In many ways, Seat->ke80 is to the Volkswagen Group->ke94 what Opel->ke65 is to General Motors:->ke1024 a bottomless pit. Well, maybe Seat is doing a little better than the German brand, but it's struggling to make a profit for quite a few years now. Given the financial troubles, it's no surprise that the Spanish company has decided to jump on the crossover bandwagon. Having unveiled the 20V20 and Leon Cross Sport concepts->ke169 in 2015, Seat has finally introduced its first-ever production SUV. Dubbed Ateca and based on the same MQB oily bits that underpin most Volkswagen Group crossovers,->ke288 this people hauler is slightly smaller than the Tiguan and aimed at the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson.

Described as "Seat's next pillar following the successful Leon and Ibiza," the Ateca is a crucial model to the Spanish brand, which predicts that crossover sales in Western Europe will grow by 25 percent over the next few years. It's easy to imagine why this vehicle is so important...

The Ateca will arrive in European dealerships this spring with a wide range of gasoline and diesel->ke1917 engines under the hood. Much like the Tiguan,->ke1817 it will be sold with either front- or all-wheel drive and an optional dual-clutch DSG transmission. But, unlike its German sibling, the Ateca won't cross the pond to the U.S., where Seat products aren't available.

Will the Ateca have what it takes to give its Japanese and European rivals a run for their money on the Old Continent? Keep reading to find out.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Seat Ateca.

Exterior

Design-wise, the Ateca is definitely a Seat. The crossover blends styling cues from both the Leon Cross Sport and 20V20 concepts and mixes them with a shape that's very similar to the Tiguan. Granted, the Ateca is 130 mm (five inches) shorter than the Volkswagen at 4,360 mm (171.6 inches), but the difference is far from noticeable. On the other hand, the Ateca is by far the more attractive crossover of the two thanks to its Leon-inspired features and overall sportier stance.

Up front, it seems that Seat opted to borrow the upper fascia from the Leon Cross Sport. Both the headlamps and grille are similar, with slight differences in the LED pattern and the mesh. Down below, the bumper seems to have taken inspiration from the 20V20 concept due to its larger trapezoidal opening and more rugged foglamp surrounds.

Around back, the Ateca is a significantly milder interpretation of the 20V20 concept. The bumper is much simpler by design, while the twin exhaust configuration has been replaced by a dual layout with round pipes. Unlike both the 20V20 and Leon Cross Sport concepts, the Ateca doesn't feature a trapezoidal recess below the tailgate. Both the taillights and the spoiler are in line with current Seat products and, except for the rugged bumper, the Ateca's rear end can easily pass as a perched-up Leon.

Overall, Seat did a tremendous job with its first SUV. The Ateca blends seamlessly into the current lineup and exudes the kind of sportiness most of its rivals can't brag about.

Interior

The interior of the Ateca looks awfully familiar and that's because it is heavily based on the Leon's. The dashboard layout is pretty much the same, with large A/C vents at each corner and a touchscreen integrated into the center stack. Even the center consoles and the steering wheels are similar but, while the Leon gets a sportier wheel, the Ateca offers a bit more storage room around the gear shifter. Naturally, the crossover comes with a raised seating position and enhanced legroom and headroom in the front and rear. The more rugged door panels and thicker pillars will quickly remind you that you're riding in an SUV.

Speaking of roominess, the Ateca comes with an impressive amount of luggage space in the trunk. Front-wheel drive models offer up to 510 liters (18 cubic feet), while all-wheel drive versions can handle up to 485 liters (17 cubic feet). That's 55 liters/two cubic feet (80 liters/2.8 cubic feet with 2WD) more than you get with the Nissan Qashqai, which is a hair longer. Impressive!

As far as convenience features go, the Ateca provides a high level of connectivity. The crossover is equipped with the latest generation of Easy Connect infotainment, Seat Full Link, Seat Connect App, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. All these features can be accessed via the eight-inch screen and the Connectivity Box in the center console.

