It's like those blind wine tastings, you don't know the label, that's why the senses are focused on pure analysis, without interference from prejudice, positive or negative.
In fact, driving the new Tarraco, still fully camouflaged, is not quite the same thing. Because I know which brand does it and what position it will have in the market. But at least not being able to see its aesthetics forced me to focus on the more objective aspects, of use and driving.
SEAT has decided to provide this early test of Tarraco to a few dozen journalists across Europe , perhaps to position itself from now on in a segment that does not stop growing, as if it were taking an answering pass, so as not to lose time.
The biggest of the brand's SUVs will only be fully shown in September and will only hit the market in January , although “teaser” images have already been released that clearly show a front design that breaks with that of the Ateca and Arona, the other two sizes of SUV that SEAT has for sale.
The SEAT Tarraco is important because it will be at the top of the range, with the brand admitting that it will make a greater profit than other models, in other words, will have a higher price . In Germany, the reference value is 43 000 euros, for a version like the one tested, the 2.0 TDI 190 DSG 4Drive. In Portugal, it remains to be seen what taxes it takes and whether it will be able to escape Class 2 on the highways.
Angel Suarez, Engineer at the SEAT Technical Center in MartorellThis model will generate growth in the brand, in a new segment. It will be our top of the range, and will allow us to have greater sales margins. It is the entry into the large SUV segment and completes SEAT's SUV offer, alongside the Arona and Ateca. It will be produced at the VW factory in Wolfsburg and will go on sale in early 2019, with five- and seven-seat versions.
The available range will have three engines: 1.5 TSI (150 hp), 2.0 TSI (190 hp) and two versions of the 2.0 TDI (150 and 190 hp), the less powerful ones can have manual transmission and drive only at the front, the others have 4Drive and seven-ratio DSG box.
Bigger than Ateca
The camouflage film that changes the eyes of those trying to understand what's underneath, even live, next to the car, does not prevent the perception of the larger dimensions of the Ateca: the SEAT Tarraco has 372 mm more in length and 157 mm more in wheelbase.
The platform is the same MQB, but in a bigger version, always with independent suspension at the back and shared with the Skoda Kodiaq. That's why it offers a version with seven seats, although the SEAT Tarraco can also be purchased with just five, for those who like to keep their luggage loose, as the capacity rises from 700 to 760 l.
The third row of seats is easy to assemble, just pull the back of each seat using two straps from the trunk. Then it's a matter of adjusting the position of the middle row, which adjusts lengthwise, to arrange the best compromise for everyone. There is room in width and for the knees and even the height is only compromised a little if the car is equipped with the panoramic roof that the tested unit had.
The problem is that the seat is too close to the floor, which forces the knees to go too high and the legs to be unsupported. The other problem is the access, which forces you to slide one of the asymmetric parts of the central row and fold the back, even so without having an easy way to the third row. As much as you like, the truth is that there is nothing like a good people carrier, when it comes to carrying more than five people in a passenger car.
Sven Schawe, Development Director at SEAT.(O Tarraco) It is a program of its own development, separate from what was done in other brands of the group. We don't necessarily have to be completely aware of what VW is doing at all times.
Even with seven on board, the suitcase does not disappear completely, leaving a reasonable volume, which can be increased by pushing the third row seats down and pulling two levers on the trunk walls, to make the back of the middle row fall. There's even a place under the floor to store the coat rack and an ingenious system that raises the third row of seats a few centimeters to access the spare wheel, which is underneath everything.
It goes without saying that the backs of the two front seats have airplane-like tables, so the children in the second row can get up and down during the trip...
all camouflaged
The cabin was also camouflaged with a black blanket that covered the entire dashboard, it was only possible to photograph with the blanket on, but I can tell what I saw when I pulled it up.
One Fully digital, three-mode configurable instrument panel and a central tactile monitor , which grew in size and now occupies a prominent place at the top of the dashboard, instead of being inserted into the console, as in the Ateca.
