SEAT鈥橲 SUV range is growing quickly in more ways than one. Around a third of the cars the brand sells are Ateca and Arona SUVs - and now there鈥檚 another model that will boost that proportion further: the new Tarraco. It鈥檚 a seven-seat flagship model that鈥檚 aimed at buyers who are looking for a bit more space and a couple of extra seats, but without sacrificing a stylish body shape. We鈥檝e lined up two key competitors to find out which family load-lugger is the best large SUV. The Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008 have been close rivals in our road tests over the past two years. In diesel form, it鈥檚 the Skoda that makes the most sense, while the Peugeot takes victory when it comes to petrol power. To match the Tarraco here we鈥檙e looking at diesel versions, so it鈥檚 the Kodiaq that is the one to beat. The SEAT has the right equipment to do so, though, because it鈥檚 based on the same platform as the Skoda, and the two cars have quite a lot in common. Yet there are a few subtle differences, as we鈥檒l see in the coming pages.
Here we鈥檒l find out which model offers the best balance of practicality, comfort, running costs and value for money for buyers after a seven-seat SUV. The Tarraco uses the versatile MQB architecture in its construction, which is the same platform that underpins the Skoda Kodiaq. SEAT鈥檚 smaller Ateca and even cars like the VW Golf are also based on MQB. Our test Tarraco features a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 148bhp and a six-speed manual transmission, which sends drive to the front wheels only. It鈥檚 the same engine that鈥檚 fitted to the Kodiaq, although the Czech model comes with four-wheel drive. A core feature of these big SUVs is that they offer space to seat seven people, with two extra seats in the boot that can be folded away when not in use. The Tarraco鈥檚 interior uses a simple design, but it鈥檚 not lacking in quality. It doesn鈥檛 have the flair or inspired use of materials of the 5008, but it鈥檚 on par with the Kodiaq鈥檚 cabin and features even more technology, including a digital instrument cluster.
Digital dials are standard on SE Technology models, along with plenty of other kit. There are 18-inch alloys, parking sensors, cruise control, LED headlights, metallic paint and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that offers satellite navigation and smartphone connectivity. SEAT鈥橲 SUVs have so far been among the best drivers鈥?cars in their respective classes, so we had high hopes for the Tarraco - and it didn鈥檛 disappoint. Ultimately, this is a large SUV and few buyers will be interested in its handling ability, but it has decent grip and body roll is controlled enough to add confidence on a winding road. It鈥檚 slightly more controlled than the Skoda, yet is no less comfortable, while both are better tied down than the 5008, which can feel a little unsettled thanks to its quick steering and extra body roll. The Tarraco rides smoothly for the most part, and takes on really bumpy roads very well.
It鈥檚 only when the suspension reaches the end of its travel on speed bumps and big potholes that you start to notice the movement in the cabin. It鈥檚 similar to the Kodiaq in that regard, and both MQB models are better at controlling harsh bumps than the 5008, despite the French model being mostly comfortable. SEAT鈥檚 seven-seater is also the most refined car here, because engine noise is very well suppressed at low speed, while wind and road noise are lower at higher speed, too. The 2.0-litre diesel is smoother and sounds less gruff than the 5008鈥檚 1.5-litre unit. It also proved to be punchy in our performance tests, because the Tarraco was the quickest model from 0-60mph, taking a reasonable 10.3 seconds, and from 30-70mph through the gears. It managed a time of 9.8 seconds in that test, a full two seconds faster than the 5008 and 0.3 seconds quicker than the Kodiaq. The SEAT and Skoda have the power advantage with their 148bhp engines (the 5008 has 129bhp), but they鈥檙e also easier to drive quickly. That鈥檚 because their gearboxes are both much slicker than the Peugeot鈥檚, and their steering is more precise.
While the two Volkswagen Group models drive in a similar way, the Tarraco is slightly quieter inside, which makes it the best car behind the wheel here. All three of these large SUVs have two extra chairs in the back, but unlike some seven-seater MPVs, the Tarraco, Kodiaq and 5008 aren鈥檛 spacious enough for adults to sit comfortably in the third row. The SEAT鈥檚 rearmost seats, as in both rivals, are a bit difficult to clamber into, and even with the second row set as far forward as it will go on its runners, there鈥檚 minimal legroom. Still, the third row offers sufficient space for kids, and there鈥檚 more than enough head and legroom in the second row for adults, especially if there鈥檚 nobody sitting in the third row and the seats are set back. Euro NCAP recently tested the Tarraco and awarded it 97 per cent in the Adult Safety category as part of its overall five-star rating. Assist section, which is reassuring for any potential owners. It gets lane-keep assist, parking sensors and AEB as standard. SEAT came 14th in the manufacturers鈥?chart of our Driver Power 2019 satisfaction survey, which was a mid-table result and behind both rival brands. The Tarraco returned 44.7mpg on test, which equates to an annual fuel cost of 拢1,598 at current prices. The Kodiaq was slightly more economical, managing 48.9mpg, which works out at 拢1,460 a year, while the 5008鈥檚 42.7mpg figure means you鈥檒l pay 拢1,674 a year. Those results aren鈥檛 too bad for cars of this size, so we鈥檇 still recommend diesel power unless you don鈥檛 do many miles each year or live in a large city.
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