Seat Alhambra mid wheelchair user position rear ramp WAV from Southern Mobility Vehicles

We can only say good things about the Seat Alhambra wheelchair accessible vehicle. As a mobility vehicle, it works hard for everyone, especially wheelchair users.

This WAV has a level lowered floor and a low centre of gravity, plus it’s a car and not a van. The critical factor with the low centre of gravity is not just the incredible all-around view wheelchair users get. Being lower to the ground in the vehicle means a better ride and less chance of travel sickness.

The single-piece, lightweight and beautifully sprung rear ramp is a pleasure to use. It has an excellent meaty handle to make opening the ramp, lowering and closing it effortless and straightforward. The Seat Alhambra WAV always comes with four seats or sometimes with the fifth central row two-seat, which is removable. Leaving it present would mean the wheelchair user is behind the second row, but it means you can carry the extra seated passenger.

The driver is in for a treat as much of Seat’s switchgear is from Volkswagen, so it’s well thought out, easy to operate and generous too if the WAV is an SE specification or above. Electric seats, leather, satnav, Bluetooth and other features missing from many wheelchair accessible cars and vans are present. The DSG auto gearbox mated with the 2.0 diesel engine is a dream, and it’ll feel like a VW in the driving seat; if you manage to acquire the 180bhp Lux version, there will be a broad smile on your face when you press the loud pedal. We aren’t recommending you try this unless all your passengers are willing and happy to be impressed with the power, but we are big on at least trying to put a smile on our buyers’ faces when buying a mobility car.

Another good feature of this WAV is it retains its exterior looks well, so it’s hard to see it’s a wheelchair accessible conversion, but sadly not many were converted. Hence, owners tend to hang on to them for as long as possible and often have high mileage. When they finally come up for sale, they are rarely cheap, even with high mileage, so we always try and snap them up if they fit our high standards.

SMV conclusion: A solid, well-built car with a good specification and a real VW quality feel about it. This WAV is comfortable for everyone. Having the original row two seats in a WAV is quite rare, and the comfort that goes along with the legroom is always a pleasure. We are pleased to report that everyone enjoys travelling in the Seat Alhambra, which means the car’s suspension, even on the sportier versions, is kind too.

Why not give Southern Mobility Vehicles a call if this WAV isn’t quite right for you. We are independent WAV advisors, so you will get the best of all worlds, whatever your wheelchair access needs are. Whether you are looking for a new Motability WAV, a Nearly New Motability WAV, short term hire or an outright purchase, we are the WAV dealer to call first. We are here to help; we know how hard it is to be confident you are buying the right mobility vehicle for your needs.