SEAT Tarraco SUV - The cheaper alternative to a Q7?
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2019
- BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A SEAT TARRACO FROM OSV: bit.ly/2SJNY0t
SEAT's Tarraco aims to shake up the mid-sized 7-seat SUV market. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.
Need a family SUV with seven seats? Bored by what's on offer? SEAT hopes you'll like its offering, the Tarraco. You get Volkswagen Group engineering, sharp styling, plenty of interior space and, the Iberian maker hopes, a dash of Spanish flair. Which this car will need to stand out in its segment.
Background
Just how important is it for a mid-range 'D'-segment 7-seat family SUV to be 'sporty'. Not very, according to the key protagonists in this segment. SEAT disagrees and is positioning this car, the Tarraco, as a slightly more responsive choice for folk who want to feel that they're driving more than just a crossover-cultured bus after they've dropped the kids off at school.
Of course, the Spanish maker needed something to set this contender a little apart from the mechanically almost identical Volkswagen Group models that share its MQB-A platform, the Skoda Kodiaq and the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. It wasn't so very long ago that SEAT didn't have a single SUV in its line-up. Now, this Tarraco sits at the head of the company's crossover triumvirate that already includes the little Ibiza-based Arona and the slightly larger Leon-structured Ateca. It's the biggest car the brand has yet made and will only be offered in our market with 7 seats. But will it live up to its maker's expectations? Let's find out.
Driving Experience
SEAT says it's put a lot of work into driving feedback so that this car will feel 'sportier' than its rivals. The same people who made its smaller Ateca stablemate so alert and nimble claim to have repeated their magic here, with sharp steering and supple multi-link rear suspension which can be enhanced with optional 'ACC' adaptive damping. The Tarraco offers four direct injection turbocharged engines, two of them petrol, two diesel. Predictably, we've seen them all before in various VW Group models, things kicking off with a 1.5-litre petrol TSI unit mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. The alternative mainstream petrol option, the 190PS 2.0-litre TSI unit, comes only in high spec guise with a 7-speed DSG auto 'box and 4WD. There's also a PHEV Plug-in hybrid variant available, which mates a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor and a 13 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Both the diesels are 2.0 TDI unit, the choice being between a 150PS powerplant with front wheel drive and a 190PS variant with 4WD. If you're regularly going to be using the third seating row and really loading the car up, then the extra grunt of the pokier powerplants will obviously be useful. The 4WD system that these pricier powertrains offer is, as usual in this class, of the 'on-demand' variety, cutting in when a loss of traction is detected. Predictably, the AWD isn't there to enable any sort of prodigious level of off road prowess; there isn't really the ground clearance for that. Instead, this Tarraco is very firmly tarmac-orientated, like SEAT's other SUVs. - Авто та транспорт
As an employer of a SEAT Dealership, I can confirm that is the by far the the best Tarraco review I’ve seen! Great work.
Thank you for your fantastic feedback, Eoin!
I have my SEAT TARRACO EXCELLENCE indium grey 2.0 150ps Diesel I’m so happy for my car
So glad you mentioned winter tyres a good set of winters or modern all seasons is far better than four wheel drive. Any chance of a video explaining the benefits of winters and all season tyres if we get snow this year?
The only review you need!
These reviews are incredible. So in-depth and informative
Thanks so much Theo, great to see comments like these 👌 If you haven't already do make sure to subscribe for the latest vehicle reviews: bit.ly/319ZKoT
Excellently comprehensive review. Thank you and well done
Many thanks for watching, Colm 😄
Brilliant comprehensive review. Just bought the Tarraco and absolutely love it!
Fantastic to hear that you're loving your new Tarraco, Caroline! Thank you for watching 👍
Wow. What a review. The segment comparision section is just brilliant. Hats down. Thanks for the lot of research and quality review.
It's our pleasure. Many thanks for watching 👍
I have the excellence lux TDI 190 and have just remapped it to 240bhp no need for fr, probably more pricier. A lot more pulling power with the remap. I think I was making up for the fact the wife made me get a 7 seater 😩 we dont even have kids it's all for the 3 dogs! I wanted the cupra ateca 🤣
would you be able to give me the dimensions of the trunk? Any info i was able to find is liters but i need how long, wide and tall items could fit in it. Most important info for me would be how deep the trunk is measuring from passangers seat to the trunk cover. thanks!
5008 doesn't have rear traction option. So it can also have a lower floor in the boot as well.
great review and the detail has been amazing.. thank you very much.. excellent.
Cheers Darren 👍
Picking up my indium grey tarraco xcellence first edition plus in a week or so. Cant wait now!
Hope you enjoy your new car, Adrian!
Well researched review.. Helped a lot
Hi there, thank you for the lovely comment! Are you looking into getting a Tarraco? If so gives us a call on 01903 538835 and our specialists will help you find the perfect one for you (UK only)
Based on your review I bought a SsangYong Rexton ultimate which I’m very happy with but I do like this I must say.
That's brilliant to hear, Tom!
I have narrowed down my choice between the 5008 and the Tarraco.. I'm getting confused now.
Can I suggest that you go to Google Translate, type the word TARRACO into the English / Spanish section, then press the speaker to hear how you said the cars name. There is definitely no extra R after the RA making it sound like TARRARCO. Brilliant car, I know as I drive one. 1.5, petrol, xcellence auto.
Thanks for the feedback, Jim. Great to hear that you enjoy your SEAT Tarraco 👍
The front grille doesn't stand out enough and the car misses the statement need to make as the flagship of Seat SUV.
In my country, the Tarraco is significantly cheaper than a comparable Kodiaq. The TSI 190 is a whopping 6,500 GBP cheaper than the Kodiaq. If they had been priced the same, I would have preferred the Kodiaq.
Are Tarraco fitted with Summer Tyres?
Hi Stephen, our Vehicle Specialists can look into this for you and help you find the most affordable solution. Fill-in this quick form and we'll get in touch: bit.ly/39YHCml
I am looking at the Tarraco FR 1.5 version. Anyone got the 1.5 engine? If so, is it any good considering the size of the vehicle.
Just bought 1, not as good as I thought, not very poky at all locally, but on motorway once it gets going it’s fine with a full car aswell
Ateca looks like Leon 3
Tarraco looks like Leon 4
" Poverty Spectrum " these guys use some very interesting phrases on OSV to describe people who can't really afford certain suvs and cars.
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Peugeot 5008 all day long for me !!! It’s better to look at it’s also more conventional .
In what way is it more conventional?
The back of that car it horrible....
Disagree. 4x4 is important for me. Also far chipper than 5008. Handling of tarraco is better. And the look, 5008 looks good but more girl like.
Tarraco front and back looks grow on me
It's French, say no more.
Weird color pallette.