SEAT Ateca gets extensive update for 2020

SEAT has announced a range of important updates for the Ateca. The family SUV gets new styling, revised engines and lower fuel costs for 2020. The revised Ateca will reach showrooms in the autumn with prices starting in the region of £24,000.

The 2020 SEAT Ateca takes a lot of its new styling cues from the larger Tarraco, with redesigned LED headlights, new bumpers and a larger grille. The Ateca also gets a handwritten-style logo, similar to the new Leon.

The model line-up is broadly the same as before, with the choice of SE or sporty FR trim lines. However, for 2020, SEAT has added a new all-terrain focused Xperience model, with plastic wheel arch cladding and metal skid plates for the front and rear bumpers. 

The cabin for all models has been given some subtle changes. The infotainment screen is now elevated to position it closer to the windscreen and make it easier to read on-the-move. Entry-level models get a 8.25-inch screen while mid-spec SE Technlogy models are fitted with a 9.2-inch system that has wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity for the first time. Android Auto is also available, but only when the phone is plugged into the car's USB socket. 

The range-topping FR Sport and Xperience Lux models get a fully digital instrument binnacle as standard, with the traditional dials being replaced with a 10.2-inch display. This allows the driver to customise the instrument layout and add things like a map or navigation directions. The Ateca also gets a new flat bottomed steering wheel, which should make it easier for the driver to get in and out. 

The engine line-up has been revised and SEAT is promising a 10 per cent improvement in fuel economy on 1.0 TSI petrol models. No fuel or CO2 figures have been published, but the 1.6 TDI has been axed from the range. This means the 2.0 TDI is the only diesel option, with the choice of 115 or 150PS. The four-cylinder diesel uses a new twin dosing SCR system that includes dual AdBlue injection to reduce harmful NOx emissions.

There are three turbocharged engines available: 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 TSI. Outputs range from 110 to 190PS. The most powerful petrol and diesels are fitted with a seven-speed DSG automatic as standard. Four-wheel drive is also available, while the 1.0 and 1.5 petrols are linked to a six-speed manual gearbox. There are no electric or hybrid powertrains in the Ateca range. 

SEAT has bolstered the Ateca's safety equipment. A new 'pre-crash' system is designed to prepare the vehicle and occupants for an impact by pretensioning the seatbelts, closing the windows and activating the car's warning lights. A new predictive adaptive cruise control uses feeds from GPS data to adjust the vehicle's speed to accommodate traffic jams or changes in the road layout.