New SEAT Altea XL Debut in Paris

New SEAT Altea XL

New model in the Altea range

Press Release

A new model in the Altea range

Increases SEAT's presence in this segment

Provides space and safety for all the family

Features a larger boot than its competitors, with capacity of up to 635 litres

One of the main challenges for the SEAT brand is to respond to the demands and needs of its customers. With the new Altea XL, SEAT has once again demonstrated its ability to offer its customers new solutions. The launch of the Altea saw SEAT targeting young couples who were seeking a vehicle incorporating a perfect blend of design, functionality and performance. The next challenge was to offer a variant on the Altea which would satisfy the needs of the many families who were attracted to the Altea's appearance and sporty image, but who needed even more space. The new Altea XL is the result of this demand.

Major league capacity

Never before has a name said so much. Using the language of the world of fashion, the new model is an Altea but an extra-large one, with an increase in length of 18.7 cm. This increase can mainly be seen in the Altea XL's improved boot capacity but also in more spaciousness and flexibility in the interior.

Thanks to the extra length, the new model provides a capacity of 532 litres as opposed to the 409 litres offered by the Altea. The Altea XL's rear seats can also be moved forward longitudinally by 14centimetres, increasing boot capacity by 100 litres and providing a total capacity of 635 litres, giving the Altea XL a larger boot capacity than all of its competitors. Furthermore, when the rear seats are fully folded down, the Altea XL's load capacity reaches a sizeable 1,604 litres.

The roominess of the Altea XL can also be experienced in the back seats, which can be moved back 2 centimetres further than in the Altea, freeing up legroom while retaining a boot capacity of 517 litres. Using this configuration, the new Altea XL's rear seats can be adjusted within a total range of 16 centimetres.

As for the front seats, the new Altea XL's - just like those in the Altea - are notable for their lofty driving position which is 80 millimetres higher than in a compact car like the León. This is a real plus point for those who like to enjoy a higher perspective of the road ahead.

Maximum safety

Safety is undoubtedly one of the most important features for a customer who is buying a car for the whole family. As a member of the Altea range - which, in the important EuroNCAP safety programme, has the maximum 5-star rating for adult passenger protection, 4 stars for child protection and is one of the few vehicles in its segment with a 3-star-rating for pedestrian protection - the new Altea XL is one of the very safest cars on the market.

The new Altea XL also offers a new passive safety feature - the option of installing up to eight airbags. Along with the six airbags which are fitted as standard on the entire range (driver, front passenger, front side and curtain), rear side airbags can now be ordered as an optional extra.

In terms of active safety, the Altea XL offers its driver all of the latest control systems. The Agile Chassis concept, which has already been adopted for other models in the SEAT range, has also been included on the Altea XL. The system delivers rapid steering response and provides greater control, which results in significant gains in terms of safety.

Reducing response time between the steering wheel and the car's reaction guarantees excellent control. And it is more than just a sensation: the XL turns in surprisingly fast, with hardly any body roll, despite its relatively high chassis.

This is achieved by careful tuning of springs and dampers, specific tyres with a lower slip angle and variable assistance electro-mechanical steering.

The Altea XL also offers TCS (Traction Control System) as standard. This system works with the engine in order to prevent the wheels slipping when accelerating on slippery surfaces. The XL also features the latest generation ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), which detects braking effectiveness on each wheel and adjusts brake force accordingly. If the ABS is activated on the front wheels, ESP delivers increased braking power to the rear wheels to take full advantage of total braking capacity.

ESP also incorporates Driving Steering Recommendation system which increases the vehicle's stability and EBA (Emergency Brake Assistance) which, in the event of the driver making an emergency stop, increases brake pressure using the system's full capacity. This system is automatically activated when a rapid application of the brake pedal is detected. Furthermore, activating the system automatically switches on the vehicle's emergency lights.

A family design

Despite its more functional aims, the Altea XL keeps the design which is so highly rated by SEAT's customers: a sporty image and a dynamic look. From the front and the side, the Altea XL has the same features as its "little" brother, although the rear doors have a slightly different shape in order to adapt to the Altea XL silhouette.

