SEAT

Tarraco

The SEAT Tarraco is the company’s all-new flagship SUV and offers seven-seat versatility. There are generously-equipped trim levels to choose from, along with a range of powertrains and transmissions. It’s dynamic and distinctive design helps the Tarraco stand out from the crowd.

The good

Practical, stylish and competitively priced

The bad

Up against stiff opposition including rivals in the VW Group

Tech Specs

Price from

£30,080

Combined Fuel up to

48.7mpg

0-62 from

6.2 seconds

max speed up to

142mph

co2 from

151g/km

Test Drive

SEAT Tarraco FR Sport 2.0 TDI 4Drive 200PS DSG (2021)

If seven-seat versatility tops your wish list, but you don’t want to compromise performance for practicality, then the stylish SEAT Tarraco could be the perfect solution.

That’s because this attractive five-door SUV – the biggest in the SEAT line-up – can deliver on the handling front but still offers all the space for a five-a-side footie team along with a couple of coaches.

The vehicle was launched in 2019 and, at the time, was available in trim levels called SE, SE Technology, XCELLENCE and XCELLENCE LUX with the promise of sportier FR and FR Sport versions at a later date.

Well, that time has come and we opted for the Tarraco powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 4Drive and in range-topping FR Sport specification costing £42,250 (£43,930 with options).

This model, with 200PS of power and 400Nm of torque, could sprint to 62mph from a standing start in a very respectable 7.8 seconds and maxed out at 130mph. According to official figures, it could deliver a combined 40.4-42.8mpg with carbon emissions of 173g/km.

The acceleration through the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox is nicely smooth and responsive with steering wheel-mounted paddles for added fun. There are also drive modes called Eco, Normal, Sport, Individual, Off-road and Snow that alter the characteristics of the car.

On fast moving country lanes, the road holding is accomplished provided tighter bends are treated with a degree of caution. And on motorways, the Tarraco quickly reaches the 70mph national speed limit, where it cruises effortlessly eating up the miles.

But it was in the busier city centre traffic that the Tarraco really surprised me with its agility, ease of manoeuvrability and, thanks to a self-park system, simplicity to park.

The car shares many underpinnings with its VW stablemate, the Skoda Kodiaq, but still possesses plenty of unique Spanish flair and our sportier version looked great from any approach.

It boasted sharp lines and creases, a distinctive grille, full LED headlights with the company’s signature triangular pattern, a hidden exhaust pipe, a sports bumper, black roof rails, a roof spoiler, dark tinted rear windows, black door mirrors and 20-inch Cosmo Grey machined alloy wheels.

The interior is equally appealing with powered, leather sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, lots of soft-touch surfaces and smart decorative inlays. There is a wealth of on-board technology to explore, including an eight-inch floating touchscreen with access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a navigation system, Bluetooth and eight-speaker DAB radio sound system.

Behind the steering wheel is a fully customisable 10.25-inch high-resolution digital driver cluster where all the essential driving data is viewed and there is a completely separate panel for all the climate control settings.

The Tarraco offers seven seat versatility with two back seats that can be folded flat to the boot floor when not in use. These are perfect for children as the leg space is quite limited and getting in and out is simpler for someone smaller.

There is ample room for a trio of adults in the second row and the high roofline, wide windows and panoramic sunroof all contribute to enhancing passenger comfort levels.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and with seven seats upright, it can hold 230 litres of kit. Drop the pair of rear seats and that limit increases to 700 litres. And with just the two front seats occupied, the storage capacity rises to 1,775 litres.

There are numerous storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin, such as trays in the front seat backs, a glovebox, central cubby, deep door bins with space for bottles, plus front and rear cup holders.

Our Tarraco also featured 4Drive – SEAT’s four-wheel drive system – which meant it would be able to cope with more adverse driving conditions and would also be ideal to tow a caravan weighing up to 2.3 tonnes.

All in all, when you factor in the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, with exceptionally high marks for occupant safety, the SEAT Tarraco is the ideal package for any active family looking for some rewarding driving along the way.

Test Drive

SEAT Tarraco – First Drive (2019)

Turn the clock back a couple of years and there was no sign of an SUV on the Spanish manufacturer’s fleet. Fast forwards to 2019 and we have three.

First on the scene was the mid-sized Ateca followed swiftly by the smaller Arona, but now SEAT has pulled out all the stops for the daddy of the line-up and it’s big, bold, practical and full of Spanish flair.

The all-new flagship model is called the Tarraco and it boasts full seven-seat versatility along with engine, transmission and trim level choices.

With prices starting from a very reasonable £28,335 and rising to £32,150, buyers can choose from generously-equipped spec levels called SE, SE Technology, XCELLENCE and XCELLENCE LUX with the promise of FR and FR Sport versions at a later date.

