Inspector gadget: what Ateca tech works?
MONTH 4 SEAT ATECA
Braking bad
As with many brands, the vital blindspot detection is an option (here in the £805 Advanced Driving Assistance Pack) – blame its costly radar. Pesky rear cross-traic alert is also in the pack. Parallel parking outside my house, this can slam on the brakes – not because there’s anything directly behind, but because it’s panicked by oncoming traic in the other lane. Alarming and infuriating.
You will stay in lane
Lane Assist comes in four di erent Ateca packs, including our Advanced Driving Assistance option. Seat’s decent system uses this discreet camera to scan lane markings, and rather than just beeping for a violation it provides a measured dose of steering correction. Typically I keep these things o , but this is worth more investigation... PHIL McNAMARA
Xcellence by name
Many of the Ateca’s gadgets are bundled into the £1225 Xcellence pack. Occasionally I use Park Assist for parallel tight spaces. Sadly there’s no beep when you pass a big enough space, so you have to drive with an eye on the instrument panel. The actual parking is eerily human: the Ateca slides into the space, then has a second stab if needed to get tight to the kerb without damaging the rim. Nice.
The shin lambada
The signiicant others in the Xcellence pack are the top-view camera – which appeals to my inner nerd by approximating a bay’s white lines on the screen for fastidious, easy parking – and the tailgate’s virtual pedal. Car makers, enough! It’s gooily hit and miss, making you sway about like a chump, and redundant: even loaded with bags, it’s easy to extend a pinkie and press the boot release.