The Seat Ateca is the manufacturer's first SUV

Geneva Motor Show 2016: Seat has announced its first sports utility vehicle, known as the Ateca, which will go on sale in the UK priced from £17,990.

As you may have noticed, the Seat Ateca is basically a Leon on stilts with a few modifications, which makes sense when you consider people like the Leon and the compact SUV market is hotly contested it needs all the help it can get. In fact, it shares the same underlying MQB architecture.

Let’s start with practicality because that’s why you would buy a Nissan Qashqai competitor. Boot space is 485 litres for the four-wheel drive model rising to 510 litres if front-wheel drive is enough, bettering the Qashqai even though the Ateca is a tad shorter (4.36m versus 4.37m)

A choice of petrol and diesel engines will be available, ranging from 115 to 190PS and paired up with either a manual or, in the case of the diesels, a dual-clutch DSG gearbox.

The smallest engine ─ the 1.0-litre TSI ─ has 200Nm of torque from 2,0000rpm, fuel economy of 54mpg, 121g/km of CO2 emissions and a 0-62mph time of 10.5 seconds.

Atop the Ateca food chain is the 2.0 TDI, which has 190PS, 400Nm of torque from 1,750rpm, a top speed of 132mph, 0-62mph of seven seconds, fuel economy of 56mpg and CO2 emissions of 131g/km.

Three trim levels will be available to UK customers, although Seat said it will confirm the exact specifics on the 1st of May, 2016. But we can tell you the entry-level ‘S’ spec comes with a five-inch infotainment display, seven airbags, drowsiness detection and air conditioning.

Up a rung on the Seat ladder is ‘SE’, which includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED rear lights, dual zone automatic climate control, leather steering wheel and rear parking sensors.

Last, but by no means least, is ‘Xcellence’, which offers leather upholstery, ambient lighting in a variety of colours, roof rails, dark tinted windows, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, full-LED headlamps, reversing camera, stop and start ignition and chrome window frames.

Each model will benefit from Seat’s Drive Profile, which adapts the Ateca for the current driving situation. Not only that, various safety systems can be added to keep you and your family safe, including Traffic Sign Recognition, Park Assist 3.0 and Lane Assist.

Seat president Luca de Meo said of the Ateca: “Our first SUV marks the start of a new era for Seat. The Ateca is a clear development of the Leon DNA and will drive forward the success of the range. Seat is a brand on the move.”