Set challenges for Mumsnet SEAT test drivers and see what they think of the car- £200 Love2Shop voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the three Mumsnetters who are test driving the SEAT Alhambra.

Here's what SEAT say, "SEAT's seven-seat New Alhambra is ready to reaffirm its pre-eminence in the large MPV market with a UK range that majors on more powerful and efficient new engines, a wealth of new equipment features and extra flashes of contemporary styling. The all-round improvements are set to consolidate Alhambra's enduring popularity, reflected in more than a dozen "best MPV" awards since the current generation model entered the market five years ago. Versatility remains a designed-in quality for the New Alhambra; true to the easy-to-live-with character that has made it such an enduringly popular choice."

Non-testers: we'd like you to set the test drivers challenges to put the SEAT Alhambra to the test! Perhaps you'd like to know how many suitcases they're able to fit into the boot? Or how easy the car is to clean after testers have picked up children who have been at a muddy football practice? However you'd like the Mumsnet testers to put the cars to the test, let us know!

We'll choose 3 of the best or most popular challenges and ask the testers to complete them and feedback about them on this thread. Everyone who posts their ideas on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 Love2Shop voucher!

Testers: Please answer the questions below.

Q1. What was your overall impression of the car?
Q2. What did you use the car for? Did you feel like the SEAT Alhambra was up to the task?
Q3. What was your and your DCs favourite aspect of the car?
Q4. How well suited do you think the SEAT Alhambra is to catering for a hectic family lifestyle?
Q5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the SEAT Alhambra to friends/family who are in the market for a new family car? Why?

All testers who complete all forms of feedback will be sent a £100 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks
MNHQ

Non-tester - 3 booster seats in back is important for us too.

A bit of an unusual one - but how easily would a wheelchair fit in boot (I realise not that easy to 'test out' as such but perhaps fitting a big buggy in or similar.

Is there a 'pen holder' in glovebox? - one of my old cars had this and it was so simple yet fab!

Non Tester- Another one here for how many carseats in the back?

Also how much luggage can you fit in the boot?

Thanks

Non tester (although I volunteered and you didn't choose me, )

Precisely how many Labradors can you fit in the back?

How many more Labradors could you fit in the back if you took out the second row of seats?

I might have rather a lot of Labradors...

Disclaimer, when I volunteered I did actually promise not to put any of the Labradors in the test vehicle, just the vast quantities of teenagers that I also possess/am responsible for.

Still loving the car, will come back later & answer some more questions, but just wanted to post this photo of it with 5 seats occupied (including 3 car seats), plus buggy, bike with stabilizers plus balance bike in the boot.

Tester reporting back after a weekend driving

This car handles really well on corners, rural roads, urban speedbumps and motorways. I'm really impressed with how relaxing it is to drive. I was nervous beforehand as it is so big but when you are driving it feels so comfortable you soon forget about its size. Plus, the rear camera and sensors help massively. The only thing I would not recommend trying is 3 (00) point turns on narrow suburban roads.

On the motorway I was very pleasantly surprised by the acceleration. I'll have to look up the details of engine size etc but, again considering its size, it is able to accelerate very fast when needs be. I really liked the light up sign on the mirrors to warn you when a car is in your blind spot. The speed sign alert works well even on temporary changes of speed due to roadworks, although it doesn't seem to beep if you exceed the limit. Possibly I haven't turned that function on!

We tried out the rear seats - kids v happy with them, plus they appreciated the air vents that meant they got the benefit of the aircon. They all said it was a lot less bumpy than our current 7 seater and no car sickness. To fit the lanky teen, we had to move the middle seats forward quite a lot so I think 7 adults wouldn't be comfy, but kids in the middle/adults in the back or vv would be fine.

Panoramic roof was a big hit. We all also noticed how much headroom there seemed to be. It is really very spacious and great for longer journeys.

I would like to know how easy the car is to clean when you have several children bundling into the car after a game of football in the mud.

I'd like to know the arrangements for child car seats. Can you fit 3 across the back, or 2 in the back plus an adult in the middle?

We've had 3 child seats across the middle row already - a group 1, a high back booster and a booster cushion which fitted very easily - the booster cushion could easily be swapped for a high back booster without it being cramped. We fitted a high back booster, group 1 seat and me across the middle row too, and I was perfectly comfortable.

We've also had the booster cushion and high back booster in the rear seats. DD says she liked sitting there best - she likes "having my own drinks holder in the cupboard next to me", and could tip the middle row seat herself to get in and out of the back.

