The SEAT Ateca SUV has been loitering in the wings of the car market for what seems like forever. And with more and more manufacturers jumping on the crossover and SUV bandwagon, it was only a matter of time until the Spanish brand unleashed its first ever SUV. Well, the time has finally come.

The new SEAT Ateca – which is pronounced “Ah-teck-ah” – aims to topple everything from its VW Group sibling, the Volkswagen Tiguan (of which it shares many of its parts), to the segment-dominating Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.

Ateca project manager Steve Mirfin has stressed the importance of making the Ateca unique to what is currently on sale. As well as ensuring that the Ateca avoids a bulky exterior design – like many other SUVs – Mirfin also said that when developing the Ateca, it was tested “side by side with rivals in order to make it different”.

But being based on an uber-familiar VW Group MQB platform, can it really stand-out as a totally unique model in what is a highly diluted market segment?

Performance

We tested the most powerful derivative on offer, the 2.0-litre 187bhp diesel, which supersedes the 2.0-litre 148bhp diesel.

There is more than enough power on offer, that is immediately clear, with a zero to 62mph sprint time of just 7.2 seconds and a hefty 400Nm of torque. In fact, there is arguably too much power on offer, particularly for those who want to cruise around the concrete jungle.

It is easy to see why the tamer 148bhp version of this diesel is expected to take more sales. The flipside however, is that the added torque of the 187bhp aids off-road driving and if you do find the higher-output diesel too much to handle, that’s why the lower-output is there.

Thankfully, the grunt of the 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel is mediated brilliantly by the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. Even when flooring the punchy 2.0-litre, the Ateca can smoothly shuffle its way through the gears.

Ride and Handling

From a general comfort point of view, the seats offer plenty of support, the cabin is well-insulated from road and wind noise and the C-pillars feature large panes of glass for enhanced visibility.

The Ateca is based on the same platform as the Leon hatchback – and it feels more hatch-like than SUV. The steering is precise, making twisty roads enjoyable, and the weighting is a little light but offers good levels of feedback. There are also multiple driving modes to choose from thanks to the SEAT Drive Profile, with the likes of Sport and Eco altering the throttle response and weighting of the steering. Unlike other variable driving modes, Sport does not kill the feeling of the steering, although it does work better at higher speeds, as it can feel a little numb around town. Although there are multiple driving modes, there’s no adaptive suspension, meaning overall, the ride is quite firm.

The ride isn’t uncomfortably firm however and it very much suits the athletic character of the car, helping mitigate body roll when cornering at speed. Its sporty drive will certainly help it stray from conservatism. From a general comfort point of view, the seats offer plenty of support, the cabin is well-insulated from road and wind noise and the C-pillars feature large panes of glass for enhanced visibility. It still feels like a rough and ready SUV though, with a high seating position that makes you feel like you are sat on it rather than in it. This appeal goes along with its 4Drive all-wheel drive system (only 2.0-litre diesel 148bhp and 187bhp are available with this). Sitting alongside the SEAT Drive Profile, the 4Drive 4WD system adds Snow and Off-Road modes, allowing for full 4WD capability. On the roads of Manchester, we didn’t get to partake in much off-roading, but the added traction can be felt even on the asphalt.

Interior and Equipment

The Ateca is named after a small village in central Spain.

Similar to the VW Tiguan, the Ateca offers a mix of soft-touch and hard-wearing materials. There are quite a few scratchy plastics in the cabin however, particularly on the centre console and doors. Usually, with VW Group models, the Volkswagen is slightly plusher, although that isn’t the case here. The Tiguan and Ateca are almost identical quality wise and offer a rather traditional, if unadventurous, layout. But VW fans will be more than happy. The flagship XCELLENCE trim makes the Ateca feel closer like its VW and Audi counterparts. XCELLENCE models come with black leather upholstery, ornate 18-inch alloys, LED Ateca puddle lights, a reversing camera, chrome roof rails, sat-nav with 3D map display, DAB radio and even steering column-mounted gearshift paddles.

Although the Ateca arguably has the most curvaceous exterior of the VW Group, it still manages to offer loads of rear passenger space, with tons of head and legroom, even for six footers. The rear seats also come with a fold down arm rest which reveals a ski hatch for those with an ‘active’ lifestyle. Come around to the boot and there is a nice wide opening and up to 510 litres of storage with the seats up and 1,604 litres with the seats down. Storage space is slightly smaller than the Tiguan (around 100 litres with the seats up) but it is still highly competitive and much bigger than the Nissan Qashqai. The only gripe is the slightly high loading lip and brim when the rear seats are folded, although the rear seats can be conveniently folded via switches in the boot.

Cost

Given, the Ateca should still wear the same optional extra warning sticker as its VW counterpart, with our flagship test car – with the likes of a Heated Windscreen (£155) and 19-inch ‘Exclusive’ alloys (£670) fitted – cost £33,510.

If anything is going to jump out from an Ateca’s spec sheet it will be the price. Starting from just £17,990, the Ateca is a whopping £4,520 cheaper than the entry-level Volkswagen Tiguan. Given, the Ateca should still wear the same optional extra warning sticker as its VW counterpart, with our flagship test car – with the likes of a Heated Windscreen (£155) and 19-inch ‘Exclusive’ alloys (£670) fitted – cost £33,510. The punchiest 2.0-litre diesel we drove claims an average of 53.3mpg – and when driving sensibly we managed to get around the mid-to-high 40s mark. CO2 is quoted at 135g/km.

Our Verdict

If you buy sensibly then the Ateca is ludicrously good value for money. But as mentioned above, the options list can wreak havoc on the bank account. The big question you will end up asking yourself with regards to price though – is why buy a Tiguan? And it’s a fair point. The Ateca does everything a VW does but also manages to stay true to its stylish SEAT roots. If you are looking for a stand-out, practical, well-equipped SUV that’s also good value for money, then the Ateca should be at the top of your list.