Seat Ateca 2.0 TDI 150 CV 4Drive DSG test: capable off the tarmac

The Seat Ateca is one of those SUVs that is a real sales success, thanks in part to its spacious interior and its crossover styling, which wins over more fans every day. At the time we tested a more sensible version, the 4×2, which left us with a very good impression.

And now we wanted to find out whether its all-wheel drive 4×4 variant, called 4Drive, is worth it, and whether its off-road abilities live up to expectations. To do this we have tested this version with a 2.0 TDI diesel engine producing 150 CV with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed DSG gearbox.

Design: Seat pragmatism

As I have already mentioned, the Ateca is no stranger to our test team, in fact we have already tested another version with front-wheel drive, so in this section I will focus on specific aspects of our unit with a striking FR trim (in addition to the typical FR red exterior).

On the outside, besides its sporty touches, it stands out for its generous ground clearance, which lets it cope fairly easily with difficult terrain. On top of that come tyres with a fairly tall sidewall (which reduce its effectiveness on the road but are very recommended off the tarmac) in 225/50 R18 sizes.

Inside, the Seat Ateca is a spacious car, with decent finishes and materials that meet what is expected in the segment. It stands out for its roominess and comfort at the wheel, with a very upright driving position (which takes a while to get used to) and plenty of cubbies and practical details for stowing your things (a dedicated phone holder, rear USB charging points, large glovebox…).

Behind the wheel: 2.0 TDI 150 CV

The 4×4 range of the Seat Ateca is available with two diesel variants: 150 and 190 CV, both based on the same engine. It is true that the 150 CV version sits at an interesting middle ground, but if we want it all, it is better to opt for the 190 CV engine, which will barely show up in consumption and will be noticeable in performance.

The engine does its job for those who want a car that responds; it is not sporty nor does it pretend to be, but it does allow agile progress on any type of road. For extra power, though, the 190 CV is recommended.

The engine and gearbox pairing is very comfortable, the engine has a bit of noise but inside the cabin it is well insulated and the noise is barely noticeable, while the twin-clutch DSG gearbox is quick and comfortable, with impeccable operation.

On the road it has a comfortable, relaxed ride, although some inertia can be felt that even its FR suspension cannot entirely mitigate, though that is normal given its dimensions. Comfort is especially noticeable on motorways or open roads, where it devours kilometres without much fuss.

The consumption hovers around 7 litres per 100 km on country roads, rising to just over 7.4 litres per 100 km on motorways, and a mixed figure with urban driving that climbs to 8 litres per 100 km. Reasonable figures given the all-wheel drive, size, engine and so on. If we drive on country roads and are careful with the pedal, we can bring consumption down to 6.5 litres per 100 km.

Is a Seat Ateca 4×4 worth it?

The key to our test was analysing the off-road performance of this Ateca and seeing whether it may be of interest to those torn between the 4×2 and 4×4 versions. The traction system used by Seat, called 4Drive, distributes power between the vehicle’s wheels depending on the grip available at each wheel, the steering angle and the terrain conditions, automatically managing which wheel receives more power and reaching a 50-50 split if necessary, all through an electronically controlled Haldex system.

From a control located on the centre tunnel we can select between several driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, Individual, Offroad and Snow. These modes act on the traction system, gearbox, accelerator pedal and steering.

The first real test we put the Ateca 4Drive through was a mountain route full of ruts and very wet mud, where traction was put to the test. There it surprised us very positively, getting out of the situation without problems and with traction management that let us move forward without digging in further or any jolts (many all-wheel-drive SUVs would not manage).

When engaging Offroad mode, on a downhill gradient, hill descent control activates automatically, which holds the car back outstandingly (at the cost of the brakes, admittedly). Climbing a firebreak track with ruts, stones and uneven surface, it again surprised us with its traction, moving slowly through areas where others get stuck due to poor traction management, though we are limited by its ground clearance.

In short, its all-wheel-drive system passes our test with flying colours. It is one of the SUVs with the best traction on the market, and that can be a point in its favour if we are going to use it on snow or in areas with difficult grip, where this Seat Ateca will respond without problems. Its ground clearance, though, reminds us that it is not a conventional off-roader.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverSEAT Ateca3 versions · from 33,442 €