Crossovers and SUVs are hot stuff in Europe at the present moment, as highlighted by the analysts at JATO Dynamics. After immense success with the Tiguan, the Spanish dominion of the Volkswagen Group embraced the high-riding recipe and this is what came of it - the all-new 2016 SEAT Ateca.
Based on the same underpinnings as the second-generation Tiguan, the SEAT Ateca borrows its aesthetic cues from the Leon compact hatchback. The 4.36-meter (14.3-foot) long Ateca shows a clear evolution of SEAT’s emotion-driven design language, but don’t think for a moment that practicality hasn’t been addressed. All things considered, the Ateca is a cool family car.
Other than sufficient room for five people, the boot can hold 510 liters (18 cuFT) in FWD configuration or 485 liters (17.1 cuFT) in the SEAT Ateca 4Drive. When the pre-order books open in the spring, customers will be offered a range of TSI and TDI engines spanning from 115 PS to 190 PS. The smallest engine of the lot is a 1.0 TSI with 115 PS and 200 Nm (147 lb-ft).
If fuel economy is what you’re after, then look no further than the SEAT Ateca 1.6 TDI. The entry-level turbo diesel sips a mere 66 mpg imperial (4.3 l/100 km) combined, which is not bad for an SUV this size. The lighter and slightly smaller Nissan Qashqai trumps that, though, boasting 78.5 mpg (3.6 l/100 km).
“The SEAT Ateca is perfect for an urban lifestyle. It possesses stunning design and dynamics, and boasts compelling quality and utility. But above all, the Ateca exudes unmistakable character,” commented Luca de Meo, the head honcho of SEAT. “Our first SUV marks the start of a new era for SEAT. The Ateca is a clear development of the Leon DNA and will drive forward the success of the range.” Luca concluded. I'm betting two cents that by spring 2017, the Ateca will sell more units in Europe than the complete Leon lineup.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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