SEAT Ateca review: Stylish, spacious and priced under £20,000 – but can it stand out in the crowded SUV market?
Brits love a SUV, with dealers awash with all shapes and sizes - so can the Ateca beat its rivals?
PICKING the right SUV for your family can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
The SEAT Ateca is just one of your options in the large SUV market - and it's up against an endless list of rivals.
The Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai, Volkswagen Tiguan, Ford Edge, Kia Sportage, Skoda Karoq and Renault Kadjar all fit into the affordable, practical and family-sized category.
It may seem odd to have so much choice but the reason is simple.
Brits simply love the raised ride height, comfortable ride and extra practicality that a sports utility vehicle brings - so much so that sales have boomed in the last few years. Every car maker wants a slice of the SUV pie.
The Ateca is SEAT's first foray into the crossover world - now followed up by the smaller Arona.
And it's priced pretty handily. An entry-level Ateca will set you back less than £20,000 - not bad for such a big car.
But the reason you might choose a SEAT over a Ford, Kia or Skoda is the touch of Spanish flair.
The Spanish firm - part of the gigantic VW Group - is perhaps more fondly known for its sporty Cupra hot hatches.
And while a Cupra Ateca is on its way to appease boy racers with a family, the sportiest you can get right now is the Ateca FR.
That's the model we've been out on the road in and for this you'll need to part with just over £30,000.
For that you do get a decent list of standard kit - LED headlights, Alcantara seats, dual zone climate control, eight-inch touchscreen, sat nav and USBs.
A top down 360-degree camera (£475), digital cockpit (£400) and keyless entry (£505) are all on the options list to upgrade your Ateca to standards not far off a posh Audi.
The FR model also gets sportier trim, a sport drive mode, and a slightly lower ride height to give it a dynamic edge.
You can choose from the 1.4-litre or 2.0-litre turbo petrol or a 2.0 diesel if you're doing big mileage outside the city. No plug-in electric options just yet.
The handling is sharp and precise and doesn't feel like you're lugging around a big SUV.
The 2.0-litre petrol - with 187bhp - is more than powerful enough to haul the weight around although on the bigger tyres the ride can be harsh.
Don't be fooled, though, this isn't a hot SUV by any stretch with 0-60mph in 7.9 seconds.
You'll have to stick the rotary into sport to get any sort of Cupra-esque performance - and even then it's not going to win many drag races.
Not necessarily a bad thing, though, as the Leon Cupra is fairly savage at times - especially if you have a baby in the back or have had a big Sunday roast.
Facts and figures
SEAT Ateca FR 2.0 TSI
Power: 187bhp
0-60mph: 7.9 seconds
Top speed: 132mph
Economy: 40.4mpg
CO2: 159g/km
Price: £32,740
What the Ateca is, though, is comfortable, spacious (bigger than a Qashqai in the back) and practical (the boot tops a Sportage and Qashqai).
Economy and CO2 could be better to save you pennies though so if you're really on a budget it's best to look elsewhere.
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Overall, the Ateca deserves a place on your SUV shopping list and if you're after a sporty vibe then the FR is a good bet.
If you're serious about performance, though, you're better off waiting for the full-blooded Cupra Ateca due out later this year.
Revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, it's promising 296bhp. Yes please.