SEAT Ateca 2.0 TDI 150 4Drive test, versatile Spanish

This week in the road test section of Highmotor we have a true all-rounder, one of those models that arrives to win over both owners and outsiders.

We’re talking about the SEAT Ateca, the first SUV from the Spanish brand, which, despite having been on the market for only a few months, has become one of the pillars of the brand.

Exterior design

The Ateca is a model you can recognise at a glance as a SEAT of the latest generation. Gone are the years when every SEAT offered a rounded design -sometimes too rounded- with poorly defined lines and strokes lacking in strength.

The brand’s new generation of models enjoys a much more elaborate design, in which the vertices and edges, with more pronounced lines, are a fundamental part of them. The Ateca is no exception, and it picks up the trends of models such as the León to offer a very attractive image.

It’s true, the Ateca’s external appearance may remind us of a five-door León with a raised ride height. This is not necessarily bad, since the current León is possibly one of SEAT’s best products of the last 20 years. The front of the Ateca stands out for its angular light units, which match perfectly with a moderately sized grille.

At the lower part we find a bumper finished in unpainted plastic protections which, combined with silver decorative mouldings, reinforce the off-road look of the whole. The large central cooling intake is not missing, nor are the fog lamps, set into matching side mouldings with square shapes.

The side view of the Ateca could be described, without fear of being wrong, as balanced. It doesn’t stand out in anything, but we won’t see any element that “jumps out at us” either. The glazed surface is sufficient, and in our version it is finished with chrome strips that enhance the sense of quality.

We only find two tension lines in the bodywork: one just below the door handles, running from headlight to taillight, and another at the lower part of the doors, which attempts to simulate an increase in the width of the whole. The wheel arches and sills are again finished in black plastic, housing the 19″ wheels of our version in a very balanced way. At the top, two roof bars improve the overall image.

At the rear of the Ateca we again find a design that is clearly familiar, with a large tailgate and light units similar to those of the León. Depending on the version, the tailgate can feature electric opening and a hands-free system, as well as LED tail lights.

The ensemble is finished with a very well integrated bumper, which again includes a large black moulding that houses a silver one inside. This model also has two rounded exhaust outlets on the left side, outlets that, contrary to the trend in the segment, are fully functional.

Interior design

The interior of the Ateca is, this time yes, practically identical to that of a SEAT León 2017 like the one we tested a few months ago. The design is the same, with a dashboard slightly oriented towards the driver and good ergonomics, with all the buttons and controls easy to find.

The build quality is good, although some trim materials don’t live up to the overall package. For example, the fixings of the centre console, which at the rear leave screws exposed, or the rear door panels, made entirely of hard plastic apart from a small textile side panel.

Otherwise, we find a typically SEAT interior, with good build quality, especially in visual terms. The materials we touch 90% of the time feel good and are padded and softened, while the materials in the remaining 10% leave something to be desired.

Once seated in the driver’s position, it is very easy to find a comfortable position, making it simple to get used to daily use. The instrumentation features two large analogue dials, two digital block indicators and a central screen with a very complete on-board computer.

The multimedia system has very powerful software and a well-positioned screen of generous size, which makes it easy and quick to use. The climate control panel is exactly the same as that of the SEAT León, and below it there is a generous storage compartment with rubber lining, two USB ports and, in our unit, a wireless charging device.

Well equipped and without major flaws, the Ateca is a well-rounded product
The seats in our unit, upholstered in a mix of black leather and brown Alcantara, are very well made and comfortable at all times. Furthermore, their upholstery matches the rest of the interior décor, which stands out for its brown decorative mouldings and black roof and pillar trim.

Depending on the trim level chosen, the equipment can be quite extensive. Our unit featured, among other items, systems such as keyless start, with a button beside the gear lever that pulses to invite us to start the car, or an ambient lighting system in the front door recesses for the feet.

The on-board space is very generous, with front seats that don’t falter in any measurement, and a wide and comfortable second row, especially in terms of headroom. However, we miss some concessions to comfort and practicality such as a sliding rear bench, present in other models such as its sibling the Skoda Karoq.

