New SEAT Tarraco, Concentrated Essence
At the beginning of 2016, the Spanish car manufacturer owned by the Volkswagen group was one of the few automakers without participation in the world of crossovers. But in less than 24 months, the situation has taken a total turnaround, which is completed with the arrival of the SEAT Tarraco.
In the first place, in the last quarter of 2016 the SEAT Ateca appeared, a five-seater, medium-sized SUV. A year later it would be the turn of the SEAT Arona, a small model registered within the automotive B segment.
The Tarraco is the largest of the SEAT light off-road trilogy . According to its configuration, it can accommodate up to seven passengers ; It is a vehicle designed for large families or for those who like to have a spacious boot.
Exterior design: the same, but different
Those responsible for defining the image that the world will see of the SEAT Tarraco made an effort to combine apparently irreconcilable elements. On the one hand, they maintain the characteristic presence of the brand’s cars, mainly small SUVs.
In addition, the effort to stand out within a niche of the same cars is also noticeable ; at the same time they opt for a groundbreaking design, to promote the idea that it is something totally new.
In fact, this model has elements very similar to two of its main rivals: the Skoda Kodiaq and the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. All of them are mounted on the MQB modular platform, developed by the Volkswagen group to unify the processes of many of its models.
SEAT Tarraco inside
The interior of this large SUV, seeks to make the most of the 4.7 meters in length of its body; it is enough space for all passengers. At the same time, the capacity of the Tarraco offers more than 600 liters for luggage in the standard version (five seats).
The new model of the Tarraco has been designed to improve the operation of its technology and infotainment services that already travel on board their ‘little brothers’.
All this technology is completed with some novelties such as an instrument panel that, depending on the finish, can be 100% digital and displayed within a large capacity screen.
Engines
The new automotive star with the Spanish flag uses 1.4-cylinder 150 hp gasoline engines . It also has a more powerful version of two liters and 180 horsepower.
The option in terms of diesel mechanics is a 2.0 TDI machine with 150 CV; the equipment is completed with a six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed automatic gearbox.
The price
While waiting for it to be made official, it is estimated that the starting price of the SEAT Tarraco is halfway between the commercial value of its rivals. That is, in an intermediate figure between € 23,600 for the Skoda Kodiaq and € 33,000 for the Tiguan Allspace.
Similarly, it is given as a fact that, depending on the level of finishes, it is marketed in the three classic versions of SEAT. These options from which we can choose are: Reference (basic), Style (mid-range) and Xcellence (highest version).
A great SUV, ‘from Tarragona to the world’
As is customary for the Spanish brand, to baptize its new model a geographical area is taken as a reference. With the novelty, in this case, that the election was not carried out in the company’s offices. But with the participation of the public through an online campaign.
Tarraco , the winning option, is the name by which what is now Tarragona was known in times of the Roman Empire. This name was imposed in the final vote on Ávila, Alborán and Aranda.
It is a car with a Spanish spirit, but it is assembled in the factory that the Volkswagen group has in Wolfsburg. The same five-seater Tiguan production site .
SEAT’s new SUV has the complex mission of making itself an important place, not only among its main competitors. The competition against other benchmarks in the segment, such as the Hyundai Santa Fe or the Kia Sorrento, is just as tough.
