In-depth reviews

SEAT Ateca owner reviews

"The SEAT Ateca is a practical and good-looking SUV, and well worth considering as a Kuga or Qashqai rival"

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14 Mar 2024

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Carbuyer Rating

4.3 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.9 out of 5

Reviews

Owner Reviews

5 out of 5
4 out of 5
3 out of 5
2 out of 5
1 out of 5

69%of people would recommend this car to a friend

Common Problems

Other (4 cases)
Electrics, Engine, Other (1 case)
Engine (1 case)
Suspension (1 case)
Electrics (1 case)

Review 1 of 16

Tell us what you think about your car?

Bought this as a 5 month old demonstrator from main dealers. Fine car, economical, excellent value, would certainly buy another despite some small VW Group niggles. Easy to drive and park with parking aids, good size boot, looks good. Problems; The automatic parking brake doesn't always release, had this problem on previous Golf which has the same system. Stop/start system doesn't operate unless the battery is really fully charged, so in winter it simply doesn't work, didn't have this problem with Golf which had similar system. The automatic collision warning occasionally inappropriately sounds off the collision warning and twice has done an emergency stop which could be disastrous.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great to drive, well equipped and impressive performance. However, it's let down by badly designed rear doors that let mud, salt and water in around the door frame.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I chose this as a company car to follow a Peugeot 2008 HDi and so far have not been disappointed. It's solidly built (the doors make a very satisfying thud), sits high on the road and drives like a 'warm hatch'. The 1.4 petrol engine is very quiet (compared with my previous diesel) and, so far , very responsive with no turbo lag when pulling out of junctions. The controls are easy to use and (having never used one before) the electronic handbrake was easy to get used to. My Samsung Galaxy connected easily with the infotainment system and Android Auto was easy to connect too. My only (very) small misgiving is the MPG (40mpg vs 50mpg in my diesel) which has effectively reduced my range on 1 tank by around 100 miles. Boot space is excellent as is visibility. Otherwise it's a superb vehicle and I look forward to driving it each time I go out.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Has been a godsend. Car has everything I need, it has never let me down and as someone that relies on their car due to being disabled, I would recommend it. I will be going to get another one when my lease is up.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

Nice to drive, economical and it has never let me down.

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

Stereo speakers could be better.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Avoid these like the plague, hands down the worst car I or my wife have driven or owned. Faults are too numerous, but here's a short list: USB ports stopped working. Steering wheel not aligned properly. Interior trim falling away from pillars. On 2nd battery as the last one died. Glove box opens with nothing inside. Brake assist activates when no other vehicles nearby. Rusting spots starting to appear in rear door seals where there's a design fault on all Atecas. Central locking has started turning on and off at random. The list goes on many cosmetic or minor but should be better on a new car. As for above dealer says nothing wrong with car despite having it in for 6 hours to just sort out battery. Will never buy SEAT again, worst car ever.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

This SUV ticks all the boxes. I can fit two fold up bikes in the boot which is great. This medium sized SUV handles like a car with excellent visibility. You get a lot of car for the sub £30,000 price range and the driver aids are excellent for the price. The Ateca is quick for a 1.4 and the VAG engine is smooth and quiet. I also like the cylinder deactivation system which is seamless. The Ateca feels light and nimble compared to more expensive SUVs which I have driven and it is well built. You can see where Seat have saved money in areas like no gas struts for bonnet, no ambient lighting or USB ports in the back. However the interior has a well built high quality feel without being fussy like some more expensive brands. The VAG technology is tried and tested with excellent reliability. When my PCP is ending next year I will be taking a very close look at the Cupra Ateca which is only 5 grand more than my current Xcellence but comes with 300 BHP. Now that will be something special for this price point. I would strongly recommend the Ateca Xcellence due to the high level spec and lovely supportive leather seats.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I purchased all the electronic packages along with premium seats and sound system but declined a diesel and 4 wheel drive. I'm really very happy with the car. It has good drivability, with a decent ride and top-of-the-class handling. The 1.4-litre turbo is very smooth with decent low-end torque and reasonable fuel consumption but comes up a little short in passing situations. The DSG shifts very well. The car is surprisingly quiet and comfortable at freeway speeds. All-in-all, I think that I made a brilliant choice purchasing the Ateca.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Very solid car with a firm yet comfortable ride. I drive an average of 70 miles per day and have no issues with the confort. The only negative point until now is the fuel consumption read out. It says 55 MPG but it's really 51 MPG if you do the maths.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

