Living with the Seat Ateca

Spanish SUV has joined our fleet. What are our first impressions?
Luc Lacey
Sarah Bradley18 January 2017

Seat was late to the somewhat overcrowded SUV market, but taking its time has enabled it to perfect its offering to ensure the best possible chance of successfully taking on established contenders such as the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage. The Spanish company’s new Ateca has done exactly that, winning favour with customers and reviewers alike.

We’re now running the practical, high-riding family model on our long-term fleet. First impressions of this good-looking, inoffensively styled machine are that with its well-respected Volkswagen Group engineering, sold at a more affordable price point than its more premium Audi and VW stablemates, it definitely has the right credentials.

Complete with a six-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drive, our 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel test car comes in at a hefty £27,425. It’s the top-spec Xcellence; the only trim level available with this engine. Other engine options are a 112bhp 1.6-litre diesel – which, along with our model will account for 75% of total sales – plus a 148bhp 1.4 TSI petrol and 113bhp 1.0 TSI petrol.

Our Ateca can reach achieve 0-62mph in 9.0sec and a top speed of 122mph, and return 55.4mpg. The most economical model is the 65.7mpg 1.6 TDI diesel. Cars fitted with four-wheel drive account for 25 per cent of overall sales, and it will be interesting to see how ours copes off-tarmac. The system is aided by 187mm of ground clearance, six driving modes and Hill Descent Control.

Xcellence comes with an 8.0in touchscreen, DAB radio, sat-nav, a pair of USB ports, leather trim, cruise control, rain and light sensors plus 18in alloy wheels. There are heated front seats with three settings, and a novel ‘welcome light silhouette’ projected from the underside of the door mirrors, too.

Options on our Ateca include Park Assist, with front and rear parking sensors (£325), top-view camera (£470), boot divider net (£155) and double floor (£115). Our Passion Red paint also costs an extra £250. This makes the total price £28,740.

We love the Seat’s practicality, with its flat floor in the 485-litre boot, large opening and rear seats that fold at the pull of a handle. All models also get emergency braking and hill hold control, pedestrian recognition and tiredness recognition. An £805 Advanced Comfort & Driving Pack Plus adds adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, lane assist, high-beam assist, traffic sign recognition and blindspot detection.

First impressions of the Ateca are extremely positive, as it’s easy to drive and great to park in tight spaces, while the diesel powerplant is capable and refined in cities and at a fast cruise. We can’t wait to pile on the miles.

SEAT ATECA 2.0 TDI 150PS 4DRIVE XCELLENCE

Price £27,425
Price as tested £28,740
Options Top-view camera £470, Park Assist £325, Passion Red non-metallic paint £250, boot divider net £155, double floor £115
Economy 46.3mpg
Faults None
Expenses None

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