[Chris (Chester)]

 

 

This is our new Ateca Experience Lux picked up yesterday at EuroSeat Crawley (thanks Matthew for the service!). 4 hours drive there and a nice 4 drive hours back to Chester running it in (no more than 2-2,500 revs).

Overall impressions: Disappointed! 🙁

I thought having had a Karoq with all the toys and extra options for 3 years that i was going to get exactly the same but with even more toys…Wrong!  Yes, they do come from the same factory in Czechia and in essence it’s 90% the same car but the 10% difference makes all the difference…. See below my own opinion and yes, I’ve only had it 24 hours and driven it once:

 

THE GOOD: As I knew from the Karoq, the 1.5TSI engine with the DSG box is perfect for us, the right amount of power and you get exactly the same MPG figures as advertised (38-42,pg with mixed driving). Suspension is tighter and goes round the corners better but it compromises on comfort slightly with the big 19″ wheels and like Mark’s gorgeous Tarraco I’ll check the tyre pressure today as the dealers tend to overinflate. New Technology is great and I love the digital cockpit, the wireless charging for my phone and 360″ camera which i didn’t have on my Karoq (2018 model, maybe they are standard now).

THE BAD: The car really feels cheap on the inside, not so much the forward view (dashboard and further down) but the doors are just plain black plasticky with a bit of leather, no metallic inserts, accents nothing. The Skoda was a level up in terms of build quality in th einterior! I should have checked the spec before we ordered but having had the Karoq and doing the configuration on the SEAT website (plus watching the Ateca video from Seat with the 3 Spanish Seat engineers – very misleading!) I assumed that the car came with electric diver seat, heated steering wheel and the Beats speakers clearly shown on the Seat website configuration, NO, None of that! Manual seat adjustment and very basic sound system ( I can live without the heated st.wheel). Also the hands gesture control of the main screen is hit and miss (the Karoq’s was 100% solid) but the Voice Control “Hola Hola” works well…

Also the boot has a large lip which we knew about when we first saw it at the dealer’s and the rear seats don’t slide but hopefully we will get used to it all with my wife’s wheelchair and won’t be scratching the bumper.

AND NOW THE UGLY: The Lane Assist system is faulty, to be fair I had the same problem on the Karoq after 12 months and they replaced the radar and sensors but when it happens on day 1 with 6 miles on the clock of a brand new car it’s SOOOO disappointing! So now I have the inconvenience of taking to the local garage (a bit awkward as I didn’t buy the car from them but from a garage closer to France than Chester as they gave us £250 off the AP) and wait for the part to arrive and then if I remember well from the Karoq, it takes 1 full day to fit and test. I forgot to say what’s wrong with it. The system is on but it doesn’t read the road markings correctly and only activates once you’re in the next or (god forbid!) opposite lane. I really like the system and normally have it on all the time, hence I was gutted.

 

Overall, I hope the car grows on us as we need to live with it for 3 years now, it costs us £2,500 with the optional sunroof which was a grand itself. In hindsight, we should have gone with the Tiguan R-Line which did work out around £5,500 with all the bits we like to have but then you have 36 long months to live with it, we would stretch to the extra £3k to spend with it. I’ll provide further updates in the coming weeks and months…

 

Happy motoring to all!

Topic

[Markw]

Sorry to hear about your negative experience,  I think you made the classic mistake of thinking that the Experience models were the best option,  in fact the FR range is vastly superior in every aspect apart from certain bells and whistles,  My particular vehicle came with the winter pack as standard which included heated and electric everything,  including drivers seat, not to mention the full body kit,  better alloys and vastly superior interior trim and FR detailing  my AP in 2019 was £1005, infinitely better value than recently.

Currently driving Seat Ateca 2.0 FR Sport TDI 190 DSG 4drive

Mokka E ultimate on order

[Chris (Chester)]

thanks for this Mark, we really need the electric tailgate and all the Exp Lux goodies… But i wish i had noticed the electric seat on FR Sport, why can’t they have a model that has absolutely everything? As ai said earlier, the Karoq is 10 times better but i just spent a bit of time again this morning in the car (just on the drive) before we take it out later and I’m warming up to it already… See how we get on!

[Mike]

Agree 100% with Mark the FR models are far superior and the ones to go for.

[Markymate]

Hello Chris. Firstly, glad to hear your handover went well, Matthew certainly has his hands full being the only salesman for Seat on site, and not being Motability trained. Talk about being thrown in the deep end!

I have to agree with you, coming from a Skoda you can feel the interior quality is a slight step down. Not so much in the front, but further back, especially in the boot where it does feel cheap.   Sorry to hear you’ve got lane assist problems, on our journey back on the M25 I was desperately trying how to switch the thing off! Trying to remember to indicate every time you changed lanes was a real pain in the a**e.    I hope you get it repaired quickly. I was very surprised to hear that the Excellence Lux didn’t have electric drivers seat, I know it’s standard on the Tarraco Lux. Very strange

Driving wise, on the journey back I found the steering light and a bit fidgety  at first but it seemed to firm up nearer home. Now I’m not to sure if it was the car, or just me getting use to it.  3 years in the comfort focused Skoda’s to the sportier type Seat’s might have come as a shock to our driving minds!!

After a couple of drives I’m warming to it as I get to know it better, I especial like the gear change paddles on the steering wheel.

[Markymate]

Sorry, Chris, forgot to say what a cracking looking car, and the camo green looks good.

I’m sure once everything beds in it will be a great choice.

[Chris (Chester)]

thanks Mark, I appreciate it

I’m sure I’ll get used to it as well…

You can adjust the Steering wheel feel.

I always have the selector on Individual with the Steering Sport setting,  the Engine on Normal and then Air Con on Eco, just personal preferences.

 

it’s quite sporty and i can’t wait to go over 1,000 miles and then put my foot down! 🙂

 

When i take the car over to Seat for the Lane Assist, I’ll invest in a nice boot liner to make sure wheelchair is not moving around (and making noise) when driving around here in the back lanes.

 

Luckily, this is only my wife’s car and we only drive it when she’s in the car or her carer drives her around. I’ve got a really nice car for myself so I just need to make better use for it I suppose.

[Paul D]

Still awaiting the arrival of my FR sport. After reading this I’m sort of in a grey area . An honest review . Have I made the right decision? Oh dear!

[Markw]

I was perfectly content with mine,  for the AP of just over a grand,  if it was nearer 3K I might have been more critical,  The interior is definitely not “premium” quality,  but for an SUV it’s a very exciting drive,  I hope it grows on you.

Currently driving Seat Ateca 2.0 FR Sport TDI 190 DSG 4drive

Mokka E ultimate on order

[file28]

Sorry to hear about your disappointment, but as others have said that the FR Sport does come better specced ie heated leather electric drivers seat, hopefully you can iron out your problems and get to enjoy driving the car as its one of the best when on the road

"the world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams-its heaven and hell "(RJD)
Peugeot 2008gt
Selenium grey

[Neu]

Thanks for the honest review!

The FR sport is top of my list but I am worried about the lane assist, I have heard reviewers mention it’s a bad system and even dangerous at times, can it be switched off in settings?

[Markymate]

Chris (Chester) wrote:

thanks Mark, I appreciate it I’m sure I’ll get used to it as well… You can adjust the Steering wheel feel. I always have the selector on Individual with the Steering Sport setting, the Engine on Normal and then Air Con on Eco, just personal preferences. it’s quite sporty and i can’t wait to go over 1,000 miles and then put my foot down! When i take the car over to Seat for the Lane Assist, I’ll invest in a nice boot liner to make sure wheelchair is not moving around (and making noise) when driving around here in the back lanes. Luckily, this is only my wife’s car and we only drive it when she’s in the car or her carer drives her around. I’ve got a really nice car for myself so I just need to make better use for it I suppose.

I had that setting on the Kodiaq and while sitting in it this morning I set the individual to sport steering, eco engine mode and the rest normal. Been out for a drive and the steering is more settled and responsive.  Also, I think one of the areas where they’ve cut cost is the sound proofing, will get the tyres checked tomorrow and hopefully that will reduce some of the surface noise I can hear.    I think once it all settles down and beds in, it’ll be fine.

[Glos Guy]

I feel for you Chris. It’s lovely looking forward to a new car but such a let down when it disappoints. When researching our next SUV a few people suggested Seat, but I was surprised to find that the budget VW brands have less standard equipment than the full fat Tiguan, which seems a very strange policy by VAG. Re the Tiguan, the Elegance is the smart choice now, not the R-Line. It has over £2k worth of kit above the R-Line. The biggest negative with the Tiguan is that leather is a hefty £1,500 option on all models, which includes an electric drivers seat with memory. We chose that option on our current Tiguan SEL as both my wife and I were driving at the time, so the memory function was useful, but I’m the sole driver now. We did want leather though so that was a pain.

Whilst I am sorry to hear that you have had some issues, it is so refreshing to have ‘warts and all’ feedback as too many people just state the positives. I’ve lost count of the number of cars I have owned or driven over the years and only one has come close to being perfect. All cars have weak points and I hope that you manage to overcome the issues with the Seat. I echo the comments of others that it looks very nice.

[Markw]

The issue for me,  is that Ateca APs have more than doubled over the last year or so, so you might as well consider the much better built VW and Skoda versions,  albeit accepting a somewhat duller driving experience.

Currently driving Seat Ateca 2.0 FR Sport TDI 190 DSG 4drive

Mokka E ultimate on order

[Elliot]

Whenever I’ve looked at Seats I’ve just thought bottom end budget cars. Even their expensive Cupra cars are very cheap and tacky inside.

[Qaisar]

My post will make this worse….

I had an order for an Ateca FR Sport 2.0 TDI 4Drive and cancelled it and ordered the new Golf GTD instead.

Thank god I did now, especially after reading this.

To be honest, I was never 100% convinced with my original order…Hard to explain it, but in some way I was never that excited or looking forward to the Ateca that much…Strange, I know.

However, I genuinely cannot wait for the Golf GTD now.

[Markw]

Elliot wrote:

Whenever I’ve looked at Seats I’ve just thought bottom end budget cars. Even their expensive Cupra cars are very cheap and tacky inside.

They are still far better than anything French or Asian,  only the door switchgear is different from other VAG group variants

Currently driving Seat Ateca 2.0 FR Sport TDI 190 DSG 4drive

Mokka E ultimate on order

[Elliot]

Markw wrote:

Elliot wrote:

Whenever I’ve looked at Seats I’ve just thought bottom end budget cars. Even their expensive Cupra cars are very cheap and tacky inside.

They are still far better than anything French or Asian, only the door switchgear is different from other VAG group variants

I wouldn’t put them ahead of the new Kia’s on quality.

[Mike]

Elliot I strongly disagree with you. Seat’s are excellent cars and they are far from tacky.

[DaveW]

I considered an Ateca but went for a Kuga. Main reason – I am a tad obsessed when researching cars. I’ve watched every YouTube review I can find on both (and others) and looked at every website regarding specifications, from the manufacturer sites to HonestJohn and more.

As such I went for the ST Line X as it includes a panoramic roof, heated seats (front and rear) and wheel along with a B and O premium stereo.
Given it’s a similar drive to the Ateca that made it a no brainer for me.
More research needed I’m afraid prior to ordering to avoid disappointment on the equipment front.

[Glos Guy]

DaveW – you sound like me ? Nice choice with the Kuga. The ST-Line X was on my shortlist. Have to say that I am with you on the fact that researching equipment is critical. All very easy to do these days, so nothing should ever come as a surprise. Conversely, in the highly unlikely event that something that should be standard on a car is missing, that would be grounds to reject the car. As I often say, order in haste, repent at leisure. None the less, I feel sorry for anyone who is disappointed with their new car. 3 years is a long time to live with something that falls short of expectations. The last year has made choosing a new car a nightmare as test drives and even visiting dealers have been challenging to say the least. I am sure that Chris will not be the only person to experience such issues.

[ChrisK]

Glos Guy wrote:

None the less, I feel sorry for anyone who is disappointed with their new car. 3 years is a long time to live with something that falls short of expectations. The last year has made choosing a new car a nightmare as test drives and even visiting dealers have been challenging to say the least. I am sure that Chris will not be the only person to experience such issues.

Amen to that Glos Guy and as one who can’t test drive cars have to rely on brochure, YouTube, user forums and of course dealers.

Even with all these weapons we have there are still many pitfalls around with brochures only showing you the best model in there photos not to mention misprints, then there’s YouTube with videos of online car dealers that suffer the same trite as showroom dealers who just want to sale a car, be it online, and of course in my case chasing VAG car info its always the R Line model with the largest most expensive engine that they review.

Let’s not mention the get out of jail free card that manufactures have for example, “specification can change without notice” meaning you might have order a car that was specified with heated seats or this or that but the manufacture can change the specification at the drop of a hat and we haven’t got a leg to stand on other than rejecting the car and going to the back of the queue again.

I’m in intense reviewers mode at this moment for ordering a car in July so everyday is a YouTube day of reviewers showing me countless times how many litres of milk I can get in the boot when all I want to know is how long and high the boot is and lets not forget the merry-go-round of seasonal AP prices that can destroy or your months of research in a second.

 

 

 

[Dante]

I appreciate the warts and all review & empathise. It’s a real minefield

I had the seat FR sport 1.5 dsg on my shortlist but with the higher Q2 AP it’s off my shortlist now & i’ve cancelled the test drive I had booked for mid April.

I’ve finalised my new shortlist, undertaken research to the nth degree in them & its all down to the test drives now ???

im pleased amongst the concerns abs negatives you have found many positives with your ateca & renain pragmatic – wishing you luck

[Glos Guy]

Brilliant post ChrisK and I can relate to your frustration about car boots. I just wanted to know the width and depth to know if I could get my wife’s wheelchair in when folded in half and all that’s quoted is how many cubic litres there are. This is highly misleading as it includes under floor space (which isn’t terribly helpful).

Also, your comments about reviews are bang on. I’m quite anal and study the specs in detail and it amazes me how inaccurate most of the reviews are, stating things that are standard that I know for a fact are options. Cars provided by the manufacturer press teams are always loaded up with almost every option and they usually provide a detailed spec list showing which optional extras are added to the test car, but few reviewers seem to be bothered to study it so just make assumptions.

[John Morris]

Hi all. Its been a few weeks since we got our Ateca 1.5tsi FR sport dsg and after 1800 miles we can’t fault it.  So nice to drive and very quiet but when you put your foot down it really can move and in sports mode with the flappy paddles it’s actually quite quick and very engaging to drive. My missus (car awarded to her) finds the heated leather seats are perfect and it’s only when driving hard when she finds it uncomfortable at all. With normal everyday driving it’s as comfortable as the 2018 qashqai we had. One of the main reasons for this is when you hit a pothole this car regains is balance instantly whereas the qashqai would actually wobble left and right a couple times before settling down. The digital cockpit is exceptionally good and I would (and have) fully recommended this car to anyone. Only issues so far have been to do with the infotainment and the seat connect remote app which my dealer doesn’t understand so I am still waiting (7 days) for their tech team to call me. 3 kids all in the back with 2 in car seats and our 12 year old daughter quite comfortably sitting in between.  And I had to take our old dishwasher to the dump and had no issues getting it in and out of the car on my own. Yes there is a high lip but it’s a nice big space in the boot. We love it.

[John Morris]

And neu…. The fr sport doesn’t come with lane assist, side exit assist, it can’t read signs, no ACC nor the auto high beam thingy neither. Only comes with automonous braking because it doesn’t come with the camera.

[Author]

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