A surprisingly quick car, smaller than most in class yet with a larger boot than the majority of the competition. Having test driven a Qashqai, Sportage and Tucson, the Ateca absolutely wipes the floor with the other three in terms of cabin fit and finish, handling and engine. Even the 2.0 unit in the Sportage is poor compared to the 1.4 TSI VAG unit in the Seat. The Ateca is also the only SUV I've driven that actually drives more like a car; the ride is perhaps a tiny bit firmer (if you're being VERY picky), but the advantage is you get a car that's significantly more enjoyable to drive, with the 1.4 unit also being surprisingly quick for such a small engine in a relatively big vehicle. It's not as attractively externally as the Qashqai, which is in my opinion hands down the best looking SUV on the market in this price bracket, but in terms of fit, finish and engine it's light years ahead (just read the reliability reports on the Qashqai), and it's also one of the cheapest despite sharing most of the gear with the Tiguan and Kodiaq. I think it's been a solid buy. The 360 degree camera is also well worth the investment versus the panaromic sunroof, as is the false floor even though it's a little overpriced; most of the stuff that's offered on the Excellence and other higher spec models are gimics, the SE has the majority of everything you'll need, maybe apart from a DAB radio tuner if you're an avid listener.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I miss my Qashqai and regret this buy to save a few pounds. The engine is poor. When cool it bunny hops down the road and there is often a delay in power and appears like it has cut out but hasn't. I'm told it's a known fault across VW and SEAT with same engine but nothing is being done about it. The Heater/ fans are poor in the car. In the summer it felt like the AC wasn't on and winter you can't demist the windscreen and send air to the feet at the same time. The cruise control is situated in a poor place and when using it, I often turn the indicator on my mistake. The automatic handbrake sometimes doesn't come on, so now I always have to manually do it to ensure it's on. Feel like I'm forever at the petrol station filling it up. Plus in the 10.months I've had it the oil light has come in twice. They dealer has filled it up with oil for free and told me it's very common with this engine. I've never had to put oil in a car other then when it's serviced. Won't be keeping it much longer.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

The good points first. Reasonably quick acceleration and good handling. Space in the front and rear is good. Roomy boot, reasonable fuel consumption. The bad. Very firm suspension, it picks up every lump and bump in the road and jostles you around. Motorways and A roads are fairly good but around town it is bad. Auto park is fitted on this model but is difficult to use. Adaptive cruise control is OK but causes rapid slowdown in some circumstances that can be dangerous. Someone turning right in a right turn slip triggers the braking. The steering wheel is hard and transmits all the lumps and bumps. The sunvisors are too short and I have had to buy and extension. I expected more bells and whistles on this model that are standard on a lot of cars. Overall I do regret buying it on the strength of reviews. It is not cheap, I expected more comfort and equipment for the cost.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

After owning our Ateca for 2½ months and nearly 2,000 miles, I am very happy. This SUV handles like a small car, whilst giving a commanding driving position that no small car could ever come close to offering. The engine I find is very perky, except at very low revs. Steering is precise and turning circle is delightfully tiny for a car of its size. The ride is firm and this can become a little tiresome if you drive on a badly made-up road for an extended period, but generally is not a concern. Visibility is excellent. The Ateca is enjoyable to drive; I have driven a Qashqai owned by another family member on a number of occasions and found it much less enjoyable (and with a frustrating lack of headroom in the driver's position). Reading other reviews here, I notice there are gripes about the rear doors on the Ateca which I find bemusing as these seem perfectly good to us. I have only used fog lights on one day, but was able to use them at 70 mph without any alarm issue that other reviewers mention, which suggests that SEAT have moved on from this feature that annoyed other reviewers. Also a reviewer mentioned not being able to have a 'phone connected via Bluetooth - well, maybe on an earlier version, but this 2018 iteration allows Bluetooth connection and I have only known one occasion when the car failed to recognise my 'phone. One thing that does annoy me slightly is that reverse gear is positioned to the left of first, meaning that it is possible to select the 'wrong' gear in error when seeking to move off, but many cars seem to have this configuration these days, so it is not remotely a 'deal-breaker' with the Ateca.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

After several SEAT cars, I bought the Ateca in December 2016. Compared with earlier SEAT cars, build quality is excellent, everything fits well and no rattling or other noises. After 10 000 and 14 months regular fuel consumption seems to be around 43mpg with a mix of urban and country A roads. I've seen no serious issues so far apart from the 'kick' boot opener failed to work from delivery but this was quickly replaced. There are some design faults: water and mud get trapped in rear doors, the proximity sensor under the grille badge can be overwhelmed by rain. Otherwise, I'm very happy with car. I particularly like panoramic sunroof, automatic headlights, leather seats and parking cameras. It's the best SEAT I have had so far and I have had ten over the years ranging from Ibiza to Alhambra

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

After reading all the rave reviews I bought one and regret it. The drive is nice but the interior has rattles from both doors and behind the steering column. It has been in for repair several times and is still rattling. It also has design faults allowing water to come in at the back doors, and the fog light alarm comes on after you go over 30mph. It's very disorientating when driving in fog and it's illegal to switch the lights off. I do not know why it is rated so highly - it seems like a cheap build.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Comfortable and capable SUV, with Audi-esque design features, similar petrol engines and gearboxes and rock solid build quality. In my opinion, very little to separate it from considerably more expensive badges with fewer features. A home run for Seat.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

Very stylish

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

Seat's overall image

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I had owned a Seat León Mk3 for several years which was an excellent car so the Ateca immediately appealed to me. I decided on the top spec against choosing the options I wanted myself and chose the petrol 1.4 after a test drive and found it to be quiet, powerful and fuel efficient. The rear view camera and heated leather seats and the LED headlights are a plus and the car is a pleasure to drive with excellent handling and comfort. Good to look at inside and out and although almost two years old, it still looks new when clean (Bila White). When I’m in Spain with the car the headlights automatically adjust to the right so no need for sticker on the headlights. With regard to the Spotlights they are designed to go out over a certain speed as it is the law in the UK to only use them in fog and falling snow . Problem with passenger window which insisted on closing on command then opening half way. This was rectified by the dealer promptly. Lots of dirt gathers at bottom of inside of rear doors so need cleaning out regularly. Nav sometimes does not recognise the SIM but if ejected and replaced its operates normally (common fault denied by my dealer)

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up