SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 (2007 – 2009) Review
SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 (2007 – 2009) At A Glance
Four wheel drive version of Altea XL, creating an SUV MPV. Surprisingly good both on and off road.
Steel sumpguard is a £180 extra and you need it. Didn't last long on the market.
When I first drove the SEAT Altea I didn't like it.
And that was not because the launch was in Watford rather then Altea.
I couldn't get on with the way the tall body handled, the 140 diesel that bogged down then catapulted the car forward, and the coalface of a dashboard.
But since then it's been allowed to grow 13" into the XL. And now SEAT is offering a version of the XL with four-wheel drive, that they call the Freetrack 4.
Renault tried this sort of thing before, not very successfully, with the facelift Scenic RX4 that had a spare wheel on the back and used a lot of fuel.
But SEAT, being part of VWG and availing itself of VWG's parts bin, has taken a different route and fitted the Altea Freetrack 4 with the same Audi quattro-derived running gear as the Skoda Octavia Scout. And either the 170PS version of the 2.0TDI or the 200PS 2.0TSI petrol engine.
Reviews for SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 (2007 – 2009)'s top 3 rivals
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 (2007 – 2009) handling and engines
- Engines range from 2.0 TDI to 2.0 TSI
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 22–45 mpg
Best of all, it's offering what is effectively a bigger and better Golf GTI for pretty much the same sort of money: £21,395, according to the crib sheet in our TDI 170.
And the four-wheel drive system doesn't just get it out of the goo on muddy tracks, it also turns the car from not being very good to drive into a real MPV GTI. On its 225/50 x 17 Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres it turns in, grips and handles very well, with plenty of information feeding through the steering wheel.
On the rough tracks we were sent to, which were more like a rally stage than ‘off road', it was excellent, making quick, fuss-free and surprisingly comfortable progress. And before you ask, yes, it was fun.
However, a word of warning here. If did really need its £180 optional steel sumpguard because the standard plastic one would have been ripped off in the first half mile.
You get tyre pressure sensors so could opt for runflats. Though as standard it comes with normal tyres and a space-saver spare, but plenty of room under the boot floor for a full-size spare. (No useless glop and pump ‘tyrefit' system.) The speedo on our car was a bit optimistic. At 2,000rpm it was reading 70, yet it's actually geared to do 31.8mph/1,000rpm in 6th, which is a true 63.6. (The 2.0 TFSI pulls 24.5mph in 6th.)
There's no automatic or DSG option, though if you want that you can forego four-wheel-drive and opt for a normal Altea or XL DSG.
For mums who can change gear, the Freetrack 4 works very well as a family car for the standard 2 + 2 children, with masses of space for the kit needed for whatever activities the kids get involved in. It also has a 5 star NCAP score for occupant protection and an excellent 4 stars for child protection and 3 stars for pedestrian protection.
Where I live it will make alternative to the usual 4x4s and MPVs by managing to be both at once. SEAT has managed to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 TDI | 42 mpg | 8.7 s | 179 g/km |
| 2.0 TSI | 30 mpg | 7.5 s | 223 g/km |
Real MPG average for the SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 (2007 – 2009)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
94%
Real MPG
22–45 mpg
MPGs submitted
23
SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 (2007 – 2009) interior
- Boot space is 490 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4493 mm |
| Width | 1788 mm |
| Height | 1622 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2576 mm |
There's masses of room inside. Huge luggage area. Sliding and semi-reclining rear seats, split 60:40. Seatback picnic tables. Lots of roof lockers for knick-knacks. A standard fold-down screen in the roof for plugging in DVD or games consoles. Standard rear side window blinds to protect children from strong sunlight. It's a very family orientated car.
SEAT Altea Freetrack 4 (2007 – 2009) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4493 mm |
| Width | 1788 mm |
| Height | 1622 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2576 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1568–1571 kg |
| Boot Space | 490 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | 10000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £19,335–£19,835 |
| Insurance Groups | 20–22 |
| Road Tax Bands | I–K |
| Official MPG | 30.1–41.5 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.0 TDI 5dr | £19,835 | 41.5 mpg | 8.7 s |
| 2.0 TSI 5dr | £19,335 | 30.1 mpg | 7.5 s |
Model History
May 2007
Altea Freetrack unveiled
Four wheel drive version of stretched Altea XL makes the best sense of this vehicle.
Length: 4,493 mm (14’ 9”)
Width (not including mirrors): 1,788 mm (5’ 10.5”)
Height: 1,458 mm (4’ 9.5”)
Luggage capacity: 490 litres (to cover, rear seats up)
Luggage capacity: 1,562 litres (to roof, rear seats down)
Petrol tank capacity: 60 litres
Kerb weight: 1,571kg (2.0TFSI), 1,568kg (2.0TDI)
Braked trailer weight (12% incline): 1,400kg
Turning circle: 10.7 metres
2.0i 20v belt cam petrol turbo 1,984cc: 147kW (200PS) at 5,100rpm, 280Nm (207 lb ft) torque at 1,800-5,000rpm. 6-speed manual. 0-60 7.2 seconds; top speed 133mph; combined consumption 30.1mpg CO2 emissions 223g/km (VED Band F £205 - £215 pa) EU4, Insurance Group 13E
2.0 TDI PD belt cam diesel turbo 1,968cc: 125kW (170PS) at 4,200rpm, 350Nm (258 lb ft) torque at 1,800rpm. 6-speed manual. 0-60 8.4 seconds; top speed 127mph; combined consumption 41.5mpg CO2 emissions 179g/km (VED Band E £165 - £175 pa) EU4, Insurance Group 11E
Altea Freetrack 4 2.0 TFSI 200PS £20,495
Altea Freetrack 4 2.0 TDI 170PS £21,395
April 2008
Official prices cut by £1,500.
2.0 TDI 170: £19,995
2.0 TSI 200: £19,495
What to watch out for
2.0 TDCI 170 Freetrack needed new ABS module at just over 3 years old at cost of £1,649 (SEAT contributed 70%). Has suffered repeated DPF problems after repeated short runs from cold starts.
14-07-2012:Second report of rear diff and Haldex clutch failure, this after 4 years and 2 months and 42k miles from new, always SEAT maintained. Cost of repair is £3,693 inc VAT. SEAT has offered 30% as a goodwill gesture and said they will further match anything that the dealer will give us. The dealer has offered nothing.
07-09-2012:Report of rear diff failure after routine replacement of oil in the Haldex clutch.
06-06-2013:Report of Haldex 4WD controller failing on a 49k mile 2009 Freetrack. These cost £750 + fitting for the part from a SEAT dealer. However, ECU Testing has a fix for £195.
26-03-2014:After 165,000 miles of excellent service the turbo of a SEAT Altea Freetrack finally began to fail. Vital to replace oil feed pipe tol the turbo as well as the turbo itself.
