SEAT Ateca (2016) launch review

It’s been a long time coming but Seat finally has a presence in the fast growing SUV sector with the new Ateca, which will go head-to-head with the Nissan Qashqai, Renault Kadjar and its own sibling, the Volkswagen Tiguan.

Built on the same platform that underpins the well-liked Seat Leon, the designers have managed to retain the sharp-edged styling of the hatchback and transferred that into a high-riding SUV. The transfer works well with sharp lines and edgy contours.

“The car is positioned exactly in the sweet spot for the market,” said Seat UK managing director, Richard Harrison.

“The level of interest we’ve had for the Ateca is beyond anything we’ve had before in our history. So far 74% of the people who have left their details wanting to hear about this car are from other brands, so it’s going to do a big job for us.

“Our results today have been achieved with only having products covering 54% of the UK market. By the end of next year we will be in three-quarters of the market and this is where our growth comes from.”

Most Atecas will be sold in front-wheel drive form, appealing to both private buyers and company car users thanks to low CO₂ emissions and impressive promised economy. Four-wheel drive is available for those that dare venture in to a nature reserve car park, which hits economy slightly, but even our 4×4 test model still emits just 114g/km of CO₂.

Showroom appeal continues inside the Ateca, where the dashboard appears to have been lifted wholesale from its smaller Leon cousin. That’s not a bad thing as the design works well from both an ergonomic and cosmetic point of view, although there are a few areas where the plastics used are somewhat shinier and scratchier than you would find on a Tiguan.

There seems to be more space than you’ll find in a Tiguan though, with five adults able to be seated without too much shoulder rubbing. There’s no third row of seats  so the Ateca remains a strict five-seater. That gives a bonus in the boot, with the 510-litre square-shaped area being bigger than you’ll find in a Volvo XC60. Fold the seats down and it’s even more capacious than a Nissan Qashqai.

Equipment levels are high across the range, with touchscreen infotainment and air-conditioning standard on all models. Step up to the SE spec and the infotainment screen grows from five to eight inches, the air conditioning gains a second zone and cruise control is added to the mix. SE is the best balance between cost and equipment, although the top xcellence is likely to be the best seller.

“I’m confident we have the balance right between supply and demand for Ateca,” said Harrison. “We’ll have more demand than we will have supply, which will also mean we’re exactly where we need to be going forward for residual values.

“I’ve taken a conscious decision that we are not registering cars for the sake of registering cars. We are building our residual values and we are building a sustainable future that takes full opportunity out of the new cars.”

The Ateca has got off to a good start with cap forecasting average residual values of 52.6%; that’s high for the sector and the highest ever for a Seat.

Behind the wheel

Given that the Ateca shares so much under the skin with the Leon, it stands to reason that it should drive like a Leon. To a degree, that holds true. There’s no getting away from the fact that the Ateca is taller and heavier than its hatchback sibling, but it probably gets closer to a car-like driving experience as anybody has yet managed.

There’s a surprisingly firm ride, but that keeps body roll well checked. Impressively, the suspension manages to smooth the road well enough, although small imperfections rattle their way through to the cabin. Through the twisty yet perfectly smooth roads around the launch venue, the chassis was a pleasure, but on rough UK roads it may prove a little tiresome.

Our test model was powered by a 2.0 litre diesel engine that produces 150bhp, enough to propel the Ateca to 62mph in nine seconds, despite the extra weight of the 4WD system, with a maximum speed of 126mph. That’s good for a rough and tumble SUV and quicker than a similarly specified Qashqai. Only a rather gruff engine note lets things down but with the 1.4 and 1.0 litre petrol engines available, it will be possible to choose a more refined power option and turn the Ateca into something very likeable.

About The Author

Phil Huff turned to writing about cars after realising he was too poor to race them. He now writes about the latest models for the finest magazines and websites including Diesel Car, Eco Car and Business Car Manager