At first that may seem faintly ridiculous, but when you look at the Venn diagram of price, proportions and performance, the Ateca lives in a little world of its own. To get vaguely comparable speed and power from any other medium-sized SUV, you’re looking at spending around £50k+ on a Porsche Macan S or an Audi SQ5. But although it may be marooned in its own micro-sector, that doesn’t mean it has a free pass. A £40,000-ish Seat – sorry, Cupra – has a lot to prove, starting with how it drives
Pros Hot hatch performance with SUV styling and practicality
Cons £40k for a Seat with somewhat unconvincing branding
The Cupra Ateca SUV is a brilliant family car that’s fast and great to drive, but you’ll have to accept its gloomy interior and boy racer exterior complete with tuner-esque branding.
Pros Surprisingly nimble Fizzing performance Still practical
Cons Boy racer looks Dark, gloomy interior A VW Golf R costs less
The Tarraco is a roomy, good-looking seven-seater and probably the poshest Seat ever.
Pros Styling, space, standard equipment
Cons Oversells its sportiness, pricier than rivals
The SEAT Tarraco is attractive and pleasant to drive but only its style sets it apart.
Pros Smart looks Enjoyable to drive Spacious for five passengers
Cons Feels generic Tight third-row seats Some safety features not standard
The SEAT Tarraco is a practical, well-equipped seven-seater SUV with a durable cabin. It’s available with a good choice of engines but it’s very similar to the Skoda Kodiaq.
Pros Extremely practical Good standard equipment Excellent engine range
Cons Plain interior Very similar to Skoda Kodiaq No five-seat version
