The Ateca is the car that started the
crossover craze for Seat, and it is now getting ready to embrace its first
mid-cycle refresh, four years after production commenced. The compact
crossover, which is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform and is closely
related to the second-gen Tiguan, Skoda Karoq and Audi Q3, will be officially
presented next Monday, on June 15, at 4:00 a.m. EST (10:00 CET).
Accompanying the announcement is a teaser
video that reveals the back end of the car, with slimmer taillights, dynamic
turn signals and revised ‘Ateca’ lettering (featuring a new font) positioned
under the license plate. The diffuser has also been updated and has a cleaner look,
while earlier scoops have revealed that the updated Ateca will arrive with a
redesigned front bumper, a slightly bigger grille and new headlamps.
Expect a few tweaks inside, perhaps with
an emphasis on the new upholstery and software for the infotainment system. The
driver assistance systems are believed to have been updated as well, with Seat
announcing “a fully connected user experience, improved levels of safety and
comfort, and increased efficiency”.
The latter part is tied to the renewed
range of internal combustion engines that are more frugal and a bit more
powerful. Mild hybrids and probably a plug-in hybrid powertrain could join the
lineup, although Seat didn’t say anything about that yet. Meanwhile, the
suspension might have been re-tuned in order to improve the driving comfort.
The 2021 Ateca will continue to challenge the likes of other compact SUVs,
including the popular Nissan Qashqai, Honda CR-V, Toyota C-HR and Ford Kuga.
