5008, I get them cheap as I work for the company and I would go for a seat all the way if you want a family vehicle, the 5008 is a high up estate and the rear seats are pretty much void. We like it but it's just a big car at the end of the day.
Have you looked at an s-max? They pretty much get sold as soon as they are available, there are nice sporty looking ones available also.

@TryingToStayAwake88we did look at the touran but felt it was too small for our needs.

Do you really need a big 7 seater ? Just to give another view - I too had 2 dc and a 7 seater - but a smaller model than you are looking at. I too got it to take grandparents a few times a year and be able to give friends lifts.

In the end the engine failed and we got a 5 seater suv - a 2018 Tiguan - and it is so so good. I wish I'd switched years ago- the friends could have gone with others and grandparents were only ever a nice to have! If you don't really need to drive a mum bus - I would seriously consider not.

I love my Alhambra.

The boot is the biggest you’ll get with all seats up (bigger than an old model Volvo XC90!).

Seats are comfortable.

Sliding doors. Sliding doors should be available on all cars. Why wouldn’t you?!

Controls/dashboard console system all make perfect sense (German design!).

If you get one with a bhp higher than 150bhp they really shift. My first Alhambra was 150bhp and was fine (towed caravan etc with it) but I now have one at 180bhp and the difference in driving experience is huge.

The Alhambra is the biggest car you’ll get with it still looking like a car not a van or a space buggy.

I had a 5008 for about ten years. It was fine but i never felt it offered the value for money or all-round comfort and usefulness of the Alhambra which next door neighbour had. Obviously we didn’t drive the Alhambra or go away with it, but it seemed like we’d made the wrong choice.

Having said that, we replaced the 5008 in 2022 with a Dacia Jogger and would recommend that to anyone looking for a 7 seater. In fact we have two for my kids (my ex has one as well), and still paid less than we would for a single 5008. Unbelievable value for money, but it doesn’t have three separate middle row seats so perhaps not for you.

Another Dacia Jogger owner here and I'd also recommend anyone at least consider it, but as PP says although there are three moulded seats across the middle row it's still one bench, fairly narrow, and only has two Isofix mounts.

If you want to combine the features you like from both cars, have a look at the Peugeot Rifter. Based on the same EMP2 platform (which is developing a good reputation for reliability) it's mechanically identical to the 5008 but rather more spacious inside, probably a bit cheaper to buy and run, and has sliding doors. You'd need the XL version for seven seats. There are three full size seats across the middle row with Isofix.

If you can live without the iCockpit, then the same vehicle with a more conventional dashboard is also available with Citroën badges as the Berlingo, and with Vauxhall badges as the Combo Life, which will give you more options on the used market. If you're looking at pre-2022 models you'd have a choice of petrol and diesel engines with manual or automatic gearboxes. There is an electric version too, introduced in 2021, but this is best given a wide berth.

The Seat Alhambra was a fine car in its day, but the running gear was derived from the Volkswagen A6 platform which is now well over 20 years old, and has implications for efficiency and crash protection. Also, it was designed before a lot of the emissions control technology required to keep the vehicle in production was available. Adding this sort of stuff to a design that did not anticipate it has not been great for reliability on the Alhambra and its identical twin, the VW Sharan.

@Moonsonetimei really wanted a 7 seater when we only had one child 😂😂 With the visitors/grandparents situation, we can’t even fit one extra adult into our 5 seater. My family come from very far away overseas (think transatlantic 10-12 hour flight) so we do a lot of traveling when they are here. My mother visited for a total of 8 weeks last year across 2 visits. And my dad and stepmom came for a few weeks as well. Plus we had other visitors. We are lucky with public transport but it was quite annoying not having enough room in the car to go to a number of places.

Mum of 5 here, deffo the Seat!

The 7 seater is more of a nice to have than a need to have, but life is for living right?

It seems everyone is saying Seat. No idea how to get the husband on side.

We picked up a Seat Alhambra yesterday. Thanks everyone! 🙌🏼

Yeah I would get a 5 seater

we are also overseas. Guests and visitors just have a hire own car for 2 weeks when they visit.
Otherwise you’re paying for high daily running costs, higher upfront just for a few weeks. The cost savings you could pay for their hire car also for 2 weeks.
we have an electric car. It’s perfect. An electric for 7 is terrible as none yet have a decent range or price

Point taken, but car already bought. Like I said, my parents come for many weeks of the year (separately as divorced). They are aging and my father driving here is not pretty. We’ll see how we get on. I’m in love with the boot space.

How did you get your dh on board with the Seat in the end @calishire?

I think he just decided it did tick all the boxes for us and I do more driving so I should really get the final say. He also said he’d never hear the end of it about tight parking spaces if we didn’t get the car with the sliding doors. 😂😂

Delighted for you @calishire