SEAT Tarraco review: a surprisingly sporty seven-seater

The stylish looking SEAT Tarraco seven-seater SUV offers plenty of space for the family and will even keep the driver entertained with a surprisingly sporty drive. Closely related to the Skoda Kodiaq, the Tarraco is as classy and robust as you'd expect a model to be from the VW Group stable.

There’s no electrified model available, but the petrol and diesel engines offer good economy as well as decent pace, while the Tarraco's keen pricing means that it deserves some consideration.

About the SEAT Tarraco

The Tarraco is SEAT's first SUV that offers seven seat flexibility. With a large boot and a generous level of equipment, it can comfortably meet the demands of a growing family, although the third row of seats – which are standard across the range – are best reserved for occasional use.

The Tarraco is closely related to the Skoda Kodiaq, but the SEAT edges the Skoda in terms of styling and driver appeal, although it can’t match its Czech mate when it comes to practicality and flexibility. There is no shortage of other rivals, with the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Peugeot 5008 also offering seven seats.

In a very short space of time, SEAT progressed from a company with no SUVs to having three models in its lineup. The Tarraco sits at the top of this SUV family, above the mid-sized Ateca and small Arona. It shares the same platform as the Skoda Kodiaq, but while the Skoda is focused on flexibility and practicality, the Tarraco has a sportier feel, as it sits 20mm lower. 

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That doesn’t make the Tarraco a sporty car, but as seven-seat SUVs go, it offers a fair amount of driver appeal. It feels good in corners and rides well over all surfaces, with only a limited level of body roll when cornering.

Thanks to LED lighting at the front and rear, a bold face and chunky SUV styling, the Tarraco is one of the best looking seven-seat SUVs on the market, especially in FR Sport or XPERIENCE trims, which ride on 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels. 

Be warned, the larger alloy wheels might look the part, but the Tarraco rides better on smaller wheels. There is a choice of petrol and diesel power, with four-wheel drive available if you need it.

SEAT has gradually expanded the Tarraco line-up since its launch in 2019, but the trim selection is still simple to follow. SE and SE Technology make up the more affordable trims. Above this, you have the choice of the sportier FR and FR Sport or the more luxurious XPERIENCE and XPERIENCE Lux models.

Standard specification is high, with even entry-level SE cars offering metallic paint, LED headlights and rear lights, an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, easy-fold rear seat system, rear parking sensors, auto lights and wipers and three Isofix points in the middle row.

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Opting for the sports-oriented FR trim gives the Tarraco tweaked exterior detailing, which includes a spoiler, black door mirrors and roof rails. Inside, sports seats are added along with keyless entry. FR Sport adds larger 20-inch alloy wheels, a top-view camera and SEAT’s digital cockpit.

If you prefer luxury over sportiness, the XPERIENCE trim includes Alcantara seats, park assist and adaptive cruise control, along with chrome exterior detailing. The XPERIENCE Lux upgrades the upholstery to leather, and adds in a heated driver’s seat with electric and memory functions.

Prices start from around £33,500 for the 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol SE model, rising to over £42,000 for the 242bhp FR Sport with a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine and DSG automatic transmission. This higher price edges the Tarraco into a higher rate of VED for the first five years you own it, which is something to consider when buying new.