Summary
The SEAT Tarraco is a large seven-seat SUV/crossover, which made its premiere at the 2018 Paris motor show before going on sale in the UK in early 2019. It shares its platform with the similarly-sized Skoda Kodiaq.
The Tarraco has received generally average scores from the UK motoring media. It has been particularly praised for its practicality, spaciousness and value for money. The main criticism has been that the third row of seats is cramped compared to other seven-seat SUV rivals.
As of January 2025, the SEAT Tarraco holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 67%. It gets good grades for its safety rating and low CO2 emissions, but media reviews have been mixed and running costs are high.
It’s also worth noting that we don’t currently have reliability data for the Taraco, so check back again soon.
Key specifications
Body style: Large SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £33,415 on-road
Launched: Winter 2018/19
Last updated: Spring 2019
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: Excellence Lux 2.0-litre diesel automatic
“The SEAT Tarraco may be yet another entry into the SUV segment, but it’s one worth considering. It’s laden with standard equipment, spacious and practical too.”
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The SEAT Tarraco is closely related to the Skoda Kodiaq, but the SEAT edges the Skoda in terms of styling and driver appeal. Pricing is more competitive and there’s now a more comprehensive model line-up, offering logical progression in levels of equipment and power units.”
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Model reviewed: Xcellence 2.0-litre petrol automatic 4WD
Score: 8 / 10
“Practicality is a really important factor here, so it’s reassuring to see that the SEAT Tarraco has 700 litres of boot space with the third row folded down, which puts it among the most accommodating cars in its class for luggage.”
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Auto Trader
Score: 8 / 10
“The Tarraco – like the Skoda Kodiaq with which it shares pretty much everything – is a fabulous family car that offers seven-seat practicality, impressive quality, generous equipment and excellent value-for-money.”
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Car
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic
Score: 8 / 10
“SEAT’s definitely got a fine contender on its hands in the seven-seat SUV segment, but we can’t help but feel shortchanged that it’s not gone straight to the top of the class. It doesn’t feel like an improvement over the Kodiaq or Tiguan Allspace, just an alternative to them.”
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Car Keys
Model reviewed: (2023)
Score: 8 / 10
“While Seat’s Tarraco might have been on sale for a few years, it remains a very credible large SUV. Offering plenty of space, it comes well-equipped, and if you stay mellow with engine and trim choice, good value for money as well.” (Ted Welford)
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic
Score: 8 / 10
“The SEAT Tarraco is a car that’s certainly worth considering if you’re in the market for a seven-seat SUV, with the model excelling when it comes to spaciousness and standard equipment levels.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The SEAT Tarraco is attractive and pleasant to drive but only its style sets it apart”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The SEAT Tarraco is a practical, well-equipped seven-seater SUV with a durable cabin. It’s available with a good choice of engines but it’s very similar to the Skoda Kodiaq.”
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel manual SE Technology
Score: 8.1 / 10
“Ride quality could be better but there’s very little else to criticise with Seat’s third new SUV in just over three years. Good costs, practicality and looks all help it shine.”
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Daily Mirror
Score: 6 / 10
“The new SEAT Tarraco does the job of providing spacious and comfortable family transport. But so does the Skoda Kodiaq and it is cheaper.”
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel manual SE Technology
Score: 8 / 10
“The SEAT Tarraco SE Technology 2.0 TDI 150PS manual offers space for seven occupants, good looks, a functional interior, reasonable efficiency, a mostly refined driving experience, and good value. And the manual gearbox eliminates the delay of the DSG transmission.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The SEAT Tarraco is a practical seven-seat SUV wrapped up in a more stylish package than the Skoda Kodiaq. It’s got a premium and versatile cabin, is good to drive and should be cheap to run. While it represents good value for money, high-spec models are surprisingly expensive.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8.6 / 10
“A strong contender, but not the new class leader”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual
“The seven-seat SEAT Tarraco is a decent family motor with lots of room and handy cubbyholes.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel manual SE Technology
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s not particularly exciting, but as a big, family-friendly SUV, the SEAT Tarraco is hard to fault – practical, comfortable, versatile, and very pleasant to drive. It’s just a shame the spark you’ll find in smaller SEATs isn’t really in evidence here, making it hard to differentiate from its platform-mates.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 7 / 10
“The Tarraco is a roomy, good-looking seven-seater and probably the poshest SEAT ever.”
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Model reviewed: Xcellence Lux 2.0-litre petrol
“The middle seats, slid back, are great for long-journey comfort and stretching space.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: February 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 97%
Child protection: 84%
Vulnerable road users: 79%
Safety assist: 79%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of January 2025, the SEAT Tarraco has not been lab tested by Green NCAP
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the SEAT Tarraco to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Tarraco, we’ll publish the results here.
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 38 mpg | D | 31 – 42 mpg | D – E |
Diesel models | 48 mpg | C | 38 – 52 mpg | B – D |
CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 168 g/km | C | 152 – 207 g/km | B – D |
Diesel models | 155 g/km | B | 142 – 194 g/km | B – D |
Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
All models | 23 | B | 18 – 35 | A – C |
Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
Year 1 | £203 | B |
Year 2 | £523 | B |
Year 3 | £917 | B |
Year 4 | £1,167 | B |
Year 5 | £1,578 | B |
Overall | £4,388 | B |
The SEAT Tarraco is a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The biggest ownership bills are usually fuel, and the Tarraco doesn’t do too well here (which is not that surprising, given that it’s a large seven-seat SUV). However, servicing and insurance bills are likely to be much more reasonable.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the SEAT Tarraco has received
2022
- Fleet World Awards – Best Fleet Large SUV
2021
- Auto Express Awards – Best Large SUV
- Fleet World Awards – Best Fleet Large SUV
2020
- Parkers New Car Awards – Best Large Family Car
- Auto Express Awards – Best Large SUV
- Fleet World Awards – Best Fleet Large SUV
2019
- Auto Express Awards – Best Large SUV
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the SEAT Tarraco, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Citroën C5 Aircross | Honda CR-V | Hyundai Santa Fe | Kia Sorento | Land Rover Discovery Sport | Mitsubishi Shogun Sport | Nissan X-Trail | Peugeot 5008 | Skoda Kodiaq | SsangYong Rexton | Subaru Forester | Suzuki Across | Toyota RAV4 | Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace
More information
More news, reviews and information about the SEAT Tarraco at The Car Expert
Buy a SEAT Tarraco
If you’re looking to buy a new or used SEAT Tarraco, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
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Lease a SEAT Tarraco
If you’re looking to lease a new SEAT Tarraco, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
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Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a SEAT Tarraco
If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
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