SEAT Ateca Summary - Should You Buy One?

SEAT's Ateca feels rejuvenated as a result of a significant package of updates. There are fresher looks, a more modern cabin, more frugal engines and stronger standards of safety. Plus this compact mid-sized SUV remains dynamically adept in a way few rivals can match.

Market and Model

There's a choice of 'SE', 'SE Dynamic', 'FR', 'FR Sport', 'Xperience', 'Xperience Lux' and 'CUPRA' trim levels. The asking figures start from just under £24,000 and you're going to be paying around £28,000 for one of the sporty 'FR' variants many potential buyers will want. The 'Xperience' variant gets off road styling additions including black plastic lower trim, an aluminium finish valance and side mouldings and body-coloured surrounds for the wheel arches. The mid-range 'FR' trim level is now defined by a sportier visual with key accents, including a fresh grille design, special front and rear bumper mouldings, a fog lamp grill, mirror caps, unique side mouldings and bespoke exhausts, all finished in Cosmo Grey Matte.

The standard infotainment system boasts an 8.25-inch screen with smartphone audio compatibility, while the larger 9.2-inch Connect System (standard from 'SE Dynamic' trim upwards) offers online navigation and natural voice control to simplify user interaction. There's a redesigned voice recognition system too: to wake it up, you say "Hola Hola" and it will be ready to go. Plus as before, there's SEAT's 'Full Link' media system, allowing owners to seamlessly pair their smartphones and access their digital lives no matter what device they use - either wireless Apple CarPlay (based on Bluetooth or WLAN) or Android Auto using a cable.

Cost of Ownership

A little surprisingly, there's no trace of engine electrification here - for the time being anyway. The key news with this revised model is that the 1.0-litre TSI three cylinder petrol engine that most Ateca customers choose now features a new combustion process and a variable geometry turbocharger, which together improve efficiency by claimed 10%. The alternative entry-level diesel, a 115PS 2.0-litre TDI unit, has also been enhanced over the previous 1.6 litre TDI powerplant, now featuring a twin-dosing SCR system that cuts and NOx emissions significantly. The 2.0 TDI 150PS unit continues, managing up to 52.3mpg on the combined cycle and up to 141g/km in manual form.

On to maintenance. Every Ateca has the same servicing requirements. A major service is required at 2,000 mile intervals, with an oil change every 10,000 miles. Cars that travel less than 10,000 miles a year require an inspection service with an oil change every 12 months. What else? Well there's SEAT's usual three year/60,000 mile warranty. That's unexceptional when rivals like Toyota and Hyundai offer five years of cover as standard and Kia offers up to seven years. However, the SEAT deal is extendable, so you might be able to negotiate on that. And it includes two years of Europe-wide roadside assistance.

Summary

If you didn't already want an Ateca, there's nothing here that would radically reposition this car in your thinking. But if you were approaching the purchase of one of the smaller volume brand mid-sized SUVs with an open mind and tried the improved version of this SEAT, we think you'd like what you found. This Ateca now feels like an up-to-the-minute crossover, rather than one launched half a decade ago. That's the object of any facelift but not all of them achieve this goal.

The engine changes are probably most significant, with greater economy and lower emissions for the base petrol and diesel units that most Ateca buyers will want. But we think this car's biggest selling point will continue to be something that hasn't been affected one jot by this update. Driving dynamics. This is still that rarest of things, a small SUV that is great to drive. Long may it continue.

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[leonadior]

EXCELLENT review as always ! Thank you !

[joess]

Really nice already have one it's as practical as I need it to be. Great review as always.

[ОлегКуперман]

What's the song do you use at the beginning? As always like from me 🙃

[Pmjs]

I test drove the SEAT Ateca 2.0TDI FR Sport with 19 inch rims While driving on the A1 I could feel every imperfection on the road surface. If I ever got an Ateca it would have 4x4.

[VStrom]

My answer to the question is ….YES…buy one ! Best car I have had or driven in over 50 years of driving. I have the 1.5 X Lux.

[mikeriley]

Excellent review. Don't worry about the nitpickers.

[willsmythantrim]

Ah-tech-ah wasn’t sure it was called a Ahticka

[eoincasey]

Always thought it was pronounced “A Tech A” not “Ati Ka”

[MRT.]

Great review. However, you would think the pronunciation of "ATECA" would have been looked into before doing the video.

[beneyles]

I would not go electric or plug in anything when it comes to my vehicle. But I am torn between the internal combustion normal cars and petrol electric self charging motors that don't need to be plugged in. I find they are more economical and have more horsepower. What is your opinion, Please advise me I would be most grateful. To make matters worse I am stuck to the list of available vehicles on the Motability scheme. I often think that that is just an excuse for me to sell my current Seat Leon 1.6TDI 2010 which is better than some modern trims. Then the government could scrap that scheme and I would have no car at all? . I need something to tow my 750kg unbraked camping trailer and carry my daughters car seat. Please reply

[phil]

One of these was on my shortlist until I found out that the TSI range of petrol engines use a fair amount of oil between changes. Seat/ VW forums say this is a common problem with VW sourced engines. I'll steer clear of anything with a VW engine! Will probably buy something Japanese i.e. Toyota/Honda/Suzuki whose engines use very little or no oil between changes. Good review thanks.

[Truth-Over-Fear]

13 months ago i look for a 2 / 3 yr old family car with higher driving position, found the ateca fr and loved them, i was struggling with 17k budget so i think ''save some more for right car'', now at £20k budget i'm still struggling for one under 40k miles that isn't white! sniff sniff 😪

[saintetienne]

Torsion beam suspension and "agile" to drive? What about ride quality? And noise?

[agagas]

wow.... watched this for 1 minute and just shows how good clarkson and co boring

[oddities-whatnot]

Like many others in this segment, a pointless bland offering. The motoring equivalent of a washing machine. Does the job well enough but nothing interesting about it. I prefer to drive cars with a bit of character about them.