Driven: SEAT Altea XL Ecomotive

The Ecomotive badge is being rolled out across more and more cars in the SEAT range. The latest vehicle going green is the Altea XL.

It's powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine that sips fuel at a rate sufficient to return 62.8mpg, while producing104bhp. Emitting 119g/km CO2 means free road tax for the first year and £30 per year thereafter. Company car tax is payable in the lowest 13% tax band. The only issue with this engine is the noise; it's not what you'd call quiet.

Specifying an ‘Ecomotive' means you get stop/start, a brake energy recovery system and a computer which lets you know the best time to change gear for the best fuel economy. The Altea also gets ‘hill hold control', which applies the brakes when the car is stationary and stops the car rolling back down a hill when you pull off.

For a larger car it handles surprisingly well, especially at higher speeds. There's a direct yet light steering feel, and a high level of grip means it feels safe and accessible to drive.

A pumped-up estate car, it's 18.7cm longer than the normal Altea which means more space in the boot (532 litres of boot space compared to 409 in standard Altea) and more space for back seat passengers too.

Also consider:

SEAT Altea hatchback
Distinctive styling, good choice of engines, decent interior space, enjoyable to drive, low emissions Ecomotive version

Toyota Corolla Verso
Great interior flexibility and space, well built cabin, neat styling

SEAT Leon hatchback
Sporty and distinctive styling, great to drive, well built and reliable, good value for money, low emissions Ecomotive