Photo: Theophilus Chin
It looks like the whole Volkswagen Group is busy building more or less compact-sized SUVs these days. The core brand of the group, VW, has released the new Tiguan, SEAT presented the world its first ever real SUV in the form of the Ateca, and Skoda just took the wraps off Kodiaq, the model that will undoubtedly turn into a money-making machine for the Czech company.
However, even though all of them are based on the MQB platform, they're not all identical. That's because there are two MQB platforms, A1 and A2. As logic would have it, A1 is the smaller of the two underpinning models such as the Volkswagen Golf or the SEAT Leon. It's also what the Tiguan and the Ateca are build upon.
The A2 is slightly larger, which is what allowed the Skoda Kodiaq to come with a seven-seat configuration. Volkswagen will also launch a Tiguan XL version later on, but SEAT hasn't announced anything like it so far. Which is a shame, if you ask us, because the Ateca SUV really looks like the perfect alternative for those who seek the reliability of a Tiguan mated to slightly more appealing looks.
But if SEAT were ever to build one, this is what it would probably look like. The extra length and increased wheelbase do take something away from that dynamic pose the regular model has, but they also add something: a lot more versatility. The Ateca has a generous trunk at the moment, but that of this version would be huge. It would also offer the option of popping up two extra seats for those moments when you need to take along some impromptu passengers. Because counting that third row as full-time seats would be cruel toward anyone who would have to sit in them while still having their legs attached.
But if Volkswagen is still trying to play the emotion card in regards to its Spanish brand, then this SEAT Kodiaq will never happen. Those who want a larger car will have to go for the Skoda, while those who want to live with the impression they drive a sportier vehicle will buy the SEAT Ateca and its five seats. Those are the rules and Volkswagen plays by them.
The A2 is slightly larger, which is what allowed the Skoda Kodiaq to come with a seven-seat configuration. Volkswagen will also launch a Tiguan XL version later on, but SEAT hasn't announced anything like it so far. Which is a shame, if you ask us, because the Ateca SUV really looks like the perfect alternative for those who seek the reliability of a Tiguan mated to slightly more appealing looks.
But if SEAT were ever to build one, this is what it would probably look like. The extra length and increased wheelbase do take something away from that dynamic pose the regular model has, but they also add something: a lot more versatility. The Ateca has a generous trunk at the moment, but that of this version would be huge. It would also offer the option of popping up two extra seats for those moments when you need to take along some impromptu passengers. Because counting that third row as full-time seats would be cruel toward anyone who would have to sit in them while still having their legs attached.
But if Volkswagen is still trying to play the emotion card in regards to its Spanish brand, then this SEAT Kodiaq will never happen. Those who want a larger car will have to go for the Skoda, while those who want to live with the impression they drive a sportier vehicle will buy the SEAT Ateca and its five seats. Those are the rules and Volkswagen plays by them.
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