SEATS please
It has been a busy year for the brand out of Barcelona. The launch of the SEAT Arona earlier in the year introduced Señor Sean to the brand, but it was a test of the slightly larger, significantly sportier Ateca which really baked his paella. Here’s a taste of what he found.
If you don’t recognise the name SEAT (commonly pronounced Say It), don’t be too concerned – the brand has only been here – this time around anyway – since 2017; late 2017 at that.
A Spanish brand, SEAT landed here once before back in the 80’s but it was a turbulent time and brands came and went like tears in rain.
Today however, SEAT is back and with some serious street cred’, being part of the Volkswagen Group, along with Volkswagen itself, Audi, Porsche, Bentley and Skoda. And it’s a brand with a substantial product offering: three hatchbacks and two SUVS with a third on the way.
It is the top end of the existing SUVS which is the one which has come right out of left field to disrupt the status quo – in the nicest possible way.
The SEAT Ateca is the largest of the current SUV range, and its not that large. It fits into the Medium segment class and it has three specification levels, Style, Xcellence and FR.
Of these the FR is the performance variant and by far and away the hero of the range. It has the largest engine, the highest specification and the greatest performance.
Logically, it is also at the top of the price ladder too, but that ladder stops well shy of that of its stablemates, including the very affordable Skoda line.
So other than price, where it is clearly a strong player, where does the SEAT brand really fit in the VW
❝...the FR is the performance variant and by far and away the hero of the range.❞
Group? Good question.
Realistically, the other brands have their own distinguishing characteristics, allowing them to relate to groups in the market. For SEAT, the group is defined as young, funky, fun and sporty – here’s the proof:
Powering the FR Ateca – with its selectable All Wheel Drive system and six dial-up drive options: Eco, normal, sport, custom, sand and snow – is a sweetheart of a two-litre turbocharged petrol, four cylinder engine, which spins up rapidly and delivers a consistent and linear power and torque spread.
It helps that the Ateca is blessed with a seven-speed DSG – given the car’s shared ancestry, that’s no surprise – but while the DSG is a popular gearbox with the VW Group, there are some cars where it works better than it does with others, and the Ateca is one of those cars.
It’s not every day that an SUV is recognised for its 0 to 100 second times, but the Ateca is – as we stated – a little out of left field. The official time is somewhere around seven seconds, BTW.
Now engine power and torque is part of the Ateca’s remarkable acceleration but then so are the tyres. The FR spec for rubber is a quartet of Pirelli P Zero tyres; nicely quiet and very, very grippy.
Now you could be forgiven for thinking the Ateca is all about going quick, but there’s much more to it than that. The Ateca is all about style and panache, two things that can be easily seen in the styling first and foremost.
Finely sculpted lines define the Ateca on the outside and translate
perfectly through to the interior of the cabin, which creates enough of an original effect to distinguish the Barcelona built SEAT brand from all others in the VW Group range.
Also contained in the cabin is a wealth of top line technology that comes standard in the FR specification level.
Things like city emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert along with the anticipated multiple airbags, traction control, electronic stability program and everything else you would expect of a modern vehicle can be found in the Ateca along with quite possibly the best reverse/ top view camera system with multiple viewpoints seen to date.
Images can be seen on a 2 or 3D basis, with a fish eye lens option displayed on an eight-inch touchscreen which integrates SEAT’S Full Link infotainment system with Apple Carplay, Android Auto and Mirrorlink. Handy when your cellphone is charging underneath on the wireless charging pad.
The surprise and delight feature list of the Ateca is long and distinguished and includes Ateca puddle light displays and a huge sunroof; but even these will likely be overshadowed by the personalisation the Ateca affords its owners.
Exterior trims, coloured alloys, decals, mouldings, interior decorative sets in a variety of colours, external storage options, protective mats and boot trays, the Ateca allows you to have the perfect vehicle to suit your tastes.
Practical, personalisable, and with plenty of power, the SEAT Ateca is the SUV to seriously look at when you want to stand out from the crowd. And when you’re asked what brand it is that you’re driving, you can, well, just say it.