Family SUVs: SEAT Ateca vs Skoda Karoq

When looking for a family SUV to lease, there’s a wide selection of cars to choose from. Meanwhile, the surge in demand for SUVs in the UK continues and SUV leasing is a cost-effective way to have your ideal family car at an affordable rate. Typically, SUVs are characterised by a large body size, ample boot space and a higher driving position.

If this is the kind of car you’re looking for, then you may have considered the SEAT Ateca vs Skoda Karoq. But how do these two cars compare in terms of design, features and overall driving experience? Let’s find out more about these family SUVs.

A Brief History

The Skoda Karoq was first introduced in 2017 as a replacement for the Skoda Yeti. This small SUV has a sporty design with a big front grille and sharp headlights. In 2017, a Skoda Karoq facelift was introduced with an improved design and sharper looks. This has become one of Skoda’s key models with over half a million units sold worldwide.

The SEAT Ateca was introduced in 2016 as the brand's first SUV. Named after a Spanish village in western Zaragoza, this new SUV was based on the popular Volkswagen Tiguan. In 2020, the SEAT Ateca facelift was revealed with a revamped bumper and a new front grille. Also, the new Ateca incorporated advanced features such as adaptive cruise control.

Design and technology

The Skoda Karoq was first launched in 2017 as Skoda’s second SUV model. Despite being the smaller sibling to the Skoda Kodiaq, the Karoq has similar design features and still offers ample space. Today, the latest Skoda Karoq is known for its excellent visibility, practicality and generous standard technology. In fact, the Skoda Karoq was awarded What Car? 2021 Best family SUV for practicality. It may not be a flashy car, but it is still a sensible and practical option which appeals to many lease customers.

All models come with LED headlights, rear parking sensors, DAB radio, Bluetooth and sat-nav as standard. Like its sibling, the Karoq has a modern looking dashboard and a stronger focus on interior comfort than the SEAT Ateca. Size wise, these two SUVs are very similar, although the SEAT Ateca is marginally taller in height.

Whereas the SEAT Ateca was first unveiled in 2016 as the brand’s first SUV. With tougher segment competition nowadays, the latest SEAT Ateca has been refined to offer greater technology and features a new front grille. Inside the Ateca, standard features include wireless smartphone integration, a wireless phone charger, chrome detailing and dual zone climate control.

Also, the Ateca has a generous 510-litre boot space, as well as good towing capabilities, if necessary. This makes it slightly smaller than the Karoq’s 521-litre boot, although the difference is hardly noticeable. By folding down the back seats, the Ateca has 1,604 litres of boot space compared to the Karoq’s 1,630 litres. Meanwhile, exterior features on the Ateca include LED headlights, black roof rails, a hidden exhaust pipe and daytime running lights.

Safety and reliability

Both of these SUVs are recognized for being reliable cars. As with all new Skoda passenger cars UK, the Karoq comes with a warranty for up to 3 years/60,000 miles. This is in line with the industry standard and matches the SEAT Ateca warranty. The Skoda and SEAT car warranties consist of 2 years with unlimited mileage and a third year up to the 60,000-mile limit. In the recent Driver Power 2022 new car survey, the SEAT Ateca was ranked 10th among the top 75 cars while the Skoda Karoq was 18th. For this survey, these cars were judged in part on their reliability and build quality.

As for safety, some standard features on the Skoda Karoq include front assist, a minimum of 7 airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and electronic stability control. Likewise, the SEAT Ateca has an excellent reputation for being a safe car to drive. Like the Skoda Karoq, this SEAT model also achieved a full Euro NCAP Safety Rating of five stars. Key safety features on the SEAT Ateca include cruise control, front assist, seatbelt reminder and ISOFIX points in the rear.

Engine size, MPG figures and performance

The latest Skoda Karoq is available with a great choice of petrol and diesel engine options. For those interested in a petrol car, the Karoq comes with either a three-cylinder 1.0-litre, a four-cylinder 1.5 litre or a four-cylinder 2.0-litre which is only available in Sportline trim. If you regularly potter around town, the 1.0-litre engine is ideal and manages a fuel efficiency rating of up to 48.6mpg (WLTP - combined). If you’d prefer a punchier petrol engine, the 150hp 1.5-litre is the ideal option and can achieve a 0-62mph time of 8.9 seconds. For those drivers looking for a diesel, the Skoda Karoq has a choice of two diesel engines - 116bhp and 150bhp. The diesel engines are ideal if you regularly drive long distances on the motorway for improved fuel efficiency.

Similarly, the SEAT Ateca has both petrol and diesel options. In terms of petrol engines, choose between the 110hp 1.0-litre, 150hp 1.5-litre or the 190hp 2.0-litre. In particular, the 2.0-litre petrol is exclusively available with four-wheel drive and offers impressive fuel efficiency figures. Plus, it offers a 0-62mph time of 7.1 seconds and a max. speed of 133mph. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a diesel engine, there’s the 2.0-litre four-cylinder available with either 115hp or 150hp. With additional power, the 150hp option offers better performance and fuel economy ratings up to 58.9mpg (WLTP - combined). Both the Skoda Karoq and SEAT Ateca are still awaiting a fully electric version, but this doesn’t appear to put many drivers off due to their excellent fuel efficiency ratings. Also, both diesel versions of the Ateca and Karoq are particularly suitable for towing.

Price and Insurance

As for pricing of these SUVs, the Skoda Karoq is priced from £26,545 whereas the SEAT Ateca starts from £26,395. This makes them similarly priced at entry-level. For a sporty spec, the Karoq Sportline pricing increases to around £32,000, which is comparable to the Ateca FR version from £30,405. These sportier versions are very popular, specifically the SEAT Ateca FR with 18” alloy wheels, aluminium pedals and ambient interior lighting.

Furthermore, when choosing your next family car, it’s worth looking at insurance costs. Well, you’ll be pleased to know that both the Ateca and Karoq offer fair insurance costs for an SUV. In fact, the SEAT Ateca has an insurance grouping range from 10 to 24 out of 50, depending on the specification and battery option you choose. This is very similar insurance grouping to the Skoda Karoq.

Our Verdict

Both of these SUVs are great family cars and it’s easy to see why you would choose one of them as your next lease car. Both the Skoda Karoq and SEAT Ateca are similarly priced, have good standard equipment and feel spacious inside. However, The SEAT Ateca has punchier engines making it sportier to drive, while the Skoda Karoq focuses more on comfort. Plus, both Skoda and SEAT are known for producing well-built cars with appealing designs. So really, the only question left to ask is, would you prioritise comfort or drive? This may help you to decide which family SUV to opt for. At GB Vehicle Leasing, we have some cracking SUV lease deals, so you can drive your ideal family car for a fixed monthly cost.

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