Promoted: SEAT Ateca – an ideal SUV for young families
Families can be very demanding of their cars, but a group of What Car? readers were impressed after an exclusive look at SEAT’s first SUV...
Drivers with young families are increasingly turning to SUVs for their motoring needs, and a key reason for that is the extra space such machines offer. But it’s not just about how much space a car has that’s important – it’s how well it’s utilised.
When What Car? and SEAT teamed up to give a group of readers an exclusive look at the new Ateca, the Barcelona firm’s first SUV, the guests were quick to measure up the machine. And it passed one vital test.
“There’s really good space between the front seats and the back seats, for children to kick in between the chairs,” said Tia-Dawn Howarth. “I always look out for that!”
Having just enough space between the front and rear sets is just one reason why the Ateca impressed the readers who attended the event. To see several more, watch the video below.
To discover more about the SEAT Ateca, click here.
To pre-order the SEAT Ateca, click here.
Guests in attendance weren’t told which new SUV they’d be seeing before the cloth was pulled off the Ateca. And the combination of SEAT’s Barcelona design flair and the Ateca’s practicality clearly struck a chord.
“I like the design, it’s really comfortable and I like the height inside,” said Tia-Dawn Howarth. “It’s got loads of space for pushchairs and kids things.”
Her husband Paul added: “I’m impressed. It’s nicely styled, it’s understated, it’s not too showy. It’s probably the best-looking SUV in its sector.”
According to Steve Mirfin, the product manager for the new Ateca, the requirements of young families was a key consideration during the design and development of the car.
“The load capacity – 510 litres on the two-wheel-drive Ateca – is great for buggies and all the paraphernalia that comes with kids, and if you go on a family holiday there’s ample space.
“There’s the tailgate with the Virtual Pedal, so if you arrive at the car with kids under arms, boxes, bags and so on, you can open the tailgate with just a swipe of the foot. There’s a whole load of safety features on the car as well, such as the 360 camera. You can manoeuvre around town, or in and out of the playgroup car park, easily.”
That extensive feature list was a major attraction to the What Car? readers who attended the event. “The Traffic Jam Assist and 360 camera are great,” said reader David Ithier. “Plus it’s got a load of connectivity in it.”
The technology packed into the car impressed Lana Ginns – especially the wireless phone charging system. She said: “It’s one of those things you don’t think you need, but when you try it you realise you do – and then you can’t live without it.”
Her husband Alex Ginns added: “What was interesting was seeing some of the features that would be extras on other cars being included as standard.”
According to Steve Mirfin, the value for money of the Ateca extends beyond the sale price. He said, “The cost of running will be attractive as well. We expect it to be very economical and cheap to run.”
For David Ithier, the Ateca passed a key test on first inspection. He said: “If you’ve got a family, you don’t want them to be in harm’s way. My benchmark for a car like this is if I’m driving along on a long journey, can they sleep in the car and relax?”
“It’s big enough for that, it’s comfortable enough. It’s just a really good all-round car.”
To discover more about the SEAT Ateca, click here.
To pre-order the SEAT Ateca, click here.
