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Photo of a SEAT Altea

SEAT Altea

The Multi Sports Vehicle with hidden A-pillar wipers and a 197 hp FR.12

Researched November 9, 2026 from 31 sources

At a glance

0150300
84–208 hpPower
0200400
132–350 N·mTorque

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.2

Engine
1.2–2.0 L gasoline I4; 1.6–2.0 L TDI I4; 1.6 L LPG2
Layout
Front engine, FWD; Freetrack also offered with AWD2
Gearbox
5/6-speed manual; 6-speed Tiptronic automatic; 6/7-speed DSG2
Built at
Martorell, Spain; Eurocar, Solomonovo, Ukraine2
Units built
516,2441

The story

Launched in 2004, the Altea translated SEAT's Multi Sports Vehicle brief into MPV space, versatility and sportiness. Walter de Silva shaped it; its name comes from the Spanish city of Altea.12

2003: Frankfurt previews the production shape20032004: Geneva launch: five seats on PQ35 · Euro NCAP awards 5/4/3 stars20042006: FR adds 168 hp diesel and 197 hp petrol · Altea XL stretches the family formula20062007: Freetrack adds Haldex and 40 mm20072009: Facelift brings XDS and common rail · Ecomotive adds stop-start20092015: Last Edition, then production ends2015 SEAT Salsa: 2000SEAT Salsa Emoción: 2000SEAT Altea Prototipo: 2003 200020052010201520202025
Before and afterMilestones121920
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
2000SEAT Salsa
2000SEAT Salsa Emoción
2003SEAT Altea Prototipo
2003Frankfurt previews the production shape
2004Geneva launch: five seats on PQ35
2004Euro NCAP awards 5/4/3 stars
2006FR adds 168 hp diesel and 197 hp petrol
2006Altea XL stretches the family formula
2007Freetrack adds Haldex and 40 mm
2009Facelift brings XDS and common rail
2009Ecomotive adds stop-start
2015Last Edition, then production ends
  1. 2003

    Frankfurt previews the production shape

    The Altea MSV Prototype previews the road car with 19-inch wheels and a 2+2 cabin, its design already close to production.1

  2. 2004

    Geneva launch: five seats on PQ35

    The March Geneva launch brings five seats, a 4.28 m body and a multi-link rear axle on PQ35, shared with the Golf Mk5, A3 Mk2 and León Mk2.12

  3. 2004

    Euro NCAP awards 5/4/3 stars

    The tested 1.6 Reference earns five stars for occupant protection, four for child safety and three for pedestrian protection.3

  4. 2006

    FR adds 168 hp diesel and 197 hp petrol

    The 168 hp 2.0 TDI FR arrives in April; a 197 hp 2.0 TFSI joins in May. The diesel gains revised intake, injection and turbo internals.245

  5. 2006

    Altea XL stretches the family formula

    The XL arrives in November, adding 18.7 cm in length. Its trunk grows from the standard Altea's 409 liters to 532, or 635 with the rear seat slid forward.16

  6. 2007

    Freetrack adds Haldex and 40 mm

    Launched at Barcelona in May, the XL-based Freetrack brings Haldex all-wheel drive, protective black trim and 40 mm more ground clearance.1

  7. 2009

    Facelift brings XDS and common rail

    The Altea receives revised headlights, mirrors and rear glass, plus optional XDS traction assistance and a common-rail 2.0 TDI.7

  8. 2009

    Ecomotive adds stop-start

    The 1.6 TDI Ecomotive adds stop-start and brake-energy recovery, with 119 g/km CO2. Altea takes 12.4 seconds to 100 km/h; XL takes 12.7.8

  9. 2015

    Last Edition, then production ends

    The 1.6 TDI Last Edition closes the range. Production ends in July, with 516,244 Alteas built.19

Every generation

  • SEAT Salsa Emoción
    SEAT Salsa Emoción2000
  • SEAT Altea Prototipo
    SEAT Altea Prototipo2003

Power over the years

From 101 hp to 197 hp in 2 years.

050100150200 2004200620082010 hp 2004 · 101 hp · Launch 1.6 gasoline2004 · 103 hp · Launch 1.9 TDI2004 · 138 hp · Launch 2.0 TDI2004 · 148 hp · Launch 2.0 FSI2006 · 168 hp · FR 2.0 TDI2006 · 197 hp · FR 2.0 TFSI2009 · 103 hp · 1.6 TDI Ecomotive2010 · 103 hp · 1.2 TSI introduced 197 hp FR 2.0 TFSI 101 hp Launch 1.6 gasoline
124810
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
2004101Launch 1.6 gasoline
2004103Launch 1.9 TDI
2004138Launch 2.0 TDI
2004148Launch 2.0 FSI
2006168FR 2.0 TDI
2006197FR 2.0 TFSI
20091031.6 TDI Ecomotive
20101031.2 TSI introduced

Versions

9 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Reference, Sport, Stylance and Sport-Up

    Standard

    Reference, Sport, Stylance and Sport-Up

  • Altea XL

    Standard

    Altea XL

    2006–2015

  • Standard

    Ecomotive 1.6 TDI

    2009

    103 hp

  • Performance

    FR 2.0 TDI 170

    2006–2009

    168 hp

  • Performance

    FR 2.0 TFSI 200

    2006–2009

    197 hp

  • Special

    Good Stuff

    2010

  • Special

    Copa Reference and Copa Style

    2011

  • Special

    4KIDS

    2013

  • Limited

    Black & White

    2007

    138 hp

    200 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Windshield wipers park vertically inside the A-pillars.12
  • A body crease descends from the front wheel arch, across the doors toward the rear wheel.4
  • Early cars have large twin-lens headlights and a rounded, inverted-trapezoid grille.4
  • Short-body Altea: small tailgate, outer-corner taillights and spaced ALTEA letters below the SEAT badge.4

