SECTOR Crossover PRICE €19,990–€35,580 FUEL 4.2–6.1l/100km CO2 112–131g/km

Changes are afoot at SEAT. Having spent its first three decades under Volkswagen Group rule defining itself with hot hatches, wild colours and low pricing, newly appointed president Luca De Meo is out to give the brand its own identity, and to find mainstream segments where it can compete credibly.

That’s a focus it’s needed for a long time, and the Ateca crossover is an entirely logical and long overdue addition. This Leon-sized SUV puts SEAT into a segment with lower discounts, higher margins and more user-chooser volume than its traditional target areas. It’s a fashionable family-mover to replace the Altea, an upmarket motorway cruiser to retain upsizing Leon customers in ways the Exeo never managed, and a huge conquest opportunity too.

There’s certainly a sense of that move upmarket. Though it looks like an upwardly-stretched Leon, the Ateca feels noticeably more premium. Cabin materials are consistently higher quality, and it’s full of neat design details, projecting its own silhouette from the puddle lights, bathing the interior in an ambient glow at night and turning the daytime running lights orange while indicating. It’s the best-finished SEAT to date.

The driving experience will be familiar to anyone who’s driven a Leon, or any of the other Group products which use this platform. It’s sure-footed and agile, though obviously slightly more top-heavy than its sibling, the controls are reassuringly weighted – particularly in Sport mode – and it rides much like any other road-biased SUV.

Adaptability is a key selling point, and the Ateca is good, if not outstanding. There’s plenty of room for front and rear occupants and the boot is generous for a car which is at the smaller end of its class. However, the rear seats don’t slide to extend the cargo area and the load cover is a solid shelf instead of a retractable blind. Without the optional under-floor compartment, there’s nowhere to store it when it’s not being used.

On-board technology is more impressive, particularly SEAT’s first overhead camera system with a myriad of viewpoints including one for hitching trailers, which is far more useful than the usual ultrasonic sensors – but it gets those too. All versions have an intuitive touchscreen infotainment system, mid-spec models get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but navigation is only standard on the X-CELLENCE trim level. Autonomous emergency braking and attention assist are included across the range.

The 115hp 1.6 TDI Ecomotive is the likely fleet favourite. It wasn’t available on the launch, but should be as quiet and efficient as it is in other Volkswagen Group products, if a little behind Renault and Nissan on CO2. There are also two 2.0-litre TDI engines, with 150hp or 190hp, the latter mandating DSG and four-wheel drive which are optional on the former. Though it’s a capable off-roader, SEAT expects most will be front-wheel drive.

Petrol options are just as noteworthy, comprising the 115hp 1.0-litre and 150hp 1.4-litre EcoTSI units. On-paper fuel economy is close enough to the diesel engines to make both of them worthy of being considered for fleet use, and CO2 emissions are low too. The 1.4 is a great all-rounder which can shut off two cylinders to save fuel. Production hasn’t started on the smaller engine yet, but the Golf and A3 with the same unit are best suited to urban use.

So the Ateca shapes up to be a competitive, if not class-leading, crossover as well as a great fit within the SEAT portfolio. It’s all the best qualities of the popular Leon, scaled up for one of the most desirable and fast-growing sectors of the market, and deserves to do very well.

Verdict:

De Meo sees crossovers as sports cars for families, and the Ateca is well positioned to take on the driver-focused part of this segment. It looks, feels and drives like a quality product, and offers a wide choice of technologies and engines for fleets. That should bode well for success in the corporate sector.