It might have taken some time for Seat to introduce its first SUV, but with the arrival of the Ateca in 2016, it proved it was worth the wait.
Offering a far more rounded experience than plenty of its rivals, it was quickly appreciated by buyers with more than 300,000 sold since its introduction. Even against a growing range of competitors, it’s still able to hold its own too. Here are five reasons why the Seat Ateca is a great family SUV.
It’s one of the most practical cars in its class
Space and practicality is a critical factor in a family car, and the Ateca is not a model that will leave you disappointed.
At 510 litres, its boot is larger than that found in plenty of its rivals and is supremely roomy thanks to its big boxy shape that’s ideal for larger items. Passenger space is equally vast, too, with plenty of legroom and headroom meaning that even taller adults in the back will be able to get comfortable.
You get plenty for your money
Seat has always prided itself on value for money and the Ateca is no exception, with a starting price of £24,110 for an SE-trim car meaning it undercuts plenty of other offerings in this class.
It’s not like Seat has scrimped on the equipment front, either, with a long list of standard equipment including 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, wireless smartphone charging and even self-parking functionality – the latter being a feature typically only found on far more expensive cars.
Stylish design
Out of all the Volkswagen Group brands, Seat aims to be the more youthful and stylish of them, and we reckon that’s the case with the Ateca. With sharply-styled LED day-running lights, a bold front grille and neat lines, it’s definitely one of the better-looking crossovers available in its class.
Seat has also improved things further as part of a recent mid-life refresh, with the Ateca getting a bolder front-end with a new bumper and revised grille, as well as standard-fit LED lighting. For those wanting something that looks a bit rugged, there’s also a new Xperience trim that brings more plastic cladding and aluminium-effect trim to give it a chunkier appearance.
It’s rather good to drive
Typically by buying an SUV over a conventional hatchback, it’s at the expense of driving pleasure, but that’s not the case with the Ateca.
It’s certainly one of the more dynamic cars in its class, with impressive handling for such a large carl with very little body roll. It’s certainly a very credible effort from Seat in this respect.
Plenty of trim and engine choice
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to family cars, and it’s one of the reasons the Ateca is available with such a wide range of trim and engine choice.
So whether you’re looking for the more affordable SE version with its lower price, or are happier to splash out on the top-spec Xperience Lux version – which brings features such as leather sports seats, a panoramic camera system and electric boot – there’s something to suit most buyers.
In terms of engine choice, things range from efficient diesel models through to powerful four-wheel-drive petrol models, with a choice of manual or automatic gearbox options also available across much of the line-up.
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