What is it?
Seat knows not to mess with a good thing, which is why the lightest of light touches has been used to update its best-selling Seat Seat Ateca.
The first Seat crossover SUV has managed to sell more than 300,000 units across Europe since its introduction four years ago, and although competition within the crossover class has never been stronger, few rivals have managed to best it for handling or driver appeal.
A slight shuffling of the Seat Ateca line-up for 2020 replaces the top-level Xcellence trim with a new, soft-roader Xperience model, which gets a few lightly ruggedised exterior additions. The black plastic lower trim and body-coloured wheel-arch surrounds are subtle and certainly don’t indicate any increased off-road potential. Largely because there isn’t any.
Visible exhaust pipes have also gone, apparently because owners said that unless they were buying a sporty range-topper, they’d rather do without. So they’re absent on all but the Cupra Ateca. LED headlights inspired by the larger Seat Tarraco and new front and rear bumpers are the other big visual changes, so this updated model maintains the outgoing car’s sharp lines and sporty appearance.
The engine line-up includes a revised 1.0-litre TSI three-cylinder petrol, four-wheel-drive-only 2.0-litre TSI and two 2.0-litre diesels, but Seat predicts the four-cylinder 1.5-litre unit, available with either a six-speed manual or the seven-speed automatic transmission tested here, will remain the most popular choice among customers.
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Feels built to a price
I bought a 1.4 xcellence back in 2017 which I kept for 2.5 trouble free years. It was a great car, can't say a single thing against it. Did I buy another? Nope, I moved over to Skoda.
The trouble with SEAT today is there are no options, just like buying a Japanese or Korean car. So if you want electric seats, you have to upgrade to the next model and pay thousands for equipment you never wanted.
There's also a problem with the infotainment. With other VAG brands you simply download and install the latest map updates, but with SEAT you have to visit a dealer, which costs. Yes there are workarounds, but it's not simple.
Then there's the assistance cover. With other VW brands you get 3yr assistance, with SEAT it's only 2yr.
As for materials used in building the car, Skoda really is class above SEAT ( I think Skoda is a class above VW these days ).
SEAT does feel the much cheaper built car but as I say, I never had a problem with it.
The chief reason why it's
The chief reason why it's more engaging to drive than most in the 'crossover class' is that essentially it's just a tall FWD hatchback. A Forester or even a Suzuki Vitara would crush it away from the tarmac. What are you comparing it with?
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VAG UK stupid
I do like VAG cars but I will never understand the VAG UK product management. Eg Heated Steering wheels (once you've had one, you never go back). I can specify a heated steering wheel on Audis and SEATS in Europe and VW and Skoda in UK but not on UK SEATs and Audi's? Do they think no one in Yorkshire or Scotland buys Audis and SEATs? Same with these SEAT spec levels, you can't heated seats without having leather? Why, you can on a Skoda and VW.......