SEAT Ateca (2021)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 2,977 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£2,086

£174/month

MOT Pass Rate

90%

Excellent

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 18-32

1984cc Petrol

Great Choice

90% pass rate, £2,086/year to run. 8 points above average.

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Petrol1984cc5 years old2,977 tests29k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1984cc)

~36 mpg

£1,631

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£2,086

Per month£174/mo

Per week£40/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

90% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 8 points above the average of 82% across all models in our data. It also outperforms the SEAT brand average of 85%.

90% of MOT tests on SEAT Atecas from 2021 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 3 years old. That's based on 2,977 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 28,548 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 models2415th of 3,336(bottom half)

Rank among SEAT models127th of 310(top half)

vs average of all models+8%(82% avg)

vs 2021 models average-2%(92% avg)

vs SEAT average+5%(85% avg)

Mileage Analysis

28,548

Average miles

22,200

Expected for age

The average 2021 SEAT Ateca had 28,548 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is above the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.

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Best Year to Buy?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2019 model has the highest MOT pass rate at 93%, while the 2021 model has the lowest at 90%. Consider a different year if reliability is a priority. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger, so compare years of a similar age.

SEAT Ateca by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2023	84%	55	27,079 mi
2022	93%	155	32,936 mi
2021	90%	2,977	28,548 mi
2020	93%	9,720	32,881 mi
2019	93%	18,563	41,255 mi
2018	90%	14,880	51,204 mi
2017	90%	15,933	59,237 mi
2016	91%	3,211	67,159 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

+2%

Nissan Qashqai

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,853/year

93%

+3%

MINI Cooper

2019 · 1499cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

+2%

Hyundai Tucson

2019 · 1591cc Petrol

£1,853/year

90%

same

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About the 2021 SEAT Ateca

The 2021 SEAT Ateca is a family car. Our records list a 1984cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 2,977 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a reasonably common sight on UK roads. Among all models from 2021, the average MOT pass rate is 92%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 28,548 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, SEAT Ateca owners cover more miles than the average driver.

2021 SEAT Ateca Fuel Costs

The 1984cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 36 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,631 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 SEAT Ateca?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,086 (£174/month), broken down as £1,631 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 90% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

SEAT Ateca Reliability Trend

The SEAT Ateca has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 2 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2021 SEAT Ateca

At 5 years old, the SEAT Ateca offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 SEAT Ateca stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
SEAT Ateca(2021)	90%	£1,631	£200	Grp 18-32	£2,086
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£233
Nissan Qashqai(2020)	93%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£233
MINI Cooper(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£233
Hyundai Tucson(2019)	90%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£233

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2021 SEAT Ateca

Is the 2021 SEAT Ateca reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 90% of MOT tests on 2021 SEAT Atecas ended in a pass, from 2,977 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 8 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2021 SEAT Ateca cost to run?

Our estimate is £2,086 a year (£174 a month): £1,631 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £200 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 SEAT Ateca?

90% of 2,977 MOT tests on the 2021 SEAT Ateca ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 2415th of 3,336 models first registered in 2021 (bottom half).

Which year SEAT Ateca has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2019 SEAT Ateca has the highest MOT pass rate at 93% and the 2021 the lowest at 90%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2021 SEAT Ateca?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2021 SEAT Ateca is 28,548 miles, which is above the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.