Seat Ateca, car review: A car for ‘modern parents’ with proper four-wheel drive
Although it is late to the SUV party, its hill control and low level camera that allows you to see round corners are some of its best features
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Your support makes all the difference.Are you a “wealthy homesteader (couple 50+)”? Or perhaps you think of yourselves as “Modern Parents”? If so read on, because these are the target demographics for Seat's new compact SUV, the Ateca. (Pronounced however you like to, but the Spanish say “Ah. Take. Ah”). Think of it as a Seat Leon or a VW Golf on stilts (especially as all these cars share VW “module” components). Most versions have two wheel drive; proper four-wheel off-roading capability is confined to the 2litre diesel engines variants.
By the way, Seat are especially keen on you if you drive one of the many rivals to Seat's first ever SUV - so Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Renault Kadjar being the closest in size, plus the slightly smaller posse of Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Mokka, and those downsizing from the likes of a Honda CRV or a Ford Mondeo estate.
They'd probably also like a few converts from elsewhere in their VW Group, like Skoda Yeti owners, but they're not allowed to say so. If you don't fall into any of these groups, Seat would still like you to buy their new model. Ought you?
It certainly makes a case for itself, even if it is a late to the compact SUV party, the room filled with virtually every other car brand's offerings, who have been knocking back the diesel and nibbling away at each other’s sales ever since Nissan really invented the breed with the Qashqai years ago.
Seat Ateca 2.0TDI Xcellence
Engine: 2litre diesel
Price: 25,760 (starts from 17,935)
Top speed: 126mph
0 to 60 in 8.5secs
Power: 150PS
64.2mpg
CO2: 114
Length 4363mm
Width. 1841mm
Height. 1611mm
On sale: September
Stuff I liked? Trivially, I was enthralled by the “pool of light” that shines down from the door mirrors and says “Ateca” – a classy touch. I liked the “top view” option that, as I proved in my test drive, allows you to navigate the car even if all the windows are blacked-out, like a video game. Useful for parking, not driving without being able to see on a wintry morning, I should add.
I enjoyed the Ateca's impressive off-road ability including hill descent control and a low level camera that allows you to see round corners otherwise obscured by the slope of a hill, say. The styling is rather understated and strongly reminiscent of the Leon, with a sculpted swage line running the length of the flank of the car. Otherwise it is the same sort of kit you'll find on many VW group products, such as traffic jam assist that takes the misery out of town driving, small but powerful turbo- and super-charged TSI engines and the DSG double clutch gearbox.
There's also a dial that will allow you to choose different settings for different road conditions and driving style, from off road to sporty, and the opportunity to experiment with a personalised setting of your own – the sort of thing modern parents might like. This is all very clever stuff, but I'd prefer simpler technology for peace of mind in long term ownership. The Ateca is a bit cheaper to buy than many of its rivals, but there's not much in it, and minor variations in depreciation or fuel consumption could easily outweigh that marginal advantage.
In my drive in and around Seat's spiritual home and HQ, Barcelona, (though the Ateca is actually made by Skoda in the Czech Republic), the 2litre diesel version of the Ateca was punchy enough but it is not for the enthusiast, and makes little pretence of it. It is though a relaxed ride and perfectly suitable for parents and offspring, modern or not, with a pleasant cocooning cabin.
I'm guessing the Ateca will find it hard work to punch through in a crowded marketplace that is no longer a niche but increasingly the norm – smaller, taller cars with that butch SUV look to them, as epitomised by the astonishing success of the premium Range Rover Evoque. The Ateca means more to Seat than it does to you because they were long missing an entrant into this important sector, and now they have one that is competitive at least. Modern Parents and Wealthy Homesteaders of Britain: the Seat Ateca is worthy of your attention.
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