Road test review: Seat Tarraco FR 4Drive
Wednesday, 27 January 2021
SEAT TARRACO FR 4DRIVE
Base price: $64,900
Powertrain and economy: 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, 140kW/320Nm, 7-speed dual clutch transmission, AWD, combined economy 7.2L/100km, CO2 165g/km (source: RightCar).
Vital statistics: 4735mm long, 1839mm wide, 1764mm high, 2790mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 700 litres, 19-inch alloy wheels.
We like: Feels livelier than its siblings, looks great, fantastic seats.
- We don't like: Starts to get pricey if you add options.
Quite fancy Seat's facelifted Ateca, but feel like you need something bigger? While it would be easy to describe the Tarraco as Seat’s version of the Skoda Kodiaq… actually, that is the best way to describe it too. The Tarraco is very much Seat’s version of the Kodiaq, and that is no bad thing at all.
Does that mean it is also Seat’s version of the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace too?
Well, yeah, after all the Kodiaq and Tiguan Allspace do share the same basic underpinnings. But the Tarraco is easily the best.
**READ MORE:
* First drive review: Seat Ateca and Cupra Ateca
* New Zealand to get entire Cupra range next year
* Our five favourite Volkswagen Group 'MQB' seven-seat SUVs
**
Why such a bold statement? Is it because it represents the best value for money? Is it because it is the most interesting and slightly unusual brand? Is it because it is the most enjoyable one to drive? Is it simply because it is called a ‘Tarraco’?
It’s actually all of those things.
Seat’s range isn’t quite as bewildering as VW’s or Skoda’s – in fact with the Tarraco Seat has refined the range down to a single offering – the 2.0-litre 140kW AWD FR we drive here.
Probably the most noticeable difference over its VW and Skoda siblings is Tarraco’s strikingly sportier feel. It’s not exactly a sports car, but the Seat feels nimbler and more eager to head into a corner than its close relatives.
Despite being a medium/large seven-seat SUV, the Tarraco FR feels impressively agile and responsive, while also remaining comfortable and refined on the road.
So is the FR the sports version of the Tarraco?
Well, yes and no. While it is a ‘sportier’ version of what we used to get and packs some attractive and supportive sports seats, bigger wheels and a few other sporty exterior touches, it doesn’t get the gruntier 162kW engine seen in the likes of the Tiguan R-Line models or the 176kW diesel seen in the Kodiaq RS.
But that isn’t to say the 140kW/320Nm turbo four it does have isn’t up to the task, because it most certainly is, matching the chassis nicely with its lively and eager feel.
The FR is also impressively well-equipped, with all the expected VW Group safety tech, as well as adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, taillights and daytime running lights, front fog lights with a cornering function, tinted rear windows, park assist with front and rear parking sensors and a hands-free electric tailgate.
On the inside you get an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen that includes two USB ports, integrated voice control and Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink, embedded satellite navigation, keyless entry and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
If, however, you want even more and start ticking boxes in the generous options list, things can start getting a bit pricey and you can easily tip the FR 4Drive over the $70 mark, which is well into Tiguan Allspace R-Line and Skoda Kodiaq RS territory where those gruntier engines lurk.
Any other cars I should consider?
The obvious ones are the Tarraco’s platform-mates, the previously mentioned Tiguan Allspace and Kodiaq. Both are excellent options, but the Seat is just that much more interesting.
Thene there’s other $60k-ish seven-seat stuff from the likes of Hyundai (Sante Fe), Kia (Sorento) and Toyota that has the all-new hybrid-powered Highlander landing here in a few short months.