The German arm of the group relies on the VW badge as a symbol of quality, often pricey.

Skoda takes the honours for low prices and practicality. But the real lookers are the siblings from Seat.

Fresh, sharp-nosed front ends, exciting lines and good interior trim are the hallmarks of Seat stylists and now they are gradually getting the attention they deserve, not just on the Iberian peninsula but throughout Europe.

In the past two years, the company has been a hive of activity despite some management problems, now resolved. There has been a new Leon, a new Toledo and the Altea, a four-door hatchback.

By the end of the year we will have a new member in the family here, the Altea XL, which has improved interior functionality thanks to a longer body. In fact, it is surprising how much extra use can be gained by adding another 18.7cms to the Altea body line.

The XL version naturally looks bigger and the extra length gives it an imposing stance on the road. It will be a strong competitor for the Golf Plus and the VW Touran. The boot capacity has increased to 532 litres and the rear seats can be moved forward by 14cms to increase the boot space to a whopping 635 litres . . . the largest boot in its class. In fact, when the rear seats are fully folded down, the XL's load capacity is stretched to 1604 litres.

The flexible seat design also allows more room for rear-seat passengers. As well as moving forward, the rear seat can also be moved backward to allow extra leg-room.

The functionality extends to all areas. There are trays fitted to the rear of the front seats so there are now with drink-holders at the back and up front, drawers underneath both front seats, door panels that can hold a 1.5litre bottle, two levels for holding items in the centre armrest and 12-volt sockets front and rear for iPod and laptop use.

Safety is a big feature for a family vehicle such as this and the XL has achieved a five-star Euro Ncap rating for adult passenger protection. It is one of the few vehicles in its segment with a three-star rating for pedestrian protection thanks to special crumple zones built in the bumper, grille and bonnet. There are six airbags with the option of rear side airbags on request, depending on the level of trim chosen.

For the driver there is a good level of steering and braking aids. The Agile Chassis concept, which has already been adopted in other Seat models, is included in the Altea XL and the system delivers quick steering response and gives greater control for the driver. The Altea XL has a good high driving position and there is decent support in the seats, front and back.

The most popular engine in the new model will be the 1.6-litre 102 bhp petrol version which delivers strong performance and develops 148 Nm of torque at 3800rpm. It is a lightweight engine and will be adequate for most jobs. Over 70% of the models sold here are expected to have petrol power but for high-mileage drivers who want more economical driving there is a 1.9 TDi diesel with 105bhp output.

The petrol engine has an average fuel consumption of 7.8L/100km and the diesel is claimed to return 5.4L/100km, which is top economy for a vehicle of this capacity. A more powerful two-litre petrol 150 bhp FSI engine is also available and there is also the option of a twolitre 140 bhp TDi.

The Altea comes in two levels of trim . . . the R (Reference) and S (Stylance). The R version will not have air conditioning as standard. The S version will have air conditioning and cruise control as standard.

The Altea XL will be priced at 800 above the Altea . . . 20,700 for the 1.6 petrol R version and 23,590 for the S version. The diesel R version XL will be priced in the region of 24,180.