The main changes can be found in the car's rear section which has a modern and functional look, making the most of the vehicle's interior space and loading door. This is exactly what the customer for this type of vehicle is seeking. Compared with the Altea, the XL's split tail lights are very striking, occupying part of the hatchback and giving the XL the appearance of a car from the next class up.

Another outstanding new feature is the inclusion of a luggage rack with a black finish on the Reference and a silver finish for the other trim lines. Apart from the rack's practical function enabling luggage to be easily placed on the roof of the car, it gives the Altea XL the look of a genuine family car.

The Altea XL also has new, larger door mirrors, which improve visibility for the driver.

Intelligent solutions

The interior of the Altea XL retains the well-known look of the rest of the Altea range. One outstanding feature is the parcel shelf system. With just one touch the shelf rolls up and folds away so that you can make the most of the boot's load capacity. This makes dismantling the shelf easier and above all reduces the size of the shelf for storage.

Another of the Altea XL's new features are the two airline-style trays fixed onto the back of the front seats, which rear passengers can also use as drink rests (the trays come complete with hollows for this). The trays are fitted as standard on all the versions of the XL.

A further example of the practical nature of the XL is the new 12 volt socket located in the boot, instead of on the rear part of the central console. Another socket is located between the two front seats.

Along with these new features, some of the practical solutions offered by the Altea range are also used in the XL. For example, the interior of the XL boasts a plethora of storage areas.

The following spaces are within reach of the driver and front passenger: a glasses holder on the left side, a large glove compartment facing the front passenger seat, an oddments tray and two cup holders below the central console, storage drawers beneath each front seat and a large storage area in the front door panels with enough space for a 1.5 litre bottle. The front armrest also has a two-level glove compartment, with the top level for smaller objects and the bottom level for larger ones or the iPod or USB connection. The front passenger seat also has a door-side compartment which offers enough space for storing a drinks can.

Passengers travelling in the rear of the vehicle can use the following areas: those trays on the back of the front seats, storage on the door panels (with enough space for a 1-litre bottle), a storage bag on the back of each front seat, a storage area at the end of the central tunnel and armrests in the down position offering storage space and two cup holders.

A range for all the family

From the moment it first goes on sale, the Altea XL will offer two petrol engines: a 1.6 with 102 hp and a 2.0 FSI with 150 hp (only available with six-speed Tiptronic transmission.) The diesel versions will use the well-known 1.9 TDI with 105 hp, 2.0 TDI with 140 hp (with optional six-speed DSG gearbox) and 2.0 TDI with 170 hp.

There are three models available in the range: Reference, Stylance and Sport-Up.

The Reference XL model offers standard features such as air conditioning, MP3 radio with Aux-in connection and six speakers, tyre pressure sensor, 16" steel wheels, black luggage rack, speed control and trip computer, front and rear electric windows, electric door mirrors with parking position, flexible rear shelf and height-adjustable driver's seat. In terms of safety features, the Reference model offers six standard airbags, ABS and TCS, as well as Isofix attachments for child seats.

As well as the standard Reference features, the Stylance also has eight speakers and steering-mounted controls, rain and light sensor, climatronic, 16" light-alloy wheels, chrome luggage rack, front fog lights, body-coloured door mirrors, driver and passenger seats with lumbar and height adjustment, the Coming and Leaving Home function and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) with Driving Steering Recommendation and EBA (Emergency Brake Assistance).

Finally, in addition to the features on the Stylance, the Sport-up boasts 17" alloy wheels, suspension and sport seats.

An optional new feature, which demonstrates once again how SEAT's models adapt to cutting edge technology, is the connection in the Altea XL which enables Tom Tom navigation systems to be used. This connection, located on the left-hand section of the dashboard, enables a mobile navigation system to be securely attached and information to be interchanged with the vehicle, as well as providing the device with a direct power supply. Furthermore, the Tom Tom 710 navigation system, with details of all the SEAT Europe dealers in its mapping system, will be available through the SEAT accessories catalogue.

The Altea XL also offers a full list of optional features, so that each customer can personalise his or her vehicle: