SEAT Ateca review - MPG, CO2 and running costs
Good real-world fuel economy, reasonable insurance premiums and decent residual values will appeal to cost-conscious buyers
The majority of engines available in the SEAT Ateca are adopted from the existing Leon hatchback range. The 109bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo is a small engine for such a relatively large family SUV, but SEAT claims it will return up to 46.3mpg and emit 139g/km of CO2 (in SE trim) on the WLTP combined cycle.
Another petrol option is the larger 148bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo, which is capable of a maximum 44.8mpg and 142g/km of CO2, while the range-topping 187bhp car should return around 35mpg and CO2 emissions of 182g/km. It is worth noting that it only comes as a 4x4 auto – meaning real-world running costs might be higher.
For some buyers, the diesel engines will look more appealing. The 113bhp 2.0-litre diesel and the more powerful and punchy 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel both manage around 57-58mpg with CO2 emissions from 126-128g/km.
Insurance Groups
Insurance groups for the Ateca start at 10 and rise to 24, which is a similar showing to the Leon hatch. It’s not surprising as they both use a lot of the same mechanical components. Those insurance groups are also comparable to rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar, but none should be too pricey to insure.
Depreciation
According to our data, the 148bhp petrol models in FR trim are the strongest in the Ateca lineup, holding onto around 56 per cent of their original value after a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period. Diesel-powered versions take a slight hit in terms of residual values, with around 48-52 per cent of the showroom price expected to be retained after three years of motoring.
