IT'S a fact that all car manufacturers appear to be doing their bit to make vehicles cleaner and more environmentally-friendly, but for some companies it's just a token gesture, whereas for others such as SEAT it's a real mission.

The Altea Ecomotive model I tried offered much lowered carbon emission figures, stop/start technology which can be hugely beneficial in heavy, slow moving traffic and most impressive of all combined fuel economy of 62.8mpg.

But despite these "greener" implementations, the power and performance has not been compromised and the Altea can still deliver an excellent ride.

From the outside, the Altea has neat streamlining, 16-inch alloys, electrically adjustable headlights, tinted rear windows and colour-coordinated bumpers, door handles and mirrors. To be fair, it looks just like most mid-sized family cars these days.

Once inside, you cannot fail to notice the amount of space both for front and rear seat occupants. There is ample room for four adults to travel in comfort with plenty of useful storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin  for all your bits and pieces.

The generously-sized boot has a further storage compartment under the main cover and there are additional side pockets which are really handy for keeping items upright to avoid any spillage.

Throughout the vehicle there are plenty of creature comforts ranging from dual-zone air con with dust and pollen filter to an MP3-compatible audio system, white instrument lighting with brightness control and a trip computer.

But the factor that really impressed me, bearing in mind the Altea's green credentials, was the overall performance. The 1.6-litre diesel-powered engine had ample power to keep up with faster moving motorway traffic and the ability to accelerate at speed, up steep hills whilst fully laden.

There are many vehicles costing twice the Altea's asking price that struggle with that task.

All-round visibility is very good which makes parking in tight spaces a lot easier and there are always the parking sensors to help you too.

Safety features include anti-lock brakes, numerous airbags, electronic stability programme and plenty more.