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SEAT Alhambra

Seven seats, six cylinders: the Alhambra V6 was a SEAT first.1

Researched October 29, 2026 from 22 sources

Also called

  • Spaniens BulliThe 2010–2022 model's cabin sits between a midsize wagon and a VW Bus; the name underlines its lower price.2

At a glance

0150300
89–217 hpPower

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.23

Engine
Mk1: 1.8T/2.0 L I4, 2.8 L VR6, 1.9/2.0 L TDI; Mk2: 1.4/2.0 L TSI, 2.0 L TDI3
Layout
Front engine; front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive3
Gearbox
Mk1: 5/6-speed manuals, 5-speed auto/Tiptronic; Mk2: 6-speed manual/DSG13510
Built at
Autoeuropa, Palmela, Portugal36
Units built
Mk1: 172,648; Mk2: 237,86516

The story

SEAT entered the MPV market in 1996 with a modular seven-seater named after Granada's Alhambra. The original came from the Ford–Volkswagen partnership and the Autoeuropa line in Palmela, Portugal.13

1996: SEAT's first seven-seat production car19962000: V6: SEAT's six-cylinder first20002009: Ecomotive stretches the gearing20092010: 22 cm longer, with sliding rear doors20102011: 4Drive joins the family20112013: Third consecutive What Car? MPV win20132015: Facelift cuts fuel use by 12%20152016: 20th Anniversary goes black and glass20162022: October 2022 production end2022 SEAT 1500 Familiar: 1964SEAT 1500 FamiliarSEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M): 1996–20107MSEAT Alhambra Mk2 (7N): 2010–20227N 197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones136
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1964SEAT 1500 Familiar
1996–2010SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M)
2010–2022SEAT Alhambra Mk2 (7N)
1996SEAT's first seven-seat production car
2000V6: SEAT's six-cylinder first
2009Ecomotive stretches the gearing
201022 cm longer, with sliding rear doors
20114Drive joins the family
2013Third consecutive What Car? MPV win
2015Facelift cuts fuel use by 12%
201620th Anniversary goes black and glass
2022October 2022 production end
  1. 1996

    SEAT's first seven-seat production car

    The production Alhambra debuted at Geneva in March and reached showrooms in June, bringing seven seats to SEAT's range.13

  2. 2000

    V6: SEAT's six-cylinder first

    The Mk1 facelift introduced a V6 with available four-wheel drive and Tiptronic, making the Alhambra SEAT's first six-cylinder model.1

  3. 2009

    Ecomotive stretches the gearing

    The Mk1's 2.0 TDI Ecomotive combined lowered suspension, aerodynamic wheel covers and longer gearing to cut consumption.34

  4. 2010

    22 cm longer, with sliding rear doors

    Replacing the 1996–2010 Mk1, the 4.85 m Mk2 added sliding rear doors and five rear seats that folded flat into the floor.35

  5. 2011

    4Drive joins the family

    The Alhambra 4 added 4Drive all-wheel drive. Its Haldex system normally drove the front wheels, feeding the rear axle when needed.67

  6. 2013

    Third consecutive What Car? MPV win

    The 2.0 TDI 140 Ecomotive S earned the model's third consecutive Best MPV title and its 12th UK award.8

  7. 2015

    Facelift cuts fuel use by 12%

    The Mk2 facelift cut average fuel use by 12%, added standard emergency braking, and put more emphasis on connectivity.6910

  8. 2016

    20th Anniversary goes black and glass

    The anniversary edition paired black 17-inch wheels and a sliding panoramic roof with dark Alcantara and massaging front sport seats.11

  9. 2022

    October 2022 production end

    A March 2020 announcement had forecast an end that month. Production ceased in October 2022, with only the petrol engine left.36

Every generation

  • SEAT Alhambra Mk1
    7M1996–2010
  • SEAT Alhambra Mk2
    7N2010–2022
  • SEAT Tarraco
    SEAT Tarraco

Power over the years

From 89 hp to 201 hp in 4 years.

0100200300 19952000200520102015 hp 1996 · 89 hp · Mk1 1.9 TDI1996 · 114 hp · Mk1 2.0 petrol2000 · 201 hp · Mk1 2.8 VR62010 · 138 hp · Mk2 2.0 TDI, lower output2010 · 148 hp · Mk2 1.4 TSI2010 · 168 hp · Mk2 2.0 TDI, higher output2010 · 197 hp · Mk2 2.0 TSI DSG2011 · 113 hp · Mk2 entry-level TDI2013 · 175 hp · Mk2 uprated 2.0 TDI2015 · 148 hp · Mk2 Euro 6 2.0 TDI, lower output2015 · 181 hp · Mk2 Euro 6 2.0 TDI, higher output 201 hp Mk1 2.8 VR6 89 hp Mk1 1.9 TDI
1367810
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
199689Mk1 1.9 TDI
1996114Mk1 2.0 petrol
2000201Mk1 2.8 VR6
2010138Mk2 2.0 TDI, lower output
2010148Mk2 1.4 TSI
2010168Mk2 2.0 TDI, higher output
2010197Mk2 2.0 TSI DSG
2011113Mk2 entry-level TDI
2013175Mk2 uprated 2.0 TDI
2015148Mk2 Euro 6 2.0 TDI, lower output
2015181Mk2 Euro 6 2.0 TDI, higher output

