Little over a month since it was revealed to the world at the Geneva Motor Show, full details of SEAT’s first SUV, the Ateca, has been announced with P11D prices starting from £17,935.
Order books will open in May 2016 with the first deliveries expected towards the end of the year.
Rivalling the popular Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage, the Ateca is the first of four new cars expected from the Spanish car maker over the next two years.
No sub-100g/km model available
There will be a choice of three diesel and two petrol engines in the line-up mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG auto transmissions, and power outputs range from 113bhp to 187bhp.
Unlike some of its rivals, the Ateca fails to produce a sub-100g/km version, though. The crucial engine for company car drivers will be the frugal 1.6-litre diesel with 114bhp, capable of 65.7mpg. This emits the lowest of the range at 112g/km, meaning a 22 percent BIK tax band for the current 2016/17 year. With P11D prices for this engine starting at £20,120, monthly tax costs for a 20-percent payer could be as low as £74 a month.
For the lowest tax bills, the 114bhp 1-litre petrol emits 123g/km and has a P11D price of just £17,935 in entry level S spec, costing a 20-percent payer £69 a month for the current tax year.
Upping the power stakes to 148bhp brings in both the 1.4 petrol with Active Cylinder Shutdown, as well as a 2-litre diesel; a higher-powered (187bhp) version of the latter is exclusively available on top specification cars and comes with SEAT’s four-wheel-drive system as standard.
Three trim line-up
From launch you’ll be able to buy the Ateca in three trims: S, SE and Xcellence.
All cars come equipped with air-con, a five-inch touchscreen system, leather steering wheel, 16-inch alloy wheels and LED daytime running lights.
For Bluetooth and cruise control you’ll need to move up to SE trim, which also incorporates dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, a larger eight-inch touchscreen, 17-inch alloys, roof rails and eight speakers.
At the top-of-the range is Xcellence which includes four new features for SEAT. The first is a wireless phone charger which boosts in-car phone signal, also included for the first time is multi-colour interior ambient lighting. You’ll also get an ‘Ateca’ welcome light silhouette which is projected onto the ground from the bottom of the door mirrors, similar to a feature of the new MINI Clubman.
Finally, an upgraded version of the SEAT Drive Profile is launched which allows the driver to adjust the steering, throttle response and gearchange speeds according to road and weather conditions, including “Off-road” and “Snow” modes on four-wheel-drive versions.
These new features are available alongside keyless entry, sat-nav, leather upholstery, reversing camera, 18-inch alloys and heated seats.
Measuring 4,360mm long with a 510-litre boot which trumps many of its rivals, the new Ateca offers much in the way of practicality. Interior quality is also very good with many of its features already tried and tested in other VW Group cars including the new Volkswagen Tiguan.
We will be one of the first to drive the new SEAT Ateca before it officially goes on sale, make sure you keep checking back with us for our full verdict. For a more indepth look at the Spanish firms new SUV, view our preview here.
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