Leon to Ateca

MrRilo

Active Member
Jun 4, 2016
69
6
Buxton, Derbyshire
Had a 1.4tsi act Leon for over 2 years but now thinking of changing for an Ateca, need the boot space!

Would want the 1.5 tsi as I do low mileage and love the economy/power of my current engine.

Anybody done the same and have any pro's / con's of the Ateca vs the Leon|?
 

Sharpy

This place has cost me a fortune....
Oct 2, 2018
957
486
Maybe slightly different we got a new ateca 2.0 diesel DSG, 4 drive and still have our old mk2 Leon 2.0 Tdi 140.

The latter is a great car and has served us well but the Ateca is really very good, we love the driving position it gives you and it really comfy but offers reasonable handling for an SUV. Really solid car, we’ve had a few minor issues like the Sat Nav crashing the stereo but it’s being sorted under warranty.

In terms of the engines I can’t really comment other than the setup we have goes very well and pulls like a train all the way through the range.

I’ve heard the 1.5 is the one to get as best all rounder but we wanted the extra umph of the diesel.


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MrRilo

Active Member
Jun 4, 2016
69
6
Buxton, Derbyshire
Maybe slightly different we got a new ateca 2.0 diesel DSG, 4 drive and still have our old mk2 Leon 2.0 Tdi 140.

The latter is a great car and has served us well but the Ateca is really very good, we love the driving position it gives you and it really comfy but offers reasonable handling for an SUV. Really solid car, we’ve had a few minor issues like the Sat Nav crashing the stereo but it’s being sorted under warranty.

In terms of the engines I can’t really comment other than the setup we have goes very well and pulls like a train all the way through the range.

I’ve heard the 1.5 is the one to get as best all rounder but we wanted the extra umph of the diesel.


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I would like to have the 4 drive but its out of my price range.

Am interested whether it feels well made ( as you have said) and rides well. My Leon is great but must say that it's a harsh ride. I realise that the FR has sports suspension but I am reading that the Ateca is also on the firm side. What's it like over pot holes etc.. I am looking at the SE Nav model.

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Sharpy

This place has cost me a fortune....
Oct 2, 2018
957
486
It’s firm but plush, no where near as harsh as the Leon we have... that rattles your fillings out.

It feel about right for me the ride.


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Tell

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Staff member
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You could do the power to weight ratio figures. Mines the same as Sharpy. I had an Altea before that so was use to the high driving position.... due to tendency for backache I don't drive or wish to sit in low cars. The Xcellence seats eventually bedded in to hug one rather than rolling around on the top of the leather. If you have a Leon you won't get upset about the front passenger legroom.

The boot configuration can't really be changed after you get it. A few Ateca drivers don't opt for the spare wheel, double level boot etc. The parts aren't available after. You can put a Leon skinny in if you didn't order a spare at the start off. Other than that you are stuck with what you got. So you do need to be clear if it's a 2 wheel drive what configuration of boot you want. 4Drive we dont have that luxury of options although some people have worked with plywood to get rid if the 4Drive lip - think thats there so stuff doesn't hit the tailgate. If so the light internal cover drops off. The Seat £40 reversible rubber mat fixes that issue since nothing moves when placed on that.

PS as firm as the Altea. It drives very similar to that. I have got those low profile tyres so crawl over humps etc and pick my way around potholes where possible;). I had a few build problems. Wireless charger left off. Heated wing mirror element wire not clipped in so it didnt work. Footwell light unit left out on the passenger side. It was built in September 2016. One rear door not alligned correctly. Production checking may be better now...

No corrosion issues. Got the smoky metallic trim that is common in Vag cars apparently. Front assist isn't too bad. Some people have issues with that. Aggressive town driving or country hedgerow may give you problems. Mine sees lorries turning around off the road and warns me. It has done emergency braking twice but I wouldn't complain about that. Spray covers the sensor up and it turns itself off till dry. All VAG cars have front assist issues like this. Just the technology at the minute.

Then you have the shared wheel arch door that mud can penetrate through. You can discuss the seal but I reckon any mud will spin through that. Many cars have that design including other VAG ones. It doesn't bother me but if your route is through farm crossings it may.
 
