Updated SEAT Ateca facelift review: Xperience 1.5 TSI DSG

With more than 300,000 units sold since 2016, the SEAT Ateca has been a genuine success story for the Spanish brand - and, to keep that momentum going, this SUV has now received a well-deserved update.

As this is a facelift, SEAT’s “recipe” was to freshen up the styling. The biggest changes are concentrated at the front, where the new nose adopts the family look introduced by the Tarraco. At the rear there are also revised tail-lights and new bumpers.

The model identification now uses new lettering, and new too is the version we’re testing here: the more adventure-themed Xperience.

Overall, the end result is positive in my view. If there was one area where I felt the Ateca’s already well-judged design still had room to move forward, it was the front end - and I have to admit this new face “suits it well”.

Still itself

Inside, you need to look a little harder to spot what’s different. The headline change is a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, along with an updated infotainment system.

Another upgrade is the lift in perceived quality. The Ateca’s cabin was already solidly built before the facelift, but it now feels a step up thanks to new materials and a two-tone dashboard finish, with inserts whose quality is obvious.

The steering wheel is also new. As well as being a good size with a comfortable grip, its controls deserve praise too - they’re straightforward and intuitive to use.

Finally, I’ll offer a “thank you” to SEAT for not giving the Ateca touch-sensitive climate controls like Volkswagen did on the Tiguan. Physical buttons remain, and their ergonomic advantages are clear once you’re behind the wheel.

Don’t change a winning team

Often cited as one of the best medium SUVs for dynamic ability, the SEAT Ateca stays true to that reputation even after its facelift.

The steering remains accurate, direct and full of feedback, the chassis feels well judged, and the overall set-up strikes a convincing balance between comfort and handling. That combination makes the Ateca one of the most entertaining SUVs to drive when you’re on your own, while still feeling secure and predictable - ideal when you’re carrying the family.

Power comes from the 1.5 TSI petrol engine with 150 hp and 250 Nm, paired with a quick, well-spaced seven-speed DSG gearbox. It behaves like a chameleon, adapting neatly to different driving styles and the four driving modes.

In “Eco”, it trades a little punch and throttle immediacy (without becoming sluggish) for improved economy, allowing averages of 5.7 l/100 km. In “Normal”, it tries to - and does - blend the best of both.

Select “Sport” and it also alters the steering, making it heavier. The 1.5 TSI then responds with more, and enjoyably sharper, urgency, helped by the DSG holding gears for longer and shifting at higher revs. The result is confident overtaking with pleasing ease.

In this mode, consumption takes a small hit, though not dramatically, with an average around 7–7.5 l/100 km - a more than reasonable figure given we’re talking about a family SUV with a petrol engine.

Is it the right car for me?

The SEAT Ateca wasn’t one of those models that was “desperate” for a facelift. Even so, its popularity - and the wider refresh across SEAT’s line-up - risked leaving its styling looking “tired” and out of step with the brand’s newer models, which is why it has been updated.

The outcome is a car that keeps its strengths fully intact - from its engaging road manners to its family-friendly usability - while sharpening its image and smoothing off a few rough edges.

The technology offering has grown (even if the test car did without the always-welcome reversing camera), the exterior has been brought up to date and, above all, perceived quality on board has improved.

All of that makes the SEAT Ateca the embodiment of the saying “don’t change a winning team” - or, in this case, “change it only a little”. With a handful of details improved, the Ateca remains one of the segment’s most well-rounded choices and, without doubt, one worth considering.