The SEAT Ateca marked the brand's debut in the SUV segment. Its immediate success consolidated the SUV family as the third SEAT pillar, alongside the Ibiza and the Leon… (read more)
Launch: March 2016
Price: from 22.810 euros
Diesel, 4 cylinders in-line
Position: At front, transversal
Bore x stroke: 81 mm x 95.5 mm
Capacity: 1968 cc
Valve gear: OHC, 16 valves
Fuel system: Direct injection, turbo
Max. power: 150 HP at 3.500-4.000 rpm
Max. torque: 340 Nm at 1.750-3.000 rpm
Top speed: 196 km/h
Drive: All-wheel drive
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic DSG
Front suspension:
Independent, McPherson, coil springs and hydraulic dampers
Rear suspension:
Independent, multilink, coil springs and hydraulic dampers
Steering: Rack and pinion, power-assisted
Front/rear: Ventilated discs/discs
225/45 R19
Body: SUV, 5 seats
Length/width/height: 4363/1841/1611 mm
Wheelbase: 2630 mm
Weight: 1.548 kg
The SEAT Ateca marked the brand's debut in the SUV segment. Its immediate success consolidated the SUV family as the third SEAT pillar, alongside the Ibiza and the Leon.
The Ateca was launched in March 2016, at the prestigious Geneva Motor Show. A unique scenario on a par with the importance of the launch, as SEAT entered the competitive C-SUV segment with a totally new model. So, a new SEAT family was born that today is completed by the Arona (at the bottom) and the Tarraco (at the top).
Named after this town in Zaragoza, the Ateca project had started five years earlier with SEAT’s IBX concept-car. The IBX was the first functional prototype of the brand's future compact SUV, and was also unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, but in 2011. The early commitment to an upward segment was key to tackling the challenge.
Therefore, it could be argued that the Ateca was the most ambitious project for SEAT in a totally new segment. It was also the first car developed entirely by SEAT at the Martorell Technical Centre, but built at another VW Group plant (namely Kvasiny, in the Czech Republic), under the supervision of SEAT.
The aesthetics are very striking and sporty, with dynamic lines, chrome elements and oversized wheel arches. The latter have a square shape, which reinforces Ateca’s SUV look, and are inspired by the 2007 SEAT Tribu concept-car, an early vision of a future SEAT SUV.
Thus, the Ateca stands out for its excellent road capabilities and ride comfort, a great habitability for five people and a huge boot, 510 litres in the front-wheel drive versions and 485 in the 4Drive all-wheel drive versions. In addition, its greater ground clearance offers more comfort to access the cabin.
In this sense, the Ateca came to fill the gap of medium type family vehicle that fifty years before was occupied by the SEAT 124. Actually, just as in 1969 the SEAT 124 received Spain’s Car of the Year Award, in 2016 the Ateca was chosen as 2017 Spain’s Car of the Year.
The Ateca is available in a wide range of powertrains, from 115 HP, 1.0 TSI and 1.6 TDI to 190 HP, 2.0 TSI and 2.0 TDI, and 150 HP in the intermediate version, coupled with 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox, also with 4Drive all-wheel drive. The trim levels are Reference, Style, Xcellence and FR.
In addition to a breakthrough in connectivity, the Ateca's modern MQB platform also made it possible to incorporate advanced driving assistance systems, such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, Jam Assist, etc.
Besides, in 2018 the Ateca had the honour of being the basis for the new independent brand CUPRA to develop its first own model, the CUPRA Ateca. Finally, in mid-2020, the Ateca received an exterior and interior restyling, with a new Xperience trim (more focused on off-road capabilities) instead of the Xcellence.