What’s it like?
The SEAT Tarraco was the last of the Spanish firm’s three SUV lines to join the portfolio when it arrived in 2018, and it was also the biggest. A three-row, seven-seat derivative designed to offer a more stylish replacement for the old Alhamabra people carrier, the Tarraco was the SEAT analogue of both the Skoda Kodiaq and the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. Rivals outside of the Volkswagen Group included the Nissan X-Trail, Peugeot 5008, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, among more.
Which model to go for?
SEAT’s drivetrain offering in the wider Tarraco family for Europe was simple to understand. On the petrol side of things were turbocharged 1.5- and 2.0-litre four-cylinder units, the smaller one with 150hp, front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox, the bigger engine developing either 190- or 245hp and linked to a seven-speed DSG auto plus SEAT’s 4Drive all-wheel-drive tech.
In terms of diesels, a 2.0-litre TDI four-cylinder lump covered the bases, and it had either 150- or 190hp. The lower-output model came with a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive as standard, or the option of 4Drive and the seven-speed DSG, whereas the 190hp variant was only ever offered with 4Drive and DSG.
Finally, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) called the e-Hybrid dropped in later, using a 1.4-litre petrol TSI engine and electric motor with a 13kWh battery pack. The combined outputs of this powertrain were 245hp and 400Nm, all of which was sent to the front wheels only via a six-speed DSG.
However, here in Ireland, we didn’t get any of the 2.0-litre TSI petrol cars (you might find the odd UK import if someone really wanted one, but we doubt it), while even the e-Hybrid is a rarity – and there’s a drawback to the PHEV in that the placement of its battery pack under the boot floor means it cannot be had in seven-seat format; this Tarraco is a five-seater only.
Therefore, you’re almost certainly going to be looking at a 150hp version as the most common used example of the SEAT SUV, and we’d err towards the diesel here as it has much more torque than the 1.5-litre petrol, plus you can have it as an automatic – you can’t with the TSI. Those wanting the punchiest variant that’s readily available need to seek out the less-common 190hp 2.0 TDI 4Drive DSG.
Does anything go wrong?
Strangely, despite the fact the SEAT Tarraco shares a lot with the dependable Skoda Kodiaq, owners report quite a few issues. These principally relate to the onboard electrics and infotainment, which can display glitches, but there are reports of issues with engines and the DSG transmission, too. Owners also state that trim rattles are a common occurrence in the Tarraco.
There have been seven recalls in total for the SEAT Tarraco, which pertained to parts of the airbag inflator possibly becoming detached when the head airbag is deployed; insufficient impact absorption in the rear-left door; a potential short-circuit and fire risk due to a faulty fuse; engine covers working loose and possibly coming into contact with the hot turbocharger; defective welding on the brake-pedal plate; an insufficiently thin wall for the fuel tank; and potential cracks in the mounting points of the front-left seat. However, the engine-cover recall only relates to the 2.0 TSI models, which we never received in Ireland.