The Seat Altea Freetrack

1:40pm Friday 11th July 2008

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A DECENT measure of off-road capability is necessary with any 4x4 and nowadays the beefy looks have to come with excellent driving civility on the tarmac.

You get these essentials with Seat’s Altea Freetrack 4 and, together with its high specification level, value for money is a strong virtue.

On-the-road prices are £20,505 for the 2.0-litre petrol and £21,405 for the 2.0-litre turbo diesel, both with the same excellent trim level, and competitively priced compared to rivals. It’s a talented vehicle which needs only to pass through a jet wash to flit from the farmyard to the blue chip company car park.

The Freetrack lies in the fairly new crossover segment of the market, has the roominess of a family MPV, and is ideal for vets, farming families and those who live deep in the countryside and need the extra traction when weather conditions become difficult.

Although part of the Altea hatch family, the Freetrack is essentially three cars in one: it has off-road capability, the space of a large family vehicle, plus the handling and performance of many a hot hatch.

To help the Freetrack be all these things, Seat has fitted dark grey, rugged looking plastic guards to protect the body against damage when the driver ventures off the beaten track.

It also has big 17-inch alloy wheels with special tyres and 40 millimetres of extra ground clearance compared to range-topping and road-going Altea XL on which it is based.

Head for the hills and you will get through a muddy field or across some rough terrain. But you have to remember that this is not a car for anything too serious. However, it’s a crafter with a depth of talent sufficient to meet the expectation of buyers who have previously driven saloons.

Under normal conditions, power is directed to the front wheels but when circumstances dictate, as much as 50% can be sent to the rear axle to look after your safety on the road or help prevent you getting stuck in the mud.

As a family vehicle, is it spacious and flexible inside but it also takes safety very seriously by having ABS braking, traction control and an electronic stabilisation programme with a built-in emergency braking system.

Such is its composure that when being driven hard and fast it is not so easy to unsettle it.

The taut suspension virtually eliminates any cornering roll.

The choice for many buyers will be the 170PS 2.0-litre turbo diesel which reinforces the impression that you are driving a quick motor, particularly up through the gears.

The diesel’s top speed is 127mph with the 0-62mph sprint coming up in 8.7 seconds while combined fuel economy is 41.5mpg or 50mpg on a run – pleasing returns during these times of escalating fuel costs.

The six-speed manual gearbox is smooth with rather tall gearing, possibly too tall for some. However, this does help to improve fuel returns, particularly on the motorway.

The family will love the new rear-seat multi media system which is fitted as standard and comprises a roof-mounted seven-inch screen with links to a DVD player, video games, lap-top computer or MP3 player with sound transmitted through the car’s stereo system.

The specification also includes dual zone climate control, four electric windows, folding tables on the front seat back rests, cruise control, MP3 compatible CD player, six airbags, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlight, heated and folding door mirrors and remote central locking. The list goes on.

The interior delivers what you would expect from Seat. Quality materials are used together with 4x4 embellishments. The seats are both comfortable and supportive with a height and reach adjustable steering wheel to find the driving position you want.

Some of the most useful features are the rear seats that can be moved forward or folded down, and the parcel shelf system which rolls up and folds away to make the most of the boot’s load capacity. Trays and compartments provide much useful storage space.