In the end the trusty old Seat and I went through a lot together.
There was the perilous trip on the M6 through the very worst of Storm Eric, with zero visibility and an Audi up my backside.
We then tackled the narrow winding roads of the Cotswolds, where this crossover SUVs came into its own as we reversed up a hill to let pensioners in a Nissan Micra through.
For the record, they didn’t wave the customary "thank you."
Then there was the time spent hunting a car parking space in central London. Without a parking permit. Just after the school bell had rung.
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And don’t forget the true horror that is the supermarket car park...
How it did perform these magnificently mundane tasks?
Perfectamente... and that's Spanish for 'bloody great'.
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It was simple, and don’t underrate that. In the meantime I’ve had much (Frencher) SUVs that have been simply baffling in their concept and execution.
The Seat is beautifully uncomplicated and underrated. Like the Jordan Henderson of the road.
Unlike Henderson, my version, the Ateca FR Sport 4-drive petrol had the oomph when I needed it.
The 2.0 litre automatic was so easy to drive. It was the most responsive automatic I’d ever driven, hitting me with more power on the motorway when I really needed it.
Let's be frank, the styling isn't out of the ordinary and it does look like a lot of the SUV crossovers on the market.
But like everything else about this car, it looks smart and sophisticated without ever going over the top.
Despite being in an Crossover the handling was good, if a little firm, and the grip was solid – even on that wet M6.
There were different settings for the drive system, from Eco to motorway, sport and all in between.
The Sat Nav was easy – after a few minutes working it out – and the entertainment system perfectly 'sound.'
It was spacious but used the space well so it wasn’t too big for the city. The cameras and sensors made parking easy too.
Yeah, it’s not without its downsides. The name is instantly forgettable. Alceta? Aleta? Arteta? I still don’t know.
I had to actually Google it to remember what it was called, which is hard when you're trying to big it up in a dinner party situation.
Also the in-car computer went haywire once near Whitney in Oxfordshire and we couldn’t get it to turn on. It reset eventually though.
But the quibbles were minor to the overall package of a well-made car.
In all the Arteta, sorry Ateca, was practical, well-styled and solid.
Bien Hencho, my Spanish chums.
THE FACTS
Seat Ateca FR 2.0 TDI NR DSG 4Drive 190PS
Price: £32,240
Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder diesel
0-60mph: 7.3seconds
Fuel consumption: 51mpg
THE RIVALS
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Kia Sportage
Nissan Qashqai
