The best-looking 3-row SUV from the VW-Skoda-SEAT trinity?
SEAT, the Spanish marque under the Volkswagen Group umbrella, has gone from having no SUVs in its lineup to having three in just 2 years. Following the Ateca and Arona, now it’s time to say hello to the Tarraco, the biggest SUV SEAT’s made to date and definitely the prettiest.
Because of its Spanish heritage, SEAT has always had a great emphasis on style. On that front, the Tarraco’s moving the game on somewhat, as the company is using it to spearhead some design changes for the company. The headlights for example now spear further towards the middle while still retaining SEAT’s signature triangular light design, and they flank a sharper 6-point grille that’s set to trickle down into the rest of the range. And while the complex surfacing down the side & glasshouse shape is broadly familiar to other VW Group SUVs, the rear is unique to the Tarraco, with a full-width LED taillight replete with scrolling indicators.
The Tarraco shares its underpinnings with the Skoda Kodiaq, as well as the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, and measuring in at 4.735m long and 1.658m tall, it’s no small machine. This is most evident inside where, despite the masses of space, SEAT’s sought to emphasise the girth of the Tarraco with a totally-reworked cabin aesthetic that is both simplistic, clean, and pleasing to look at.
Being a modern car, the Tarraco offers a variety of technological flourishes that befit a large family hauler. Drivers will be able to opt for a 10.25-inch digital instrument display called Digital Cockpit, and pair that with an infotainment screen that goes as large at 8-inches across. And drivers will also appreciate the engines on offer: There are 110kW and 140kW versions of both turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines, with the option to have them mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed double-clutch auto, as well as the choice of either front- or all-wheel drive.
And being a family car, SEAT’s packed the Tarraco with plenty of advanced safety kit like smart cruise control, lane-keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking that can detect cyclists, pedestrians, and other cars. The latter two are standard, but active cruise, blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, and Emergency Assist are all optional extras.
Like what you see? With every new model, we have to ask ourselves if we really want to see SEAT back in Australia. When they left in 1999 we didn’t miss them, because if we wanted a bargain-basement version of a Volkswagen we’d have walked into a Skoda dealership. But with the three brands now taking very distinctive directions, perhaps it’s time for SEAT’s return? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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