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Peller

Active Member
Mar 29, 2016
600
191
Edinburgh
I've come from a Leon to the Ateca. I had a FR184 then moved on to a Cupra 280 SC.

I traded the Cupra on to an Ateca (1.6 TDi SE Tech) as the Cupra was going out of warranty and we were needing something a bit more sensible for the better half as I got myself an AMG45.

As for the Ateca, I feel it's a jacked up Leon as we all know. It's much better to get in and out of due to the extra height. The interior feels a little bigger but not by a massive margin. The bigger infotainment screen is a big improvement from the Leon as are the LED headlights. They are much better than the Leon's I had but I've heard that the facelifted Leon has improved headlights.

I find the that the ride is a bit fidgety and you can feel every bump but thats maybe due to the 18" wheels that are standard with the SE Tech. I actually found the Cupra to be the comfiest of the lot due to the adaptive suspension (apart from the (sh*t your pants moment when you hit a pothole!) I would say that the ride is much the same as my old FR184.

I also think the speakers for the standard sound system are a lot weaker, especially the ones in the rear doors (practically non existent) I thought there was a fault but upon testing other Atecas after complaining I found little difference.

It's a nice enough car but it's more of a workhorse, not much character in it but if you need a capable family wagon it is very good.

Engine wise, as I previously mentioned we have the 1.6 diesel, perfectly adequate but would prefer the extra grunt of the 190 but then you're stuck with 4drive and a much higher price. Not sure of the petrol versions but I'd imagine to be a lot quieter with decent power. I'm not to sure how the 1.0 petrol would be in such a big car though!

In all honesty I would have a look at the Karoq first, all those little extras like sliding rear seats etc make all the difference.

Overall a nice car but maybe a bit bland but is a nice car if you want it for the right reasons.

Just my two pence worth, hope it helps!

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Carbonara

Active Member
Aug 19, 2018
81
21
Love my 1.0 SE Ateca with its black roof rails and without a shiny exhaust, and I love my Leon Cupra with its black roof rails and black exhaust. Very different cars but both excellent. Can't see myself going back to Audi.
 
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R22 JGB

SEAT Leon FR184 DSG
Aug 29, 2010
304
1
Gateshead
I too am contemplating changing from my Leon FR184 to an Ateca, thinking of the 150ACT DSG.
My 84 year old Mother in Law travels in the back sear and struggles swinging her feet into the Leon.
The gap between the B post and the seat is 280mm.
What is this gap on the Ateca?
 

Tell

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I too am contemplating changing from my Leon FR184 to an Ateca, thinking of the 150ACT DSG.
My 84 year old Mother in Law travels in the back sear and struggles swinging her feet into the Leon.
The gap between the B post and the seat is 280mm.
What is this gap on the Ateca?

Well its 280mm again measured diagonal which is what I think yours is. The seat height is 600mm (top of seat to road surface) which I reckon is the critical measurement. You dont go down so far !. Then you can swing your legs in :). More Parker Knoll like...

The Terraco like the Kodiaq should have a rear sliding seat so that extra foot which it has, some may be of use there perhaps. I know I had the rear seat of a Kodiaq pushed back so that's another option, so I could ram the front passenger seat back. Reckon it's the height mind which is a factor, why some elderly people sit and swing on a cushion in a car.
 
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Jun 10, 2020
1
0
Hi,

Is there any difference on the width of the rear seats, between Leon, Leon Sporttourer and Ateca? If I check outer width of Ateca, it is sligthly wider, but it is the body. I wonder if Ateca gives a little extra space for third person on rear seats. I have two kids, one is one month old, today I have used two isofix car seats on my Seat Leon, and my wife was not able to sit in the middle. Not really comfy on a long travel. Do you think that is slightly better on Ateca, or are the rear seats exactly same in size?
 

Tell

Full Member
Staff member
Moderator
I'd say without measuring it, the rear seats either side give you about as much room as the front seats. That was a design philosophy that it could carry adults in the back with the same room as the front. The rub is the middle seat though. Ateca seating is higher thou than the Leon. Id put one child in the middle. Never sat in the middle seat but you have the centre well or lack of it. You need to try it out.
 

Tell

Full Member
Staff member
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Think you have a point there checking the manual. Marked X on the column to the right.
 

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