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Seat Ateca 2.0 TDI 150 FR Sport 5dr DSG 4Drive Review

Why the overall winner won

Best small SUV

Best family car

Best small electric car

Best luxury car

Car of the Year Awards 2023 >>

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This 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel is available with four-wheel drive and provides strong performance, but the petrol engines make more sense for most buyers.

2.0 TDI 150

Estate

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

ATECA

Splashing out on an FR Sport model brings 19in alloy wheels, a digital instrument cluster, heated front seats, an electrically operated driver's seat and leather trim. 

FR Sport

2.0 TDI 150 FR Sport 5dr DSG 4Drive

20-tdi-150-fr-sport-5dr-dsg-4drive

Electric adjustable/heated/folding door mirrors

Self parking functionality (includes front and rear parking sensors)

ABS, Traction control system (TCS), Electronic stability control (ESC) and Electronic differential lock system (XDS)

SEAT drive profile with driving experience button - Normal, Sport, Eco, Individual, off-road and snow modes, gearshift, steering and throttle response

Full LED headlamps with lens and LED front fog lamps with cornering function

LED rear tail lights with dynamic indicators

Airbags - Driver and front passenger airbag with deactivation, front side, two curtain and driver's knee airbags

Height adjustable passenger seats with lumbar adjustment

Electric adjustable driver seat with lumbar adjustment

Seat Ateca

The Seat Ateca isn’t just great to drive and attractive to look at, it’s also impressively spacious, well equipped and competitively priced. Put simply, if you’re looking for a family SUV that’s also capable of putting a smile on your face, the Ateca needs to be very high on your shopping list. The Skoda Karoq isn't as specialised when it comes to handling agility but it is a slightly better all-round package. 

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.

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Car of the Year Awards 2023 >>

Seat Ateca 2.0 TDI 150 FR Sport 5dr DSG 4Drive Review

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47.9

485

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155

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