In 1996, SEAT entered the minivan segment in style with the Alhambra, possibly the most family-oriented vehicle in the history of the brand. The modularity of the interior space allowed for different combinations and up to 7 seats.

During the first half of the ’90s, a new segment of vehicles was expanding quickly. They were the MPVs (Multi Purpose Vehicles), popularly known as minivans. SEAT's answer to the rise of this new segment was the Alhambra.

The result of a joint venture with Volkswagen and Ford, the SEAT Alhambra was a large, 4.62-metres, up to 7-seater minivan. Never before had a mass-produced SEAT offered 7 seats - the closest antecedent was the 1964 SEAT 1500 Familiar, which added a folding seat for children in the boot to the 6 seats of the saloon body.

The Alhambra was unveiled as a prototype at the 1995 Geneva Motorshow. A year later, at the same Swiss motorshow, the world première of the final production model was held, and the Alhambra became SEAT's flagship. In addition, the Alhambra was a symbol of the new SEAT’s take-off during the ’90s. From a Marbella, Ibiza and Malaga line-up, SEAT ended the decade with a very complete family of models, completely updated: Arosa, Ibiza II, Córdoba, Inca, León, Toledo II and Alhambra.

The family vocation of the Alhambra became evident in its interior distribution. Four large doors and a generous tailgate gave access to a cabin distributed in modules, which allowed to configure the interior space according to need. The 7 seats (the third row was optional) were comfortable individual seats, offering exemplary modularity and maximum comfort for all 7 passengers, regardless of where they were seated.

The driver's and passenger's seats were rotating, and the others could change position, be folded or even disassembled completely. Thus, the interior of the Alhambra could become, for example, a small living room with individual tables, or have a huge space for luggage or sports and leisure equipment.

The secret of the interior space lay in the elegant and even futuristic minivan body silhouette, in a single fluid line that maximized the habitable space, thanks also to a wheelbase of more than 2.8 metres. The free height of the Alhambra cabin was more than 1.6 metres, which greatly enhanced the interior mobility.

The initial range of the Alhambra was made of two different engines and trim levels. The engines were a 115 HP, 2.0 petrol and a 90 HP, 1.9 TDI; trim levels were the SE and SXE, both quite luxurious, since the SE was already fitted with two airbags, rotating front seats, and electric mirrors and windows. The SXE added air conditioning and the petrol engine in SXE trim was also available with automatic gearbox and ABS.

In the next years the range of engines was increased, first with a 110 HP, TDI engine and then with a 150 HP, 1.8 petrol turbo. In mid-2000, the Alhambra got a restyling and the trim levels became Stella, Signa and Sport (Reference, Stylance and Sport from 2004). The biggest change was on the front, adapted to SEAT's new style, embodied in the slogan "SEAT auto emocion". The tailgate, seats and dashboard were also new.

The restyling coincided with the introduction in the Alhambra of a 204 HP, V6 petrol engine, which could be combined with four-wheel drive and Tiptronic automatic transmission. So, the Alhambra became the first SEAT powered by a six-cylinder engine, beating by a few months the first León CUPRA, also powered by this exclusive engine, the most powerful used in a SEAT until then.

The first generation of the Alhambra was the oldest model in the SEAT line-up when the second generation was launched in September 2010. That serves to prove how good the Alhambra’s design and approach were – not for nothing, the first generation remained on the market for almost 15 years, while the second one has been in production for more than a decade.

SEAT HISTÓRICOS has restored this first series unit of the Alhambra in 2021, to commemorate the model’s 25th anniversary. It is an Alhambra 2.0 SXE with manual gearbox, registered in Barcelona in April 1998. The Collection also keeps a unit of the Alhambra V6, corresponding to the second series of the first generation.