The boot has a capacity of 510 litres in front-wheel-drive versions and 485 litres in the case of all-wheel-drive units, although this capacity can be increased by folding down the second-row seatbacks, a manoeuvre carried out easily via two handles provided for this purpose on the sides of the boot.

Driving dynamics and life on board

Time to get going. As soon as we start up, the Ateca “treats” us to a noticeable cold-start noise, accompanied by vibrations that filter noticeably into the cabin, especially in places such as the gear lever or the pedals. This feature is better refined in other models such as the VW Tiguan or the Mazda CX-5.

“Our” Ateca features one of the most well-balanced engines in the range, a 2.0 TDI of 150 CV and 340 Nm from 1,750 rpm, paired in this case with a 6-speed manual gearbox that delivers power to the ground through an all-wheel-drive system engageable via a Haldex clutch.

With this combination of power and transmission, the Ateca is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds, reaching a top speed of 196 km/h. Homologated fuel consumption is 5.9 l/100 km in the urban cycle, 4.7 l/100 km in the extra-urban cycle and 5.1 l/100 km in the combined cycle.

As for the chassis, the Ateca is built on the MQB modular platform for transverse enginesVolkswagen, a platform widely used by the German group across most of its brands, featured in models such as the Skoda Superb, the VW Golf or the Audi Q2.

At the front we find the traditional MacPherson struts, while at the rear axle we have an independent multi-link system in the all-wheel-drive versions and a rigid axle in the front-wheel-drive variants. The braking system consists of ventilated discs at the front and solid discs at the rear.

Once on the move, the Ateca presents itself as a very pleasant SUV to drive, with dynamics well tuned to deliver driving that is extremely similar to that of a passenger car. The Ateca feels comfortable on good asphalt, though somewhat firm on more broken surfaces, something also influenced by the large 19″ wheels of our unit, which give a rather harsh response in certain situations.

The Ateca offers dynamics very similar to those of a passenger car
The sound insulation is adequate, though not as good as that of other models such as the CX-5 or, also, its sibling the León, which enjoys better isolation both mechanically and aerodynamically. The electrically assisted steering is precise and its level of assistance is correct.

The Ateca 4Drive offers a driving mode system with different profiles, from ECO to Sport, including a Snow mode and an Off-road mode, which features a descent assist to tackle slopes with confidence. Off the tarmac, the Ateca is not prepared for very rugged terrain, although the all-wheel-drive system offers an extra measure of safety in adverse weather conditions.

In terms of consumption, in normal mixed use the Ateca needs an average of 7 l/100 km. In fully urban use the Ateca typically demands around 8 l/100 km, dropping to around 5.5-6 litres on fast roads, all with an average range of around 800 km per tank.

Range and versions: how much does the car you’re looking at cost?

SEAT has seen fit to offer a wide range of both engines and trim levels for the Ateca. This allows us to configure an Ateca to our taste, with petrol engines of 115 CV (1.0 TSI), 150 CV (1.4 TSI ACT) and 190 CV (2.0 TSI), and diesel 1.6 TDI (115 CV) and 2.0 TDI of 150 and 190 CV. Both 6-speed manual and 6- and 7-speed DSG automatic transmissions are available.

As for trim levels, no fewer than six variants are available. From the entry-level one, called Reference, to the most balanced Style or Style Plus. If we want maximum equipment we can opt for the Xcellence and Xcellence Plus, and if we prefer sportiness, for the newly launched FR.

Our unit has a starting price of €33,230 in the Xcellence trim. This equipment line, one of the most complete, includes items such as Full LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, the Front Assist safety assistant or LED interior lighting with coloured ambient lights.

In addition, our unit included, among its optional equipment, the Navigation Plus system (€1,408), the 19″ Exclusive Machined alloy wheels (€821) and the anti-theft alarm (€321). In total, our unit came close to €36,000, a somewhat high price but one that gives access to one of the most complete SUVs on the market.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverSEAT Ateca3 versions · from 33,442 €