Drivetrain

Motivation for the Ateca comes from the same engines available in the Leon, which are shared with a range of Volkswagen, Audi, and Skoda vehicles. The gasoline range begins with a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder rated at 113 horsepower. More oomph comes from the 1.4-liter, TSI rated at 148 horses. On the diesel front, the Ateca can be had with a 1.6-liter, TDI that generates 113 horsepower or a 2.0-liter, four-pot with either 148 or 187 horses. All-wheel drive is optional for the more powerful versions. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or a dual-clutch DSG. CO2 emissions range between 112 and 141 g/km, while claimed average fuel economy is rated between 47 and 66 mpg on the European cycle.

Safety

The Seat Ateca is a well equipped crossover in the safety department. Driver assistance systems include the Traffic Jam Assist, which enables the SUV to steer, accelerate, and brake automatically in heavy stop-and-go traffic. At higher speeds of up to 60 km/h, the system provides support with speed control and lane keeping. The Ateca also features the new Emergency Assist safety function, which issues a visual and then an acoustic warning if the driver remains inactive beyond a certain period. If there's no reaction, the system issues a brief pulse of the brakes and eventually slows down to a standstill while staying in line. Other safety features include ACC with Front Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Traffic Alert, and Top View.

Prices

Prices for the Ateca aren't yet available, but the Ateca should arrive with a competitive sticker against the Nissan Qashqai. My best guess is that the crossover will start from around £18,500 (about $26,440), which will put it on par with the Leon ST, priced from £18,695 (around $26,720). On the other hand, it will be significantly more affordable than the Leon X-Perience, which retails from £24,920 (about $35,615).

Competition

Nissan Qashqai

Both stylish and sporty, the Nissan Qashqai is the leader of the compact crossover market in most European countries. Redesigned for the 2014 model year, the Qashqai employs Nissan's updated styling language, a revised interior, and new technology. The Euro-spec model is sold with with five different engines. The gasoline lineup includes the 1.2-liter, DIG-T with 114 horsepower and 140 pound-feet, the 1.6-liter, DIG-T with 161 horses and 177 pound-feet, and a 2.0-liter with 148 horsepower and 148 pound-feet. Drivers who'd rather have a diesel under the hood can pick between the Renault-sourced, 1.5-liter, dCi with 108 horsepower and 192 pound-feet or the 1.6-liter, dCi with 129 horses and 236 pound-feet. All-wheel drive is optional for the range-topping diesel models, while gearbox choices include a six-speed manual and a CVT. The Qashqai retails from £18,545 (about $26,510).

Find out more about the Nissan Qashqai here.

Kia Sportage

The Sportage just received a major makeover for the 2016 model year, adopting Kia's new design language, a more upscale interior, and updated gasoline and diesel engines. In Europe, customers can have the 1.6-liter, turbo-four, gasoline unit with either 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet or 174 horses and 195 pound-feet. Moving over to diesels, there's the 1.7-liter rated at 113 horsepower and 207 pound-feet and the 2.0-liter, four-banger with 134 horses and 275 pound-feet. Those in need of a more potent oil burner can go with the 184-horsepower and 295-pound-feet version of the 2.0-liter mill. Pricing for the new Kia Sportage starts from £17,995 (around $25,730).

Read more about the Kia Sportage here.

Conclusion

Given Seat's current financial circumstances, the Ateca is a more than welcomed addition to the lineup. The Spanish brand might not have the credentials of a full-fledged crossover manufacturer, but that no longer matters in today's market, which gives just about anyone the opportunity to jump on the SUV bandwagon thanks to modular platforms that can be shared between several models in different segments. At first glance, the Ateca has everything it needs to become a popular choice. It's versatile, has a sporty design, a modern interior, and plenty of engines to choose from. It might not be as fancy as its Tiguan-badged sibling, but the Ateca should be a significantly more affordable option with a good bang for the buck. Sure, it will take a while until it becomes an established player in a market packed with popular choices such as the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage, but it will most definitely help Seat find the financial stability it needs.