Test: Seat Tarraco e-Hybrid, a sensible option?
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Seat Tarraco E-Hybrid
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Inside there is a new design gear knob and it is illuminated; without forgetting that the main screen shows specific data for this hybrid version, relating to driving mode, battery charge status, consumption and remaining electric range.
By the way, it is available only in a 5-seater version, only with front-wheel drive and in the Xcellence and FR trim levels.
This is the mechanical assembly of the Seat Tarraco e-Hybrid
It is equipped with two engines: on the one hand there is a 1.4 TSI gasoline engine, which delivers 150 hp; and on the other, an 85 kW (115 hp) electric motor. The total power of the set is 245 CV and the maximum torque is 400 Nm; while the one in charge of sending the force to the front axle is a six-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox.
It mounts a 13 kWh capacity battery, which allows a theoretical electric autonomy of 49 km. While the total autonomy, adding the combustion engine amounts to 730 km. By the way, the battery is located in the rear of the car and takes away space from the trunk, whose capacity is 610 liters, compared to 720 liters of conventional versions.
The truth is that I expected a superb push with such power and taking into account that the electric motor offers its full potential from the beginning, but I have found a progressive power display. To put it in some way, it is as if you approach a dog with a mean face and the little animal, instead of barking so that you die of fear, looks at you with tender eyes and waits for you to caress it. I don't know if I'm explaining myself: he doesn't leave you glued to the seat, he pushes constantly, but without leaving you open-mouthed.
However, the benefits are not bad at all, really. It accelerates from 0 to 100 in 7.5 seconds and its top speed is 205 km/h. Why else with a plug-in hybrid...
Dynamic test of the Seat Tarraco PHEV
I focus now on the sensations that he has transmitted to me at the wheel. And in this section I must say that I liked it much more, because it offers great stability in curves, it has a fairly precise progressive electric steering and it conveys the sensation of rolling very seated on the asphalt. Of course, it is not a light car, because it weighs 1,868 kilos, and that is noticeable in the inertia generated in the curves.
For being a little more technical and giving you data of those that allow you to show off with friends, I confirm that it mounts a McPherson type suspension on the front axle and independent multi-link on the rear axle.
In addition, the Tarraco e-HYBRID can count (optionally on the Xcellence and standard on the FR) with the Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) system, which allows the firmness of the shock absorbers to be varied to achieve greater comfort or, conversely, , better sportsmanship. This system has four selectable modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual.
And what I was telling you about being well established has an easy and logical explanation: having all the elements of the hybrid system, it has been possible to mount each one of them to distribute the weight evenly between both axles. Thus, in addition, the center of gravity is lowered and its behavior is improved.
Do you spend as little as you promise?
According to Seat, the average fuel cost, depending on the versions, is between 1.6 and 2.1 liters per 100 km. But this is something that, as in all plug-in hybrids, is only possible on a test bench and during the first 100 km.
In my case, in this test I have obtained an expenditure close to 3.0 liters and I have traveled about 40 km in 100% electric mode. It's not as good as it promises, but it's pretty close.
Regarding charging times, by not mounting a battery that is too large, it takes three and a half hours with a 3.6 kW wall charger, or five hours if a 2.3 kW domestic outlet is used. .
driving modes
It has different driving modes that give you the possibility of optimizing consumption and behavior: e-Mode (electric), Hybrid Auto, Hybrid Manual (allows the combustion engine to be used to charge the battery) and S-boost, which allows use both motors at the same time to achieve maximum performance.
By default it always starts in electric mode, but when the battery is no longer sufficiently charged, or if the speed exceeds 140 km/h, hybridization is activated. In addition, the Tarraco e-HYBRID has three levels of regenerative braking.
As is logical, it incorporates the same driving assistants, both standard and those offered as an option, as the rest of the Tarraco range. Among them, as a novelty, stand out the adaptive cruise control, the Park Assist automatic parking assistant, the Lane Assist involuntary lane departure assistant, the Front Assist emergency braking system, the Pre-Crash pre-collision system or the rollover assistant Rollover Assist, to name the most important. Not forgetting Trailer Assist, which helps the driver to reverse and park with a trailer.
Conclusion and price
In case you didn't know, the Tarraco e-Hybrid is designed and developed in Martorell, but is manufactured in Wolfsburg.
The Tarraco e-Hybrid is available from 46,370 euros (without campaigns), but if you enter the brand's configurator the price is 43,120 euros (with promotional discounts). If you add the Moves III Plan to this, it can stay at 38,120 euros.
