Seat Ateca – The Spaniards’ Excursion into SUV Waters

Ateca is very attractive and absolutely on trend, but Seat currently has a much bigger problem – determining its target group. Once it was oriented towards sports, then it only had MPVs, and then it began to wander.

Just as it was announced that the SUV segment is growing relentlessly, Seat released photos of its first SUV in history. Ateca is very attractive and absolutely on trend; however, Seat currently has a much bigger problem, which is determining its target group. Once they were oriented towards sports, then they only had MPVs, and then came a period of complete uncertainty that still lasts. Ateca could certainly bring freshness to the offer, like the Altea once did, but the price will be crucial. Because Ateca plays in the same yard as its sibling, the Tiguan, and if it does not clearly differentiate itself in price, there will be no success because a German is always a German.

Familiar Engines

In addition to its attractive design, Ateca offers well-known technical solutions already applied in the Volkswagen group. It features the modular MQB platform and well-known, recognized engines. The diesel offer starts with the 1.6 TDI, which develops a maximum power of 115 horsepower for this occasion, then expands to the 2.0 TDI model with 150 or, for those more demanding, 190 horsepower. It is realistic to expect that the base version will also be the most sought after.

For petrol engines, the offer starts with a small but extremely modern 1.0-liter engine that develops as much as 115 horsepower. It will be interesting to see how it copes with a slightly larger and heavier body. The second petrol engine in the offer is a 1.4-liter turbo engine that develops around 150 horsepower. This engine also has the ability to deactivate two of its four cylinders if the driver does not need them, thus significantly reducing consumption, especially in city driving.

It Depends on the Price

Ateca usually comes only with front-wheel drive; however, those who need it in certain stronger versions can also opt for all-wheel drive. The same goes for the transmission, which is primarily manual, but there is also an absolutely recommended DSG version.
Ateca is a very interesting product from Seat that could realistically finally revive this somewhat dormant Spanish brand, even in the Croatian market, if the price is competitive.