Insurance is good – groups range from 5 to 9 for standard models (or 11 to 13 for the FR) and fuel economy is especially impressive from the diesels. However, the Altea is quite expensive if viewed as a five-seat hatchback, so expect used prices to fall to the level of a traditional family hatch if you’re selling on. Service intervals could be further apart, but at least SEAT dealers tend to offer reasonable labour rates.

The Altea scores well on the eco front. With an average of 177g/km CO2 across the model line-up, its emissions are quite low for a people carrier. The 1.9 TDI is very frugal – it can return 52mpg and emits 146g/km of CO2, but it’s outdone by the Ecomotive version, introduced in March 2010. It emits just 119g/km of CO2, making it cheap to tax, while averaging 63mpg.

The materials used inside the Altea are good quality and the mechanicals are mostly from proven Volkswagens, so there should be few – if any problems.