There are five punchy engines with manual or automatic gearboxes, plus front or four-wheel-drive. For petrol fans there is a 1.5 TSI 150PS mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a 2.0 TSI 190PS that is seven-speed DSG auto with 4Drive (which is SEAT’s total traction system). Diesel customers can select from a 2.0 TDI 150PS in manual or auto with 4Drive, or a 2.0 TDI 190PS which is only available in automatic format with 4Drive.

The Tarraco shares many of its underpinnings with its sibling from the VW stable, the Skoda Kodiaq. But as is the SEAT way, it brings a sporting edge to the mix. For example, there are crisper lines and creases, a prominent front grille, striking alloys and the sharper full LED headlights retain the company’s triangular signature.

Step inside and the Tarraco oozes class and elegance with a wealth of on-board technology and creature comforts at your disposal. A horizontal line spans the length of the dashboard to emphasise the width of the car and there are plenty of soft-touch materials and elegant surfaces that help raise the interior quality levels.

All the controls and readouts are beautifully laid out in a clutter-free manner with traditional dials to control the temperature – no overcomplicated menus to navigate when you want a blast of cool air then. There is a neat eight-inch floating touchscreen that is simple to master and that is where the likes of the navigation system, DAB radio, and infotainment systems are all located. Full smartphone connectivity is achieved via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and as you move up through the various trim levels, you will see the introduction of features such as a rearview camera, top view camera, heated front and rear seats, park assist, plus keyless-entry-and-go with electric tailgate and virtual pedal.

There is a 10.2-inch digital cockpit display that allows the driver to personalise the information and readouts they see, with options including standard speedo and rev counter dials or full colour maps and navigation instructions.

Measuring 4.7 meters in length and 1.8 metres in width, the Tarraco is big on size and big on versatility with three rows of seats. Although the car is on sale to other markets with five-seats, the Tarraco is only available as a seven-seater here in the UK.

The rear two seats fold flat to the boot floor when not being used and the second row has a 60:40 split with plenty of tilt and slide adjustment. In reality the pair of rear seats are only suitable for children or adults on really short journeys as legroom is restricted.

The Tarraco’s storage capabilities are impressive with a boot capacity that ranges from 230 litres when all seven seats are in use, increasing to 700 litres with the rear seats dropped down. When just the front seats are occupied the cargo limit rises to a whopping 1,775 litres. And there are plenty of handy storage compartments scattered throughout the car with a decent-sized glovebox, central cubby, trays, door bins, a sunnies holder and cup holders that are adjustable.

We tested two Tarraco models – a petrol and a diesel – both in XCELLENCE trim, on a lengthy road route with motorways, B roads and congested town centres and they each had their own individual appeal.

First up was the 2.0 TSI 190PS petrol model with seven-speed DSG automatic transmission and 4Drive. This car carried a £34,845 price-tag and could sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 8.0 seconds, maxing out at 131mph. Combined fuel economy is set at 29.7-31.0mpg (WLTP) with carbon emissions of 166g/km.

With a seemingly never-ending supply of power on tap, the petrol-driven model eats up the motorway miles with ease and cruises effortlessly at national speed limits. There is instant response from the engine out on the open country lanes too where short bursts of acceleration are needed to overtake slower moving vehicles and the steering wheel paddles mean you can have fun controlling the gear changes.

From a refinement point of view, the cabin is well insulated against engine and road surface noise, but the bulky design of the car means wind noise becomes more noticeable at higher speeds. Elsewhere, the suspension does a good job of ironing out the uneven bumps and dips along the way.

There is very little vibration through the cabin and the car feels beautifully controlled and composed into tight bends with minimal body sway. The high-seated driving position results in excellent all-round visibility which is a ‘must’ for any family car.

Next up was the 2.0 TDI 190PS diesel DSG with 4Drive priced at £36,330. This car also completes the 0-62mph sprint in 8.0 seconds and maxes out at 131mph but it achieves a combined 37.2-38.2mpg with CO2 of 147g/km.

Although the diesel-driven Tarraco was not as refined to drive as its petrol counterpart, it still offered ample power through the automatic gearbox. It is a noisier unit, but you are rewarded with more frugal running costs, so it has pros and cons.

To be honest, the all-new Tarraco is another excellent full-sized SUV to join the ever-expanding sector and it adds a sportier option to the mix.

And when you factor in the comprehensive list of features and driver aids that helped the car secure a maximum five star Euro NCAP safety rating, the Tarraco is the complete all-round package to take on the likes of the Kia Sorento, Nissan X-Trail and Renault Koleos.