SEAT Tarraco - will prove himself as a team leader?

Successful teamwork requires a specific operating system. You definitely need a person who will lead the team and will not only set goals, directions and tasks, but also bring positive energy to the team and generate the necessary enthusiasm for work. However, this is a function that carries a lot of responsibility, so not everyone is suitable for this position. Will the Seat Tarraco, designated by the manufacturers as the flagship model of the entire lineup of the Spanish brand, be able to meet the task of a team leader? Or maybe he took this position because of his size? We tested it in the place most associated with Seat. In sunny Spain. 

The Tarraco is not only the largest SUV in Seat's offering.

With its introduction to the market, the Tarraco marks a new stylistic language for the brand, which will be continued next year by the next generation Leon. First of all, the front part has changed - in the foreground we see a large trapezoidal grille, a new shape of LED daytime running lights and a emphasized aggressive bumper.

In the photographs, all this makes a very good impression, but when I saw the Tarraco live, I had a little problem with the proportions. The headlights, compared to the size of the car, are a little small, and the side mirrors do not even make such an impression - they are definitely too small. And not only in terms of aesthetics, but also practicality.

At the rear, the most characteristic element of the car is the wide LED strip that has recently become fashionable, connecting the rear lights, which should visually expand the car. At the bottom of the bumper, we see two flat ends of the exhaust system, which, up close, turn out to be only poorly modified imitations. A pity. A lot of. Lateral line Tarraco gives the impression that she is a little familiar. Correct, as it turned out. Seat is linked to two other VAG SUVs: the Skoda Kodiaq and the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. Seat shares many components with its siblings, but the most important one is the use of the same MQB-A platform found in smaller models like the Octavia.

Let's look inside...

Inside the vehicle, the designers used many horizontal lines to emphasize not only the width of the vehicle, but also the large space inside. I must admit that the procedure was successful and there is a lot of space. It is worth emphasizing that both the driver and second-row passengers will not complain about the amount of legroom and overhead.

Many changes have been made in terms of multimedia as well. The center of the dashboard is occupied by an 8-inch touchscreen with the ability to connect your phone using Apple Car Play or Android Auto, although this is slowly becoming the standard in the automotive world. In addition, like the first model, it can be equipped with a virtual clock, on which the driver can display all the necessary information about driving, as well as navigation or radio stations.

Like Skoda and Volkswagen customers, potential Tarraco buyers can choose between 5-seat and 7-seat versions. Those opting for the larger option should take into account that the third row of seats is more of an emergency because, unfortunately, there is quite a bit of legroom. The advantage, however, will be the volume of the luggage compartment, which is 760 liters with the third row of seats folded down and only 7 liters less in the 60-seater version.

We checked how he rides!

The route that the organizers of the presentation planned for us ran both along the highway and along winding mountain serpentines, which made it possible to test this large SUV in various conditions. I got a powerful 190-horsepower diesel engine in combination with a DSG automatic transmission for testing. Unfortunately, already after the first kilometers, I noticed that Tarraco does not stand out in anything special in relation to his fellows. The only question is, do we need to fix what is already good?

Handling isn't the most precise in the world, but that's not the most important thing about this car. It's all about convenience, and we have it here in abundance. Good sound insulation of the cabin allows you to communicate without interruption even at high speeds of the track. Available six driving modes provide comfort in various conditions, and a reasonable diesel will not empty the owner's wallet at the stations.

The Tarraco engine range offers a choice of four units - two petrol and two diesel options. The first is a four-cylinder 1,5-liter TSI engine with 150 hp, aggregated with a six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. The second is a 2.0 engine with a power of 190 hp. mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission with 4Drive. The offer will also include two 2.0 TDI engines with 150 or 190 hp. 150 hp version will be available with front-wheel drive, six-speed manual or 4Drive and seven-speed DSG. The higher power version will only be offered in 4Drive and seven-speed DSG variants. A hybrid version is expected in the future.

But the most important thing is the price...

The price of a new SUV of the Spanish brand starts from 121 thousand rubles. zł and can even reach 174 thousand. PLN in case of diesel engine and all-wheel drive. After a quick calculation, the Seat Tarraco costs about 6. PLN more expensive than a similarly equipped Skoda Kodiaq and a similar amount cheaper than a Volkswagen Tigun Allspace. “Case? I don't think so." 🙂

However, that doesn't change the fact that Seat is a bit late in entering the large SUV market. A competition perfectly specialized thanks to years of experience will be hard to beat. I keep my fingers crossed for Tarraco, but unfortunately he will have to work hard to get customers to his site.

What about his position in the Seat family?

Has the older brother of the Ateca and Aron reached the top correctly? I think that Tarraco has a really good chance of becoming the aforementioned team leader. Why? The arrival of the Tarraco not only filled a gap in the SUV lineup, but also introduced and announced many changes that we may see for other models in the future. And doesn't this mean that the team leader should become a role model for the rest of the group?