Traditionally Seat uses the names of Spanish towns for its cars, but where in Spain is Tarraco?
Google maps doesn’t know.
It turns out that it’s the old name for the port of Tarragona, and the Tarraco completes Seat’s set of SUVs and crossovers with the Arona as the baby, the Ateca the middle child, and now this daddy SUV with its seven seats.
The Tarraco uses the same platform as the Skoda Kodiaq even though the Seat is slightly longer and lower than its cousin.
You have a broad choice of powerplants with two petrol and two diesel engines.
The petrol pair are a 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI which produces 148bhp and a 2.0-litre TSI which puts out 187bhp.
Both diesels are two-litre units with either 148bhp or 178bhp.
Entry level models are front-wheel drive with manual gearboxes and further up the rankings you get a DSG gearbox and four-wheel drive.
The base-level trim is the SE but we’re testing the 2.0 TSI in Xcellence First Edition Plus spec which is the most expensive Tarraco you can buy.
It includes a large amount of kit as standard such as adaptive cruise control, wireless phone charging, rear camera, electric tailgate and tasteful Alcantara upholstery.
You sit relatively high up in the Tarraco for that genuine look-down-on-others SUV feel that doesn’t count for so much these days as most other drivers are also sat up high in crossovers.
The Alcantara trim brings with it a quality feel that is a cut above other models in the Seat range.
All cars regardless of trim level are fitted with a digital instrument panel and a ‘floating’ touchscreen.
Like most, your finger will jump about and press the wrong bit if you try using it on a bumpy road.
There are old-fashioned knobs too but they’re a bit fiddly.
There’s also voice control on high-spec cars that’s provided by Amazon Alexa.
The new Tarraco has generous headroom for at least the front two rows of occupants, even if fitted with the optional panoramic sunroof.
The third row is really for youngsters, although the second row seats do recline and slide forwards to provide more knee room for those behind.
Fold the third row down and you have a generous 700 litres of luggage space, which is 70 litres more than you get in the seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq.
Ah, the Kodiaq. Which to go for?
The newcomer from Spain or the Czech option?
In reality that’s a duff question because both of these cars are made in the same factory in Wolfsburg, Germany.
The Seat gives you slightly more space but also costs more.
The entry-level Tarraco comes in at £28,335 whereas the cheapest Kodiaq is £25,770.
However, it’s not quite as straightforward as that because the Seat comes with more equipment.
Visually, there’s not much between them.
They’re both attractive SUVs but not outstandingly stylish.
They’re similar to drive, too. Pushed to make a distinction, I’d say that the Seat has a slightly more sporty chassis but it is by no means uncomfortable.
Hardly any SUVs or crossovers are fun to drive – that’s not what they’re for.
The new Seat Tarraco does the job of providing spacious and comfortable family transport.
So does the Kodiaq and it is cheaper.
It’s where my money would go.
THE FACTS
Seat Tarraco Xcellence First Edition five-door SUV
Price: £38,605
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder, 187bhp
0-62mph: 8.0sec
Fuel consumption: 30.7mpg
THE RIVALS
Nissan X-Trail Tekna
Good value for money but you’d need to check the spec carefully for what’s included.
Skoda Kodiaq L&K
This version of Skoda’s 7-seater is high spec, but the lower specs are better value than the Seat.
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line Tech
The seven-seat version of the Tiguan.
Similar to Tarraco and Kodiaq, just a different badge.
