The SEAT Ateca is a newcomer in the non-premium compact SUV range, which means that expectations are definitely going to be high.
At the same time, potential customers are going to want to know if this is a car worth purchasing, as opposed to say the KIA Sportage, Hyundai Tucson or even the VW Tiguan, which Carwow’s Mat Watson brings up quite a few times during this review.
He explains why the Ateca is a bit more budget-friendly than the Tiguan, but he doesn’t mean that in a positive way. Still, if you’re in the market for a practical – and some would say, good-looking, compact SUV, the Ateca might just fit the bill.
The reviewer seems pleased with the way it looks, as well as with the overall atmosphere of the interior, despite some of the plastics not passing his flick-test. There are also one or two logistical issues with the boot, plus the ride, which apparently isn’t as good on British roads as what you get in the Tiguan, as opposed to the VW’s fully-independent rear suspension, the Seat has a torsion beam. But other than that, the Ateca seems like a fun-to-drive, safe and practical alternative to its segment rivals.
As for performance, Watson’s engine of choice would be the 1.4-liter petrol turbo, which comes with 150 PS and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque, resulting in a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 8.5 seconds and an average fuel consumption figure of 5.3l/100 km (53.3 UK mpg).