It's worth pointing out that as testers, we appear to all have different versions of the car btw. Ours is a manual, without the sunroof or fancy buttons to work the doors and boot (although there is a button to unlock just the boot rather than the whole car, on the keys). The kids have had a few problems trying to shut the sliding doors (as did I, to start with) - they're very heavy without the electronic assistance available. And I said upthread that hill starts in the manual version are tricky. They're still tricky, although getting easier.

Non tester- my challenge would be to get the 3 kids in the car, with the pram and the suitcases (and we are packing for a baby) to go to a family wedding. Enough room for the suits as well?

Oh that's interesting, Rue. I think we have the SE Lux version. I really really love the automatic door opening/closing. I imagine the doors could be hard for little ones to manage themselves. How does the manual version handle? I am really getting back into automatics I have to say - the auto hold function is fab.

There is enough room in the boot with the back two seats down for approximately 5 labradors, alternatively one large pushchair plus 3 suitcases i would guess. Am most looking forward to the labrador challenge.

I am quite disappointed noone has yet suggested one of those 'how many toddlers can you fit in a mini' style challenges :)

confused I wasn't as impressed by the display - we have a Picasso atm too, and when we're abroad we love the ability to switch the display to read in km instead of mph and I think we would miss that about it if we switched to the Alhambra.

(disclaimer: we have family on the continent and drive to visit them every year so it's a definite consideration for us - YMMV.)

Lucky you, Otto - I think we have the plain SE version, the delivery slip says "Alhambra SE 2.0 TDi Ecomotive 150 PS 6-speed manual", if only I knew what half of that meant :o

I think we have a pretty basic version (even then it's still a million times nicer than our very old Picasso). It is an automatic but doesn't have automatic sliding doors or in-built Sat nav, plus not sure about alerts for blind spot or speed cameras, but will have a more thorough investigation tomorrow! We do have Park Pilot which I'm looking forward to trying out when I'm brave enough!

6-year old DS1 can manage the sliding doors just fine, the other D.C. are too little (4 & 1).

We had 4 adults & 3 D.C. in it yesterday - children in the middle row. It was ok in the back row & the D.C. did have room to slide their seats forward an extra couple of inches, too. I wouldn't want to do journeys of more than a couple of hours like that, but for shorter journeys it's fine.

Plenty of room in the boot even with all 7 seats in use I could still fit a weekly shop or single buggy plus a few bags/weekend cases.

Kids loved all the pockets for their things plus their own air con/heat controls.

As per my photo before, we took it out with 5 seats up & buggy plus 2 bikes in the boot & there was loads of room, you could have fitted probably the same again.

We have 3 car seats in the middle row - 2 high-backed boosters & a stage 1. There is plenty of room for each seat.

Does anyone else have the seats that change to a car seat/integrated child seat? With ours, the bottom part of the seat flips over to make a booster seat, then you can change the headrest for a child headrest with side protection.
At first i thought it wasnt an extra worth getting, but I like it more now as it's great for that age when they dont like to be in carseats, but really it is safer. My 8 year old really likes it. Also handy for taking out other peoples kids when you dont have a spare booster seat.

We've got one of them, my 8 year old also a big fan. And YY to being able to take out other kids at short notice with no spare seats. DH often gives adults lifts home from the office, he's already said he'd love to have the integrated seats as he wouldn't have to remove the kids seats and stick them in the boot.

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I think we have that too. Not something we'd use atm as our oldest D.C. is only 6 & still in a hbb, but could be useful for the future, especially for playdates etc.

Non tester, I would like to know how many miles per gallon you get on the school and club runs as this is my everyday mileage!

Thats a good question, I have been thinking about whether I do too many 'short runs' for this type of car (or should walk more!!). It has a screen that tells you and my most recent 'school run' type journeys of a mile or so have been around 22mpg. Motorway driving has been mid 40s. I was just thinking about this yesterday. Also, the news about vw diesel engine emissions - I hope it will not turn out to also be about Seat.

Non Tester

Is the boot big enough for a double pushchair?

Non-tester - I'd like to know if the boot is big enough for 2 large suitcases and everything you need to take on a holiday in this country> Thanks

Can you pass a snack back to a kid,receive the empty wrapper receive a half chewed piece of snack etc...

Cats, I've been able to do that to kids in the middle row, I can't reach the back row though. I'm also able to reach dummies off the floor by the middle seats (with a bit of contortion).

Also, it turns out that if you fold one of the middle row seats down, it makes an adequate changing table for a 2 year old... definitely a better option than the boot, which is usually called in to play in our Picasso. More sheltered, and really good access because of the sliding door. Honestly, the lengths we go to to test this stuff for you

I would love to know... how many large size dogs (lats say labrador size) can travel in comfort in the boot?

How many full shopping bags can you fit into the boot?