Year by year

  1. 2006

    The XL adds a longer rear overhang, large taillights split across the hatch and body, and two roof rails.16

  2. 2007

    Freetrack arrives with a raised stance, large bumpers and black plastic wheel-arch protection.1

  3. 2009

    Facelift cars have a large grille, larger headlights, reshaped mirrors, revised taillights and a bigger rear window.17

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a SEAT Altea
    Altea
    Photo of a Toledo III
    Toledo III

    Toledo III

    The nose matches the Altea; the Toledo has a bulkier, concave rear end and a larger trunk.1210

Against its rivals

Prices

Value today $3.6K–$5.0K12

Price when newAuction saleValue todayPrices on a log scale
$100$1K$10K$100K 2010201520202025 Value today: $3,600–$5,000 2007 · $34,600 · Spain Black & White; ~$1.37/EUR2015 · $15,500 · Spain Last Edition; ~$1.11/EUR 2026 · $2,023 · 2011 Altea XL 1.6 TDI-CR, 272,855 km, Car Arena2026 · $690 · 2012 Altea XL 1.2 TSI Eco.Bns COPA, Troostwijk Auctions $2.0K Car Arena, 2026
9183031
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2007Price when new$34,600Spain Black & White; ~$1.37/EUR
2015Price when new$15,500Spain Last Edition; ~$1.11/EUR
2026Auction sale$2,0232011 Altea XL 1.6 TDI-CR, 272,855 km, Car Arena
2026Auction sale$6902012 Altea XL 1.2 TSI Eco.Bns COPA, Troostwijk Auctions
2026Value today$3,600–$5,000

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
    • “Triple zero on RallyRACC's gravel”
    • “De Silva's defense of a design gamble”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 3 generations

  • Market

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

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

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

See all 31 sources
  1. Altea seatcocheshistoricos.es
  2. SEAT Altea - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  3. Volkswagen - FRAMGÅNG I EURO NCAP:s SÄKERHETSTESTER vwgroup.se
  4. altea-mas-info museoseat.com
  5. SEAT Altea FR | evo evo.co.uk
  6. Seat Altea XL - Car Body Design carbodydesign.com
  7. SEAT auf dem Genfer Automobilsalon 2009 | SEAT | CUPRA Medienportal seatpress.ch
  8. DIE NEUEN SEAT ALTEA, ALTEA XL KOMBI UND LEON ECOMOTIVE MODELLE | SEAT | CUPRA Medienportal seat.media-corner.ch
  9. Motor a Fondo - Coches y noticias del mundo del motor motorafondo.net
  10. Used car guide to the Seat Altea - an unsung family car hero motorcheck.ie
  11. Freetrack surprises on and off the road | Car Reviews | by Car Enthusiast carenthusiast.com
  12. Cote auto gratuite Seat Altea 2006 paruvendu.fr
  13. SEAT Altea FR (2006) | Con motores de hasta 200 CV - km77.com km77.com
  14. Seat Good Stuff: Shakira entflammt Ibiza, Leon und Altea - Speed Heads speedheads.de
  15. Auto-Salon Genf 2011: SEAT “COPA” Sondermodelle | SEAT | CUPRA Medienportal seatpress.ch
  16. Seat lanza las versiones 4KIDS autonocion.com
  17. SEAT Altea I TECH edition launched | News | by Car Enthusiast carenthusiast.com
  18. Seat Altea 'Black & White' motorpasion.com
  19. SEAT Salsa - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  20. SEAT Altea Prototipo - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  21. El Altea impone su agilidad y economía | El Viajero | EL PAÍS elpais.com
  22. La Repubblica/Supplemento_Auto : Design, una questione di stile "Con le auto esagerare non serve" repubblica.it
  23. Prototyp SEAT Altea FR auf der IAA 2005 - Autosieger.de autosieger.de
  24. Innovationspreis für Seat - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  25. SEAT, en el 47 Rally RACC Catalunya-Costa Daurada · A Todo Motor atodomotor.com
  26. Altea XL Electric Ecomotive prototipo (2011) | Información general - km77.com km77.com
  27. Gebrauchtwagen: Unauffälliger Seat Altea - Autogazette.de autogazette.de
  28. Cote SEAT Altea : prix du marché · IAutos iautos.fr
  29. Cote SEAT Altea XL : prix du marché · IAutos iautos.fr
  30. Seat Altea XL 1.6 TDI-CR MR — auction in Poland | LotSeekr lotseekr.com
  31. 2012 - SEAT - Altea XL - 1.2 TSI… — auction in Netherlands | LotSeekr lotseekr.com
  • seatcocheshistoricos.es
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • vwgroup.se
  • museoseat.com
  • evo.co.uk
  • carbodydesign.com
  • seatpress.ch
  • seat.media-corner.ch
  • motorafondo.net
  • motorcheck.ie
  • carenthusiast.com
  • paruvendu.fr
  • km77.com
  • speedheads.de

Photo credits

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