Versions

9 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Mk1 SE, SXE, Stella, Signa, Reference, Stylance, Sport

    Standard

    Mk1 SE, SXE, Stella, Signa, Reference, Stylance, Sport

    1996–2010

  • Mk2 S (UK)

    Standard

    Mk2 S (UK)

  • Mk2 SE (UK)

    Standard

    Mk2 SE (UK)

  • Mk2 SE Lux / Xcellence (UK)

    Standard

    Mk2 SE Lux / Xcellence (UK)

  • Standard

    Mk1 2.0 TDI Ecomotive

    138 hp
  • Mk2 Alhambra 4x4

    Standard

    Mk2 Alhambra 4x4

    138 hp

  • Performance

    Mk1 2.8 V6

    201 hp
  • Mk2 I-TECH

    Special

    Mk2 I-TECH

    2014

    138 hp

  • Special

    Mk2 20th Anniversary

    2016

How to spot one

Look for

  • Mk1 has a flowing, single-volume silhouette.13
  • Mk2 uses sliding rear doors where the Mk1 had hinged doors.3
  • Mk2 has a tall glasshouse, short nose and flat body sides.311
  • Facelifted Mk2 cars have a revised grille and LED taillights.23

Year by year

  1. 2000

    Mk1's front adopted the new SEAT look; the tailgate and dashboard were also redesigned.13

  2. 2010

    The larger Mk2 gained sliding rear doors in place of the Mk1's hinged doors.36

  3. 2015

    Mk2 gained a reshaped grille, new front and rear light units and fresh alloy wheel designs.312

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a SEAT Alhambra
    Alhambra
    Photo of a Volkswagen Sharan
    Volkswagen Sharan

    Volkswagen Sharan

    On the Mk2, compare the light clusters and grilles; the rest of the body is closely shared.316

  • Photo of a SEAT Alhambra
    Alhambra
    Photo of a Ford Galaxy
    Ford Galaxy

    Ford Galaxy

    Closely related to the Mk1. For a Mk2 Alhambra, look for sliding rear doors; the Galaxy uses conventional doors.310

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 9 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “Parked in Bourne Legacy”
    • “A Murciélago designer's seven-seater”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 4 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
Read the full file in SPOT

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 22 sources
  1. Alhambra MK1 seatcocheshistoricos.es
  2. Seat Alhambra: Schwachstellen, Mängel, Probleme - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  3. SEAT Alhambra - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  4. Family matters | Car Reviews | by Car Enthusiast carenthusiast.com
  5. Diesel&EcoCar Magazine | New Alhambra MPV on sale now dieselcar.com
  6. Alhambra MK2 seatcocheshistoricos.es
  7. Autozine - review: Seat Alhambra autozine.co.uk
  8. The Motoring World: SEAT ALHAMBRA WINS WHAT CAR? BEST MPV AWARD FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR jomomag.blogspot.com
  9. New SEAT Alhambra 2015 facelift review | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  10. Used SEAT Alhambra buying guide: 2010-present (Mk2) | Carbuyer carbuyer.co.uk
  11. SEAT Alhambra 20th anniversary | 2016MY caricos.com
  12. Used SEAT Alhambra (Mk2, 2010-2020) review | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  13. SEAT I-TECH models announced | Carbuyer carbuyer.co.uk
  14. SEAT Alhambra 1.8 20VT Kids 150 CV (2004-2004) | Precio y equipamiento - km77.com km77.com
  15. SEAT Alhambra FR Line: imagen deportiva para el monovolumen español autodato.com
  16. Luc Donckerwolke - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre es.wikipedia.org
  17. SEAT Alhambra review | First Drives | | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  18. SEAT Alhambra vs Ford S-MAX | Group tests | | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  19. SEAT's appearances in films around the world | SEAT UK seat.co.uk
  20. Euro NCAP | SEAT Alhambra euroncap.com
  21. Used SEAT Alhambra prices — UK market data | Torq gettorqing.com
  22. OY53 LSV | 2003 Seat Alhambra - Free History Check | UKCarData.co.uk ukcardata.co.uk
  • seatcocheshistoricos.es
  • autobild.de
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • carenthusiast.com
  • dieselcar.com
  • autozine.co.uk
  • jomomag.blogspot.com
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • carbuyer.co.uk
  • caricos.com
  • km77.com
  • autodato.com
  • es.wikipedia.org
  • seat.co.uk

Photo credits

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