Seat Ateca | First Drive | CarsIreland.ie First Drive

Published on 11 October, 2016

Looks to kill and a starting price that undercuts most of the market - Seat have arrived to the SUV market

Overview

by Sinéad McCann 11/10/2016
The Spanish end of the Volkswagen Group are the latest to enter the bulging mid-size crossover market with the launch of the all new Ateca. We'll spare you the usual spiel about flair and Latin spirit – but it really is a very handsome machine. Heavily inspired by the Leon, the taut curves and sharp lines the brand is famous for translate well into SUV form and give it a sporty edge that's still subtle enough not to offend anyone.
What will grab people's attention more so however, is the price. Starting at just €24,750 – it undercuts the already keenly priced Renault Kadjar, Nissan Qashqai, and just about everything else out there at the moment.
Based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Tiguan, and the forthcoming Skoda Kodiaq (all of which we're told have a different target audience – the VW chasing the premium segment, and the Kodiaq the seven seater market), the Ateca will have the added advantage of coming from that well-trusted stable of German engineering.
The engine line up will consist of two petrols in the1.4l TSI (150hp), and the entry level 1.0l TSI (115hp), which are expected to make up approximately 15% of sales here.
The rest will be spread between the well-tested 1.6 and 2.0l TDI options, all of which offer the predictively impressive fuel economy and low tax rates that diesel drivers demand. The 2.0l will come in either 150 or 190hp guise and is available with a DSG automatic gearbox, as well as a very capable four wheel drive option.
We got a spin in the 1.4l TSI and were pleasantly surprised by the car like handling. It manages to feel both light and agile, yet reassuringly solid. The driving position is good and the suspension comfortable. The responsive steering and overall feeling of lightness makes it feel nimble and easy to manoeuvre. Anyone upsizing from a smaller hatchback is not going to find this to be a huge leap.
Equipment levels are generous and we were impressed that in addition to alloy wheels, air conditioning and LED daytime running lights, you also get a touchscreen multimedia system as standard on the entry level S model – something you usually have to upgrade to a mid-spec model for.
If you choose to do so anyway the SE adds some nice touches like parking sensors and cruise control, larger 17'' wheels and an upgraded 8 inch touchscreen system.
The top of the line Xcellence model comes fully loaded with all the latest technology – highlights of which include a drive selector, ambient lighting in the cabin, automatic lights and wipers, and even a welcome light which will project the 'Ateca' badge onto the ground in the evening – now there’s something we never thought we’d see on a Seat.
The Ateca is in showrooms now and we will have a full video test drive soon.

Sinead McCann

Sinéad is our resident car tester who has the unenviable (-ok, slightly enviable) task of reviewing all the latest new cars to hit the market. You can follow her on Twitter @smcani and on Instagram @whatshedrives