On the console, next to the snare lever, there is a rotary knob to choose between the Eco/Normal/Sport/Individual/Snow/Off-Road driving modes.
As for the quality , and judging by this non-final unit was very close to that, we have the usual distribution, with soft materials on top of the dashboard and front doors and hard plastics on everything else, but with a good appearance.
The driving position is the usual for the group's SUVs, tall but not exaggerated and with good forward visibility. Back, it's better to trust the camcorder. The steering wheel is very well positioned, but the DSG gearshift paddles are still very small and fixed to the steering wheel.
Below are the anti-Diesel
The 190 hp 2.0 TDI engine goes against all those who have come to hate Diesel: it is silent, does not emit large vibrations and has a good response at low speeds, with a maximum torque of 400 Nm reaching 1750 rpm.
WORLD REVELATION IN SEPTEMBER 2018
Razão Automóvel will be at the world revelation of the SEAT Tarraco, where it will be possible to see the new SUV of the Spanish brand live for the first time. Follow everything here and on our social networks.
If you really want to go looking for the turbo's response time at low revs, you'll find it, but it's an academic exercise, even more so when you have a good DSG gear, smooth in maneuvers and quick in transitions.
Equipped with DCC adaptive damping, the less-than-perfect road comfort proved to be quite good, with tires measuring 235/50 R19 not to complicate matters. And you can clearly see the difference, in suspension, engine and box, when you switch to Sport mode. The steering also gains a little weight, which gives it a little more consistency when you decide to go faster.
It is obvious that Tarraco does not have the agility of the Ateca, due to its size. It's not as sharp on corner entry and starts to pull out a bit earlier. But he still has the driving feel of the SEAT, with good control of body movements, even on the worst floors, where he never loses his composure. It's not a car that encourages you to go fast, but it even admits that you can provoke the rear end of braking later, just to hit the line of the front wheels. On highways it makes little rolling noise and aerodynamics, promising long journeys with comfort.
Off road without scares
Despite being a pre-series unit, the SEAT didn't spare it an off-road driving experience on a dirt obstacle course. Of course, all the obstacles were sized for the SEAT Tarraco to overcome them with their TT angles slightly worse than those of the Atecas (19.1º/19.1º/21.4º, for attack/ventral/exit) but, even so, there is something to report.
The holes, ditches and stones do not destroy comfort and the steering is well cushioned , never transmitting sudden movements. On the steepest climb of the track, I started with less swing than indicated by the instructor and of course the SEAT Tarraco almost stopped halfway. But all you had to do was keep accelerating at full throttle, for the 4Drive to make the most adequate power distribution and the engine to pull the car all the way to the top, throwing boulders into the air.
Sven Schawe, Development Director at SEAT.The SEAT Tarraco was developed with different priorities than the Ateca, given its longer wheelbase and specific adjustments for suspension and steering.
On the next, even steeper descent, the Hill Descent Control he showed that he doesn't need the driver for anything, except to control the direction and regulate the descent speed, pressing the brake or accelerator. The Tarraco descended everything in a completely controlled way, but with that feeling that, suddenly, the rear was weightless.
Finally, a 40º sidebending exercise , which proved to be the most demanding in terms of self-control, to resist leaving the obstacle and returning to horizontality. Not that the Tarraco showed any difficulties, but that getting an SUV at angles like this impresses those who go inside, there's no doubt about that.
Moreover, with 201 mm of height to the ground and gearbox in automatic mode, it was enough to avoid the deepest gullies to never hit the bottom of the car on the road. In the end, it became clear that the obstacle course was more difficult than it first appeared, but that Tarraco passed it without any problems.
Conclusions
Of course, this is not what Tarraco buyers are going to buy it for. For most, it will be the daily transport of the family, a service that they should do with ease and reduced consumption, judging by what this 2.0 TDI engine is capable of. It remains to be seen what the family's opinion will be when they see Tarraco's style, without camouflage.