Review: Seat Ateca 2.0 TDI 190

On the road in the range-topping Seat Ateca

Talk about immediate success: the Seat Ateca may be the Spanish brand’s first SUV, but that hasn’t stopped car reviewers showering it with praise – and car buyers flocking to Seat’s showrooms in droves. It’s proven more than a match for the all-conquering Nissan Qashqai, and betters alternatives such as the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.

Up to now, we’ve concentrated on the volume models, the ones that car buyers will be most interested in. But now we’ve got our hands on the range-topping diesel model, the 2.0 TDI 190 with an all-wheel drive system called 4Drive. Equipped with Seat’s self-shifting DSG automatic gearbox, Seat tells us uptake of its pinnacle Ateca has been surprisingly high: time to find out what the appeal is.

Just a short spell behind the wheel reveals one of the attractions: a really impressive drive. This sportiest of diesel Atecas has excellent handling, minimal body roll and a firm, sporty suspension setup that gives you plenty of confidence on twisting roads. OK, it’s not a hot hatch, but it’s still more involving than the SUV norm – and the 4Drive system gives the driver lots of traction and confidence.

It handles so well, you may at times wish the engine produced a bit more power to take advantage of it. Although upped to 187bhp, it’s clearly not a hot hatch, and is happiest when delivering lots of pulling power from low revs, rather than surging away at higher revs. The 0-62mph time of 7.5sec reflects this: it’s not to be confused with a sports car.

A paddleshift DSG gearbox proves slick and decisive on the move, but less smooth at lower speeds. It can be jerky when pulling out of junctions or crawling in traffic, while low-speed parking can be a bit of a hesitant, indecisive affair.

Inside, this range-topping Xcellence model gets leather seats, piano black dash trim and a large, crisp 8.0in infotainment screen that offers comprehensive smartphone connectivity. The interior is simple and familiar (it’s related to the layout in the older Leon hatch), and not as luxurious as a Volkswagen Tiguan, but still passes muster considering the list price.

It’s practical, too. Three adults won’t grumble too much in the rear and it’s only really let down by the lack of a sliding, reclining rear seat: you get one in the Seat’s family cousins, Volkswagen’s Tiguan and the Skoda Kodiaq. The Skoda has a bigger boot as well – but the Seat’s is still larger than many rivals, and its wide opening maximises practicality.

Overall, the Ateca still impresses, and driving this range-topping model reminds us once again of its considerable talents. However, when you factor in a price of over £30,000, it becomes a bit less appealing. Yes, performance is improved, but not sufficiently so to make it a better buy over the cheaper 2.0 TDI 150 model – particularly as we prefer the lesser car’s manual gearbox.

For fleet drivers, we’d stich with the TDI 150 and pocket the tax savings. As for private buyers, we’d steer clear of diesel entirely – the 1.4 TSI petrol alternative is, quite simply, brilliant, with loads of smooth driver appeal and a clear price saving over any TDI diesel.

Seat Ateca 2.0 TDI 190 4Drive Xcellence DSG (4 stars)

Engine size 2.0 diesel
Price £30,595
Power 187bhp
Torque 295lb ft
0-62mph 7.5sec
Top speed 132mph
​Gov't economy 56.5mpg
CO2/tax band 131g/km, 26%
Airbags 6
Doors 5
Seats 5

Rob Adams is a writer for WhatCar.