2016 Seat Ateca - the long-awaited Seat compact SUV

Seat is finally joining the circle of the compact SUV vehicle class, at the moment the hottest automotive market segment. 2016 Seat Ateca will go on sale in the autumn. The Spaniards bet on appearance, technique and driving characteristics.

20V20 concept last year, this year serial Ateca

2016 Seat Ateca compact SUV is 4,36 meters long.

A year ago, Seat introduced the concept 20V20 in the Geneva Motor Show, announcing the arrival of the Spanish compact SUV. Therefore, we expected the serial version sometime last autumn (at the Frankfurt Motor Show), but the company policy sets the date on the late winter this year. The official press presentation was these days in Barcelona, saloon premiere will be in Geneva in early March.

2016 Seat Ateca has much more conservative appearance as a last year’s concept

Engines from 114 to 188 horsepower.

There are many similarities between the concept 20V20 and Ateca. Serial Ateca has a more vertical rear door (concept has coupe-like flat ones), a single, linear and continuous edge on the sides (20V20 has two, as most of today’s Seat models) and multi-angle headlamp (in 20V20 triangular).

There are still some differences, but of course expected – door handles are normal (the concept has handles depressed into the door) and the slots in the bumper are less aggressive.

Engines from 114 to 188 horsepower, two gearboxes and two drives

Ateca has a multi-angle headlamps.

2016 Seat Ateca is 4.36 meters long and is designed for five passengers. The luggage compartment measures 510 liters or in case of the four-wheel drive 485 liters. The 4-wheel drive called 4drive has the latest generation Haldex clutch.

In addition to the two drive options 2016 Seat Ateca will offer two gearboxes, manual or DSG gearbox with dual clutch.

The list of available engines is expectedly longer. All will be supercharged. From diesel TDI family are coming 1.6-liter with 114 hp, 2.0-liter with 147 hp and another 2-liter TDI with 188 hp. The petrol family starts with a 1-liter TSI (114 hp) followed by 1.4-liter (147 hp), which is characterized by disconnection of cylinders when there is no need for full power.

For diesel engines the promised consumption is from 4.3 to 5 liters per 100 kilometers and from 5.3 to 6.2 liters per 100 kilometers for petrol engines. Drive technology is of course fully affiliated with Volkswagen group.

And the main Ateca arguments are …

Ateca shows some similarities with Leon. Which is good.

Luca de Meo, President of the Seat Management Board said at the presentation, that 2016 Seat Ateca is a key model to raise the image of the brand. This is understandable, since we expect as much as 25-percent increase in sales in this vehicle segment in Europe this year.

Ateca’s main arguments to convince buyers are primarily the appearance, driving fun, urban usability and overall usefulness.

The first speaks for himself. Driving could also be fun, considering their well-known mechanics and their claim that the chassis is perfectly tuned. With the “short” length and high-seating position we believe it can be quite a friendly city vehicle, but it is also long enough and with big enough luggage space to be satisfactory on longer distances.

Connectivity and security: in step with time

8-inch touch screen.

It is already known that Seat Ateca will have more advanced systems than current Seat models. Seat promises an infotainment system with 8-inch touch screen, through which passengers will handle their phones (Apple and Android), connect to the internet and will also be able to use a wireless mobile charger in a special wireless charging box.

In the security (and technique) chapter they mention the driving dynamics setting through so-called Seat Drive Profile, there is also a Traffic Jam Assist, Emergency Assist system (in case the driver will not react to the visual and audible warnings the system will stop the car within a traffic lane), and of course the radar cruise control, traffic sign recognition, blind spots assist, warning of cross traffic behind the vehicle and the camera, that will show the image of the car from a bird’s perspective.