Car Reviews > SEAT > E > SEAT E-Altea Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £25,000
Engine: 85kW AC electric motor
Gearbox: Single-speed, front-wheel drive
Power/torque: 114 bhp/ 270 Nm 0-60 mph: 16 seconds (estimated)
Top Speed: 84 miles per hour Range: 84 miles
Equipment: Roof mounted solar panels, GPS system, power source monitor and controller with cell phone application, air conditioning, and electric windows
On Sale: 2016

SEAT is prepared for an electric future by MPV, but will it actually be any good?

The plug-in hybrid Leon TwinDrive was taken for a test drive in recent times, but the head honchos at SEAT are also looking at creating an entirely electric vehicle as well. This model, which is referred to as the SEAT E-Altea, is a glimpse of what we can expect in around five years time, in 2016.

Underneath the bonnet of the SEAT E-Altea sits an 85kW electric motor, which is the equivalent of offering a bhp rating of 114. It draws its power from lithium-ion batteries that are stored under the back seats, which means that there is no need for compromising when it comes to the amount of space in the interior. That being said, the batteries at present provide for a range of only just 84 miles in total.

The company has also fitted the SEAT E-Altea with three modes, Normal, Eco and Range that help to be able to get the absolute most out of the mileage that is available to use. The Eco mode limits acceleration, climate control and top speed, while the Range mode ups the ante when it comes to the regenerative braking.

The E-Altea has 270 Nm of torque available, which it proves to be able to deliver right from the word go, meaning that it feels fast even from a standstill. Because the company is very keen to keep a hold of a sense of involvement for the driver, however, the brake regeneration can be increased by flicking the steering wheel mounted paddles, which helps give the feel of the engine braking.

However, the kerbweight of the vehicle gains an additional 300 kilograms because of the batteries, with the result being that it is considerably heavier than is the case with a normal Altea. It also feels rather more cumbersome when it comes to going around bends, and the brakes need to be worked a great deal harder.

As with the great majority of electric vehicles now, the big drawback is the range, or the lack thereof. The company is insisting, however, that by the time the E-Altea, the firm’s first ever fully electric vehicle, goes on the market in five years time in 2016, that that will no longer be a problem.

The current existing E-Altea certainly seems to provide sufficient evidence to prove the case that the company definitely has what it takes in terms of the necessary technology in order to manufacture an electric vehicle, although there remains very little doubt that there is also an awful lot of work remaining to be done. In terms of the overall driving experience, the ride has been made to be extremely firm in order to try to counteract the effects of the increase in weight due to the presence of the batteries, and the range is poor even by the standards of other electrical cars. There is no denying that there are extremely interesting ideas on display here, particularly when it comes to the paddles on the steering wheel that can increase the level of regenerative braking.

by Autoweb