SEAT Ateca review ~ station of gear

For:

Very stylish, great to drive, affordable

Our Rating:

Against:

Not much kit on basic models, ride can be a little firm, cheap plastics in interior

2016

With so many talented rivals, it's an uphill struggle for SEAT's first ever SUV. Can it live up to expectations?

SEAT is largely inexperienced when it comes to SUVs but the Ateca is an impressive first attempt – and it won’t be the last with a Nissan Juke rival also on the way in 2017.

Crucially the SEAT Ateca is also a very stylish addition to a very busy market and that will be a vital factor for some buyers. But not only that, the Ateca is competitively priced and great to drive, although the ride can be a little firm at times.

A lack of kit for the cheapest models may deter some but a wide range of petrol and diesel engines plus the option of four-wheel drive gives the Ateca everything it needs to compete.

27 Jun, 2016

In the same way it did with the engines and the chassis, SEAT has looked again to its tried and tested Leon when it comes to the interior of the new Ateca. So the design is familiar and logical if not overly exciting. At least it makes living with the Ateca very easy.

The materials used across the top of the dash are soft and high quality but look lower down on the centre console and on the door cards and you’ll find cheaper-looking plastics which are prone to scratches. The level of quality in the VW Tiguan is better but it is considerably more expensive.

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Image 6 of 22

Entry level S models don’t come with a huge amount of kit and feature only air-conditioning 16-inch alloy wheels, a five-inch touchscreen and seven airbags. Step up to SE spec and SEAT throws in larger 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, cruise control and rear parking sensors. These versions also come with SEAT's Full Link smartphone connectivity system, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink.

Top spec XCELLENCE models come with a full leather interior, 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and reversing camera. SEAT expects the most popular trim to be mid-spec SE, which offers the best in terms of value for money.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The infotainment system used in the Ateca will be familiar to anyone who has been in a Skoda, VW or SEAT before. The system is very intuitive to use and can be operated by the dials on the dashboard or with the touchscreen itself.

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Image 9 of 22

Those who go for an entry-level model will be disappointed by the fact that their Ateca will only come fitted with a tiny five-inch display that looks rather small and cheap on the dashboard. It also means navigation is not even an option on entry-level cars.

The focus for an SUV is usually on practicality and usability, but the Ateca is also very convincing from behind the wheel. This dynamic set-up for the car is probably down to the fact that SEAT is known as the sporty brand with the VW Group.

The first thing you notice from climbing behind the wheel is how flexible the driving position is. The is a huge amount of adjustment in the seating position and the steering wheel can be adjusted for reach and height; a driver of any size will be able to get comfortable behind the wheel.

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On the move the 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine does clatter at lower speeds, but it pulls strongly from low revs and when paired with the seven-speed automatic gearbox it makes for smooth progress.

The ride can feel a little firm at times but the Ateca is never uncomfortable. A Renault Kadjar is more relaxing to drive but the Ateca handles and steers with more accuracy, which makes it more fun behind the wheel. For a tall SUV, body control is also very good which means you can carry more speed through a fast corner without the rolling, bouncing sensation you often experience in larger, less composed SUVs.

Top spec 187bhp Ateca models sprint from 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds. If that’s not enough, there is also the possibility of more performance-based Cupra models being added to the range at a later date.

Engines

The only engine we’ve driven so far in the Ateca is the top spec 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel paired with the seven-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.

SEAT predicts the most popular choice will be the 148bhp version of this 2.0-litre diesel engine, but the 114bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine will also appeal to those who like to keep an eye on running costs.

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Image 4 of 22

The petrol engines will serve the needs of few buyers but the availability of the 114bhp 1.0-litre turbo will stand out because it is a unique option in this class. We are yet to test that particular engine but it’s modest power output and lack of torque could prove to be an issue for an SUV of the SEAT Ateca’s size and weight.

As the Ateca shares so much of its running gear, including engines, gearboxes and other technology with other models in SEAT’s range we can expect high levels of reliability. The parts are tried and tested in models across the VW Group range.

