SEAT Alhambra 1996-2000 Photos, engines & full specs

Apart from the French brands, other European carmakers didn't enjoy the same success on the minivan market, and Volkswagen tried to get a slice of the pie. But to develop a program only for its brand was very expensive. Ford was in the same position, so the two carmakers cut a deal by sharing the costs, and thus the badge-engineered siblings of Ford Galaxy, Volkswagen Sharan, and SEAT Alhambra took off. All three of them were built on the same assembly line in Spain.

Unlike the Galaxy or the Sharan, the SEAT was supposed to have a sportier look and to aim at younger customers, who needed a seven-seater for enjoying time out. Yet, there were slight differences between the vehicles. The Alhambra featured a different pair of headlights, which appeared to be slightly larger than those from its siblings. Also, the smiling grille split in half and adorned by a big, chromed SEAT badge was also a sign of recognition for the Spanish-branded MPV. The back of the car showed a clear distinction, thanks to the red strip that crossed the tailgate and uniting the taillights.

Inside, there was the same cabin layout with a five or seven-seat option. The car-like dashboard design, but with a taller center stack, surrounded the driver. Yet, the center console divided the front seats, so you couldn't easily cross the vehicle from left to right, like in many American minivans. Ford considered that this approach was more suitable for the European market.

Under the hood, the Alhambra was available with four Volkswagen engines: two turbodiesels and two gasoline-powered versions. For specific markets, two of them were available also with an automatic transmission.