Test drive: Tarraco e-Hybrid, a sporty and plug-in family SUV

On the occasion of the national launch of the complete ECO range of vehicles from Seat, we have been able to drive the new Seat Tarraco e-Hybrid. And the first impressions could not be better: the plug-in hybrid propulsion system used, among others, by the Seat León e-Hybrid, the Cupra Formentor e-Hybrid, the Audi Q3 TFSIe, the Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid and the Skoda Octavia iV RS suits a SUV like the Tarraco down to the ground.

Let us recall that the largest model in the Seat SUV range offers a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines. None of them features electrification, except for the new Tarraco e-Hybrid, which goes straight to the CERO environmental label from the DGT.

Seat Tarraco e-Hybrid: range and prices

The prices of the new Tarraco e-Hybrid, including the 1,500-euro discount offered by the brand (apart from the additional discount for financing the purchase), start from 44,870 euros for the version with the Xcellence trim, and 46,730 euros for the FR version. Within the range itself, and at that same price level, the alternatives are the Tarraco 2.0 TDI 200 CV DSG 4Drive, or the 2.0 TSI of 245 CV, also with DSG gearbox and all-wheel drive.

The plug-in hybrid version, with more technology on board and all the advantages of the CERO label, benefits from being exempt from the registration tax, so its price matches the aforementioned petrol and diesel versions. If in doubt, you can perfectly well opt for the hybrid even if you don’t have a place to plug it in every day, and use it as a self-charging hybrid, with the option of recharging it from time to time at public charging points. One difference of the plug-in hybrid Tarraco compared with the other versions of the range is that it cannot be chosen in a 7-seat configuration.

The propulsion system of the Seat Tarraco e-Hybrid

As we have already mentioned, the propulsion system used by the Tarraco e-Hybrid is well known. It uses a 1.4 TSI 4-cylinder engine producing 150 CV combined with a 115 CV electric motor connected to a 6-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox, which transmits power to the front wheels. It promises a system output of 245 CV, with a combined maximum torque of 400 Nm.

The battery, located under the floor at the rear, has a capacity of 13 kWh, and allows the plug-in hybrid Tarraco to travel up to 49 km in electric mode, or to use its energy to let the electric motor supplement the combustion engine so it consumes very little fuel while it has charge. The total range, counting the battery and the fuel tank, is 730 km. Its location means the Tarraco e-Hybrid cannot offer a third row of seats, and the boot capacity drops from 760 to 610 litres, a figure that is still very good for a car in which five occupants can travel comfortably, thanks to its generous interior space.

The battery can be recharged in about 3 and a half hours using a Wallbox with a power of 3.6 kW. It is also possible to plug the Tarraco into a 2.3 kW domestic socket and charge overnight, an operation that takes about 5 hours.

Driving the plug-in hybrid Tarraco

Compared with the other versions of the Seat Tarraco with automatic gearbox, the plug-in hybrid has no driving peculiarities beyond those of a car with a propulsion system that allows electric-only driving on short journeys. The driver can let the system take care of everything automatically, and it does so very well. The car will start in electric mode whenever the battery has sufficient charge, with good pulling power and the ability to travel at up to 140 km/h. You can cover around 35 km combining road and city driving, and reach the nearly 50 km advertised if you move exclusively around town.

When the battery drops below a certain level, the system switches to hybrid mode, combining the power of the petrol and electric motors depending on the situation and power demand. It does so without noticeable transitions, always with exceptional smoothness. Here, you can choose between two modes, automatic hybrid or manual hybrid, which lets the driver set a charge percentage to keep in reserve and use later. If this is not done, the system tends to use all the battery energy, either to drive in electric mode or to achieve very low consumption. And when I say very low, I mean averages below 3 l/100 km, as long as the battery retains sufficient charge. Fully charged, it can run in automatic hybrid mode, with these “ridiculous” consumption figures, for roughly 150 km.

There is also an additional mode called s-Boost, in which the system prepares to use all available power when accelerating. In this mode, the Tarraco is a very quick car, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds, with an immediate response to the accelerator and a remarkable pleasure of use. Its top speed is 205 km/h. When the battery runs down, always keeping a certain reserve level, the Tarraco switches to working as a self-charging hybrid. The “catch” is that you will no longer be able to choose electric mode… and consumption will sit between 8 and 10 l/100 km, depending on driving style, a figure similar to what you would consume with a petrol Tarraco TSI of equivalent power and performance.

The best part is that the hybrid system’s set-up delivers not only driving pleasure, low consumption and the advantages of the DGT CERO label. The extra weight does not compromise the comfort or the magnificent dynamic behaviour of the Tarraco, especially with the set-ups of the FR versions, which also come with electronically controlled dampers as standard. It is comfortable for tackling long journeys without tiring, or more agile than you would expect for its size if the road gets twisty.

Equipment of the Seat Tarraco e-Hybrid

The Seat Tarraco e-Hybrid is only offered with the two top trims of the range, Xcellence and FR.

The Xcellence versions come with a very complete standard equipment, adding to everything the Tarraco Style includes elements such as automatic parking assist, keyless entry and start, automatic tailgate, rear-view camera, 19-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior details, comfort sports seats upholstered in Alcantara, illuminated aluminium door sills, multifunction steering wheel and the Safe Driving Pack. The latter includes pre-collision assistants, rollover assistant, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot presence detector and rear traffic alert. The e-Hybrid variants with Xcellence trim add, compared with the rest of the range, the top-spec multimedia system, with a 9.2-inch screen and Seat Connect services.

With a more sporty approach compared with the luxurious Xcellence, the Tarraco FR adds the sport suspension, black roof rails, FR bumpers and spoiler, side skirts with black mouldings, adaptive damping, bucket-style seats and a leather steering wheel.

Some alternatives to the Seat Tarraco eHybrid would be the Ford Kuga PHEV, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV or the new Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid

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Image gallery Seat Tarraco e-Hybrid§h114§