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Seat dealers will start selling the brand’s first ever SUV from 9 September when the all-new Ateca makes its showroom debut.
The brand has confirmed the model is the first of four new models to be launched in the next 18 months following a €3.3bn investment in the brand before by the Volkswagen Group.
Prices start from £17,990 with the Ateca undercutting direct compact SUV rivals such as Renault’s Kadjar, Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Qashqai.
The car shares a platform and much of its visual appearance with the brand’s Leon hatchback but with a boot 80 litres larger than the market leading Qashqai.
Five engines will be available in the Ateca at launch. Petrol customers will have a choice of a 1.0 TSI unit of 115PS or a 1.4 version with 150PS. Diesel engines include a 1.6-litre 115PS Ecomotive with a claimed 65.7mpg in the combined cycle. There are also two 2-litre units with outputs of 150PS and 190PS.
Front-wheel-drive will be standard across the range, but both 2.0 diesels will be available in all-wheel-drive and Seat expects 15% of buyers to take this option.
Trim levels will follow the Seat convention of S, SE and Xcellence, but there will also be a launch special called First Edition, and only available in 200 units.
The car’s safety package is being heavily promoted, all versions including driver aids such as Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Protection, ESC, Tiredness Recognition, Multi-Collision Brake, seven airbags, traction control, an electronic differential lock, Hill Hold Control and a tyre pressure monitor.
All models will be fitted with Seat’s Drive Profile chassis aid with Normal, Sport, Eco and Individual modes, and two extra modes on all-wheel-drive versions dubbed Off-road and Snow.
Other standard equipment includes a touchscreen infotainment system which gains extra features with the higher grades, and Smartphone connectivity across the various handset manufacturers. Seat has also developed apps alongside the Android MirrorLink system and with phone manufacturer Samsung which will offer various extra functions such as weather reports and car information.
Retail customers are predicted to take 55%of Ateca sales, with the Xcellence 2.0 TDI 150 expected to be the most popular model. Fleet buyers are predicted to favour the SE 1.6 TDI 115 Ecomotive.
Ateca – UK range pricing
| Version | CO2g/km | BIK | On-the-road price (inc. VAT) |
| S 1.0 TSI 115 Ecomotive | 123 | 21% | £17,990 |
| S 1.6 TDI 115 Ecomotive | 112 | 22% | £20,175 |
| SE 1.0 TSI 115 Ecomotive | 123 | 21% | £19,590 |
| SE 1.4 TSI 150 EcoTSI | 125 | 22% | £21,015 |
| SE 1.6 TDI 115 Ecomotive | 112 | 22% | £21,900 |
| SE 2.0 TDI 150 | 114 | 22% | £22,930 |
| SE 2.0 TDI 150 DSG-auto | 116 | 23% | £24,275 |
| XCELLENCE 1.4 TSI 150 EcoTSI | 125 | 22% | £23,905 |
| XCELLENCE 2.0 TDI 150 | 114 | 22% | £25,815 |
| XCELLENCE 2.0 TDI DSG-auto 150 | 116 | 23% | £27,165 |
| XCELLENCE 2.0 TDI 150 4Drive | 128 | 25% | £27,425 |
| XCELLENCE 2.0 TDI 190 DSG-auto 4Drive | 131 | 26% | £29,990 |
