The Seat Ateca has arrived in Norway. It is a model that shares a platform, drivetrain and components with other SUVs from the Volkswagen group.
I borrowed "my" Seat Ateca FR from Hyre.no, a new car-sharing service that has placed brand new Seats in strategic locations in the center of Oslo. If you want to test drive, you can borrow the car for free. It is Sunday, glorious April sun and summer heat. The car looked great in the pickup lot. First a couple of errands, then up to Exporama to visit Oslo Motor Show. Finally, a couple of detours on the way home. The daily rental includes 150 km. It's just to enjoy yourself.
First meeting
The FR is the top model. It says "FR" in the grill, on the steering wheel and the tailgate, so no one can avoid noticing what this is. In Norway, the variant FR+ is also sold, which includes a panoramic sunroof and premium sound system. All models are delivered with four-wheel drive and automatic transmission.
The seats look and feel like Volkswagens. Alcantara/fabric surfaces and electrically adjustable driver's seat in all directions. With the adjustable steering wheel, I find a perfect sitting position. Look-and-feel is roughly on a par with the Tiguan, but lower than a well-equipped Q3, without being able to put my finger on anything special. The Ateca seems larger than the Q3 inside, although on paper they are the same size. Still, I'm sure you can stow more luggage in the Ateca's square shape than under the Q3's sloping rear window. I easily found the driver assistance functions. I turned off "Active Lane Assist" but kept the others.
Cuts 2 cylinders
The small 1,4 liter TSI engine produces 150 horsepower and a torque of 250 Nm between 1500 and 3500 rpm. The special thing about the engine is that it has so-called Active Cylinder Technology (ACT) which cuts 2 of the cylinders when the engine is running without load. It affects fuel consumption, but requires some getting used to in order to drive properly economically.
Measured at relatively short 2-3 mile intervals, I was able to achieve an average consumption of less than 0,5 litres/mile on country roads and motorways. Then I had to make sure that the engine stayed on two cylinders for as long as possible, even with weak throttle input. You do not hear the engine cutting cylinders, but a text appears in the instrument display. Great for eco-nerds like me. The factory figures are respectively 0,74 litres/mile for city driving and 0,61 litres/mile on country roads. My numbers for city driving matched the factory numbers. The car is fun to drive in the city, and I think it will be difficult to get below the factory numbers. On country roads, it is easier to utilize the engine's economy function.
Sporty
Although it is possible to cut back on consumption, the Ateca FR undoubtedly appears sporty. Fat 19-inch wheels, paddle shift and responsive engine contribute to that. On the road, the suspension feels tight, - a thought for sporty in terms of comfort. You can choose different driving modes, including Eco, Normal and Sport. In sport mode, steering movements and throttle input are tightened, while the chassis seemed equally tight the whole time.
On winding back roads, the car was well on the road. But when the asphalt along the edges began to bear the impression of telehive, the sporty character clearly outweighed the comfort. The big rims didn't help make it much better. Winter tires in size 245/40 R19 are also far from silent. Like the Leon, the Ateca is well soundproofed from the engine compartment. The engine is practically inaudible. The only thing audible, apart from the radio, is the tire noise. The problem is not primarily the noise level, but that the sound can be quite annoying. A kind of shrill noise of the same type as truck tires make. I wonder what the soundstage will be like with summer tires? Normally, sporty summer tires make more noise than soft, studless winter tires, but if the sound had been more low-frequency it would have been less bothersome. I wouldn't go for 19-inchers on the winter tires anyway, even though they look great.
Is there room for the Ateca in Volkswagen's SUV range?
Space and safety in the Ateca are on the same level as its group brothers Q3, Tiguan and Karoq. The Ateca holds 510 liters up to the hat shelf and 1604 liters with the rear seats folded down. The tailgate is electrically operated. The four-wheel drive steals a few liters from the boot, but it's the same for the other SUVs here too.
The Audi Q3 and Volkswagen Tiguan are already established models in the market. The question is where does the Seat Ateca fit in? In Europe, Seat's have the edge for equipment, a price advantage that does not come to light in Norway because of the taxes. If Seat is to have a chance on the Norwegian market, it must be well-equipped cars - cars that are as good as the Audi Q3 and Volkswagen Tiguan. The comparison here can be difficult because the various models do not match each other in terms of drivetrain and equipment level. I will try to value the Ateca in relation to the others.
Seat Ateca FR 1,4 TSI 150 HP 4DRIVE DSG costs 507. It is then fully equipped. The only things you need in addition are paint additives and winter tires. It's not particularly cheap, but also no bargain compared to its group brothers. The closest Audi Q500 Quattro comes with the 3 TFSI 2,0 HP S tronic. It costs 180 without extras. The Volkswagen Tiguan with the same engine as the Ateca, plus 560Motion and DSG, costs 000 as Highline, or promotional price 4 in Business line. But one has to add a lot of expensive accessories to match the Seat Ateca FR. The Skoda Karoq currently offers no models with four-wheel drive and a petrol engine.
Buy it online!
One factor that can determine which of the SUVs one chooses is which dealer is closest to where you live or work. Seat may have an advantage here as it is only sold via the Internet. Book a test drive online, pick up a car nearby, or rent one for the whole weekend. Then you can sit in your own living room and order online.
FACTS
Engine:
Designation: 1,4 TSI 150 HP with Active Cylinder Technology (ACT).
Torque: 250 Nm between 1500-3500 revolutions.
Series: EA211
Engine code: CZEA
Gearbox: 6-speed DSG
Four-wheel drive system: 4Drive (Haldex 5)
External dimensions (cm):
Length: 436
Width: 184
Height: 161
Wheelbase: 263
Luggage volume (litres):
Up to the hat shelf: 510
With rear seats folded down: 1604
Weight (kg):
Net weight: 1476
Trailer with brake: 1900
Trailer without brake: 750
Consumption (litres/mile with 19″ wheels):
City driving: 0,74
Road: 0,61
Combined: 0,65
See
