Seat Ateca vs Skoda Karoq: Used Car Comparison

The Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq are two of the most compelling mid-size SUVs on the used market. Built by brands under the Volkswagen Group umbrella, they share many of the same car parts. The Skoda Karoq is the more comfortable and flexible all-rounder, but the Seat Ateca wins on price and driving fun.

Choosing between them depends on whether you value refinement or a sportier edge more. Key differences in comfort, versatility, and driving dynamics could make one a better fit for you.

In this used car guide, we’ll compare the Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq, looking at factors such as boot space, practicality, costs, tech and which is best to drive. 

Size and updates of Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq

The Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq are virtually identical in size, differing by just millimetres due to bumper design and ride height. The Karoq is marginally longer (less than 1cm longer) while the Ateca stands slightly taller. Both are shorter than many other mid-size SUVs, such as the Kia Sportage or Nissan Qashqai, making them easier to park and manoeuvre.

The Ateca launched in late 2016, with a facelift in 2020 that brought updated bumpers, new trims, headlights, and infotainment. The Karoq followed in 2017, and its own update arrived in early 2022 with similar tweaks.

Interior design and tech of Skoda Karoq and Seat Ateca

The Skoda Karoq has a more premium-feeling interior than the Ateca, with upmarket-looking materials for the dashboard, doors and seats, and neat design touches for a more polished finish. The Ateca’s interior is plainer by comparison, although it still feels very solid and looks stylish overall.

Both car interiors prioritise usability: all switches are intuitive, and the touchscreens are responsive and easy to navigate. What’s great about both interiors is how easy they are to use – the switches and dials are clearly marked, easy to reach, and each has a central touchscreen that’s responsive and functions smoothly. 

Seat Ateca vs Skoda Karoq: boot space and practicality

Boot space is nearly identical: the Ateca offers 510 litres while the Karoq offers 521 litres. However, the Karoq’s optional VarioFlex rear seats provide greater flexibility. Karoq’s ‘Varioflex’ rear seating, gives you three individual back seats (the middle one is quite narrow) that slide back and forth so that you can prioritise back-seat legroom or boot space. These three individual seats slide, recline, and can be removed entirely, expanding boot capacity from 479 to 588 litres.

Without VarioFlex, both cars feature 60/40-split rear seatbacks that fold to extend luggage space. The Ateca also offers handy boot-floor levers for quick folding, although the Karoq’s flat loading bay makes packing bulkier items a bit easier.

Inside the Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq

Given that the doors and central section of these cars are essentially identical, you can’t separate them when it comes to interior space. Both offer a remarkable amount for cars that are the same length as a Ford Focus. There’s headroom and legroom to spare, as well as big door openings that make loading or unloading child seats – or children – easy.

There are also lots of places to put stuff in both cars, with large door bins, seat-back pockets and cubbies and cupholders between the front seats.

Seat Ateca vs Skoda Karoq: which is best to drive?

The Seat Ateca delivers a firmer, sportier drive than the Skoda Karoq. It’s more agile on twisty roads thanks to sharper steering and stiffer suspension. However, that also makes it less refined: ride comfort suffers on poor surfaces, and it’s noisier at motorway speeds.

The Karoq takes the opposite approach. Softer suspension smooths out bumps, making it more comfortable and quieter on longer journeys. It’s not as fun to throw into corners, but that’s a fair trade if comfort ranks higher on your list.

You’ll find an (almost) identical choice of engines for these cars, with the same 1.0-litre, 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines and 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre diesels. The only difference is that the Ateca was initially available with a 1.4-litre petrol (it was replaced by the 1.5 in 2018). Each engine gives a decent performance.

Despite their rugged looks, most versions of each car have front-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive versions of the highest-powered petrol and diesel engine are available, although these account for only 10% or so of the used models on the market. Automatic models are much more common, and both cars use the same automatic gearboxes. If there’s one area where these cars are showing their age a little it’s the fact that, unlike many rivals, there are no full-hybrid or plug-in hybrid models available. 

Seat Ateca vs Skoda Karoq: equipment

If you’re a buying brand-new model, these cars are both very well-equipped. Even the cheapest Ateca comes with alloy wheels, wireless smartphone connectivity and charging, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry, LED headlights, electrically folding door mirrors, dual-zone climate control and much more. Phew! But the Karoq tops that. In its cheapest form, it adds useful extras including heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, sat-nav and a rear-view camera. 

Seat and Skoda have improved the specs of these cars over time, so some used versions of these cars aren’t as well-equipped. In particular, the oldest entry-level versions of each don’t have niceties such as LED headlights, but you still get plenty of features. If you’re looking at an earlier model, the SE Technology trim level for the Ateca is a sweet spot, giving you features such as Apple CarPlay connectivity and LED headlights for not much more than the basic versions. With earlier Karoq models, SE L trim gives you those plus heated front seats and a rear-view camera – it’s the pick of the range if you want a decent kit but don’t want to pay too much. 

Seat Ateca vs Skoda Karoq: price and running costs

In general, the Skoda Karoq gives you a lot more kit for a slightly higher cost than the Seat Ateca. That’s true whether you’re buying a new or used model. However, as we’ve seen, the two cars have slightly different trim levels, so you can’t compare them directly on price.

If you’re on a tighter budget you can ultimately get an Ateca for less – not only because it costs less to start with but also because it depreciates faster. That’s good news if you simply want to pay as little as possible up-front but might not be as welcome at resale time. 

Running costs for the two cars are likely to be very similar. They share most engines, so offer almost identical fuel economy. Official mpg figures for the 1.0-litre, 1.4-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines in either car are in the mid-40s, with the 2.0 dropping to around 40mpg. Diesel versions give around 50mpg, again for both cars and according to official figures. 

You might find the Karoq costs more to insure – insurance groups for a new Karoq with a 1.0-litre or 1.5-litre petrol engine range from 14 to 19, compared with groups 13 to 18 for an Ateca with the same engines. Servicing costs are likely to be very similar, with each brand offering similarly-priced fixed-price servicing and service plans. 

There’s no difference in the warranty you get with these cars, either – both are covered for three years or 60,000 miles from new, whichever comes first, with similarly-priced extended warranties available from both brands. 

Seat Ateca vs Skoda Karoq: dimensions

Seat Ateca dimensions

Length: 4,381mm
Width (excl. door mirrors): 1,841mm
Height: 1,615
Boot space: 510 litres

Skoda Karoq dimensions

Length: 4,390mm 
Width (excl. door mirrors): 1,841mm 
Height: 1,603
Boot space: 521/479-588 litres

Seat Ateca vs Skoda Karoq: which is best?

If you’re looking for a mid-size SUV that nails comfort, practicality and ease of use, the Skoda Karoq just edges out the win. It rides better, feels more upmarket inside, and offers greater interior flexibility.

But the Seat Ateca still makes a strong case. It’s better to drive, typically cheaper to buy, and has nearly all the same features. If you’re a driving enthusiast or working with a tighter budget, the Ateca could be the smarter choice.