The Ateca is too new to have made it to our latest Driver Power survey, but the Leon finished fourth in our 2015 satisfaction survey. It also finished 10^th for reliability – so buyers of the Ateca should have very little to worry about.

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Image 21 of 22

Thanks to a raft of safety tech and airbags the Ateca has scored a full five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests. For adult passengers the Ateca scored 93 per cent, while for child occupants the crossover scored 84 per cent for safety. However, for pedestrian safety the rating fell to 71 per cent. Key safety kit includes lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise control.

Warranty

The Ateca doesn’t arrive in UK showrooms until September 2016 so final details of the car have yet to be announced. However, we do expect the Ateca to carry on SEAT’s three-year/60,000 mile warranty, which is industry standard.

Having said that, virtually all of the Ateca’s rivals come with more comprehensive cover. The Kadjar comes with a seven-year warranty, while the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson both come with five-year cover.

Servicing

Like with the Leon, SEAT recommends the Ateca is serviced every 10,00 miles or every 12 months – which ever comes first.

The Ateca uses the same platform and shares the same wheelbase as the Leon hatchback, which means it isn’t one of the most spacious when it comes to rear passenger space.

While the SEAT isn’t the largest car in its class there is around the same amount of space inside as you’ll find in the Qashqai. A Renault Kadjar is slightly larger and offers more room for those seated in the back, but the differences are marginal.

The tall body means there is plenty of headroom, though. The driver’s seat has lots of adjustment and up front the door bins are a good size. Only the glovebox is a little on the small side.

Size

The Ateca is a mid-sized crossover and proportionally it shares the same wheelbase with the Leon but it is taller. It’s almost identical in size to the Qashqai, but the Kadjar is fractionally larger and it shows inside.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

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Image 7 of 22

Leg room is identical to that you get in the Leon hatchback, which means there’s enough but not ample amount for adults. The taller crossover body does mean headroom is very good, however. Even the tallest of adults will be comfortable in the rear.

Boot

While rear passenger space may not be as generous as some rivals, the Ateca does have a large boot. In front-wheel drive models luggage capacity is measured at 510 litres, which is considerably more than the Qashqai can offer.

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Image 8 of 22

Models fitted with four-wheel drive require a different driveshaft to be fitted beneath the car and that does impact capacity, reducing it to 485 litres. However, that is still more than the Nissan and Renault offer in front-wheel-drive form.

The rear seats also split 60:40 but once flat they do leave a noticeable lip, so loading long or bulky items may be tricky. There is also a shallow but wide storage area hidden beneath the boot floor.

The majority of engines available in the SEAT Ateca are adopted from the existing Leon hatchback range. There are five in total: two petrol and three diesels.

The most interesting is the option of the 114bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo. SEAT claims it will return up to 54.3mpg and emit 121g/km of CO2 on the combined cycle, which is impressive for such a small engine in a relatively large car. The other petrol option is the larger 148bhp 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo, which is capable of 52.3mpg and 125g/km of CO2.

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Image 12 of 22

However, for the vast majority of buyers the diesel engines will look more appealing. The 114bhp 1.6-litre diesel will be the best at keep running costs down with SEAT claiming 65.7mpg and 112g/km of CO2 combined, although the more powerful and punchy 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel isn’t far behind with 64.2mpg.

If four-wheel drive is on your wish list it will impact on fuel economy, dropping the combined figure to 57.6mpg in the 148bhp model. The more powerful 187bhp version comes exclusively with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox, that combo returning 56.5mpg and 131g/km of CO2 to make it the least efficient model in the Ateca range.

Insurance Groups

Insurance groups for the Ateca start at 13 and rise to 19, which is an almost identical showing to the Leon hatch. It’s not surprising as they both use a lot of the same mechanical components.

Those insurance groups are also similar to rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar.

Depreciation

As the Ateca is still so new residual values are yet to be confirmed. However, the SEAT Leon does hold on to, on average, 40 per cent of its value after three years – so we can expect a similar value for the Ateca in due course.

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