SEAT has confirmed that its new SUV model, the Ateca, will be priced from £17,990 when it goes on sale later this year.
The starting price for the Ateca undercuts key rivals including the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga, and is about on par with the likes of the Renault Kadjar and Kia Sportage.
Orders and design
Orders for the SEAT Ateca are expected to begin in late spring, with first UK deliveries following this September. The Ateca represents SEAT’s first effort at selling an SUV and it made its public debut earlier this month at the Geneva Motor Show.
As some of the styling cues indicate, the Ateca shares many components with SEAT’s current Leon family car, including the wheelbase. This car also however sports chunky bumpers and side skirts and underbody protection, the sort of styling touches that are associated with the likes of the Qashqai and its rivals.
Engines and driving gadgets
The Ateca will come with a diverse range of petrol and diesel-run powertrains utilising front- or four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is only available for the diesel engines.
Options will include an entry-level 1.0-litre turbo petrol unit with 114bhp and a 1.4-litre petrol with 148bhp. Diesels include an 114bhp 1.6-litre engine and a 2.0-litre unit producing 148bhp or 187bhp.
SEAT’s new SUV uses a six-speed manual gearbox as standard and a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic ‘box is an option for the Ateca’s more powerful engines.
Driving features for the Ateca range will include an autonomous driving function that can control the accelerator and brakes when the car is in heavy traffic and travelling at speeds of up to 37mph.