SEAT Tarraco SUV review – good-value seven-seat SUV

Verdict – is the SEAT Tarraco a good car?

The SEAT Tarraco is a capable and spacious family car that offers good value for money compared with its seven-seat SUV rivals. It’s safe, well-equipped and even fairly enjoyable to drive, but a cramped third row of seats and the lack of a hybrid engine will limit its appeal with some buyers. The mechanically-similar Skoda Kodiaq, while slightly more expensive, outperforms the Tarraco in practically every area, but the latter remains a sensible choice for budget-conscious families.

SEAT Tarraco specs, models and alternatives

The SEAT Tarraco sits at the top of the Spanish brand's SUV range, offering more space than the SEAT Arona and SEAT Ateca. Closely related to the previous-generation Skoda Kodiaq, the Tarraco has seven seats as standard, making it a fashionable alternative to now-discontinued people carriers such as the Ford S-MAX and the SEAT Alhambra.

Of course, there's no shortage of seven-seat SUVs around these days, with the Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, Kia Sorento, Peugeot 5008, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Nissan X-Trail all offering a third row for occasional use. With all these rivals, and more besides, can the Tarraco offer something unique to set itself apart from the crowd?

It's certainly a smart-looking car and was the first to use SEAT’s current design language, which is now also seen on the SEAT Leon and Cupra Formentor. It has a sharp-edged six-sided front grille with a chrome surround that gives it a premium air, one which SEAT models haven’t always exuded. Slim, angular headlamps are slightly inset in an attempt to give the Tarraco an individual look, while the side mirrors are mounted on the doors rather than the A-pillars for a more sporting feel.

Under the surface, there's little to separate the Tarraco from the latest Skoda Kodiaq. Buyers initially had a choice between several petrol and diesel engines, but a 2024 saw the introduction of a simplified engine lineup, consisting of just one 1.5-litre petrol and one 2.0-litre diesel, both with 148bhp. The diesel is best suited to those who cover long motorway miles, as well as those who plan to use their Tarraco for towing. It's a shame, however, that the 4Drive four-wheel drive system is now no longer available – all Tarracos are front-wheel drive as of 2024.

The Tarraco feels a little sharper and more responsive from behind the wheel than the Skoda, thanks in part to suspension that is 20mm lower and reduces lean in corners, but the ride is firmer too. There was a powerful 2.0-litre TSI petrol model (using an engine shared with the Volkswagen Golf GTI hot hatchback) that could cover 0-62mph in just 6.2 seconds – at the expense of fuel economy – but the more sensible engines all complete the sprint in 10 seconds or less. A Tarraco plug-in hybrid version is thought to be in the pipeline.

Inside, the Tarraco is pleasingly designed and well equipped. The dashboard has a smoother, more rounded look than previous SEAT designs, with a free-standing touchscreen infotainment screen that’s modern and easy to reach when you're on the move, but sports quite a thick bezel. An update added Adaptive Cruise Control and the SEAT Connect app to all models across the range, so you can lock your vehicle remotely or find it in the car park.

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There's generous interior space, too – at least for those who occupy the first and second rows of seats. The standard-fit third row, meanwhile, is best treated as overflow space when two extra passengers need to travel a short distance, or for use by younger children. Alternatively, you can fold them out of the way entirely to free up a useful 700-litre boot. There's bags of safety equipment as standard, too, and lots more available at extra cost.

As a versatile family SUV, the SEAT Tarraco ticks most of the boxes. Unfortunately for SEAT, so do many of its rivals. Distinctive looks aside, the Spanish SUV fails to outshine established favourites like its in-house Volkswagen Group rival, the Skoda Kodiaq – especially since the second-generation model launched in 2024.

Tarraco ownership should be a fairly straightforward experience according to our 2023 Driver Power survey, with SEAT finishing in the lower third out of 32 manufacturers but with decent scores for reliability across its model range. The brand also received a high score for their cars’ handling, while infotainment and connectivity also won praise from owners. The Tarraco is also a class leader for safety, with a five-star score from Euro NCAP.